Top Ten Gifts for the Crafter in Your Life

People who make things seem to get a little more excited about the seasons than other people. They start earlier because they need time to gather materials and create and package. Often these talented people stay up long hours making beautiful gifts for others to enjoy while never giving a thought to what they might receive themselves.

So, what do you buy for someone who can almost always make what they need? Here are the top ten gifts for your resident artist:

1. Chocolate! Yes, crafters need something to fuel their creative genius through the midnight hours. During the holidays, chocolate comes in all manner of beautiful packaging for the discriminating consumer. Buy something that this scrumptious person in your life would never buy for him/herself. We're not talking a candy bar from the local convenience store here.

2. Supplies. Crafters can never have too many supplies. Fabric and trims, good scissors, pins, pincushions and thread, paper, glue, glitter, glazes and hole punches. Does your sweetie knit or crochet? There are luscious yarns that some knitters or crocheters will never purchase for themselves because it seems too expensive. Treat your fiber artist with a few skeins of these special yarns. Needleworkers would love embroidery needles of differing sizes or new patterns for stitching or perhaps frames for their masterpieces. Beads are always a winning choice, no matter the craft.

3. Magazine Subscription. Looking at the creations of other crafters and artists is very inspiring but often magazine subscriptions will not be bought by these dear people because they feel it's a selfish thing on which to spend their money. Take note of the magazines she devours in the bookstore and buy her a subscription. A couple of hot magazines at the moment are Cloth, Paper, Scissors and Marie Claire Idees.

4. Tea, Coffee or Hot Chocolate. People who create are known to stay up into the wee hours of the night. During these late night craft-a-thons, it's good to have a nice, hot drink available. It's also very nice on blustery cold days when your sweetie wants to curl up with a ball of yarn or maybe that great new craft magazine.

5. Digital Camera. This comes in handy, particularly if your crafter tends to give everything away. Sometimes it's hard to give away something you've made if it's a favorite but it helps to have a record of it. The pictures can be pulled out and admired while someone else enjoys the gift. Also, it's a great way to build a portfolio if your honey is thinking of going professional and making some money on this crafting venture.

6. Pro account with a photo storage site. One thing that makes crafting fun is sharing your creations with others. There are some great sites on the internet for storing your digital photos and sharing them with others who have similar interests. Flickr and Photobucket are two great examples. If you have an eager artist who is constantly creating new things, a pro account is in order so that there is plenty of space for uploading photos. There are other features as well, which allow for organization and fun display of his photos.

7. DVDs. It's always good to have a good movie going on while crafting.

8. CDs. Tunes are always a great choice. You probably know the type of music your crafter enjoys. Mix it up. Get a lot of artists in the genre she likes.

9. Biographies. If your friend is starting to think about marketing and selling his/her wares, it can be very helpful to read the biographies of others who were successful in doing the same. Anyone who started small and became a business success-meaning they can support themselves through the sale of their creations- is inspiring to the beginner.

10. Bath salts or oils. After a marathon crafting session, shoulders ache, wrists throb and muscles can be tense from being humped over a desk or sewing machine. A nice hot bath with a relaxing aroma and skin soothing oils can be just what the doctor ordered.

Any one of these, or any combination, would be appreciated by your personal artist/crafter. I know, because these things are all on my wish list.