Hand Made
Have you ever received a drawing from a little kid? It’s always amazing. Seeing the way they translate what they see and understand in the world and then imprinting that understanding onto a piece of paper, all this beauty, just to give it away. Such magic, such generosity. To me, these gifts are expressions of somebody’s spirit - making something intangible so tangible I can see it and even hold it in my hand. It’s why I have a habit of keeping the drawings that little ones gift to me. They feel sacred because they are.
It’s also why I appreciate when people give me something that they made themselves. In an era where the gift card reigns supreme - a number of people understand the magic of creating something by hand to give to another. There are a few people in my life who continue this tradition of hand made things and I recently am called to remember a few of them.
Masks - made with love by my niece (who just had a baby, welcome to my new great nephew) and a number of other community members who I love dearly. These sacred objects keep me safe when I have to leave my house for essential activities, but I also imagine my relative stitching each mask by hand with care and love.
Wreaths & Table Ornaments - Mama Champagne always gifts people with beautiful handmade crafts. For me this Christmas it included a beautiful beaded tree creation and a table decoration that had a cute little mouse in pajamas surrounded by Christmas-y leaves and glitter. The detail and thoughts of my mom taking the time to place each dash of glitter, and secure each fun and thoughtful element together into a tapestry of cuteness and love. the same magic happens in wreaths, dream catchers and others creations made by our loved ones in the village.
Soaps, Candles & Melts - people like Mary Burton will go live from time to time and share activities on how we can create beautiful smelling things like home made soaps and wax melts. I used to think these things were for other people until I started learning about the healing effects smells can have on us.
Art - I have art by my nephew that he gave me over 10 years ago in my workspace to remind me of his gifts and generosity. I also have audio tracks created by musician friends that I listen to frequently. I read books written by individuals I have met, worked with and respect. These pieces of art and so many more are all acts of determination, hard work and again, love.
So when I am presented with something that was hand made, no matter how in expensive the individual materials may be, the creation they share with me is a product of their love, generosity kindness and spirit. It becomes a magical, powerful and sacred object. I am surrounded by many. Some people see in the background of my zoom calls and social media photos/videos bright and colourful objects in my home. Almost all of these have been gifted to me by the talented people in my family and from the village we have built. They are North Enders, helpers, revolutionaries and multi faceted story tellers. And while the items they create are all different and beautiful in their own ways - one thing that binds them together is that they are all a result of love.
hand made = love
That’s why something hand made will always hold more weight and value to me than something that has been purchased. With that being said, gifts cards are hella useful, especially during this pandemic, so those definitely make awesome gifts too lol. I want to give a shout out to all the people, the crafters and creators out there who share their talent with every thread and every bead. Your attention to detail is noticed and appreciated.
