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Yesteryear & Beyond

Much has been spun, many pretty phrases produced, packaged and repackaged, in an attempt to manufacture holiday spirit off the department store selves leaving the true spirit of the season trampled by product-driven consumer impulse.

So, what can be done to push back against the constant assault of buy fever mania, without forsaking the entire lot?

With a few fruit-filled words by way of a gift-giving-themed Saint Crispin's Day speech, here's the overall strategy and its defining tactics in the fight to return giving to the domain of the individual giver's creativity and resourcefulness.

And to that end, follow me now through the possibilities while remembering this. Stay out of the shopping malls, the department stores; turn a blind eye to name brands and factory outlets.

Follow, instead, the long tail of the on-line marketplace and the open arms of local community-based enterprise, for this year and those to come go inexpensive, homemade, and usefully creative in your gift giving efforts. The hype and bling of yesteryear will soon be gone for good.

Three women one from Forest Grove, one from Beaverton, and one from neighboring Hillsboro contributed their experience, their imagination, and their how-to knowledge to spice up this alternative gift guide.

Their tactics for guerrilla giving follow.

Make it yourself Crafts & Food

Holidays are for hearty, warm foodstuffs straight out of the kitchen and crafts from zany to practical made with whatever materials are available.

When shopping at the local farmers' markets, or gathering ingredients from a family garden, a handmade grocery bag is useful. These can be made from many previously used materials, like scrap fabrics, used plastic bags or even old t-shirts.

"Turn the t-shirt inside out, sew along the bottom edge, cut the armholes out and make the neck hole bigger," says Carrie Davis of Beaverton, "and it's a bag with the arm holes as straps."

Davis also suggests using leftover or salvaged Tyvek, or other weatherproofing material, for produce bags because it is air and water resistant, yet breathable and durable. Old pillowcases and used plastic bags (see sidebar for how-tos) are other favorites for use by Davis.

In a similar vein of reusing fabrics and clothing on hand, Jenn Edgar of Hillsboro, makes decal t-shirts from iron-on transfers and stencils.

"You can create your own stencils using contact paper or a thicker gauge plastic blank and a utility knife to cut a pattern," says Edgar. For more

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