your own black friday

The girls have really jumped into the Black Friday spirit.
It's like they're on the automatic American clock.  Friday morning, after a turkey induced and sugar troubled sleep, they were up at 6, art supplies everywhere, making presents.
I think so far they are all for my sister, Maia.  She's got quite a pile. 
They're in a bit of a panic--they're list of giftees is long and they can only make so many pop up Christmas trees, backpack beaded chains, and other miraculous creations of their imagining.

So I thought, because I still don't have any food that I can tell you about (I was going to tell you all about my gluten free egg free pumpkin pie except I like you too much to even subject you to such a horrible horrible pie, RIP in the compost sweet pumpkin pie), I thought we might chat a bit about gifts.

It is after all, that weekend, and perhaps you've already waited on line somewhere to get that thing, or you've run to a sale, participated in an event.  It's quite a weekend, and the the combined thrill and stress of the whole thing is, I'm sure, upping the whiskey sales from American liquor stores.

So how about a little handmade gifting?  Sure it isn't an iPad or a cashmere sweater, but you'll have more money for rent and more fun between now and the holiday.


There are, of course endless edibles to give.  Every few years I order a huge stack of Chinese take-out boxes and fill them with whatever I've gotten myself together to make.  Here a few ideas, but as long as it lasts longer than a week and isn't too hard to put together in large quantities, it's fair game.  Just to get you going, there are chocolate blocks, caramels, ruggala, and nibby buckwheat cookies.  Apple bread, banana bread, and quince rosemary polenta bread can be wrapped in parchment and twine, and for the savories in your life there is of course pickled garlic, pickled beets and hot sauce.  Vanilla extract in a lovely bottle is classy, as is of course the crowd pleasing granola.  And then of course, there's jam.

Joey is a maker of CD mixes, and most years come with a "best of" or randomly themed music mix with a special cover.  

And if you're not inclined to make things, others are happy to do it for you!  Even if you're not an Olympian, this site could take care of your whole list, and Nikki McClure calendars might be the best bang for your penny.  Handmade Fairs are most likely popping up every weekend between now and then somewhere near you, and whether little or big in scope, they are filled with artists ready to sell you lovely things.  

And yes, need I say it?  There's etsy.  Clothing, jewelry, vintage, craft, everything you can possibly imagine- all there.  It can be overwhelming, absolutely, but if you have a bit of an idea as to what you are looking for, put it in the search box you'll see what's available.  It's a world wide craft fair!

Really, the list is endless, right?  If we think outside of the box (or big box store)--it just keeps going--  IOU's for meals?  Local bacon?  Soup!  

And so it begins... Joey's started playing the Emmett Otter Christmas album again...Happy holiday season, friends--may you all be surrounded by warmth and love and minimal credit card debt.