... Well Christmas presents.

Just last week I was talking with a colleague about how time managed I am.  I have to be.  Working for an agency with numerous clients I'm juggling the need of my clients, the agency and myself, each and every day.

Add to that that I am remote working so people think I'm available at anytime because 'I'm home' and two demanding cats and ... well, get the idea.  

So, why is it that I leave making presents and gifts until the very last moment?  It's not like Christmas is a surprise.  It happens at the same time.  EVERY.SINGLE.YEAR!

My theory on this because I'm so time managed Monday to Friday, when it comes to my personal time I want to be free of that.  Washing up goes undone, bins are left to be emptied on Monday and I just hunker down with a good book or a craft project.
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So, should we hand-make gifts for our loved ones this Christmas? A cozy tradition, indeed, but anyone who’s taken on the task of holiday crafting knows it can quickly become a double-edged sword. There’s love and joy in every stitch and brushstroke, but balancing time, resources, and expectations is a craft all its own. So, let’s dig into the pros and cons of handmade holiday gifts—and I’ll share a few tips to keep your crafting joyful and stress-free.

The Charm of Handmade Gifts
Nothing quite says “I care” like a gift crafted just for the recipient. Handmade gifts bring out the best in us as creators and offer that unique, personal touch. Each item can reflect the recipient’s tastes, capture shared memories, or simply offer something different from the store-bought norm. I’ll never forget the year I made an assortment of gluten-free biscuits for my family—an homage to my celiac roots and my childhood memories of festive baked goods. The joy of seeing everyone relish something I’d poured my heart into was worth every step in the kitchen.

Handmade gifts also offer the chance to indulge in creativity while possibly being cost-effective, assuming you’ve got supplies on hand. They’re eco-friendly, too—no mass production, no extra packaging, just the pure joy of creating. And for those of us who live for local craft fairs or browsing specialty yarns, these materials hold a story of their own, a low-carbon footprint, and a touch of community love.
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When Crafting Gets Complicated
As heartwarming as handmade gifts can be, they don’t come without a few caveats. Crafting can be a serious time commitment, especially if you’re juggling multiple projects. After the excitement of project one, the thrill may wane, and by project three or four, you may find yourself questioning your life choices! From knitting hats to making candies, crafting for others often requires a realistic timeline, ample materials, and some serious organization to avoid holiday burnout.

For those of us who struggle to finish what we start (no judgment—procrastinators, unite!), the project’s timeline can feel daunting. And sometimes, despite our best efforts, the end result doesn’t match our vision, leaving us disappointed. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve started a complex craft only to simplify or abandon it because, well, real life.
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Tips to Tackle Your Holiday Crafting with Grace
Here are my five best tips to make crafting for Christmas a joy, not a chore:

1. Start Early: Think of it like planting a tree—the best time was ages ago, but the next best time is today! Planning now means less stress come December.
2. Simplify Projects: Choose gifts that match your skill level and available time. Simple yet well-executed projects shine brighter than ambitious but incomplete ones.
3. Set a Budget: Handmade doesn’t mean breaking the bank. Remember, the charm is in the thought, not the price tag.
4. Create a Schedule: Block time for crafting—and time for relaxing. Burnout isn’t festive, so take a break when you need it.
5. Know When to Say No: If crafting feels overwhelming, there’s no shame in finding a heartfelt alternative. The holidays are about love, not perfection.

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In the End, It’s the Thought that Counts
Ultimately, whether you craft every gift or just one, the intention behind it matters most. Holiday gifting is meant to bring joy, not stress, so embrace the process, learn something new, and savor the creative journey. Whatever you decide to give this Christmas—whether it’s handmade, curated from a craft fair, or something entirely different—the love behind it is what truly makes it special.

Want to hear more?  Then listen to the extended blog on my podcast by clicking below. 
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I’m down to just three physical Christmas cards a year now.  Gone are the years when I would make 20th or so cards.

Now, both of my parents are gone.  Hubby’s family don’t exchange cards (apart from one sister) and my Niblings are environmentally conscious. The last bastion of of physical cards was the office but the move to remote and hybrid killed that too.

My brother, my sister and hubby’s sister all thanked me.  My mum gave me a hug.

But no one else acknowledged them.  ​

​When I brought this up to my mum she said how people loved them.  Yeah but they couldn’t take 2 secs to even tell me the cards had arrived.  ​

Some years, if there just isn’t time, I will buy a card froma friend or artisan and send that. 

