The curse of homemade gifts - Page 4

wendybeth · 09-26-2006, 04:11 PM

Damn. I'll have to give mine to my mom. She'll hang on to it, 'cause I might die or something and then she'll feel really bad.

DreadPirateRoberts · 09-26-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

because I know she does these things out of pure love.

I think it's great that your mom loves you enough to want to make you things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

When we don't tell her what to buy us for birthdays or anniversaries, she makes us things - horrible things.

Maybe you should have a game plan to always let her know what you want beforehand? Book? DVD? Amazon gift card?

I'm lucky, my Mom always asks what I want, and I try to think of something.

€uroMeinke · 09-26-2006, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I find this POV interesting because my feeling is - why should I bend over backwards to show that I like a gift I actually hate? Lying when I receive it, lying when it's mentioned later - that's enough catering to crappiness in my book.

The dosconnect only persists in mistaking the object for only the object. It may also a symbol of love, respect, and family. In which case, you're not lying at all unless you reject the good wishes of your mother and have no desire to reciprocate through the object's display. It's the magic and meaning behind the object that makes it so difficult to discard, not the object itself.

Cadaverous Pallor · 09-27-2006, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

The dosconnect only persists in mistaking the object for only the object. It may also a symbol of love, respect, and family. In which case, you're not lying at all unless you reject the good wishes of your mother and have no desire to reciprocate through the object's display. It's the magic and meaning behind the object that makes it so difficult to discard, not the object itself.

Awesome post - I think you nailed it.

Cadaverous Pallor · 09-27-2006, 08:25 AM

Quickly, I gotta go - we've made it our policy to tell them what we want and it works some of the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Then why did you ask? You already have your answer.

I just wanted to see what you guys thought. Didn't mean to come off as saying "you're wrong", sorry if I miffed anyone.

I get frustrated with my mom's awful tastes.

tracilicious · 09-27-2006, 10:25 AM

I think you should post pics of these gifts. How bad can they really be?

xharryb · 09-27-2006, 12:55 PM

Thankfully, my mother no longer has time for handmade items. What she does do though is almost as bad, but at least I have no difficulty disgarding the items. I tend to admire things and mention "hey that's kinda cool." It's rarely something I would actually want or use, just something random that amused me. Well instead of listening to my multiple hints at the things I actually do want or need, my mother will pick up on the most random "cool" thing and get me that.

Cadaverous Pallor · 09-27-2006, 12:56 PM

Ok, here's the deal with posting:

If I get around to it (I don't have much home time these days without packing) I'll take pics and post them in the Parking LoT. I don't want them viewable by non-swankers. They've got names and pictures on them. I'm kinda worried one will end up on boners.com or something

I'll ask that no one copy the pics. Yeah, I'm a bit paranoid about it.

If I do so I'll let you know.

AllyOops! · 09-27-2006, 01:42 PM

People are going to think I'm insane..

I LOVE THESE TYPES OF GIFTS. They delight me in ways you can't imagine!

I get this from my Mom. She once received the most HEINOUS gift of all and we just DIED...

It was..how do I explain? It was a doll...a big, plastic doll head..attached to a soft body with a flowing knit, crochet skirt that doubled as a Kleenex Kozy. In harvest gold & white. She had a lovely hat, parasol..very Southern Belle. Except her CORN ROWS with matching marigold ribbons.

We christened her "Trampolina". Soon, Trampolina got passed around (as any Trampolina would

) and we never received her back.

It's a shame, because she delighted us with her tackiness. Whenever anybody receives a "white elephant", part of my heart breaks. I think, "someone loved somebody enough to give them this". That's why I won't let them get trashed! Let me be the home for this stuff!

I have some seriously tacky sh*t in storage. I can't begin to tell you how much I love it. Really.

Motorboat Cruiser · 09-27-2006, 02:42 PM

Many years ago, my mom decided she wanted to try and see if she could paint. She was a big fan of the hippie on cable tv that painted "happy little trees" and such. So she got her supplies and produced exactly one painting, before deciding that it was ugly and that she had no artistic talent. Actually, my dad and I thought she did ok for her first try but she would have none of it. The painting sat in the back of her closet, covered in old clothes.

When she died, it was one of a few things that I really wanted because, like others have mentioned, it was something that was created with her own hands. I didn't think I would ever display it, but I didn't want it thrown away. It sat in my closet for many years until one day when Matthew saw it and asked me about it. I told him the story and a few days later, he bought me a frame for it and for the first time ever, it was displayed for others to see. Surprisingly, there have been some positive comments about it over the years from people who have no idea who it was painted by. I can't help but smile when that happens.

