If you’re so inclined – which I am not – you can show some originality with a hand-crafted present.

•    Benni went to one of those pay-by-the-hour pottery studios, and made a beautiful bowl for his partner’s wedding gift.

•    Kim made me two stunning bracelets out of vintage rhinestone and Bakelite buttons. These one-of-a-kind pieces are real attention-getters, and I crave attention! 

•    One Christmas, Kim and her sister made spectacular wreaths out of twigs, pine cones, dried flowers, berries and ribbons for all their friends. When I think of the long hours of patient labor that went into this project, I get overwhelmed with fatigue. Fortunately, not all of my friends are as slothful as I am.

•    Brenda picks up interesting ceramic containers at yard sales. When she needs to bring a house gift, she takes a cutting from one of her succulents, and plants it in one of these pots.