RS Vacations – Big Bear Lake, CA

I love homemade things. Food, decor, quilts, gifts….somehow stuff is just better when it comes from the heart, you know? Knowing that someone spent their own precious time and energy to create something just to make me happy – it just gives me the warm fuzzies! Giving homemade is giving a piece of yourself.

In our home, we have always liked to give homemade gifts. For several years we were into toll painting. My husband would cut out the wood shapes and we would paint them up. All of our close family members have something that we painted and gave to them at Christmas. As time went by and we had less time available, we started making goodie trays to give instead. So far, no complaints! 😉

I have received a couple of handmade gifts over the years that are absolutely precious to me. The first is a ‘double wedding ring’ quilt that my Grandmother made for myself and my husband for our wedding. She used my favorite color for the back and used several of her old blouses ans dresses cut up for the pieces. Every time I snuggle up in it, I can remember her and feel her warm arms around me. She was the best!

The second is a set of gifts that I will also treasure forever. My Mother-in-Law (whom I absolutely adored and miss terribly! 😦 ) was always crafting. It was her passion. For a time she loved to do cross-stitch and one year I opened up her gift and beheld a set of Christmas stockings for our family. I can’t even imagine the hundreds of hours she must have spent on them. She made an extra one for a future daughter-in-law and even one for our cat. It is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. I miss you Mom!!

Time is a precious commodity that most of us don’t have enough of and trying to make handmade gifts is truly not possible for some people. The next best thing to making something yourself is to buy something that was made by hand. It still required time and care to create and has a uniqueness that makes it special.

On Labor Day weekend here in Big Bear Lake, the annual Fall Fest – Arts and Crafts Fair will be going on at the Convention Center. Here you will find a treasure trove of handmade gifts that you can browse and purchase – for yourself and as gifts. Come find that one-of-a-kind something that someone you love will adore! Join us as we welcome Fall and get your holiday shopping started. See you soon!