Homemade gifts, your real thoughts.

[Itsmychristmasdress]

I am making a picture for a friend for her birthday.
It's not professional looking at all. It's obvious it's home made should I just buy something instead?
Are home made gifts really shit?
Honestly?
Yabu. Yes shit. Buy something instead.
Yanbu. The thought always counts even if the finished product is not amazing.

Unless it's something that you have a talent for and know the person would like (eg good quality baking), I'd avoid it, I'm afraid. You'd likely end up putting a lot of energy into something that won't be received with the ecstatic praise you might hope for and then you could spend years awkwardly dancing around why it's not on display anywhere or worse, why you spotted it in a local charity shop. Then something that was meant to be nice just becomes a source of stress for you and the recipient.

I like edible homemade gifts, DHs cousin's wife is an amazing baker and I'd contemplate selling DC for her gingerbread. Friend also crochets and has made me some lovely things. So yes I think generally I do like homemade presents. I don't like tat in cellophane dressed up as a 'hamper' that's been bought from FB marketplace. That doesn't sound at all like what you're doing.
My gran's friend did me a lovely charcoal drawing of my beloved cat when he died and I absolutely treasure it

Usually I love handmade gifts. But art and ornaments are difficult - unless you are very good, its hard to say I'd really want to display it.

Home made gifts are shit.

I like homemade gifts if they’re nice! Particularly edible ones. Cakes or jam or something. Yes please.
I think I’d actually like a painting done by a friend. I have no artistic talent so most things look good to me. Even a passable attempt would get a spot on the wall and I’d think fondly of the friend every time I looked at it. (Disclaimer: if I started getting one every year I’d be less keen 😁)

What is so crap about it?

I really appreciate a homemade gift and the effort that goes into making it.
It somewhat depends on what it is and how good it is though. Toiletries or edible items that don’t last forever are always lovely. Something I’d be expected to have on display for the rest of my days (I know you’ve said you don’t expect her to display it though), I’d hugely appreciate it if it looked incredible, very much less so if it didn’t (although if made very clear I wasn’t expected to display I’d be happier!).

I'd love homemade cake or biscuits, jam would be amazing too.

I absolutely love homemade gifts, I've never had a painting but it'a a really nice idea. If I want something generic from a store I'll buy it myself. Homemade gifts are made with time and love and the fact that someone cares about you enough to use their time to craft something for you makes it so special.

I have lots of scarves and hats from knitting/crochet friends. And some wonky candles.

The most mental handmade thing I've had is a circular rug weaved together from fabric scraps. But I still use it, it reminds me of my lovely friend.

Depends on how good or bad it is, if it’s a painting. If it’s a subject that’s personal (a picture of her dog, for example, or a scene you know she loves) and you have enough skill to pull it off, even if it’s less than perfect, then it’s a great gift.

If you don’t really have any painting skills at all, not so much. All you’ll give her then is a headache trying to work out how she can get out of hanging it somewhere visible without hurting your feelings.

So it isn’t black and white. I have a painting a friend did and it isn’t perfect, but good enough that I’m happy to have it on my wall as it reminds me of her and I know it took time and effort. But it really comes down to quality.

Homemade jam, cake or a good hand knitted scarf or hat is always appreciated.

To be brutally frank it depends how good it is and if l wanted something like that in the first place.
I've got a fabulous crochet blanket from my SIL and some lovely lampwork earrings from another friend ( both of which l actually asked for ) but generally unless it's tasty or drinkable l'd rather you didn't bother!
Something handmade and a bit lame that you don't want but feel too guilty to get rid of - it's not really a great gift, is it?
Sorry!

It's pretty and I would like it in my house. But maybe it's too child like.

Is it child like as in a very simple design, or as in looking as if a child might have painted it?

Hope you can understand the difference I’m getting at.

How large is the painting? Does it represent something she wrote about?

I suppose it would be too outing to show us?

Can we see it?

No not showing it sorry, just in case
It's a 3d flower design.

Yes it's 3d like Phoebe's awful paintings in friends 🤣

I know what you mean..the first I hope.

It could potentially be done by a child butvthe outcome would be the same, if ya get me!

Generally no I wouldn't like a home made gift. I think often they are about the maker and what they want, rather than the recipient. But we are all different and according to this thread lots enjoy these gifts.

Not my thing really

I like homemade gifts that are good - I’ve had pottery, food and clothing gifts that have been homemade and absolutely fantastic. But they were all good enough to be sold at a craft fair.

Homemade gifts that look amateur hour (unless from my DC) not so much. I don’t really see how it’s the thought that counts here - it seems a fairly selfish thing to do rather than a generous thing. I have hobbies I love doing but I’m not very good at, if I made gifts for people instead of getting them something they’d actually have a use for, it’s me that gets the benefit of that, not the person I’m giving it to.

I would be touched you created it for me, would probably hang it up.

There's a funny episode of King of Queens that has the dilemma of recieving a bad portrait of themselves. (I'll link to it.) Flowers are quite inoffensive, I think keep touching it up and remember artists are self critical and often think their work is crap.

I like homemade gifts when it's something to eat or wear or use. But I don't generally like other people giving me stuff for my home unless they are really in tune with my taste.

I would absolutely love a picture that a friend had made. Honestly, I'd much prefer that to toiletries or a candle. I wish my friends made homemade gifts!
Your friend sounds like an arty person who will really appreciate it. Don't scrap it!

I don't think there's a generic answer, sorry. I think it's a very personal judgement about the individual receiving the gift. If you understand them well, then undoubtedly it'll be received as hoped.

If you're brave, you could invite honesty after presentation, take it on the chin and learn from it to fine tune your judgement. I do that with food, the main thing I gift randomly