| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| MustangSuzie |
Posted - Oct 03 2006 : 09:38:30 AM
Hello everyone
I was just wondering what your thoughts were on a simple/frugal Christmas and what you may being doing to achieve that. I have started shopping for my kids already..picked up an unopened, new board game at a yard sale for $1 and I picked up some nice baskets to give away as gifts to other families (full of homemade candy and goodies).
Sarah |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Woodswoman |
Posted - Nov 20 2006 : 3:43:25 PM
Hello-
At the school where I teach, we teach as a "team" of teachers-5 of us. In the past we have done gifts, but this year we decided to NOT do gifts for each other, and instead are donating the money to the Breast Cancer Society in the name of one of the teachers wives who was treated for breast cancer this past year (she is doing quite well now).
Jennifer |
| kitchensqueen |
Posted - Oct 29 2006 : 09:38:11 AM
I think a simple Christmas is the only way to go. It really speaks more to the spirit of the season to be thoughtful about the material aspects of the holiday. For gifts, we exchange gifts only with people we know intimately (family and close friends). I have a list of each of their interests/hobbies and am on the lookout throughout the year at thrift stores and yard sales for items that fit. I'm also a big fan of home made gifts. I put a lot of thought into what I'm giving each person, and try to avoid trinket gifts and stuff they won't use or will toss out in a year.
From the home decorating standpoint, we keep it simple as well. We do lots of candles, and I have some treasured decorations (like wall plaques and our nutcracker collection) that we've collected over the years. My husband and I are both really into nutcrackers, so we've made it a tradition to purchase a new one every year. I also decorate with hand made holiday items like pine swags and pinecone crafts. Our one splurge item is vintage and vintage-style glass ornaments (the German hand-blown figure types). We lucked out when we got married and got a nice set as a wedding gift. We don't have many for our tree, but we look forward to building up our collection over the years and adding to our tree-- much more meaningful to us than buying a pre-packaged ornament set at the store!
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 11:16:29 AM
Laura--
That sounds like such a great idea....it must be so great to have a guy that can do that stuff, even if he isn't handy! My hubby, I love him dearly, but I know his limitations--the handy part is one of them, but the other part is the execution. Even if it's something he really wants done, and CAN do it, he won't do it himself, and would rather pay someone to do it. I could probably frame, I think, so maybe I'll look into the classes. I know our local hobby lobby is lousy with frames and the stuff you need--thanks for the suggestion. I may just head over there this evening and get a jump on it!
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
| summerbreeze |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 10:44:09 AM
Jonni,
Framing is so expensive. My husband took a class at the local community art school. It was a two day class. We were able to find all the supplies on ebay for about $250, the class her took was $50. He has been able to do the most beautiful custom framing. It is a really simple process once you know how. For about $20-$25 he is able to do the most beautiful work that would have cost hundreds if taken to a frame store. My husband is not a crafty person. He is a great protographer and we were looking for a less expensive way to frame his stuff.
Laura
You only live once,if you do it right once is enough. |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 08:02:56 AM
These suggestions are so wonderful!!!! We don't have children yet, but we do have a niece and nephew, and we like to spoil them, though our niece is just now turning 2, and our nephew is only 4 mos. old. I am an only child, and my mother always went out of her way for my christmases. I know we didn't have much money. She had a terrible childhood (and some sister envy), so she made sure I never wanted for much. I tend to be the same way for everyone around me (except my childhood was grand), but this year (and for the past few), I've just been overwhelmed with the commercialism, and the senseless debt of the holidays. This year, in particular, we've spent a great deal of money remodelling our back to bedrooms (which have been in a "transitional gutted" state for several years) and my husband just isn't making very much money, so I mentioned last week that we should only buy for family (and make the gifts personal, even handmade if possible) and then spend the money that we would have spent on more "stuff" for each other, to get our art collection that we've been picking up over the years framed for our new rooms. My husband really liked that idea, because we've been in a constant state of limbo for so long, it feels like a goal, and a deadline. I hope that doesn't sound too selfish. I usually shop for the people in my office, but I think this year, I'll give homemade prailines. I find that I pressure myself to be so perfect around Christmas--find the perfect gift, make the perfect meal--as if folks are going to like me less, and it's exhausting, and really straps us for cash. Wow! Writing this just makes me admit that my "christmas pressure" is a result of insecurity  ... Anyway, I'm going to read through these again, to make some mental notes about how to make this holiday better in so many ways!!!