​So now, I just make 3 cards.  

1. My brother and sister in law
2. My sister and brother in law
3. Hubby’s sister.

The idea of making New Year's resolutions goes back to ancient times when people would make promises to the gods to improve their behaviour or to atone for past misdeeds. 

The ancient Babylonians are believed to be the first civilization to make New Year's resolutions, and they would make promises to their gods to pay their debts and return borrowed objects. 

In ancient Rome, the custom was to would make promises to the god Janus, who was the god of beginnings and endings. They believed that by making resolutions and keeping them, they could bring good luck and prosperity in the new year. 

The modern tradition of making New Year's resolutions has its roots in these ancient customs.

​Today, people around the world make resolutions as a way of setting goals and making positive changes in their lives. Some common New Year's resolutions include resolving to lose weight, quit smoking, save money, or spend more time with family and friends.

In 2020, the New York Post reported that: 

​Feb. 1 is the day we call it quits on our New Year’s resolutions, according to new research.

A new poll of 2,000 Americans found that it takes just 32 days for the average person to finally break their resolution(s) — but 68% report giving up their resolutions even sooner than that.

In fact, one in seven Americans never actually believe they’ll see their resolution through in the first place.

The top reason our resolutions don’t stick is a self-aware lack of discipline (52%), followed by busy schedules and lacking the proper time to see them through (43%).

Nowadays, people will often decide to take part in national initiatives in order keep their motivation up.  After the excesses of Christmas Dry January or Veganuary may seem attractive.  And you will start to see posts on social media where people will tell you all about what they are planning on doing.  The idea is that by making your resolution public, you are more likely to keep to it as it puts peer / social pressure on you.

12% of all new gym members join in January [IHRSA - 2019] but by February the memberships are normally gathering dust in someone's wallet.

Studies show that only about 25% of those who make resolutions fail at the 1 week mark, with another 40% reporting failure at 1 month. And those who fail at keeping their resolutions experience lowered self-esteem, sadness and depression.

So, I've decided to make some resolutions that I can keep and that will help me with my self-esteem, happiness and wellbeing.

1. Be creative
When you battle with depression, anxiety and, in my case, imposter syndrome, then it's easy to just stop creating.

So, for 2023, I am resolving to enjoy being creative. 

There are so many free knitting and crochet patterns out there that you can become overwhelmed with what to choose for your next project.  Looking at my fabric stash there are so many projects I could make but I just walk away and don't make anything.

I'm going to go with the flow. 

I look at my Ravelry projects and it is reassuring to see all the things I've knitted and crocheted these past few years.  I learnt to crochet in March 2013 when I made 72 flowers as part of a flower bombing at the Radcliffe Camera.  Then, in 2017 I taught myself to knit.  I have also made and taught lacemaking since 1988.  Creating things gives me an immense sense of satisfaction.  Not just from the finish item, but from the process of choosing what to make and that act of creation.

This year I've made things that I've liked the look of, used interesting materials or taught me a new skill. I've made things using my stash and also made things where I've bought the yarn and materials for.

I'm going to go into 2023 and make things that bring me pleasure.

2. Be a little selfish
I have been conditioned to put other people first.  My father used to tell me how I was born to look after him in his old age ... After all, that's why you have children!

So, in 2023, I'm going to be a little bit selfish.  At my work, I'm encouraged to put time in my diary each month for self-study and professional development.  

I'm going to do that in my personal life.  I'm going to put time aside to read, to make and to listen to music.

3. Do little things to make you happy
It's likely that my sister won't remember this, but she gave me a piece of advice just before my 30th birthday.  She told me to always have a bottle of champagne in the fridge so that I had a cold bottle ready to celebrate anything or to cheer myself up.

So, I bought a bottle and put it in my fridge on my 30th birthday.  Since then, there has been a bottle of fizz in my fridge until I took it out the week before Xmas when the fridge broke.  It's not the same one, I just replace it when it gets used.

I don't drink much these days.  I've just got out of the habit.  But on the last working day before Christmas, we had a Christmas Quiz and drinks.  I treated myself to a can of Pimms and it was wonderful to relax with my colleagues over video, answers silly quizzes and have a drink together.  

Each night, just before I go to bed, I have a quick spritz of Eau de Jardins (Clarins) as I love the smell and it reminds me of good times with my sister.

So, I'm going to keep a stash of my favourite fruit tea to indulge myself when I want a pick me up and I'm not going to save the posh shower gel anymore.  I'm going to use it as a treat once a week.