I have a big apology to make - I've already mentioned the C-word at least three times during my guest editorship and it's only day four. Anyone who knows me would probably be surprised that I'm paying Little Baby Jesus' birthday any attention at all, but what can I say? - there's something in the air this year, something rustic, something homely, something handmade.
If you're sick of buying mass-made plastic presents for your nieces and nephews, branded perfumes, boring socks and gift vouchers for your friends and hunting frantically for something that your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/fuck buddy will find even vaguely interesting, or even if you're just sick of giving all your Christmas money to THE MAN, I have the solutions for you. Read on after the ads:
If you have the time and the inclination, The Make Lounge still have limited spaces left in their December workshops - see the full list here - learn to sew an apron, make handmade bath products or even knit a present.
Don't trust yourself to be able to give the nice things away? The next port of call has to be the marvellous Etsy, then, home for artists, crafters and customisers of all styles. It's a US site so everything is priced in dollars, but many users are based in the UK and shipping costs seem pretty low generally, so there's lots to choose from. Folksy is the UK equivalent, also running competitions and other events and showcasing some of the best designers and crafters around.
Here's my pick of the handmade - and be sure to visit the sellers' shops for more great stuff:
Happy handmade Christmas everyone!
Image courtesy of joathina's Flickr stream.
