Many of us act as if homemade gifts are the best type to receive. I think we see them as requiring more talent and effort on the giver’s part, and more grace on the receiver’s part, than most of us feel we possess. Even so, I'm a fan of giving and receiving homemade gifts, as long as there’s no requirement to do either. I firmly believe that homemade gifts are best when voluntary rather than compulsive. We give gifts without placing restrictions on them; if an item is needed or wanted, we procure it if we can. If it is made us, that’s excellent, but it doesn't have to be homemade. While every Christmas includes some homemade presents, sure gifts stand out more than others, such as the year I built my little sister a working toy trebuchet. My gifts to my sister, this year, show promise of being particularly unique, and as I worked on them I thought more about this value. Simply put, making gifts connects the giver and the receiver more than a purchased gift could. Almost every one of us have experienced the feeling of giving the perfect gift to a loved one. An appropriate gift, found at a bargain price, can be excellent. The anticipation of seeing the person receive the gift is keenly felt, and it should not be discounted. However, a person who comes up with an idea for a good homemade gift for a loved one, plans the process and executes it, spends all of this time and effort for the receiver. Necessarily, the person the gift is intended for-created for, as that term cannot be emphasized enough here-is central to the giver’s thoughts, hopes, and concern throughout the creative process. The act of making a homemade gift is a meditation on the loved one destined to receive it. Because making homemade gifts gives me such joy. Even in the darkest moments, when the materials have been cut incorrectly, or a bad slip has damaged a perfect piece, or the glue or paint dries too quickly, too slowly, or not at all, every moment of it