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
| MustangSuzie |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 07:48:19 AM
That is really sweet Marianne. I still remember my grandma would give us underwear each Christmas wrapped in cracker boxes and the like. I am a single mother myself right now and I refuse this year to spend wildly or go into debt for Christmas. I think handmade gifts are really special and show some thought was put into it.
Sarah |
| Mari-dahlia |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 05:52:25 AM
My husband doesn't understand the big deal over the gift thing at Christmas. WE give gifts to pretty much everyone. My neighbors get someting I made, usually a basket with homemade items with little things I may have done all year.
When I was pennyless and raising two kids alone, I wrapped everything, socks, underwear, etc... I did not buy these things and give them to them just because they needed them, I saved all of the normal necessities until Christmas. I also wrapped paper, cardboard, colored paper, crayons and anything else I saved all year.
The kids made all of the ornaments for the tree, mostly from natural things we found outside and they also made a small village to go with the tree. The houses and buildings either made out of sticks and stuff combined with garage sale items and hand-me-downs. We made garland from the pinetrees in the yard to decorate the rest of the house.
I have never really thought about it until now, how great that time was compared to now. Now, I decorate alone and can buy everything even the garland. I still make the neighbors gifts. "Isn't it the thought that counts", nothing says thought more than a homemade gift.
My sister still has the dollhouse my brother and I made her when we were 10 and 12. We used hand saws and got reminent pieces of tile and wallpaper from tile and paper stores. We went in the store and told them what we were doing and people just gave us stuff.
Marianne |
| Horseyrider |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 05:07:37 AM
It really warmed my heart to read about your Christmases and your ideas. I'm at a place in my life where I can afford just about anything I want, so the things that mean the most to me are the things lovingly made by hand. I like to think that as the person was crafting these items, that they thought good thoughts about me, and about how I would enjoy their gift. Handmade gifts are the best.
I've also decided to simplify more this Christmas. When the grandkids were little, I gave them lots of stuff. Then I realized that I was essentially burying them in their little apartment! And not all the stuff got played with. This year I'm going even more toward Legos and old fashioned gifts such as board games and books. They give a lot of return for the money and the space. Of course I'll do the traditional boring Grandma gifts like pajamas, jeans, and socks. But sometimes less is really more, and individual gifts are much more appreciated.
I have to tell you one that my grandsons really liked recently. The farmers are right in the throes of harvest around here, and the corn came out of the field in back of the house. The boys and I walked the field recently, coming up with choice cobs. We brought them back and hubby sawed them into discs about 3/4 inch high. You'll need 26 circles. Some got a red dot of magic marker some got black; my older grandson helped me, and we carefully drew crowns on one side of each. Voila, a game of checkers! One of my tabletops has a checkers board cut on it, and we play on that. Both boys are delighted, especially the seven year old; he's all about board games. I already had the table, so the price was free.
Thanks so much for all your great ideas! I hope to use quite a few of them, and I hope to get even more! I'll be checking back on this thread occasionally as the holidays draw near. You're really getting me in the holiday spirit; thanks! |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 10:07:49 PM
Reading all these comments about Christmas traditions reminds me of my mother-in-law. She was a wonderful woman and loved the holidays. She always gave the best gifts. One thing she did was take a shoe box and fill it full of all kinds of things for the children depending on age. Similar to the stocking idea. there would be stickers, hair clips, pencils, erasers, sharpeners tiny dolls , the list goes on. And to top it off they had a wonderful storage box to use.
Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance! |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 9:26:53 PM
We had an unusual childhood, but I wouldn't trade it for anyone else's. It wasn't that it wasn't fun, but just that money was often tight and sometimes things were inconvenient, esp. by today's standards. But we didn't miss these things because we didn't know about them.
We didn't have television (by choice - my dad's) and so we were forced to be creative, which I think was very helpful and gave us valuable skills... Luckily for my dad, we weren't deluged with toy ads at Christmas.
It's funny but we created traditions when we didn't have any of our own. I think it may have been because of the area where I lived (in Tidewater Virginia) is very rich in colonial traditions, esp. in regards to Christmas.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| blueroses |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 4:42:49 PM
Erin,
How beautiful. I know it wasn't fun when you were younger, but coming up with the stocking idea was a wonderful way to share with each other and show your love.
