Handmade Christmas Gifts When You Don’t Have Time

While I love to make Christmas gifts for friends and family I usually have too many ideas for the time I have. So, instead of getting all stressed out about not making everything I wanted to, I just purchase handmade items. This way I can feel good about giving handmade but not have to be stressed out. I also get to support small businesses which I love to do.

These are a few of my favorite handmade stores to buy from.

Made On Hard Lotion is one of my favorite companies in the whole world. Renee and her family have worked hard to creat a really great company and wonderful products. Renee is one of the most generous business people I know. I’m using her recipe from My Buttered Life ebook  for the hard lotions in our DIY Spa Gift Baksets. I ordered some lip balms to add to them. Yes, I could have made them but she’s running such a great special on them, that I decided it was worth it to just buy them. (affiliate links)

Timber Creek Farm Handmade Store  is a really a really fun store for some pretty unique handmade items. Janet, the owner, takes beautiful pictures of her farm animals and turns them into postcards and even 2015 calendars. She has beautiful yarn made from her own sheep, which I think is pretty cool, along with crocheted fingerless gloves. 

The Homestead Lady Shop is the Etsy store of Tessa The Homestead Lady. The Homestead Lady shops sells really fun kits to help you learn some basic DIY skills like this mittens from a sweater kit. She also sells vanilla honey and non-alcohol vanilla extract. Esther really love her jewelry and has informed me she can’t wait until she gets her ears pierced.

Aaron is a super talented artist that I’ve known (in real life) for many years. He paints on canvas but he also paints on reclaimed wood. We have a friend whose son got married a few months ago and Aaron painted a sign with the bride and groom’s name on it that matched their wedding colors (and house colors) and we used it to decorate at the shower and reception. It was really simple and elegant. All of that to say, Aaron also does custom pieces so if you don’t find something in his shop you like, email him and ask about a custom piece.

Joybilee Farm is a homestead/farm that sells some really great products made from their farm. They make 100% wool yarn and turn it into things like fingerless gloves. Mr. Joybilee is a woodturner and has made wonderful wood guages and lucets. They also make goat’s milk soap and even shampoo bars. I really want to try a shampoo bar- it sounds intriguing.

Montana Solar Creations is an eco-friendly shop that sell all kinds of fun stuff. I really like their natural wood baby toys and the mason jar solar lanterns. They have many reusable products to help you stop buying disposable – including dryer balls. But they also have some really unique items such as river rock drawer pulls and wine stoppers. They even have antler chews for dogs – that would be a huge treat here.

Hope Ink sells original artwork with Scripture on it. I have several Hope Ink pieces, I have the Sweeter Than Honey 8X10 and some note cards. I think many of these prints would make a nice gift along with a frame or the notecards and a pretty pen. On her blog, Emily has some free printables including some coloring pages. I printed this one up for Esther to color. She had so much fun that I printed more to use when I chaparone the cherubs at the Nutcracker performances this week. I am super inspired by Emily and her work, I think you will be, too. 

Ninja Chickens has nothing to do with martial arts or with chickens but you will still want to check out this fun store. Maria sells handspun yarn and jewelry made from it. She also has some body care items. My favorite thing she has is her tea of the month club. Last year I traded some homegrown Meyer lemons for some of Maria’s tea. I’ve never had handblended tea before and well…I reluctantly shared with my family. I know that’s not nice to admit, but it’s the sad truth. The teas were so good and I thought they wouldn’t really appreciate them like I did. But they did and I’m glad I shared. I noticed yesterday that Maria has a Weather Tree Calendar Poster in her shop. I bought this to do with my children (mainly Esther) in 2015. It will be fun! 

One last place, and it’s inventory is really, really sparce. We’re opening an Etsy store (yeah, I know it’s been on the goals list for 3 years) and it’s still under construction but Gabriel has two cribbage boards that he can sell. Many people have asked about these over the last year and he’s ready to sell them. He made them from his a cedar tree he cut down on his very first bee removal. You can see the listing here. 

There is no need to feel bad if you just cannot make all -or any- of your Christmas gifts this year, some years that’s just how it is. You can still give handmade and support some really great small businesses while your at it. 

What are some of your favorite  handmade shops? Feel free to leave links in the comments! 

Thanks for sharing with your friends!