Handmade Party 2011

My lovely friend Brooke has hosted a handmade party every December for the past three years. Last year was my first year and I since then, I've been hooked. The party is done white elephant style. Draw a number, choose an unwrapped gift or steal one you've already seen. For months before this year's party, I found myself mentally grading the DIY items on Pinterest according to Handmade Party worthiness.

The year before set the bar pretty high and I realized that I might have to jump outside of my comfort zone to make something that would be "steal-able." I also realized that the most popular items were primarily accessories and home decor. Ouch, those aren't exactly my strong areas. I'm more of a little girl's clothing kind of sewer. Yeah, and many of the items were crafted, not sewn. Sometimes even with power tools. Double ouch.

So, you probably think I'm leading up to my awesome gift that blew the minds of all those who laid eyes upon it, right? Wrong. I had GREAT ambitions but at the eleventh hour, I ran out of time. The bag that I attempted (from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar's Tohoku Tote tutorial) was cute but I felt lame wrapping up something with an "I owe you a completed lining and handles." So, with minutes to spare before leaving for the party, I went with my plan B and gifted some wintery, silvery snow globes that I made with my sister-in-law over Thanksgiving. Only, I didn't have time to properly wrap them.

I replaced the tulle that you see, above, with a silver ribbon that can easily be removed.

I couldn't find tissue paper in the house so I ended up stapling the bag. STAPLING! This is the kiss of death for a white elephant gift. Nobody wants the lopsided, crumpled bag that is stapled shut. Who knows what's in a bag like that? My bag was chosen near the end of the approximately 40 person exchange and was only stolen once. Fail.

Next year! Next year, I will finish before December. I will finish even finish before the end of October when I am exhausted by Halloween costumes. And this mythical gift will have THE most dazzling gift wrap. Ideas, anyone? A beautiful bag? Lovely accessory? Maybe I'd better start now.

The (finally) finished bag made a cheerful Christmas gift for my mom.

It had handles AND a lining ;)