Handmade gifts for Christmas

Xmas decorations handmade by Kay Vernon

"Be Creative & Give" (Number 5 of the Five Ways to Wellbeing)

This year colleagues at Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, plus a couple of invited guests, tell us why they like to make gifts to give at Christmas. 
And never fear, if you’re short of ideas, they have plenty to try! 

Sarah Dale – Mental Health Individual Representative 

Knitted toys & crafts 

Art and craft are a huge part of my life. Creating beautiful things and pictures that inspire other people and bring a smile to their face is awesome! And is a productive use of my time which would otherwise be spent overthinking and worrying about various things in my life. Art and craft to me as a coping mechanism is a way of life :) 

I spend most of my time at home watching tv and knitting. This year I have knitted 6 animal toys to sell for the Samaritans. I also knit cat toys for the Cats Protection every year. Apart from knitting I love my Art. It a way of expressing myself in a nonverbal way as sometimes I struggle to do so. In one of my Art and Craft courses at Ponthafren Association run by Esther I made these cute and effective tea light holders. Drawing the trees on the tissue paper was one of the most relaxing experiences. In my papier mache class I have made some Christmas cat balls just because! It was an interesting but successful experiment! Ready for the ultimate cat Christmas! 

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Annie Watkins – Admin Support Officer

Christmas socks 

I love to knit. It is my happy place. After a long day there is nothing better than to sit down with my knitting, whether I am making something for me, or a loved one, it gives me joy. The possibilities of working with yarn are endless, the colours, weight and types of yarn means that it is impossible to resist. It is completely absorbing and helps me focus. 

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Kay Vernon – Senior Finance Officer 

Decorations & gifts 

I like to handmake Christmas presents for family and friends each year. It’s just so personal. I get a lot of fulfilment out of making pressies! I start in January ready for the next Christmas and make a lot of decorations too. Crafting is really relaxing – it keeps me busy and my mind occupied throughout the year. My favourite crafts are card-making, crochet, knitting, parchment craft, art and drawing. A good way to find out ideas and tips for presents and decorations is to join one of the many Facebook groups out there dedicated to your particular craft. 

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Janet Radford – Senior Officer Internal Services 

Pickled cucumbers 

I love to make presents for people for several reasons - the first one is that I think about the person when I make their gift – it’s bespoke to them - a gift of time as well! The second is that I worry about the impact we are having on the environment - homemade gifts are more sustainable and generally don't have much plastic and the third is related to consumerism and misplaced values - so many people worry about having to buy things they cannot afford and get into debt - homemade gifts by-pass all that completely. Recipe here. 

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Sue Newham – Engagement Officer, Health & Wellbeing team 

Caramelised red onion relish 

I really enjoy making jams, chutneys and relishes as gifts for people. At this time of year, Caramelised Red Onion Relish is superb with all those Christmas cheeses and cold meats. I used this recipe but adapted it, by leaving out the chilli and adding a glass of red wine too. You may have to cook it for a bit longer because you've added more liquid. Use your computer to design and print a nice looking label, and if you want to dress it up even more, cut a circle of fabric and use a rubber band to fix it to the top of the jar. Your friends and relatives will really appreciate this. Recipe here.

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Freda Lacey – Senior Officer, Health & Wellbeing team 

Truffles 

I try to make chocolate truffles at Christmas time for friends, family and neighbours. It’s so simple, and yet can be full of adventurousness in creatively adding things in! One year, I made all my family gifts instead of buying things. At the time, I was unemployed and didn’t have a lot of money. I told them they were getting chocolates and/or other things I’d make so asked them what they liked (particularly flavours of chocolate). 

I had requests from chilli chocolate to rum and raisin, to salted caramel… The beauty of this recipe is that anything can go in and hopefully turns out! My family loved them and in an inexpensive box, it made the gift unique. Recipe here. 

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Sketch for the Aberdyfi painting

Louisa Kerr – Mental Health Partnership Manager, Powys Teaching Health Board 

Artwork

Being creative and giving is one of the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ and having learnt how following the ways can improve wellbeing I have been giving them a try. Thanks to the 5 ways I have rediscovered a long buried passion for being creative so I’m painting a landscape of Aberdyfi for my mum who was born and grew up there. I have really enjoyed painting for someone and whilst my original sketch felt like it could be a difficult task, it’s going well so far – but I know whatever it looks like in the end she will appreciate it. I can’t wait for her to open it! 

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Jen Hawkins – Information Officer (Health) Health & Wellbeing team 

Bath bombs 

Making your own bath bombs at Christmas can be a lovely way to share a gift of wellbeing. Ingredients for bath bombs are easy to find, all you need is some citric acid, bicarbonate of soda, some flower petals of your choice, a selection of essential oils and a lot of patience! Bath bombs as well as being wonderfully fragrant are a good way to ease any seasonal stress and tension and can help us relax. 

Essential oils of Lavender, (Lavandula angustifolia) Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) and Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) not only smell wonderful but have specific properties that help us to unwind and relax, promoting a healthy, balanced peace of mind and sense of wellbeing. 

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Sophia Bird – Principal Health Promotion Specialist, Powys Public Health team 

The triangle of giving 

This year I am encouraging my children (teenagers) to think about this triangle when planning their Christmas present buying for me. I have suggested they aim to give me a pledge to make a memory with me or make me something. Luckily they are both quite ‘crafty’ and artistic and I think it appeals to them because their money can go further. It appeals to me for the obvious reason – I get something meaningful from them.

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Parchment bookmark by Kay Vernon