AisleDash

When it comes to wedding gifts, it's always safe to stick to the registry, but some of the nicest gifts can't be found at a department store. One of the best things about getting married or having babies in my family is all the handmade, heirloom quality gifts you'll receive from all the craftsmen in our family tree, like the hand-stitched quilts, the knitted baby blankets, the delicately crocheted doilies, the cross-stitched pillows, the custom pottery, and hand-carved wooden furniture.

Not everyone is an artist in the traditional sense, but most of us have crafting hobbies that can be put toward gifts that will be treasured for several lifetimes.

If you enjoy crafts, why not turn your hobby into something that will become a family heirloom? You may only be 27 now, but one day that blanket will be "the quilt your great aunt made for your grandmother's wedding gift." In fact, almost all of the handmade, treasured heirlooms in my family began as wedding gifts. The bride and groom will love their KitchenAid mixer, no doubt, but it's the handmade items that will be passed down and cherished for generations.