Anyone making Christmas gifts this year?

because i make jewelry, i am going to make my daughter a necklace and matching bracelet, i have a few pieces of garnet which is her birthstone to use as the "gems" in the pieces.. they are rough cut, but.. she will like them I am sure.

for hubby.. i started cross stitching a light house sampler for him.. it has about 20 different light houses and i am stitching each one on individual squares, my daughter who I have taught to cross stitch is going to help me finish it and then we are going to stitch the finished squares onto a soft blanket as a throw for him.

i am making bracelets for my two grandchildren with their names on them and for my son, i will make him a key chain or something like that... I dont know if he and his wife have seperated, I know that was the plan but I will still make her something.

for the church i will make Christmas cookies for the night of the christmas play.. and that is pretty much it.. we are a very small family... the rest of my family does not celebrate any holidays nor do they have anything to do with us and my husbands family is all deceased..

hugs
Lynn in Texas

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If you want to make GOD laugh, tell him Your plans.

These are wonderful ideas. Now here's a question: For those of us who have relatives and friends on our list who are expecting something from Nordstrom, what is a tactful way of letting them know (1) that you do not expect an expensive store-bought gift, and (2) they are not going to get one. I'd like to do this in a way that does not stir a year-long controversy about my being "cheap," since the reality is that a handful of them are not going to "get it" . . .

For our families I am making rag time quilts and gift baskets of soaps and jellies. For the neighbors I make cookies and candies and drop off a plate to each of them. Makes the holiday fun. Dawn

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'This too shall pass'

I have been crocheting hats and scarves. Everyone will get one of those (I'll need 27, my fingers are aching thinking about it!!!) and I have some huckleberry jam left for some people, and canned salmon (because it is free and plentiful here). I may have some canned crab for a few... flannel pajamas for my partner and new slippers. I also do coupons for people. "this coupon entitles the bearer to 4 hours babysitting in my home" or some such thing. Free, but very useful.


"Now here's a question: For those of us who have relatives and friends on our list who are expecting something from Nordstrom, what is a tactful way of letting them know (1) that you do not expect an expensive store-bought gift, and (2) they are not going to get one. I'd like to do this in a way that does not stir a year-long controversy about my being "cheap," since the reality is that a handful of them are not going to "get it" . . ."

I don't tell them in a tactful way. I give my gift and expect people to have the grace to accept it in a civilized manner. Like I do when I receive a gift. If then they ask why they are getting what I gave them instead of what they expected, I tell them that I don't do 'those kinds of presents' and that i would rather give AND recieve things that people have put their hearts into rather than stuff that people have gone to walmart for. If the don't like their hat (or whatever) they can freely give it to charity -my feelings won't be hurt, but they won't get a gift next year. Not as punishment, but because a) I don't buy gifts - period, b) I'm not going to make something for someone who doesn't want it.

now, I have been known to give people options too "Would you rather have socks, a hat & scarf, slippers, or a can of jam?" If I think that they are difficult.

If they think I'm cheap - I think they are extravagant. Who cares what they think.

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Wonderful ideas!! Great gifts but when will you all post your recipes for the bath salts, goats milk soap, cookies in a jar and all those other great things? Please?????? It could be on another post!

This year I am making knitted scraves, ear warmers and mittens for the girls/ ladies and fellows will be getting 'skull' caps and socks. We draw names at IL so we only have to buy two gifts... They don't want to do the homemade gift thing!

we stopped the igft giving a few years back except for the little children. We rent a chalet in the smokies a couple of weeks before chirstmas and the whole family goes. Last year we had 17, this year 15. We spend the time together. Lots of laughter and shared memories. And of course a ton of food. Everyone really enjoys this.

Boy you folks are really creative! I can see that you work on making Christmas gifts all during the year. I plan to do that if I ever get done with college! Last year I made a padded second seat for an ATV, a leather bull dozer seat replacement, some slippers, and several lodgepole pine coat racks. This year I have done nothing except try and keep up with school! I don't cook and seldom bake so food is kind of out of the question. (if i made it folks would know enough not to eat it! LOL) So here I am , mid November, pretty broke and no ideas or much time. Maybe I will just write letters full of their good points or make awards for folks and frame them?

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www.MontanaSticksAndStones.com at Goshen Farm

I won't really be making Christmas presents so much as relying on Mother Nature and a little electricity.

IOW, I know I'm giving home roasted coffee and giant moonflower seeds. And I'd originally intended to give loofah I grew out front but the loofah aren't turning quickly enough. So home roasted coffee and giant moonflower seeds it is.