Buy Nothing Day & Homemade Gifts

[ysabetwordsmith]

Nov. 28 is National Buy Nothing Day, and Nov. 29 is International Buy Nothing Day. BND protests against rampant consumerism and the idea that only a constantly expanding economy is a healthy economy. Here's an article about BND and the economic meltdown.

What I recommend is that people use the day to make or plan gifts instead of buying them. Homemade gifts are usually less expensive and more personal than storebought gifts. Consider sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, cooking, gardening, painting, sculpting, beading, scrapbooking -- whatever craft(s) you enjoy and do well. Some projects, like scrapbooking and cooking, particularly lend themselves to teamwork. (I think I was about two when my mother and grandmother first started having me hold patterns down and other simple sewing tasks.) Some people dislike homemade gifts, but many treasure them beyond all others. My favorite cookbook is the home-printed family one that my mother made for me and still adds to every year. Sort through your family memories and see what you think would work for you and your relatives.

Here are some links to get you started.

General:

Buy Nothing Christmas

How to Make Your Own Gifts [Vocabulary tip: "mahalo" = "thanks" in Hawaiian)

How to Make Your Own Christmas Gifts

DIY Make Your Own Gifts

Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

Specific Holidays:

Christmas

Hanukkah

Kwanzaa

Yule

Specific Crafts:

Add Embroidery to Projects

Cookie Creche

Crochet Gifts

Gift Baskets

Gift Wrap

Gifts Scrapbookers Can Make

Gifts from Your Kitchen Recipes

Holiday Beading

Knitting Gifts

Make Your Own Gift Certificates

Making Gifts from Your Garden

Painting Craft Patterns

Scented Bath Salts

Sculpey Holiday Projects

Sewing Gifts

If you find this post useful, you are welcome to link to it from any relevant venue.

Comments

[zianuray.livejournal.com]

Now see, I've been doing that for ages! Learned embroidery before I hit 10, then many years later took up jewelry, then candle-making, then soaps and bathsalts and aromatherapy -- and baskets are CHEAP at garage sales! and a little ribbon wound in with the slats is easy and looks great-- it's rare that I actually BUY except t-shirts for DH!



(Though he IS getting a model-paint kit this Yule, but don't tell him, ok?)

I'd love to link to this post if you don't mind!

Yes, please!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Everyone is welcome to link to this post. Sorry I forgot to put that in the main section.

[stars-in-return.livejournal.com]

I could not agree more with this protest against rampant consumerism.

[je-reviens.livejournal.com]

The thing is...

To make crafty gifts YOU HAVE TO BUY MATERIALS anyway.

And! Those gifts are far more expensive than what you can usually buy on sale.

Believe me, I've been making gifts for people for years. I can buy my mom a DVD or a CD for under $15, sometimes under $10. But cross stitching her a gift requires I buy material and floss and a pattern as well as a frame to finish it. Scrapbooking requires paper, adhesive, embellishments, and paying to print out the photos.

I am all for less consumerism, absolutely. But I never have a problem with companies thriving so they can continue to employ people. Companies that don't make profits... lay off employees.