Gifts from the Heart

by Douglas M. Stich

If your bank account has been under as much strain as mine during the current economic crisis, you may want to consider creating your own gift. Do-it-yourself gifts don't have to be as lame as the macaroni necklace you made in your 1^st grade classroom for Mother's Day; they simply have to be creative, from the heart and tailored to the recipient's particular taste. Think of the individual's personality and cater to their specific interests.

When choosing a gift for a loved one, consider painting, collage, sculpture, photography, music, poetry or a personal story recalling an event from the past that the two of you have shared. Before you begin your creation, imagine giving the gift to the person and predict their reaction. If it seems reasonable that they would appreciate your gesture, it is likely that they will. Take any of the aforementioned mediums and creative elements to give the item a sort of customized personal touch. I made a lot of things for my grandmother as I grew up and she always loved them no matter what they were. Some people are like that. They'll adore your gift simply for the fact that you took the time and energy to create something yourself with them specifically in mind. As was the case with my grandmother (and possibly most grandmothers), an artfully constructed piece can also serve as fuel for gratuitous bragging rights. Whatever makes them happy, right? One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to give a meaningful gift is to utilize photos. Presenting someone with a pretty frame can be rather boring at best and construed as effortless and thoughtless at worst. Take a half hour to peruse some old photos to give the frame a more personal touch. If that idea seems too touchy-feely for the intended recipient, you can also incorporate that person's passion such as a favorite movie, TV show, musician, sports team, hobby, etc. You may even employ the talents of another friend or relative and make the gift from both of you.

I can recall being very interested in drawing and painting when I was about 12 years old. My grandfather had worked as a carpenter and furniture builder his entire life. He was very talented with wood and even did some whittling. At some point we decided to pool our talents by creating a Looney Tunes Roadrunner whirligig. This was a garden ornament with long legs and feet which would spin round and round as the wind blew. I'd draw the pattern, Grandpa would cut out the pieces and then I'd paint the character. I can't remember whose idea it was to create the Roadrunner in tandem but I do remember the sights, smells and feelings I had while working closely with my grandpa. My grandparents kept one of those Roadrunners and placed it in the garden in front of their house. Whenever I visited, I was reminded of that quality time and the memories only grew more poignant after Grandpa passed away. Although we worked on that project nearly two decades ago and the wooden roadrunners have since withered, peeled and warped I still recall that collaborative effort with great clarity and fondness.