We know it’s fun to watch your favorite holiday movies every year when the season rolls around again, but we also know that Christmas traditions involve much more than just parking in front of the TV to watch It’s a Wonderful Life again. For many people, the holidays also involve a lot of baking, decorating, and other crafts that the whole family can participate in.
Access Video On Demand, Infobase’s streaming video platform for public libraries, has just the thing to help inspire these creative souls: a series from BBC Worldwide Learning entitled Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas!
In this series, to kick off the festive season, beloved British television presenter and craft aficionado Kirstie Allsopp brings viewers everything she loves about Christmas. Each episode is one giant goodie bag featuring everything that’s joyful about crafting at Christmas. With bags of festive sparkle and Kirstie’s enthusiasm, this series is a treat for craft lovers and novices alike.
Here Are Just Some of the Episodes of Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas That Can Help Patrons (and Librarians Alike!) Get in the Right Spirit:
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas: 2018: Decorations (#202517)
Crafters compete to make the best decorations. There are also some big knits for Christmas and more.
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas: 2018: Stockings (#202525)
There’s a festive stocking challenge this time, some glamorous slippers, and a sweet crafter who sculpts with sugar.
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas: 2018: Table Dressing (#202526)
The Christmas table dressing competition includes handmade features and adornments, and a talented woodcarver makes some intricate wooden spoons.
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas: 2018: Trees (#202528)
Crafters do battle in the best decorated tree competition. There’s also an artisan with the Midas touch and more for a cozy Christmas.
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas: 2017: Christmas Wrapping (#202506)
Four talented crafters race to create show stopping wrapping against the clock, but only one will win the trophy.
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas: 2017: Festive Wreath (#202507)
The magical festive HQ plays host to Kirstie’s handmade wreath competition. Plus, Kirstie’s competition judges will be showing us how to create a gorgeous festive garland, and more.
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas: 2017: Gingerbread Houses (#202508)
Four talented bakers work against the clock to build and decorate their gingerbread masterpieces, while Kirstie’s competition judge teaches us the secrets of successful icing.
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas: 2017: Handmade Gifts (#202510)
Back at the magical festive HQ, Kirstie’s handmade gift competition is underway, plus Kirstie’s competition judges show us how to create the gift of greenery, while a super stitcher creates festive kidswear, and more.
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas: 2016: Luxury Christmas Fair (#202502)
Kirstie goes to the Waddesdon Manor Christmas Fair in Buckinghamshire, visiting the countless Christmas stalls stocking thousands of unique handmade culinary delights and handcrafted gifts.
Other episodes include making toys, cakes, gifts for pets, festive gift baskets (hampers), advent calendars, needlecraft and papercraft, and more!
So, this year, tell your patrons not just to watch Clark Griswold lose his temper while trying to get the Christmas lights to work. Tell them to watch Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas on Access Video On Demand for inspiration when they put up their own Christmas lights (hopefully, with less stress!), bake scrumptious gingerbread cookies, and make ornaments, wreaths, and other decorations that will bring back cheerful memories every time they hang them up.
What Is Access Video On Demand?
Access Video On Demand streaming video offers public libraries an expansive, patron-friendly collection of thousands of high-quality videos that complement and enhance your library’s content offerings. We bring your patrons exceptional content from around the world that they may never have had the opportunity to see: from Oscar®, Emmy®, and Peabody Award-winning documentaries, to how-to programs that make life easier and richer, top-quality performances spanning the arts, biographies of history-makers past and present, a variety of TV shows and movies, and more.
Try Access Video On Demand today!
See also:
- Holiday Movie Programming Ideas for Public Libraries
- 8 Movies Your Patrons Will Be Grateful for This Thanksgiving
- Case Study: Video Streaming Service Meets Library Patrons’ Multiple Needs for Entertainment, Research, and More
- Webinar: Build Strong E-Content Foundations at the Public Library
About the Authors
Patrice Keville (she/her) has worked in marketing and editorial capacities at library and education-focused companies for well over 15 years. Prior to working at Infobase, she was an Assistant Editor at the H.W. Wilson Company, where she worked on H.W. Wilson’s Core Collections (formerly Standard Catalogs); she was also Online Editor at Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Matthew.
Sharon Golan is Director of Content Licensing at Infobase. With over a decade of experience creating and licensing materials for the education market, she has a keen eye for high-quality, compelling content and enjoys working on films that employ this dynamic art form to educate and enrich audiences.
