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Festive Greetings! I hope everyone is enjoying their well deserved time with loved ones –– and keeping warm!

This year I decided to do something very ambitious: make entirely handmade gifts for my family and friends. I had no idea what I was getting myself into!

The internet (Pinterest, specifically) is a very dangerous tool for someone like myself, who looks at things that are far beyond my skill set and says, “Yeah, I can make that!” In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, I had been pinning ideas and articles and stocking up on supplies for my masterpieces. Meanwhile, a friend of mine had been working on preparing for the grand opening of her seasonal store (in honor of her late mother-in-law), Country Roads. I can’t even tell you all of the beautifully handmade things this incredible woman has to offer. And yet, here I was, totally in over my head.

Don’t we always say to call the professionals? If my family were in need of roofing, I certainly wouldn’t be up there myself saying, “Yeah, I can do that!” Now I know it’s comparing apples to oranges, but while I was busy fussing over my pitiful little crafts, I just kept thinking of all those actually talented crafters who were making far more impressive versions of what I was making. There’s something to be said for a gift that has been personally made for its recipient, but I’m not in kindergarten anymore, so it’s no longer cute to give someone an ornament covered in hot glue.

My first thoughts were, why didn’t I just go out shopping for things on Black Friday like everyone else? But then I remembered people like Shawna tweeting and posting about Small Business Saturday, and an epiphany hit. For homemade gifts, these people are your professionals. These are the people you can call (often, year round) and say, “I want an ornament for my aunt with glitter, holly, and a partridge in a pear tree.” I love the idea of giving someone something personalized, from the heart, and I must now announce my retirement from handmade crafty gifts.

In closing, I know where I’ll be next year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving! Support Small Business Saturday –– and remember kids, don’t try this at home.