of course, of course, we would all rather have a buy nothing christmas. but really -- if you buy nothing, then you do not get to sample and appreciate the talents of many others! nobody said you had to buy jean naté gift sets or anything -- just buy smart, and buying is okay!
here are some things i bought for my
rosie's yarn cellar
friends, who are always there for me -- to machine stitch my steeks, to mend the hole i cut into the back of my garment while cutting open my front steek, to let me extort marshmellows from their children... and these are just recent examples. i bought them mini-handcare kits from handwork products, which is run by elaine benfatto, who i think is wonderful.
as someone who has been known throughout life as Not Making The Most Of Her Looks, my ablutions tend to be minimal. and, appearance aside, i don't take care of my hands. i chew away at anything that snags on the yarn -- sometimes i even "file" rough skin or nail with my teeth.
elaine's products have fresh, clean smells -- personally i am reminded of the combined scents of hot mint tea and hot rosewater fingerbowls at a moroccan restaurant -- and they are not at all greasy or heavy. furthermore, they made my hands feel better! and the delivery systems by which the serum and cuticle cream are dispensed -- too cool. DO try them. (the cool knitting postcard is courtesy of the very cool stella marrs).
are you buying for a little person? a little person for whom maybe you did not have time to knit something? these little books are perfect for textile fans who want to teach babies how to eat internationally.
each of the pictures in the book is a photograph of a collage of sewing, beads, xeroxography -- illustrating jewish deli foods, dim sum, and sushi for the tippy-cup set!
ben
and i fell in love with them and bought them for us.
the books are by amy wilson sanger. i am not an amazon.com "affilliate" so i see no need to make a link -- you'll find them if you want them.
and... last but not least... now that the mystery recipients have all safely received theirs... it's always okay to shop for grumpy santa hat-wearing sheep toys that defecate root beer flavored jellybeans!
it's more than okay to buy gifts for the holidays. because some people (like elaine) are better at making certain things than you are -- and, as you would wish them to for you, you feel they deserve to be paid. that's a tribute to their talent! what is money, anyway, but the international language of appreciation? it can be. it should be.
and, in other instances, you just need to buy a bunch of something, without ever wanting to be responsible for owning it, much less having created it. a jellybean defecating sheep fits this category better than anything, or anyone, i know.