The Christmas Challenge. What I have been doing....

The last two weeks we had show and tell. It was wonderful to see what everyone is doing towards their present making.  A LOT by the looks of it!

Now here we are in mid March!

Painting has kept me out of trouble and taken a lot of my time but lo my present cupboard it is looking quite healthy. I have quite a few bargains in there i.e. the heart shaped baking tins bought for $2.50 after Valentines Day.

I also have heaps of soaps and I'm waiting a bit longer to be able to package them for giving.

Then a dozen powder puffs that I am really pleased with.

This week I finally finished my hankies. I am now free to move onto something else! I already showed some of them over the last couple of weeks. These are some of the latest...

This is the satisfying bit, when I get to the end and look at what I have.

Then packing them up to go into the present cupboard...

My experience from other years is that I get all the presents out in December and have forgotten half of what I have in there and so will likely go "Oh yes, I made hankies!" and get a total surprise! 

I have a heap of lovely baskets and tins to use for food gifts later in the year.

As the weather cools I get going on crochet and have so many things lined up that I want to make! I have been collecting yarn as I can ready to go.

I also have the microfiber fabrics ready to make makeup remover pads which were inspired by a gift Mum was given at Christmas.

The gift sets these came in were two body mitts and six eye makeup remover pads for $150. Holy cow I thought I can copy this!

I found lovely soft pink microfiber in two textures...

Also I have a round glass container with a lid perfect for packing one set. I will get sewing these up soon.

So that is where I am! I actually need to decide what to start on now but tonight we are having everyone over for dinner for Chloe's Birthday and I've been working on that. Tomorrow I will decide what to start for the rest of March!

One thing I know is that making things is so good in many ways. The Proverbs 31 woman was always busy with her hands. She was always creating. Like all scripture my understanding of this has grown over time. At first I thought it was because she was selling goods to help her household. And she was. Having skills and working on improving them will always give us an income or a possible future income if we need it. That alone is worth the investment of improving your skills.
But there is more... there is a lot of scripture about being busy at home and contentment. Being busy with your hands goes with this. There is so much happiness and contentment when you are absorbed in making something.
Medicine now knows that being creative and working on something is good for our health! It is a great stress reliever and kind of mediation. If you have ever drifted off to that happy place of working away so happily you will know why it is good for us! You cannot worry about your problems while knitting a pattern! Also following patterns is good for the brain in the same way that crosswords are.
Learning new patterns even more so.
The benefits are not just to your budget but to your happiness and health. Total package deal!

I think it is worth getting good at something that really interests you from cake decorating to embroidery... anything... that becomes something you really have as a great asset, potential income earner, a great cake for parties or something great for gifts...

Then also to try new things and expand your skills. Firstly you might discover you have a great knack for something. Second it is so much fun learning a new skill, and again good for us. Thirdly it gives you a variety in your gift cupboard.

If in any way shape or form I can encourage anyone to get crafting then I am happy! You do not have to be crafty to make your presents. That's what instructions are for. Many things are simple assembly. or even re packaging. It is just the gathering of ideas that you think you could do and your friends and family will like.
If you are crafting then if I can get you to try something new then I am happy!

So what are you working on for March? Also what are some good handmade gifts for Easter?
I hope you are having a good week... I am off to baby sit then make a birthday dinner! xxx