Ole & Lenas Gifts & Ceramics

If you get stressed when trying to do holiday shopping for the "hard to buy for people" in your life or for the "people who have everything", we have some great ideas for you.  Of course they won't make the holidays less hectic but your gift giving may be a lot easier.

The one sure way to make sure your gift is one of a kind and chosen with a lot of thought is to make it yourself.  Believe it or not, the simplist of gifts mean so much more to people when they know you have put a lot of thought and time into their gift.  It can be as simple as a candle that you have personalized or as elaborate as a hand made quilt that took hours, even weeks to finish. 

Try your hand at painting on a pillar candle to match the decor of their favorite room.  A simple candle adorned with flowers, ribbon or a decal can make a lovely addition to any coffe table, especially if it is in their favorite scent.

Fabric comes in so many different colors and prints which make crafting choices unlimited.  Use fabric to cover a wine jug, add a small strand of Christmas lights inside it and you have a wonderful accent light such as this horse light that was made for a friend who loves horses.  If you sew, choose a scenic print to make a one of a kind wall hanging.  Simply cut a backing the same size as your printed piece, place some batting between the two pieces of cloth and stitch several lines diagonally in both directions.  Place in a frame and you have a beautiful gift you can be sure they do not already have.  Fabric can be hodge podged on almost any surface so you can use it on bench tops, jars, and even a saw to hang on a wall.  Your choices are unlimited.

Thrift shops are a great place to find treasures for your "gift crafting" ideas.  Several coats of hodge podge on an old purse and some silk flowers makes a wonderful centerpiece and can be color coordinated with a special person's home in mind.  Old candle holders can be given new life with a coat of paint and could be used to display a hand painted candle. 

However, if you are like me and can not find enough hours in the day to get everything done, the best thing to do is find a hand crafted gift shop nearby and check out the splendid gifts and decorative items they have to offer.  I am sure you would find something for everyone on your list that is unique.