This post is part of a series related to the C+H Handmade Holiday Shopping Challenge. This holiday season, I am attempting to purchase all of our family’s gifts from Canadian handmade sources. I have plans to make a few gifts as well, and have allowed myself the exception of purchasing books (because I can’t imagine a Christmas without new books) from a local independent retailer. You can see all the details in the original post here!

So, first of all, let me tell you that going to the mailbox these days is lots of fun! A couple of times a week there is a package waiting there for me from an Etsy or Cargoh seller, and after I get the kids settled with a snack I can sneak into my room and rip it open to see exactly what that little piece of art or crafty goodness looks like!

I’ll admit that I didn’t really have a “list” in mind when I started this challenge, and I’m finding myself having to get more creative than I expected – no more relying on DVDs, Wii games or trips to the big box store for stocking stuffers, right? Trying to satisfy my hard-to-buy-for husband is proving tough, too, but I’ve found some fun goodies that I wouldn’t have expected you could find handmade (on the off chance that he’ll read this, I don’t want to spoil the surprise!).

The kids are easy because I know they’ll love anything they get, but I want to purchase intelligently. Our goal is to have fewer but better gifts under the tree this year, so buying yet another doll – even a gorgeous handmade one – or yet another costume tutu isn’t in the cards. I’m looking forward to some great craft shows in the Edmonton area in the next few weeks (Weestock and Make It! Edmonton) as well as a much-anticipated weekend in Vancouver with my girlfriends, which happens to coincide with the OOAK Vancouver show.

Eventually, I’ll post a full list of shops and vendors, but for now here are a few of my favourite purchases so far (good thing my girls can’t read yet!):

Please share in the comments if you’re shopping handmade this holidays, link to a favourite purchase or seller if you’d like to, and let us know how it’s going!

Cheers,
~Sarah