But realistically, to anyone who knows art, it is probably seen as a piece of crap. Still, it is priceless to me and I will continue to display it regardless of its artistic merit. It could have so easily been discarded and within a short time, I probably would have forgotten about it completely. Instead, it is one of the few tangible reminders that I have of her existence and I'm pretty thankful that I kept it.

Now, as far as you are concerned, CP, you may never want to display any these items as I've done. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever. I would ask you to consider the underlying value of them however. Some day, you might just get a little joy from digging one of these out of a box and taking a trip down memory lane. At that time, I suspect that they might even look a little less ugly to you.

09-26-2006, 04:11 PM	#31
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	Damn. I'll have to give mine to my mom. She'll hang on to it, 'cause I might die or something and then she'll feel really bad. __________________
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09-27-2006, 10:25 AM	#36
tracilicious avatar transition Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in-between Posts: 2,487	I think you should post pics of these gifts. How bad can they really be? __________________ And now Harry, let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure! - Albus Dumbledore
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09-27-2006, 12:55 PM	#37
xharryb D'oh! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Springfield Posts: 104	Thankfully, my mother no longer has time for handmade items. What she does do though is almost as bad, but at least I have no difficulty disgarding the items. I tend to admire things and mention "hey that's kinda cool." It's rarely something I would actually want or use, just something random that amused me. Well instead of listening to my multiple hints at the things I actually do want or need, my mother will pick up on the most random "cool" thing and get me that.
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09-27-2006, 12:56 PM	#38
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	Ok, here's the deal with posting: If I get around to it (I don't have much home time these days without packing) I'll take pics and post them in the Parking LoT. I don't want them viewable by non-swankers. They've got names and pictures on them. I'm kinda worried one will end up on boners.com or something I'll ask that no one copy the pics. Yeah, I'm a bit paranoid about it. If I do so I'll let you know. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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09-27-2006, 01:42 PM	#39
AllyOops! It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Introspection Intersection Posts: 1,207	People are going to think I'm insane.. I LOVE THESE TYPES OF GIFTS. They delight me in ways you can't imagine! I get this from my Mom. She once received the most HEINOUS gift of all and we just DIED... It was..how do I explain? It was a doll...a big, plastic doll head..attached to a soft body with a flowing knit, crochet skirt that doubled as a Kleenex Kozy. In harvest gold & white. She had a lovely hat, parasol..very Southern Belle. Except her CORN ROWS with matching marigold ribbons. We christened her "Trampolina". Soon, Trampolina got passed around (as any Trampolina would ) and we never received her back. It's a shame, because she delighted us with her tackiness. Whenever anybody receives a "white elephant", part of my heart breaks. I think, "someone loved somebody enough to give them this". That's why I won't let them get trashed! Let me be the home for this stuff! I have some seriously tacky sh*t in storage. I can't begin to tell you how much I love it. Really.
	Submit to Quotes

09-27-2006, 02:42 PM	#40
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	Many years ago, my mom decided she wanted to try and see if she could paint. She was a big fan of the hippie on cable tv that painted "happy little trees" and such. So she got her supplies and produced exactly one painting, before deciding that it was ugly and that she had no artistic talent. Actually, my dad and I thought she did ok for her first try but she would have none of it. The painting sat in the back of her closet, covered in old clothes. When she died, it was one of a few things that I really wanted because, like others have mentioned, it was something that was created with her own hands. I didn't think I would ever display it, but I didn't want it thrown away. It sat in my closet for many years until one day when Matthew saw it and asked me about it. I told him the story and a few days later, he bought me a frame for it and for the first time ever, it was displayed for others to see. Surprisingly, there have been some positive comments about it over the years from people who have no idea who it was painted by. I can't help but smile when that happens. But realistically, to anyone who knows art, it is probably seen as a piece of crap. Still, it is priceless to me and I will continue to display it regardless of its artistic merit. It could have so easily been discarded and within a short time, I probably would have forgotten about it completely. Instead, it is one of the few tangible reminders that I have of her existence and I'm pretty thankful that I kept it. Now, as far as you are concerned, CP, you may never want to display any these items as I've done. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever. I would ask you to consider the underlying value of them however. Some day, you might just get a little joy from digging one of these out of a box and taking a trip down memory lane. At that time, I suspect that they might even look a little less ugly to you.
	Submit to Quotes