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 4:11:24 PM
After my parents split up and us girls stayed with my dad, Christmas was always a challenge. Presents from the rest of the family were rare and so our Christmases were, by nature, simple affairs. Presents from my dad were usually books relating to something we each enjoyed, as he didn’t enjoy shopping at all. And filling up Christmas stockings, for my dad, was the hardest part of Christmas. Usually we got some nuts, fruits and some simple candies. Maybe a candy cane or two. A full stocking was a extremely rare occurrence and we always felt bad for my dad as it must have been such a tough time of the year for him.
Between us girls, exchanging gifts was even more frustrating and disappointing, as there was little opportunity to earn money throughout the year and nowhere to spend it once we did earn some. So we had to make all our presents. This, to us kids, was a lot harder than it sounds.
One year, when we were in high school, my sisters and I received a set of Christmas stockings from a friend’s mom. In these stockings, she had put the most intriguing little gifts. While I don’t remember exactly what they were, I do know that it started one of my all-time favorite Christmas traditions.
My sisters and I decided to use whatever money we earned over the year to find the “coolest, most unusual, creative” stocking stuffers we could find. We could buy them, make them, trade for them – whatever… but the idea was to see what sort of treasures we could collect. And we had the entire year to collect them. This sparked the most amazing treasure hunt that lasted for years and years…
All throughout the year, we would pick up an item here, an item there, and each of us had a secret stash of gifts hidden somewhere in the house. Every Christmas eve, we would sneak down with our buckets or boxes of tiny wrapped treasures to stuff in the stockings, each of us getting to “play Santa” – even if just for a little bit.
Even my dad got into the “hunt”… Some of the best gifts were the ones that my Dad added after we had all stuffed our gifts into the stockings with the candy and fruit.
And while many of the gifts are long gone… there are still a few “favorites” that have been gathering dust in my “Treasure box” all these years. (I’m actually starting to gift them to my nephews now that they are old enough to appreciate them.)
For us, I think, the giving was as important as receiving because of the challenge it presented. And it created a sense of family sharing, as we all shared the role of Santa...
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| summerbreeze |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 12:03:02 PM
I got fed up a few years ago with all the "must do's" of the holiday season. I read two fantastic books from the library "unplug the Christmas machine" by Jo Robinson and Celebrate Simply by Nancy Twigg. The first thing I did was take a good look at all of the family and friends on my holiday list. I then decided to cut the list in half. Several months before the holiday season began I called everyone that I was taking off my list and explained to them I was overwhelmed by all the "must do's" durning the holiday and explained to them I would much rather exchange cards. All but one of the people felt the same way I did but didn't know how to bring up the subject and was glad that I did.
For most of my friends and family I now exchange a personalized "family ornament". Last year I picked a santa with his list. Each family member was listed on santa's list the year was on his hat. I signed the back with a special message with a sharpie marker. Most of the ornament cost less than $15 and everyone looks so forward to them. I order them online and save the trip to the mall. Here are the two web site I usually use:
ornamentswithlove.com and dough-si-dough.com
for neighbors I make my lemon cake that is always a huge hit. Last year I found a great recipe for dog cookies, they were a huge hit.
For friends and family birthday's, I spend the summer months at the farmer's markets shopping for items. I stock up so I don't have to make a last minute trip to the store that usually ends up costing me too much. I also feel great about supporting the local cottage industry.
Laura
You only live once,if you do it right once is enough. |
| JenniferJuniper |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 10:21:00 AM
The crowns consist of a simple garter stitch done on dpns in the round. It would be a good 1st project on dpns. Try it! |
| BlueApple |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 08:58:50 AM
Jennifer, I saw that pattern on the website...is it difficult? I'm a fairly new knitter. Looked very cute!
Julia
BlueApple Farm |
| JenniferJuniper |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 06:48:08 AM
My large extended family has always preferred handmade presents, even if they are not the makers: a few times a year the "girls" get together and go to craft shows. The outings are more fun than the actual shopping.
I always make presents; this year it's tote bags. My grandmother passed on 12/26 last year & I inherited a lot of her quilting fabric. Christmas will be difficult this year as you can imagine, but I think everyone will like to have a tote knowing that it was made from Grandma's quilts-that-never-were.
