The Gifts that Stop Giving

Grandparents and other family members love these notepads illustrated with children's own artwork

It seems that there comes a time in everyone’s life that they have enough. One day they just seem to wake up, discover that they have it all and now, suddenly, they don’t want any more. “I don’t need any more stuff.  I don’t want any more stuff. I can’t take any more stuff,” they announce with religious fervor. But, this declaration is not just a personal revelation. It’s an order. And it’s a warning shot across the bow of the Good Ship Happy Holidays. Hell hath no fury like a senior citizen who is gifted one more pair of slippers, one more very special coffee mug or one more framed photograph of the precious grandkids.

As the brave and true captain of my own holly jolly skipjack, dredging about for the perfect grandparent holiday giftee, I take heed of the warning sent my way and merrily ignore it. You see, I can ignore it because I completely agree: they all have too much stuff. The garage shelves sway under the weight of it all, the basement requires a helmet light and a map and the bi-fold closet doors in your old bedroom won’t close without a hip bump. Enough is actually enough. But it’s Christmastime and we all love sharing with our family and friends. So, I say, it’s time to start giving the gifts that stop giving.

But don’t fret, gifts with planned obsolescence can be thoughtful, creative and festive. Our favorite holiday gift for the grandparents is a pad of paper with our childrens’ artwork printed along the bottom or up the side. This gift is perfect beyond words: it’s crazy inexpensive, personal, useful and best of all: finite.

Here’s how you do it: we have our children create one or two simple line drawings that we email over to Kinko’s (yep, I don’t even drive it over there). We include instructions on size (we like 8.5 x 5.5), the order of drawings (we like one, two, three, one, two, three, etc) and binding (we like the gummy thing on top) and pages per pad (we like 50 or 75). Like little Christmas elves, they take all our art and instructions and make the magic happen. For less than $5.00 a pad, we have something to give that is both adorable and useful and best of all: it won’t add to that tangible pile of good intentions. And rest assured: people love these pads. We give them to the grandparents, babysitters, aunts and uncles and even friends of the family. We even get requests for pads from our parents’ friends who don’t know our kids. If someone does something nice for our kids, even the smallest kindness, she gets a pad. Everyone loves the pads!

So as the holidays approach, and you find yourself in a sea of slippers, mugs, and picture frames, why not set your sails toward the perfect gift: the one that stops giving.

Here are some more perfect gifts for those on your list that seem to have everything:

Delicious Shortbread Cookies 

Luxurious Handmade Soap

Lovely Notecard Set

The Thrill of the Hunt

As much as I am passionate about creating art, I also love hunting for art or objects d’art or well, just weird stuff- especially in the most unlikely of places. The dirtier the shop, the better, and if I have to dig through greasy, dusty junk to look for treasure, I am one happy camper.

This morning I ventured out to a local antique shop that is so packed with boxes and furniture and all sorts of everything that I had to scoot sideways through the narrow aisles. Underneath a table, I found boxes that looked as if they had come directly from an auction -- many of the goodies were still in their yellowed newspaper wrappings. Interesting. After sorting through old license plates, tobacco pipes and costume jewelry I hit pay dirt.



This gorgeous little flower vase- in perfect condition- was resting against some old tea towels. “I must have this,” I thought to myself. Its coppery glaze and elegant shape would be perfect in my living room. I dug deeper, casting aside broken picture frames and holiday ornaments and found this small metal “thingy.”



It’s heavy, grimy and tarnished. Perfect so far. I have no idea what it is (the owner later confesses that he has no idea what it is either- awesome). I must have this too. I begin backing my way out the path, there is actually no room for turning around, and I spot this colorful box of …. Tags. Wow. In the original box. Made in Italy. And they are spectacular. Beautiful.



I have no idea what to do with them but they are so nice (perhaps thank you notes on some of my really special pieces). Must. Have. Them.

I gather my treasures and head toward the counter… On the way, I spot an old pocket watch (the kids will enjoy taking it apart). It’s mine too.

As soon as I saw the little metal thing I knew it would be perfect as a candle holder. I tried it this way:



No. How about this?



Nope. Or this?



Nope.

Finally, I tried this:



Oh yes. Exactly. Best part of all, my treasures less than twelve dollars altogether. I couldn’t be happier if I found a pot of gold!

Receiving Gifts at Craft Fairs

I love craft shows. I love going to craft shows and I love selling at craft shows. Art is my hobby, my passion, and my part-time job. I never fail to get excited when talking about my art: the materials, the techniques, the ideas. And I enjoy hearing shoppers tell stories of their creative endeavors and sharing their art experiences. Fairly low on the list of reasons why I do craft shows is actually selling things and making money. Still, I stir at the possibility of a sale…

The woman and her children approached my table with purpose. Something had caught her eye. She picked up a simple ornament, beveled glass diamonds, soldered together to resemble the Texas star, and turned it in her hands. The little piece is a sensory treat- the glass, thick and smooth, is usually cold, the soldered tips-just pointy enough, and the weight is just right. It feels good in your hand. They all nodded approvingly, she smiled at me, offered the obligatory compliment and then gently set the piece back on the table. She’d need to show her husband. They wandered away and I returned to my perch, a bit confused. I thought I had a sale. The woman returned later with one of the children and asked if I would mind holding the star for a while. This felt promising and I readily agreed. Later, one of the children tugged her father up to the table and showed him the star. He exclaimed over it as well, agreed it was lovely and returned it to the table. The woman returned once more to look at it and then left again.

When she left the room, neighboring vendors voiced their opinions on this odd display. “God woman. Get a backbone. If you want it, buy it! Why do you need your husband’s approval?!” “Like she can’t afford $10.00.” “You ought to tell her you can’t hold it all day.” I have a policy of never, ever, speaking negatively at craft shows so I kept my thoughts to myself- but don’t worry, I did think the same things. It was just so strange. I was definitely confused and slightly irritated by the idea that purchasing my little star was something that required a unanimous vote. It was frustrating. I didn’t like holding my inventory in reserve but I had promised I’d set it aside for her and I wouldn’t go back on my word.

Toward the end of the day, the family returned to consider the star one last time. Finally, they all agreed to buy it. As I began to complete the sale and wrap it up, the rest of the family slipped away, and the woman stepped next to the table. “You must think us a peculiar bunch making such a fuss over a little ornament.” I dismissed her concern with a smile and noted that I like to get my husband’s opinion on things, too and I thought it was nice. It was ok, but she needed to continue. “My sister died a few months ago and we decided that for Christmas we wanted to get an ornament that would remind us of her and represent her beautiful spirit. It had to be just perfect and everyone had to love it and be sure it was right. This star is just perfect for her. We love it. Thank you so much.” And she walked out.

From time to time, I think about this.