Monday, December 03, 2012

Wrap it up: Self-Gifting and Crafters

According to all the analysts and social scientists, we are awash in a huge flurry of Self-Gifting. This is the trend of purchasing a gift for yourself while you are purchasing gifts for all those other folks on your list. There are many reasons that this is so popular; my main guess is that when you spend so much time shopping for others you are bound to see something you want. There is also the idea that many people may postpone purchases (in general) until the end of the year, and then there are all the sales, and the stacks and stacks of new items released at that time of year. There's also that cheery holiday music that just makes you want new shoes, somehow.

But I'm kidding. I really don't know WHAT makes many folks toss the budget out the window during the 12th month of the year and decide that they can have a few new sweaters and a camera and oh, yeah, I'll get a tie for Dad, too.  

Do you self-gift? Is there a specialty hammer just for you next to the felting kits you are buying for your nieces? Or are you full of self-control, only purchasing what you need to make gifts for others? I think that if you are making gift after gift for others you are still treating yourself. After all, those bits of jewelry will be passed on to the girls on your list, but the experience is all yours. No sharing. Kinda nice, huh?

So, what about you? Do you craft for others because YOU like what you make or because THEY like what you make? Will you add a few items to your holiday gift list for yourself, or do you think that is selfish?

6 comments:

  1. It really depends on the mood I'm in. Since this year I'm being crazy and making things for everyone, the work-people-going-shopping-outside-of-work trip ends up with two new hats for my own head (the 20s and 30s are back for headwear, yay!).

    But making things, whether it's coasters or blankets or any variety of jewelry (there's a hilarious crocheted pea and ribbon necklace on the way to my friend this year)I agree is already a gift to myself. It's a self-imposed challenge to take inspiration from someone I care about and make something that not only fits their look and personality, but also something unexpected each time! That's one of the very very best impetus to try new craft methods - getting both a great look and a hilarious squealy surprised face from someone you love.

    Happy crafting!

    Li

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    1. Li-
      My mom has a self-imposed rule to only give gifts she makes this year and she has said repeatedly that it's the best Christmas she's ever had. We haven't even opened our gifts!

      I'm going to give myself a gift now, and go make something!

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  2. You wrote in the letter that came with this link--"I think that we crafters are ahead of the curve on this. After all, when I make a gift for someone I get to keep the experience. When I bead a bracelet, or felt a bird, I am enjoying every moment. After the object is completed I can happily give it away but that time I spent making the gift belongs only to me."

    There are lots of studies about experiences being way more important in our lives than material possessions. I think this sums up exactly why. I just read an article that said that we need to begin to make experiences count in order for our planet to recover from our over-indulgencies. Thanks for the letter this a.m.

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    1. Ahh, Jeanne, I DO think experience is more important than objects. Creation Vs.Consumption, right?

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  3. Interesting article! Thanks for posting the link, Cynthia.
    I think the reasons given in the article explain why self-gifting has risen in popularity. But I really like what you say about how making a present for someone is actually a kind of self-gift. After all, we crafty types usually make far more stuff than we can ever use ourselves!
    I think that is a much more meaningful way to self-gift. We put thought and effort into the gift for another, and we enjoy the process ourselves. That's far more serene (and probably less expensive) than buying things for ourselves.

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  4. I tend to purchase a lot for myself at this time of year because I know that no one else will get me beady things. Besides there are soooo many great sales from some of my favorite suppliers.

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