I don't have children of my own but lots of young cousins, nieces/nephews, and friends with kids. Throughout the year I peruse the clearance shelves at the bookstores and pick up children's books . I sew doll clothes and sew/knit dress-up play items. This year, all the kids are getting "Make Believe Crowns" (the free knitting pattern is at www.interweave.com) for playtime. I've knit 5 crowns from one ball of yarn already.
My favorite tradition is that my hubby & I also "adopt" a child from the Angel Tree and purchase the necessities, plus 1 or 2 toys. This is the only time of year I will set foot in a mall. We get an older child because they always seem to be the last picked. Neither of us needs anything, so we put out effort & money into the Angel, and make a day of it. |
| katiedid |
Posted - Oct 07 2006 : 10:09:25 PM
You FarmGirls have some great ideas! We are doing a handmade holiday this year..not really because of not having money, we are blessed this year...but because I am sick and tired of seeing what an over-commercialized mess Christmas has become!
We went to Sears on Thursday to have our car worked on and walked around the store while we waited...It was the first week of October..we were looking at the Halloween/harvest/autumn decor and I was so surprised to see Christmas stuff everywhere!!
I want our holiday to be more about family, traditions, love and Christ...not toys, and junk! Last year we spent a bunch of money on toys that our kids never really played with!!
I am going to make alot of it myself, or trade with friend/farmgirls...or pay them with money...but I want alot of our stuff to be handmade.
Kate
my new blog http/www.theknifemakerswife.wordpress.com |
| Libbie |
Posted - Oct 06 2006 : 10:04:27 PM
I have loved reading each and every one of your Christmas and holiday ideas. I am looking forward to a very simple Christmas this year. My little guys will each get one gift and a stocking from Santa - they're so young that one is really enough - and I'm trying to decide which of your wonderful ideas I'm going to use for friends and relatives --- Thank you!!!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| suzyhomemaker |
Posted - Oct 05 2006 : 04:01:04 AM
I so enjoy reading everyone's ideas from Christmas's past and for the next one.
I find it difficult at times to remain true to my intent to make most of my gifts for giving. We usually make ornaments each year. We make at least three for us (one for each of the kids and one for the family) to hang on our tree. I tag each ornament with the name of the giver and year on the hanging loop. Some day each of the kids will have ornaments for their own tree.
I specifically ask the grandparents to make or purchase ornaments for each of the kids. I figure this way they will have permanent reminders of them and Christmas. My mom is very good about this. It's fun to see how she buys an ornament to suit their interests each year.
In the past few years I have also bought an ornament for each child related to their interests, but never more than a few dollars.
I try and make each child something special. Some years it is pj's. some years a quilt, some years a pillow or pillowcase. I made hubby a macrame band for his hat one year as well. He also wants cashew brittle.
I buy one or two things for each child. I like to do their stockings best of all. I like to buy small craft items like beads, new macrame twine, cool markers or pens, small journals, a treat, maybe jewelry, their new bought ornament, small toy for son like a small lego kit, and then the little bit of spending money they adore.
We give to many neighbors and friends. I make lots of cookies, especially biscotti. Then, I add tea or coffee, Steve's honey from his bees, and a homemade or inexpenisve ornament. I end up buying very cheap handled paper bags, using white or colored tissue paper and tying the ornament on the handle with a bow. I like to have them under our tree until delivery time. It looks so festive. Some years I make bread or scones, one year I made cakes in a jar (they bake in the wide mouth pint jars and seal when you cover them as they come out). Some years we do mixes. My hot cocoa mix is always popular.
We no longer trade with all the relatives as I have 22 nieces and nephews on my side alone. (I am one of 14 children, 13 of us left.) Some years we pick out of a hat for my husband's side. My favorite year was the one where we had to MAKE the gift. I made flannel pj pants for my FIL and BIL that we had picked and flannel pants for my nephew. My in laws made each of us three families a set of adirondeck chairs.
I try and do something for my two SIL and MIL that live by me as it seems the women create the holiday magic. One year it was Gooseberry Patch Christmas books and Christmas lights for the front porch. I gave them in early Dec. One year it was GBP cookbooks with a pie plate. This year will be aprons (I am making them) and a small kitchen tool and mixes.
I love to make theings best of all and run out of time, usually. :-) So, then I like to have things on hand from last year's post Christmas sales (ornaments, maybe kitchen towels, gift wrapping and cards).
I come from a large family so years ago I asked each one to just send a card with a family photo in it. We date them and put them in photo albums.
