Handmade gifts provide loving touch
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Susan Adkins, owner of Susan's Yarn Garden, at left, shows off a hand-crafted children's toy while knitters Sara Holden and Hilarie Dansie work on their own creations. (Staff photo by Joanne Fox)
SIOUX CITY -- To paraphrase a popular trademark, "Nothin' says lovin'" like a gift made with one's own hands, say those who are involved in creating special Christmas items.
A handmade gift takes on a special meaning, said Susan Adkins, owner of Susan's Yarn Garden.
"It's not like something you buy in a store that anyone could own," she said. "Your creation is unique only to yourself."
And the ending of that popular trademark, "somethin' from the oven," pertains to a new project at Trinity Lutheran Church.
For its first-ever Holiday Goodie Extravaganza, $4 allows you to order homemade goodies, choosing a dozen assorted candies, cookies and bars, said Patty Den Beste, a member of the congregation.
"We are always looking for ways to raise money for our church, so we asked ourselves, what are our strengths?" she said. "Well, 'We have these wonderful Lutheran bakers!' we answered."
Using only some elementary promotion, the response has been phenomenal, Den Beste said, with more than 350 dozen cookies ordered. It was a pleasant surprise, but not a total one.
"I think baking is becoming more and more rare," she speculated. "Many families are busy doing wonderful things with kids and sports and band and choir, and those all take volunteers. It doesn't allow for the time to bake."
Time is always an issue with folks, and that's no different for those working on handmade items, Adkins said.
"Except you can work on your project anywhere, anytime," she said.
Sara Holden of Jefferson, S.D. and Hilarie Dansie of Sioux City agreed with that insight as they spent a recent evening working on Christmas gifts at Sarah's Yarn Garden.
"I've found people are more interested in making things," Adkins said. "I find it an interest in returning to traditional pleasures, in searching for a source of pride and joy in making something."
"I'm making a bunny for a nephew and hats for my dad, stepmom and brothers," Holden said. "I do this because the quality of my material is far better than anything I could buy in a store, and it's personal -- something from me."
"I'm making a sweater and socks and a surprise project," Dansie said. "I've found it to be a great conversation starter when I'm working on something in public. People are always asking what I've got going."
But knitting and crocheting come with some baggage, Adkins admitted.
"People think they need some special gifts to knit or crochet," she said. "I tell them, 'If you can drive, you can knit.' The more confidence you gain, the better your projects will be."
Den Beste, who confessed she really is not a baker, spent Saturday learning the tricks of the trade from fellow parishioner Barbara Sudman.
"I took some recipes home, especially the stained-glass cookie ones, and I'm going to try my hand at them," she said. "Who knows? They could become part of a new tradition at my house."
Den Beste attributed the success of the Trinity Lutheran Church fundraiser to the specialness of a home-baked item.
"It's that allure of homemade cookies because I think they remind us of someone we love," she said. "I'm looking for thumbprint cookies among our goodies because they remind me of my mother."
Getcha' goodies
Trinity Lutheran Church is selling $4 tickets for its first-ever Holiday Goodie Extravaganza. That entitles you to choose a dozen assorted homemade candies, cookies and bars, which will be distributed from Saturday at the church, 1122 Jackson St.. The deadline to order cookies is noon Wednesday. Call 258-0519.
A handmade gift takes on a special meaning, said Susan Adkins, owner of Susan's Yarn Garden.
"It's not like something you buy in a store that anyone could own," she said. "Your creation is unique only to yourself."
And the ending of that popular trademark, "somethin' from the oven," pertains to a new project at Trinity Lutheran Church.
For its first-ever Holiday Goodie Extravaganza, $4 allows you to order homemade goodies, choosing a dozen assorted candies, cookies and bars, said Patty Den Beste, a member of the congregation.
"We are always looking for ways to raise money for our church, so we asked ourselves, what are our strengths?" she said. "Well, 'We have these wonderful Lutheran bakers!' we answered."
Using only some elementary promotion, the response has been phenomenal, Den Beste said, with more than 350 dozen cookies ordered. It was a pleasant surprise, but not a total one.
"I think baking is becoming more and more rare," she speculated. "Many families are busy doing wonderful things with kids and sports and band and choir, and those all take volunteers. It doesn't allow for the time to bake."
Time is always an issue with folks, and that's no different for those working on handmade items, Adkins said.
"Except you can work on your project anywhere, anytime," she said.
Sara Holden of Jefferson, S.D. and Hilarie Dansie of Sioux City agreed with that insight as they spent a recent evening working on Christmas gifts at Sarah's Yarn Garden.
"I've found people are more interested in making things," Adkins said. "I find it an interest in returning to traditional pleasures, in searching for a source of pride and joy in making something."
"I'm making a bunny for a nephew and hats for my dad, stepmom and brothers," Holden said. "I do this because the quality of my material is far better than anything I could buy in a store, and it's personal -- something from me."
"I'm making a sweater and socks and a surprise project," Dansie said. "I've found it to be a great conversation starter when I'm working on something in public. People are always asking what I've got going."
But knitting and crocheting come with some baggage, Adkins admitted.
"People think they need some special gifts to knit or crochet," she said. "I tell them, 'If you can drive, you can knit.' The more confidence you gain, the better your projects will be."
Den Beste, who confessed she really is not a baker, spent Saturday learning the tricks of the trade from fellow parishioner Barbara Sudman.
"I took some recipes home, especially the stained-glass cookie ones, and I'm going to try my hand at them," she said. "Who knows? They could become part of a new tradition at my house."
Den Beste attributed the success of the Trinity Lutheran Church fundraiser to the specialness of a home-baked item.
"It's that allure of homemade cookies because I think they remind us of someone we love," she said. "I'm looking for thumbprint cookies among our goodies because they remind me of my mother."
Getcha' goodies
Trinity Lutheran Church is selling $4 tickets for its first-ever Holiday Goodie Extravaganza. That entitles you to choose a dozen assorted homemade candies, cookies and bars, which will be distributed from Saturday at the church, 1122 Jackson St.. The deadline to order cookies is noon Wednesday. Call 258-0519.
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