Christmas Presents Ideas - Old school, heartfelt and inexpensive

Bottom left: Vintage Indian Cards found during my travels in Rajasthan. To right: vintage Japanese Cards bought during my trip to the Kiso Mountains in Nagano Province.

Christmas is a time to reconnect to friends and family, near and far. It’s a time to strengthen relationships that modern life craze often threaten to weaken. It’s a time to slow down, stop for a moment and spend a minute around the fire thinking about all the people that have touched our lives: those who have been gifts, those who have taught us lessons, those who we miss dearly, those who miss us.

Antique Brass Inkwell found in an antique shop in the UK. I love UK antique shops so much!

Fountain Pen - a present of my father during a trip to Florence some 25 years ago. It’s still my favourite pen to write my journal.

Antique brass candle holder bought in the UK.

We often hear talks about the commercialisation of the Christmas festivity. I am not here to deny it. Yet, I think there is so much more to it and at the end of the day it’s up to us what we make of it, regardless of the marketing plans the multinational have in store for us.

It’s often hard to show appreciation and thoughtfulness to all those whom we wish to send our love. It’s expensive and nerve-racking trying to think about something that can meaningful, not ordinary yet not too expensive; not too little but not too much either, cause we don’t want people to be embarrassed or feel obliged. Something for that person, that doesn’t stink anonymous and standardised, what I would call, a present “for the sake of it”. At least for me it’s so important. If I give a present, that ought to make the person receiving it feel special and loved. Otherwise I better save the effort and the money. I don’t want to be someone who is there “for the sake of it”.

Tuscan writing paper more than 30 year old. I keep this for very important correspondence.

Vintage Binocular with a small compass. Recent finding.

So, many of us, every year start going through the unnerving inner brainstorming on what to buy, get stuck in overcrowded stores that have just run out of exactly what you came for, spend hours online browsing and looking for inspiration while the answer is just there and we simply have forgotten about it.

An old school, handwritten card where we don’t only wish the person we are sending it to a Merry Christmas but maybe spend a couple of lines remembering what brought us together in the first place, recollect shared memories, say something meaningful. Do you know how marvellous could be to receive that on the other hand instead of just another something we actually don’t need?

Butterfly collection from Wiltshire sitting next to the Complete Work of William Wordsworth (1860 edition).

English china. My grandmother magnifying lens in leather… she used to keep it next to the washing machine to check the programs…

Well, all said, first, sit around the fire with a nice cup of tea, listen to some Christmas music and just spend some time looking at the Christmas tree’s lights going on and off. Hypnotic but very effective for inspiration and recollection. Then grab your best letter set or a postcard from one of the many exotic places you have visited. Find a beautiful pen to write with - yes, that’s important too when it comes to inspiration. Maybe lit a candle, go through the verses of a favourite poem and then write, heart in your palms, fingers light on the quill, thoughts and memories free flowing.

My favourite corner of the sitting room.

Kassie, always up and about.

Buy some stamps! Yes, do you remember them? Go to post the cards. It’s all part of the process. And then, wait for the emotional phone calls or messages that will thank you for such a thoughtful, simple and lovely Christmas gift, one of the like they haven’t received in a long time.

Merry Christmas to all. Wherever you are.

Photo of my grandmother looking like an Hollywood actress.

UK stamps from a few Christmas ago. I normally buy many so I can keep some for the future… it makes my letters even more nostalgic I feel.

Camel Bone pen holder from Jaisalmer, near the Pakistani border.