District Clay Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Let me know what works for you as far as prioritizing gifts that need to be thrown or hand built for the holiday season. This will be my first season making gifts for friends and family and I have a long list so far (at least 20 to start with). Any tips on making it a stress-free endeavor? Signed, The Newbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Its really helped me to Not give and receive gifts-this was a plan I came up with decades ago and its now in full effect-I have a very small family (1 sister) and we no longer exchange gifts at x-mas-Its made x-mas a better season mentally for me. Since I make 1000,00s of xmas gifts for others (my pottery business ) the no gifts in family make the season a bit less stress free. By the way x-mas is all about stress at least from my view of seeing the public buying pots for that past 43 seasons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
District Clay Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 This would be an awesome idea but unfortunately my family is huge and this could never happen. I will dream on tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 > Any tips on making it a stress-free endeavor? You are already stressing so really, there is no way to make it stress free. To ratchet down the stress I suggest the old KISS method ( Keep it simple ... ) Maybe make them each a personalized tree ornament. The same basic design with their name and date painted on it. Make small simple cheese spreaders or spoon rests. It's mid October so don't set some kind of complicated goal ... they key is that the gift is from YOU. A sane, happy YOU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Reich Posted October 13, 2016 Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 Make extras! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChenowethArts Posted October 13, 2016 Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 For handmade items, I put the adults in my family first. That isn't a huge number, perhaps 10-12. In the past, I have made chili bowls, mugs, and small bottle/bud-vases (they like mugs the best). All of that family stuff will be completed by the end of October so I only stress on exhibit/show stuff for the holiday season. I really like @Chris Campbell's ornament idea. Simple. Personal. Relatively quick. -Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SydneyGee Posted October 13, 2016 Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 When I made gifts three years ago in my first ceramics class everyone got a mug. No fuss, no muss, just throw 10 or 20 cylinders, pull some handles, and glaze two or three colors. I did not try to think "OH well this person would love a vase, or this one would adore a set of rice bowls, or s/he has too many mugs maybe I will try a dessert plate set..." Mugs for days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 Been throwing pots since high school in late 60's- The question should be -how long do you give ceramics for gifts to your family 1 decade 2 decades 3 decades 4 decades longer than 4 decades They all had dinnerware sets-and whatever else they wanted- now it zero gifts-much more sane. It takes discipline to execute this idea and its not for everyone I believe . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SydneyGee Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 Been throwing pots since high school in late 60's- The question should be -how long do you give ceramics for gifts to your family 1 decade 2 decades 3 decades 4 decades longer than 4 decades They all had dinnerware sets-and whatever else they wanted- now it zero gifts-much more sane. It takes discipline to execute this idea and its not for everyone I believe . You're too generous! If you thought ahead you could have spaced out your pot-giving One year the teapot, one year the cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allisondistrictclay Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 All great ideas. Yes I do agree I am probably too generous but for some reason everyone loves what I make so I kind of like giving them things. I have a bunch of pots at home that can be back ups of course but attempting to punch out some cool things. Thanks everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 They never got the whole set all at once. Making pots for the xmas season is all about production-Selling pots at x-mas gives you the look at stressed out customers. Its a great financial boom to sell that time of year but it takes a toll on you. This year in December I sell 19 days at a pottery booth at a show or on my own-and the calendar has almost 4 full weekends before the 25th this year which means extra sales. Stress free xmas-I can remember one back in 1976. All I had to do was make gifts for my family at x-mas. I prioritized it this way Mother 1st then my siblings then everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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