Handmade Holidays

In our family, the holidays have always been a time for making things by hand. Mom remembers searching for fun crafts for us to learn over the holiday break, in the days before Google and YouTube made finding ideas and resources so much easier.

We made corn husk dollies that nestled into the Christmas tree, folded colorful wax paper stars and snowflakes that filled the picture windows of the old farmhouse. We crocheted colorful stockings to hang by the fire and stitched and glued little angel ornaments. The big walnut table that dominates the farmhouse dining room would be filled with projects between meals, and everyone had something in hand in the evenings on the sofa and stuffed chairs by the fieldstone fireplace.

Many of the handmade items became gifts for family, and teachers often received homemade cookies or fresh wreaths. It was a beloved time with our mom as well as immersive glee working with our hands and the tactile world of making. Polymer clay, fabric, yarn, origami paper, embroidery thread—the stash grew and grew as we kept exploring, learning, and creating. We’d sing carols, munch on homemade treats or the requisite Kringle, or often Mom would read aloud from the latest book we’d snagged from the library.

Today, I get to share that love of making with our hands with my students. The medium of needle felting is especially portable and easy to learn for all ages. It wasn’t such a phenomenon when my sister and I were younger, or we’d have been all over making felted everything!

“You’d have been buying so much wool,” I teased Mom this morning as we were making waffles.

“Oh yes, I would! You two would have loved needle felting.”

Then the phone rang, and it was a cheerful mom who had purchased a handful of felting kits for her kids ages 10 and 13. “We thought we packed up everything, but it appears that we misplaced the password for the polar bear project. Could we get that so the kids can keep working on their bears?”

“Sure,” I said. “Let me get to my computer so I can look that up for you.”

As my laptop booted up, she began sharing how much her son and daughter were enjoying needle felting. “They’re just having such a blast with your kits! I don’t even need to help them; they sit down with your tutorials and make their animals, and it’s just great! Their creations are going to be presents for family members.”

Then the kids came into the room, and she asked if they’d like to say hi to Laura. The two were absolutely bursting to talk to me, as if there was a celebrity on the phone. “Hi Laura! We are having so much fun! I loved making my bear, and my brother’s turned out a little funny, so we turned it into a niffler from Harry Potter!” They both were so excited, they sounded ready to pop, eager to tell me how I could make my own platypus-like niffler if I wanted to.

“And the card that you put in with the kits was so nice!” the daughter continued. “When we have them all done, we’ll send you a picture!”

“I’d love to see pictures of what you made,” I offered. Images of student work are one of my favorite things to include in my monthly Erindale Tapestry Studio newsletters.

When the delighted conversation finally ended, I had to laugh with glee. These two sounded just as bouncily thrilled as my sister and I were at their ages. The joy of handmade holidays continues! The tradition carries on in our family as well, as Mom is knitting a pair of mittens and I’m working crewel embroidery by the woodstove in the evenings.

There’s something timeless and precious about making holiday gifts by hand. In our commercialized world, handmade gifts slow the pace and increase the heartfelt joy encased in the gift. Even if it’s not as perfect or glitzy as a purchased gift, the creation is infused with memories and love.

To help spread that love, I’m offering a couple of pop-up Zoom needle felting classes the Saturday before and after Christmas. To learn more and register, peruse the classes and workshops on our farm’s website. The Santa or arctic fox projects are excellent for ages 8 to 108, and you and loved ones can tune in from anywhere.

Happy Holidays everyone! May yours be merry, bright, and filled with handmade goodness. See you down on the farm sometime.