We like to decorate and bake for the holidays. My favorite times are the typcial tradtions-going to pick out and cut our tree, bringing it home and decorating it, putting up the front porch lights, listening to Christmas music as we bake, making a gingerbread house together (one year we made six and gave two away with deocrations and frostings to the in law families and one decorated to my MIL and FIL), sewing last minute for family (Pillowcases for nieces and nephews one year, pj's another year, coupons to the movie theater last year in small homemade stockings).
I enjoy Christmas and like to make it non-commercial as possible. My daughter does not even make a list as she does not really want anything that badly. Even my son has a hard time and usually just wants something he has been asking about for a year (this year it is a megaphone so I orderd a real one on line for him.) My daughter says she wants and IPOD so we may splurge and get her one. I am checking the flyers in the newspapers each week to keep an eye on pricing.
My husband and I usually exchange something. Some years it is small, other years lavish, some years nothing. It just depends on mood and money.
Some years we spend next to nothing in money, but lots in time. One year it was Apple Pie in a Jar with a crumb topping in a bag o nthe side for each person we knew, including family. Some years we have maple syrup from sugaring ourselves, lately we have honey as my husband is into bees, always there is jelly or jam. That is most appreciated as I usually use the wild berries.
I like the idea of having a second hand Christmas and am going to suggest it for Steve's side this year. We are big spenders for clothes in Salvation Army. I like to find nice dishes there as well to put the baked goods on at times. My MIL gave me a vintage teapot and sugar and creamer set one year that I really treasure.
Thanks for all the themed ideas. I have noted them for future years when I can look around all year for those themes. Last year was movie year as i gave each niece and nephew coupons for the movies and popcorn while there.
Merry Christmas already. I too have started tracing and cutting patterns for aprons and am ready to cut and sew fabric today. Happy Crafting, ladies.
Country girl in NE PA |
| Photobugs |
Posted - Oct 04 2006 : 10:27:50 PM
We decided to do somethng different last year. We agreed to do second hand gifts...some we got at a thrift shop, yeard sale, or antique shop. My family knows I like the old things the best, so I loved this. What was really neat was that my mom and sister gave my kids (who are all grown) things from the family, such as my mom gave one of my sons a knife that had been her fathers. My sister gave one of my daughters a collection of patches she had from high school. This daughter is kinda bohemian (hippie)so this was a good one for her. My sister never married or had any of her own children to pass things down to, so she will give to my kids. Mom gave me some of my grandmother's sewing supplies and some other odds and ends of stuff.
Seems like a good idea for the older generations to pass things down to the ones they want to have their things. So why not use Christmas to do this? It saves the giver money, and it gives the givee a very unique and usually a much desired gift.
This is a little harder to do with children, but can be done. In this world of techno this and that...the kids usually know what's hot and they want it. So how about a combination of both?
Just my two cents worth?
Pamela
"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" |
| BarefootGoatGirl |
Posted - Oct 04 2006 : 2:07:37 PM
My husband as OUTLAWED big Christmas at our house. Since we never went over the top in the first place (not even Santa), nobody really minds. The handmade gifts for the kids are not as glitzy as the ones they recieve at our big family gathering, but they are still around and being used long after those others have hit the trash. Last year, I made the kids a huge tipi (spent an afternoon and less than $10 on it) and they are still loving it. This year, I am knitting them all sweaters (yarn from my stash). I know it sounds like an odd gift for such young children (ages 3-8), but they love showing off the things Mama makes them. Also, there just isn't much else I want them to have. Toys are generaly useless and my parents stock them up on book, puzzles, and games. Hubby and I don't always give each other gifts. Just a little something to keep the kids happy. We always seem to have extra money in the spring and do our buying then (Martin wants a bigger chainsaw and I want a serger-I'm told it will cut my production time by almost half). For the rest of our family, we are making goodie baskets with spicy pecans, cookies, maple nut candies, and a few homemade orniments. Oh, and a framed photo of the kids for the grandparents and great grandparents. The baskets or tins will come from our local thrift shop that sells them for .25-$1.00 each.
Quick Easy Idea! For my bff/sil's birthday I took an old wool sweater (Mama actualy got it from a free pile somewhere), fleted it in the washer and turned it into a "designer" handbag. I cut it cross wise just under the armpits and set the upper portion aside. I stitched up the part I had just cut and turned the bottom ribbing down for the top edge. Using the one of the wrist ribbings, I cut a small square (2 x 3 inches maybe) and stitched it to the front as a cell phone pocket. The handle I cut from the lenth of the sleeve. It turned out adorable and cost me nothing.
