| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| treelady |
Posted - Aug 28 2010 : 09:27:43 AM
With the leaves starting to change here and harvest in full swing, I have started to think of my christmas list again. So far this year I have made several cosmetic bags, crocheted 5 vingage looking twirly scarves, crocheted and knitted dishclothes, and embroidered a few dishtowels. Have lots more projects I want to complete but feel I have made a good start. I always have a bin to put completed projects in so at christmas I can pull it out and start wrapping. What is everyone else working on for christmas gifts, I would love new ideas!
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Violets November |
Posted - Sep 09 2010 : 8:20:24 PM
There are so many good ideas here. You all are so industrious and good time managers!
~Violet~
Farmgirl Sister #1669
My blog, http://hiddenacre.blogspot.com/
Our Organic Jewelry, http://www.etsy.com/shop/GaelicForge |
| Linder |
Posted - Sep 09 2010 : 07:53:25 AM
Oh Ladies!
If the sudden shift in the weather didn't inspire me to get going, your posts certainly did!
Megan, when my ex and I were starting out and were very, VERY poor, we started making gift baskets for our families. Like so many of you, I put up loads of preserves etc. and made gift baskets. My favorite one was a breakfast basket.
It consisted of homemade jams, syrups and canned fruit and a bag of dry pancake/waffle mix. Everybody loved it!
The secret? We went to costco and bought a ginormous bag of pancake mix and bagged it up individually for each family and wrote the instructions - "add water" or whatever. It was very inexpensive and we heard about how great that was for years!
This year, my goal is to just find time to create. I'd like to bake cookies for everyone and make mittens and scarfs out of felted wool and just enjoy life and putter, putter, putter!
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"
www.aweekendwife.blogspot.com |
| Bonnie Ellis |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 11:06:19 PM
I'm making a quilt for our bed, table runners and pillow cases as gifts. That ought to keep me busy. Love to hear what everyone is doing. Bonnie
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
| knittinchick |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 6:46:27 PM
Betty Jo, that sounds so cool! I'm going to make a cookbook this year, too!
God's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal.
The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work. |
| bjhuff |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 6:33:50 PM
I know that Christmas is around the corner and I am planning to finish up a project that was started a year ago--When I sent out Christmas letters I asked all family members to please write some sort of Christmas memories that they would like to share and so I am going to add to this a few family recipes along with some special ornaments I always send some sort of ornament with gifts homemade ones~~and put it together as a cookbook with the stories and pictures that I have and give out this year I have some special stories to add as well!!! Hope I explained this enough--FUN FUN FUN!!!!
***BettyJo**** |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 2:13:56 PM
Tonya, I am checking your blog every day to see all the good ideas there. Thank you for posting them. I am wanting to make all gifts this year too. I have all kinds of ideas for female gifts but not so many for the guys. I did get some really good suggestions from several of you great crafty farmgirls so far. I need to get busy now. I have started rag rugs. And dish clothes. And I need to make some scarves too. I need to relearn to knit so I can make beenies too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| dutchy |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 12:28:58 PM
Finished the scarf, it is looking SO cute, lol.
Now am in the process of knitting a cardy, just for me haha.
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
|
| OneCraftyBugger |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 12:09:33 PM
Im making hand made orniments for some and for others I am making baskets with diffrent home made pasteries and canned items.
Oh happy day! Farmgirl sister #1485
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheFeltedGnome
http://bellasaysitsso.blogspot.com/
http://theswappingcrafter.blogspot.com/ |
| Melina |
Posted - Sep 08 2010 : 06:42:26 AM
I'm embroidering kitchen towels with herb designs for my granddaughter and daughter and a couple of family friends. Another friend has commented favorably on my aprons, so maybe she will get an embroideried apron. I'm also thinking of crocheting a few swiffer socks as stocking stuffers. I love mine.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
| Hallie |
Posted - Sep 07 2010 : 10:13:52 AM
I like the way you ladies think. Tonya, your journal is such a sweet and thoughtful idea. Can you imagine someone journaling about what you'd like from September through December? The recipe book idea really nice and personal too.
And Liz, that's funny stuff. Personally, I think a man that can't cook or clean is pretty unattractive, so I guess I can sympathize with your friend. I mean, if he can't even cook for himself how's he supposed to cook for me? 
Hallie
Sister #1112
www.maryjanesfarm.tv |
| knittinchick |
Posted - Sep 04 2010 : 11:40:24 AM
Well, it seems I'm making a bunch of scarves, I'm going to maybe try my hand at making chocolate dipped pretzels, and then other miscellaneous items. Can't wait to get started!
God's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal.
The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work. |
| dutchy |
Posted - Sep 04 2010 : 04:47:24 AM
I am making myself a scarve, a cute pink one with some of the pompadoodle yarn I got :)
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
|
| knittingmomma |
Posted - Sep 04 2010 : 04:40:15 AM
Hi,
I have started working on knitted hats, crocheted personalized playing card holders, knit socks, embroidered felt candle mats, and more.
What has helped the most, however is starting a Handmade Holiday Journal. I have 2 pages per immediate family member and then one page for all else. Whenever an idea strikes, I just write it down - oh this helps so much!
I have started a Handmade Holiday group through my blog if anyone is interested. It is just to share ideas and motivation.
Warm wishes,
Tonya
Homemaking, Homesteading Mom of 6
http://plainandjoyfulliving.blogspot.com |
| Leilaht |
Posted - Sep 04 2010 : 03:45:41 AM
I did that for a wedding present last year! I made Sawson an apron and put the easiest recipes I could find in a pretty binder for her. She did not know how to cook at all. The couple is Chaldean and she always said her fiance didn't mind if she didn't know how to cook. I told her he would eventually. Guess who was right? He told her about a month before the wedding if she didn't learn to cook he was going to ship her to her mother's. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants.
