End-of-Year Gifts - Stash

I am nowhere near where I had hoped to be, so close to Christmas, with my handmade gifts this year. A lot of it has to do with my sister's passing on 12/13 and the weeks leading up to her finally getting some peace and relief from her suffering.

I am so grateful that I have a "stash" of items I have made throughout the year. I have brought them out and have found quite a few things that will work for token gifts.

I give out a few dozen token gifts during this year-end season. For me, they are a way of saying to folks, "You have blessed me in some way throughout this past year, and I want to bless you in return, with something made with love from my own hands." When I choose this type of gift, it is not always the most expensive, but it must be very nice and must be appropriate for the person who will receive it.

I am also very grateful that I "find" other crafters throughout the year. Sometimes it is through Craft Fairs, or through their online stores, or word of mouth. I often go to these people to fill in the gap if I just cannot find the right gift.

Every year, I promise myself that, come January 1, I will begin an end-of-year stash for the coming year. And, every year, I do not do it consciously, but somehow I end up with enough when I need it.