Every Christmas, I have an urge to create something. I think it started when I was a child and, like all children, we made holiday crafts at school. This tradition stuck and to this day I make something handmade each Christmas. This year I am into hearts, stars and birds, and I hung these simple crafted ornaments on the curly willow that graces my fireplace hearth. These naive creations suit the simplicity and organic shape of the curly willow.
(I found out about these stars here and the instructions are here)
Quite a few years ago I was into making gold angels, pictured below: dip and drape fabric, Styrofoam balls, straw hair, all spray-painted gold. I was living on Vancouver Island and late November we drove to Calgary (a 17 hour car ordeal involving a 3 hour ferry ride) - I made my sister one of these angels for Christmas and decided to bring it with me for my mom to pass on to her on Christmas Eve. Mom, my sister and I were downstairs just chatting away, when we hear a little voice saying "Merry Christmas Auntie Bo!". There was one of my boys, only about 5 years old then, who thought the present should be opened right away. My sister could not disappoint so she opened her gift a month early. How excited the boys were to watch their auntie open the sparkly parcel.
Speaking of handmade, for my birthday this year, I treated myself to some scrumptious bling made by Bon Bon Oiseau . These beautiful, delicate pieces are unique and are hand-crafted by a most talented artist and wonderful person. Remember to support your artisans this Christmas. There are so many handmade options for meaningful gifts that are made with love and care.
42 comments:
I love your handmade bits. I have really been trying hard this year to appreciate all the handmade things that I see for christmas, they are lovely. I have tried to make decorations too, you'll see!;)
It's so good to see handmade christmas ornaments! :)
Hand made Christmas pieces are the best! Yours are absolutely lovely.
We enjoy making ornaments and decorations every year too.
I love handmade Christmas decorations, so much more special. The angel is beautiful.
I love opening the Christmas Ornaments box at the beginning of December and rediscovering all the little pieces that my friends and I make each year - we tend to have themes - hearts, birds, peg dolly angels. Homemade is just so much more satisfying than shop bought (unless of course we are talking diamonds, the perfect never likely to go out of favour present :))
Your birds are just lovely.
Cute decorations!
i love your wonderful handmade decorations!!! the star is fantastic!!! i love to sew, knit and do things for christmas, some of my decorations are made by myself, i love use my hands and save objects for the next years...
your decorations are beautiful raina! I am so inspired...I need more time! maybe next week? and thank you for posting these beautiful shots...I'm so happy you like your pieces!
xoxoxo,
deb
Beautiful - I meant to do this but ran out of time so I bought a handmade birdy instead - next best thing and all that!
Handmade is the way to go! Lovely post :)
Love your ornaments. So simple and sweet to adorn you tree with.
Have a great day:)
your on my blog today you rock star!
love that heart shaped ornament!
I love your ornaments! I haven't made any since I was a child ~ but you have inspired me to think about maybe doing some next year.
I love your holiday bling - thanks for sharing your finds - so pretty:)
beautiful objects you have here...
they're all beautiful! someday when i have kids, i'm sure i'll start putting up a tree for them, and i think it'd be great to decorate it with homemade ornaments as a family. it's so much more meaningful that way!
Hey--you found some time to do some homemade stuff! And great ornaments--really beautiful!
Haha -- "Dip 'n Drape" -- there's a term I haven't heard in YEARS! My aunt used to make dip 'n drape dolls years ago. I love your little birdie and star ornaments!
and thank you so much for supporting local business - we greatly appreciate it!
Love the handmade ornaments - I agree with you on the birds. I have a thing for birds this year too!
Hope you have a wonderful holiday break. 2 weeks will be such a time of refreshment. Perhaps some time as well for a run or two :)
I feel the same way you do. Except no one seems to appreciate them! :( Yours are gorgeous!
Those are beautiful! My kids have been bringing home tons of homemade ornaments from school. Those are definitely my favorites. :-)
Speaking of Etsy stores, Cass just opened one with some hand-made signs with knitting quotes on them. They're really cute (and true). lol Here's the link: www.cassquotes.etsy.com
lovely ornaments! & beautiful bon bons! that girl is talented! as are you :o)
oh, the birds:)
I love all of your handmades. I think it just makes the holiday that much more special. I've been knitting bird ornaments all weekend. I think I'm a bit obsessed at this point.
It is satisfying to be able to make something rather than simply go out and buy. It has a more special place in our homes as a result.
I like handmade Christmas gift, but I never get any myself.....I have made gifts for my friends and familiy. I love your homemade pieces. Thank you so much for showing us. Hugs.
The handmade christmas ornaments and gifts are the best ones. For ages!!!
they are beautiful~ handmade is always best!
x ashley
I love the golden angel. Christmas handmade traditions are always so much fun.
beautiful ornaments!
All of them are just darling. You have a lovely talent.
I wish I had as much time this year as I did last year to make cards and ornaments. Such a sweet story to share with us!
Love the Bonbon pieces you picked out!
just perfect in my opinion. simple and handmade is always best!
I'm off to NZ tomorrow so I just wanted to wish you happy holidays!
See ya on the other side of 2008!
Hx
p.s. I can't wait to sit at the beach and knit socks...
beautiful handmade and what a treat they are lovely!!
I love the handmade decorations too! I went to a birch craft class recently and learned how to make decorations and baskets with birch bark and twigs - very therapeutic!!
I love your ornaments! I agree on Christmas being as much handmade as possible! Also your bonbon oiseau bling is lovely!
I love the bling as well as the handmade ornaments!
I love your creativity and holiday spirit! :)
I always want to create during the holidays too! I love all your creations!
This season also makes me feel like cozying up and making handmade gifts. What lovely pieces you chose from Bon Bon Oiseau!
Anyone have a recipe for Dip N Drape? I don't think Zim's carries it any more....
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