54 replies to this topic

[RusticOkie]

Ack! My Dh's family is that way and it makes me nuts.

My SIL did her Christmas shopping last year on Christmas Eve! There is no way I could handle that.

It definitely saves a lot to shop early.

[kyles mom]

I found some nice fleece on sale, so I bought enough to make several of the large fleece tie blankets. Hopefully, I can make them as I go instead of waiting till November.

[RusticOkie]

I love those fleece blankets. But I hate tying the knots, they seem to take me forever. My little sister makes them for people though.

Make sure you post pics as you get them completed so we can see your work!

[Snowmom]

I have a lot of material that I bought to make place mats, now it is just getting down there and working on them. Some of the material I got a couple years ago thinking I would start on the. Oh well, one of these days I will be in the mood.

I also have a blanket to get made for our youngest grandson. I would like to have it made for Christmas this year. He is 7 months old now.

[Bellapink]

I am! My best friend and I encourage each other and find sales together. Hubby and I just decided on how many gifts for each kiddo and we broke them down by category, I have at least 2 done for each kid. I watch the sales and have been making things as well. Pulled out my sewing machine to learn how to use it, hoping to be able to make some simple blankets for some of the kiddos in our families.

[serendipity]

I am now, too.

I picked up 2 alarm clocks on clearance the other day for my dd's. They each need one.

It's a start!

[mommato3boys]

I know I know it is only 167 days away but I am being an

I guess I will have to start thinking about it next month after school starts back. This maybe very well be the last Christmas with my mom so we are all going to be at her house for Christmas.

Whatever it is will be small since we will have to travel we are planning on $5 a gallon for gass.

[mommato3boys]

Okay so you guys got me to thinking. I am going to make fleece tie throws for the guys in the extended family and painted cake takers for the gals in the extended family

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Find the cake takers are the thrift store bleach them then paint them... cheap gift that looks like you paid big $$$ for

[JCK88]

We decided on home made gifts (or write a poem or story--)

I like the cake taker idea, that is cute! I am woodburning a design on the lid of a pie basket for my MIL who last year mentioned she always wanted one...but I wanted it to be personal.

For DD, we are painting her room and furniture new colors and I am sewing decor items to go with it.

For dh, I am finishing up a civil War quilt for reenacting and cross-stitching a tiny fiddle on a polo shirt.

It's going to be that simple. I have spoken! LOL

[Bellapink]

The caketaker is GORGEOUS, love that idea! Anyone wanting to barter gifts. I make jewelry.

[funkyducky]

Last week I got a couple of jewelry things on clearance for my daughters. They're small jewelry box things with a few pairs of earrings and they were only $4 each, way way marked down from whatever they were before. ($20 full price IIRC)

[stacey]

Thinking about the economically hard times being experienced right now, I'm inclined to make/buy gifts that are "practical" instead of luxury. I know this isn't as much fun, but may be good later on. With that thought, this week, I went searching for a darning egg for myself. Once I found one, I bought more to give to my Mom and sister - you just never know what you may need.

[arby]

I definitely think shopping bags, and more practical items are good to make for christmas. Easy to ship too if you have friends and relatives in other places you won't be going this Holiday season. What about drycanned soup mixes and things like that? Many of you can and such, knit, quilt... sew...
I have friends here in my area that I would like to make some gifts for. I am thinking some homemade votive candles in a few different scents and some personalized shopping bags I can work on this year partly at mha with the art supplies. Cooking aprons don't take much material. One could do a crazy quilt cooking apron even, with scraps of cloth. Get some theme material for the back.
I don't know if a regular sewing machine can handle the furry material, or I would make some throws in various themes for a few of my friends.

[Cat]

I thought of Christmas, but not homemade *this time*.

I was at Sam's Club last weekend and they had "Wall-E" remote-control toys for sale. I went back yesterday and couldn't find one! One very nice clerk helped me find the very last one!!

DD loved the movie and hasn't seen this toy yet. She's gonna LOVE it for Christmas!!!

Probably the only NON-practical gift I'll buy this year!

[Peg]

What was I thinking????? I decided "Oh quilts will make great gifts." I've never made a quilt in my life. Probably not a great plan, I managed to sew the front of the first one together, 6 inch squares. Again, what was I thinking??? My gramma thought it was a beautiful quilt and she is sure that my mom and dad will love. I need to find other gifts instead of quilts.

[Violet]

I am working on it, too. I have some gifts already boughten. I am going to make some reversible aprons,too. I would like to sew some to sell,too. Cloth napkins, also. Fabric grocery bags. Things like that.
The cake takers are nice. You can do them cheaper than that and be really cute, too.

[Cat]

You can probably sell the fabric bags best by making sure they are *washable*.

Those ones the grocery store sells might be "rinse-able", but I don't know if they'd stand up to washing.

[Violet]

Mine are washable, from drapery weight fabric, not just calico. They are thicker fabric. Mine also have sides sewn so they will open up like a paper bag, but with handles. Very pretty fabrics I have used. They hold a lot ! I was amazed the first time I took them to the store as to how much they hold. If I wanted I could add something to the bottom to make them more solid in the bottom when open, but these fold up so nicely, too, the way I have designed them.
The ones from the store shred, at least that is what I was told by folks who tried washing them.
I hope to sew table runners, too.

[Cat]

I've wondered if plastic canvas would hold up to washing (gentle cycle?), totally enclosed in the bottom.

I've also decided I'd make the handles go entirely under the bag for stronger support.


Can you tell I've given this project thought for some time?? LOL

[Violet]

I am not sure it would go through the dryer without warping, I don't know. I want to wash and dry mine in the machine. It doesn't bother me that they are soft. They hold a lot.