Happy Christmas Planning! Trina
'
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. Proverbs 27:23 |
| mommom |
Posted - Oct 04 2006 : 11:34:49 AM
For the past three years, since we moved to Pa., I have been making my Christmas cards for all my friends in Jersey and then I slip a tea bag inside! This year I think I'm going to make little wooden(flat) ornaments I am painting to put inside the cards. I am making aprons, scarves, hats, breads, and other homey things for my children and friends. We are not into material "things" too much. We put a tree on each of our two porches as well as one in the living room. I made wreaths of pine (garlands of the fake pine) and have decorated seven of them to hang on the front windows of our home as well as an electric candle in each window. We pick one day after Thanksgiving and make and bake cookies until we can't see straight and then we freeze them. I just love having my large, noisy family around the dining room and kitchen tables eating all together. Susan |
| garliclady |
Posted - Oct 04 2006 : 10:29:18 AM
I usually give homemade gifts usually a basket from our farm and may add something I bought at the farmers market from another vendor to our families .
The kids get a small gift from us and of course Santa brings stuff too. We try not to over do.
My family usually spends way too much on us but me and my husband have stuck to what we want to do give handmade gifts and not spend alot of money.
the baskets have homemade garlic powder , homemade seasonings, Garlic braids and dried herbs , homemade jellies , salsa, cookies , etc.
My uncle FIL and BIL all are diabetic so I try to make them goodies that they can eat. I may buy or barter things like homemade soap, handmade jewery etc , honey, sorgum ,fresh roasted local peanuts, local pecans,local cider, local stone ground grains or eggnog from my friends at the farmers market where we sell.
The family loves this because I pick the things I know each family especially likes and they are things they can use. If i bought baskets filled with these things I would spend alot of money but I get the baskets at an outlet and make or barter most of what is in them.
My Farm http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&ext=1&groupid=140532&ck=
My Recipes http://recipecircus.com/recipes/garliclady/]
My blog http://www.epicourier.com/Garliclady/ |
| sunshine |
Posted - Oct 04 2006 : 09:01:48 AM
we have pretty much always made hand made gifts ( we started at our wedding I made him ( husband) an amish style quilt and he made me a hugh flower press.
Some of the past christmas themed gifts
temari balls
hand blown glass ornament covered in size 30 thread crochet
hand made dolls with blankets,
scarfs
22 hand made wood tool boxes one for each neice nephew and our own kids plus mother inlaw and selfs ( that took a while)
candy airplanes and candy dolls
crochet blankets
hand knitted hats
pressed flowers in glass coasters
handmade bookmarks
hand cast wax scented wax ornaments
hand made soap
hand made cany
hand crocheted dresses
hand made bracelets
the list goes on and on bu tI will stop here
this year I think I am making aprons haven really started yet other than figureing out patterns and fabric not cutting or sewin yet.
I normally spend between 200- 300 dolarrs and make enough gifts for about 100- 150 people not a bad break down on price.
have a lovely day and may God bless you and keep you safe
my web store www.sunshines.etsy.com my other web store http://vintagethreads.etsy.com/
my blog http://sunshinescreations.blogspot.com/ my google page http://sunshine.harbaugh.googlepages.com/home |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Oct 04 2006 : 08:08:44 AM
Our family does cheese balls with crackers (usually a strip of ritz crackers..they are easy to pack because of the way they are packaged) to take around to neighbors and friends every year. I did it two years in a row and then planned to do a different homemade treat the next year and my son who is 10 now and was 7 at the time wrote a Christmas story about his family tradtitions (that his teacher showed me thank goodness!!) telling how his favorite tradition was that our family made the most wonderful cheeseballs in the world to take around to all the nieghbors and he knows we will do it every year forever. Okay..so cheeseballs it is..after that I really couldn't do something different, could I???? We package them cute and then on Christmas eve the kids and I walk to the closest neighbors and drive to the rest and deliver them...the kids love running to the doors and yelling Merry Christmas and the whole fun of the delivery. One of my husband's friends loves them so much we take him two now. (or the rest of his family dosn't get any..heehhee)
It is a real big thing around here to do neighbor gifts..and real fun.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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