Handmade Gifts Given...

Do you love handmade gifts?  My family while growing up always made our gifts for each other and our friends.  My Grandmother, Mother, Sisters and I would each sew or crochet or knit or craft each gift.  My Grandfather and Father also were wonderful craftsmen and worked with wood to make cherished gifts.  It is the way I was taught.  A gift is much more special when you take the time to make it.  Buying from the store is not what we did.  Money was short yet somehow we gathered supplies and created.  I am very thankful for those teachings and beginnings.
 

So to carry on that tradition I make most of the gifts I give.  Here is a watercolor card I recently sent to a dear blogging friend who has her birthday on my exact birthday...of course she is much younger however we still share a wonderful Virgo Sister bond.  I used really good materials in hopes of a better result.  My watercoloring is not the best but with using my stamps for the outlines I think the result is sweet.

Here is a recent bracelet I put together.  Simple grey pearls with some very high-end Swarovski crystals.  This photo is horrible but I think you can see the simplicity of the bracelet and my favorite magnetic clasp for self closure.

This is a set I recently made and gave to another friend.  This is the lightest weight necklace made from "railroad" yarn/ribbon.  It is crocheted and has layers of lengths to give it fullness. I kept this one very simple as the recipient doesn't do fussy.  Some crystal earrings I put together complete the set.
I felt I needed to let you know I haven't been a total slacker in the creative department this year.  I am never as fully happy as when I am in my wonderful studio making something for someone.  It gives me solace to share my skills I was so fortunate to learn from so many before me.
Falling into Autumn here and the weather is just right.  Warm days with cool nights.  We are still having smoke from the horrible Yosemite Fire, a closer fire and now a new fire near San Francisco.  I pray for all to be safe and spared losing lives and homes.  This is just the beginning of our true fire season.  We did have some rain but I would welcome lots more to keep our forests hydrated and not so terribly dry as they are.  It is said that we buy wetter lumber at the store than our forests contain.  Come on rain...
Autumn breezes (Spring Blossoms for across the world) and may you create with joy and pure bliss...
I adore your comments and look forward to reading them and your posts.  This community is such a big hug!