Willow Glen Resident
News
Photograph by Vicki Thompson
Personal Touch: Work of the Heart owner Andrea Chebeleu creates a set of holiday gift tags. Customers can make personalized gift cards, tags and scrapbooks to enhance their presents.
Handmade gifts add special touch
By Alicia Upano
The malls are packed with people scouring stores for holiday gifts, but Willow Glen merchants say the perfect gift is a lot closer to home.
Local businesses and residents are encouraging people to have a crafty little Christmas, and add do-it-yourself flair to make gifts unique and memorable.
At A Work of Heart on Willow Street, residents can find paper galore. It may be scrapbooker heaven, but owner Andrea Chebeleu says there's something for everyone.
Chebeleu's open studio on Wednesday nights is holiday-themed. She invites people to come in to make gifts or personalize store-bought ones.
"Pretty paper makes everything look nice," she says.
Chebeleu says people are often overwhelmed by the idea of making their own gifts, or believe they can't take the time during the frantic pace of the holiday season.
"If I spent 15 minutes making a card, I feel that's so much more meaningful," Chebeleu says.
Like gift cards, there are other easy gifts or gift embellishments that can made, including homemade gift tags, place settings for holiday meals, paper coverings for hot cocoa and cookie tins, or making calendars with family photos for each upcoming month.
During the Wednesday studio time, people can use an array of holiday stamps, punches and stickers. With these tools, the whole family can decorate gift bags, tissue paper and butcher paper for one-of-a-kind wrapping.
Willow Glen resident Jennifer Wyss is an avid scrapbooker who likes to create scrapbooks for her husband and 2-year-old daughter. She also gives away home-baked biscotti.
In order to find the time, Wyss relies on multi-tasking, such as stamping paper while watching television, or applying glitter while checking email.
Another resident, Breeta Toma, says making crafts is another way to relax. Toma, who makes beaded jewelry, is also making labels for tea gifts.
"There's something about it that's so satisfying. Some people exercise, some people meditate--it's something along those lines for me," Toma says. "You shut off your analytical brain and turn on your creative side."
At Arthouse Kids on Lincoln Avenue, children get the chance to try their creative hand at gift-making.
The store has holiday classes Dec. 12-14. There is Little Picassos, a parent-and-child course for 2- to 4-year-olds, and the guided holiday crafts for 5- to 12-year-olds. Their gifts include stuffed animals, picture frames and felt bags.
Arthouse Kids co-owner Marylea Adams says children get to pick the projects they want to make and exercise their self-expression.
"The kids and the parents are so excited about what they've made," Adams says. Her students frequently want to hide their gifts from their parents so they can surprise them on the holiday.
Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge on Lincoln Avenue offers another fun way for the whole family to create gifts or just spend time together. Manager Faith Reyes says families come in to make gifts. Children frequently make mugs for their grandparents, and the store offers a variety of seasonal ceramics such as snowmen, penguins, holiday tree plates, candy dishes and Santa mugs.
Anastasia Zafiris came into Petroglyph to relax in early December. She began painting a vase and realized it would be a wonderful Christmas present.
"It's a little more heartfelt," Reyes says. "It gives you the opportunity to make something special."
Colorful Time: During a Network Appliance executive administration holiday party, Jenny First (left) and Dottie Ornduff paint ceramics at Petroglyph. Customers often come in to make gifts. Ceramic horses (below) wait to be painted.