Men are simple. Food and sex. I like them that way. No mystery. Women are complicated enough for both! LOL
Liz
Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Proverbs 31:25 |
| knittinchick |
Posted - Sep 02 2010 : 7:15:37 PM
Hallie, I actually already decided on one of my gifts. My aunt and uncle just got married, so obviously they are just starting out. So I'm going to get a bunch of family recipes from my friends and other family, and type it up into a cookbook for them!
God's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal.
The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work. |
| Hallie |
Posted - Sep 02 2010 : 09:30:46 AM
At least we still have time, Megan!
I love all of these ideas. Maybe I will be able to do a 100% homemade gifts this year.
Hallie
Sister #1112
www.maryjanesfarm.tv |
| knittinchick |
Posted - Sep 01 2010 : 9:01:14 PM
Thanks Hallie! I might make everyone scarves, I don't know yet!
God's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal.
The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work. |
| Leilaht |
Posted - Sep 01 2010 : 2:24:57 PM
Started a log cabin afghan for my son (again! He got the last one too close to the rat cage while I was still working on it). I am making hanging dishtowels for all my lady friends this year. I found a pattern for some crocheted gourds and squash. I plan to make some for a dandelion I know. She likes gourds. Probably making jammie pants and bags for the girls again this year.
Liz
Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Proverbs 31:25 |
| Violets November |
Posted - Sep 01 2010 : 1:56:49 PM
You gals have some great ideas, I wish I could make the time to do more.
I just love some of the ideas I read here, like chef's hats and the date books 2!
~Violet~
Farmgirl Sister #1669
My blog, http://hiddenacre.blogspot.com/
Our Organic Jewelry, http://www.etsy.com/shop/GaelicForge |
| urban chickie |
Posted - Aug 30 2010 : 3:23:23 PM
I started making handcrafted gifts back when I was in college, feeling semi-grown up but broke as heck LOL. It started with food baskets. My family is obsessed with food (so say outsides!) but they all have their specialties, mostly savory but mine is sweet, so that always worked. The first year I could afford "real" presents, I was SO proud of myself!! I never give gifts just to give, they have to mean something to me or at least to the receiver, something I KNOW they will want. Imagine how deflated I was when everyone politely thanked me but questioned where the goodie baskets were that year?!? Now my crafting has expanded and I can make a lot more things so they no longer mind getting non-food gifts LOL. Thankfully, though almost no one in my family does any crafting, they are all very appreciative of the work do.
This Christmas, I am aiming to make my first bed sized quilts for the four kids, my aunt and my dad. Will also be my first attempts at machine quilting. Three tops are pieced so I really need to get going on that one! Cousins will most likely get jewelry, I haven't made anyone any in a few years. Friends get misc craftings.....
Catherine
Farmgirl #1370
City Girl By Birth,
Suburbanite By Location,
Farmgirl at Heart
|
| Hallie |
Posted - Aug 30 2010 : 1:21:24 PM
What good ideas! I haven't started anything yet, but my good friend made a bunch of shawls last year from pretty fabrics she'd found.
Megan, for inexpensive ideas, I think unraveling an old sweater and knitting it up into small things like mittens or a scarf would be really sweet. Sometimes you can get sweaters with fabulous yarns at thrift shops for next to nothing because they are stained or torn, but they still make great yarn.
Hallie
Sister #1112
www.maryjanesfarm.tv |
| vintagediva1 |
Posted - Aug 30 2010 : 07:21:41 AM
I've been making lots of jams and salsas for gift baskets. I'm planning to make some assorted spice blends and rubs for gifts, so if anyone has some good recipes for those, let me know.
Also, sewing up a storm. Trying to locate a Simplicity pattern for a child's throw made of polar fleece and looks like "Nemo"
Handmade Christmas is so much fun.
Michele
www.2vintagedivas.etsy.com
www.sissyandsisterstitch.etsy.com
www.sissyandsisterstitch.artfire.com
Love that good ole vintage junk |
| laurentany |
Posted - Aug 29 2010 : 9:01:03 PM
I am teaching myself to crochet again (my grandma taught me when I was a little girl) so that I can make some scarves etc. I'm currently working on my 1st afghan.
I am also in the process of collecting seeds from the garden to package as part of some Christmas presents.
I would like to try my hand at canning some items from the garden as well so that I can make some baskets up.
I would truly love for this Christmas to be a "handmade" one. I cant stand how commercial it has become and every year we all say "its ridiculous and we're gonna cut back" but no one ever does.
I want to be the "change" this year and bring back the true meaning of the season!
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister #1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| JessieMae |
Posted - Aug 29 2010 : 8:57:35 PM
It's funny you bring up this topic; just this morning I went downstairs to hunt for a quilt pattern that uses hankies. Grandma gave me a whole bag of vintage hankies when she downsized to a senior apartment a few years back, and I've decided to pick a few of the prettiest to make a quilt for her Christmas present this year. It's only the second quilt I've ever attempted - the first being a beginner's kit from Jo-Ann's - so expect to see LOTS of quilting questions on the board over the next few months!
Jessie Mae
Farmgirl Sisterhood #134 |
| PilgrimSoul |
Posted - Aug 29 2010 : 07:26:11 AM
While I'd love to craft things for Christmas, I'm just not good at anything like that yet. So, I'll be making gift baskets with my jams, fruit butters, and some homemade bread and crackers. |
