Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Winter Delights

by 5 Comments

It’s winter here in the UK. The car was frozen over last week, temperatures have plummeted to zero (celsius) and I’ve broken out the scarf, hat and gloves more than once this week. Unlike most of my friends and family, I love winter. Even though in Manchester, where I live, the weather is less like on the stereotypical snowy Christmas card and more like constant rain. Even though I may not see a sunny day for weeks at a time, I love winter.

The reasons why I love winter are plentiful. For one thing, I am an avid knitter, and there’s no better excuse to cast on than freezing cold days! For me, knitting is also the perfect pastime to while away the gloomy evenings while snuggling up on the sofa with my husband. At the moment I’m knitting Christmas gifts – I won’t tell you what they are or I’ll spoil the surprise, but I hope the recipients will love them!

Not only do I love knitting woolly accessories, I adore wearing them too. That’s why I’ve been enjoying the chilly days this week – it’s given me a great excuse to layer up an array of vintage hats, crocheted scarves and toasty mittens. What better way to show off gorgeous handknits and raise the profile of the handmade movement?

I also love winter because that wonderful holiday Christmas falls smack bang in the middle of it! From the end of the summer, I look forward to Christmas because it means ten days’ holiday, spending time with my family and friends, and excellent food, courtesy of my dad. This year, I’m also trying to buy mostly handmade gifts and I’ve already got some amazing presents for my family!

When I was about 10 years old, it actually snowed on Christmas Day – really snowed, enough for sledding. My parents live right next to the beach, and we had so much fun sledding down the sand dunes! It doesn’t really snow very often here in the UK but every day during winter I wake up hoping that there will be a beautiful white blanket outside when I open the curtains (although I hate scraping ice off the car!).

So, I’m really excited that winter has arrived, even if it’s a little bit early this year. Although I expect that in February, I’ll be waiting most impatiently for spring to arrive!

Image credits, top to bottom:
HidenSeek
Dollyknits
Zukas
Ialbert
AnnasEmporium
WallEnvyArt

Soma Venus

by 3 Comments

This year my sister feels very fortunate in her life and has asked us all not to give her anything for Christmas. I’m glad that she’s feeling fulfilled this year, but unfortunately I found the perfect gift for her ;)

1

These upcycled Bingo cards make fantastic sketchbooks! By Soma Venus.

2

3

Wrap it up!

by 4 Comments

pidoodle

So, you’ve taken a pledge to give only handmade gifts this Christmas. Your ornaments and decorations are all one-of-a-kind creations gathered from the local craft fair and visitors to your home are going to be treated to local artisan cheeses and breads before being sent home with homemade fudge and gingerbread from your own kitchen. It sounds like you’ve got the bases covered…but you’re not planning to use boring old store-bought wrapping paper, are you? Of course you’re not!

I have always been a proponent of the fabric gift bag. Not only do they look so cute under the Christmas tree, they are almost infinitely reusable. Considering the cost (and waste!) of paper wrapping and plastic ribbon, fabric bags will pay for themselves within just a couple uses. These colourful, reversible gift bags by Pidoodle are doubly-good for the environment because the fabric used to create them was repurposed from thrifted garments. A dedicated thriftier and “fickle crafter”, Carissa seeks out used (and sometimes damaged) pieces at charity shops and gives them a second life by dying, silk-screening and sewing them into gift bags. She even includes a piece of tulle to replace expensive and fragile tissue paper. How clever!

[Read more…]

ISH Shoes by Randy and Claudia

by 2 Comments

I’m not sure who Randy and Claudia are but I have a theory. In my imagination, “Randy” and “Claudia” are the summer home aliases of Mr. & Mrs. Claus. You know, their witness protection program names that they use when they summer in the Great Lakes or Spa in Sedona. Everyone needs a name to put on their Safeway Club Card and Yogurtland loyalty account.

elf1

When they are not busy making sure that Christmas happens, apparently Randy and Claudia are making these adorable leather “ISH” newborn booties. These booties are not cheap, but aren’t your little elves worth it? The level of detail and craftsmanship on these elevates them to a place halfway between clothing and art.

elf2

Even though I’m not so sure about who Randy and Claudia really are, I am sure about something else: The whimsical curlicues on the toes of these shoes just makes me want to smile and giggle.

elf3

Holiday Table Decor

by 2 Comments

melamine platter

Personalized melamine platter from Rouge and Co.

The official start to the holiday season is just around the corner. And of course – I’m already thinking about what handmade gifts I want for Christmas. Though I must say, I know that I’m getting older, because for the last couple of years I’ve begun to value time with family so much more. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed, but when I was younger sometimes it felt like a bit of an obligation, though now I value it much more highly than any gift I might receive. We’ve already had Thanksgiving here in Canada – but I know it’s not for a couple of weeks for all of you that are stateside. So I thought I’d round up some easy ideas for holiday table decor from some wonderful Etsy shops.

Candle stand from Bragging Bags

I fell in love with this sweet candle stand from Bragging Bags the moment I laid eyes on it. The owners of this shop are happy to add any kind of personalized message you like on your candle stand – ensuring yours is one of a kind. I’m also smitten with the personalized beach photos offered in this shop – I think these would make a wonderful anniversary gift.

Chalkboard from Arizona Creative Studio

I think this little chalkboard is such a fun way to bring some extra personality to an event. It can be used in so many ways – from a special note about a guest: “Abby’s first Christmas, 2010”, to ensuring everyone knows exactly what’s in a particular buffet item and beyond.

Acorns from Green Baboon Designs

How sweet are these acorns from Green Baboon Designs? They come in a variety of colors so you can mix and match for each holiday. I think they look really great displayed on a simple platter to add some fun to any holiday dinner table.

I’d love to hear about your holiday decor projects and your holiday decorating traditions!