BS: Handmade gifts

Subject: BS: Handmade gifts for .........
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 02:35 PM

I was wondering if anyone else makes handmade/homemade gifts to give away for {insert name of your holiday/season of choice} ? In years past we've made up dry soup packages with beans and spices that make a nice multibean soup. People can add meat if they like but it's a pretty compleat package and it makes a ton of soup. We put it in a mason jar and tie a ribbon around it.

But lately I've been making my own hot sauce that my friends have enjoyed and ask for. So sometime soon I'll be making up several batches to give away to friends and neighbors.

How about y'all ?

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: jeffp
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 02:43 PM

We've made herbal tea blends and I've also given away my special barbecue rub. Maybe I could trade you some rub for your hot sauce. I make a nice chili powder (salt-free) too.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 03:46 PM

Cheese balls, elder jelly, Chex Party mix.....

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 05:56 PM

Fruitcake!

This year's output is approaching 20 pounds, and I'm not done. Contrary to all those dumb jokes about inedible fruitcake, my list of recipients has tripled over four years. Maybe it's my recipe ...

I also make raspberry cordial (vodka, brandy, raspberries and sugar), and various jams and conserves. This is the first year since 1999 I haven't made cordial, and the family is not pleased.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 06:52 PM

My main gift to my wife this year is some sheet music of traditional tunes that I found on the Internet, downloaded, printed, and assembled into a 3-ring binder. (I can safely reveal this because she never looks at Mudcat.) Does that count as handmade?

Here's an idea for you: If you have a real Christmas tree, you should always saw off a bit of the bottom, to make a fresh cut just before you put it in water. (This insures that the capillaries stay open so the tree can absorb water better.) As long as you're doing this anyway, cut a thin slice of the trunk and save it. Sand it, mark it with the year (and any other inscription you like), varnish it (optional), drill a hole through it, thread some yarn through the hole, and it makes a dandy ornament you can use year after year. With supervision, a kid of 10 or so can do this.

Fruitcake is great!

You can also make your own eggnog. With enough alcohol, it doesn't need refrigeration.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Morticia
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 06:56 PM

Sloe gin.....made in the autumn, tastes of the summer......I hope the people I intend it for like it.......otherwise, I spose it will end up in the auction.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Mooh
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 07:18 PM

Last year I made stepstools for three of the women in the family. I had lots of maple, so I thought, what the heck. Other years I've made picture frames (ash and cherry), cutting boards (maple), shelving (pine), and once I made a floor standing book stand (walnut and maple)for a sister (for the huge Random House dictionary). This year I haven't made gifts, but there's lots of cherry in the shed looking for projects...maybe next year.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 07:31 AM

since 1987 I've made chrissy decorations for self (To: me. From: me pressies are great!), family members & friends.

In past years I've made embroidered decorations, this year I've been making knitted decorations. Twice I've decorated bears, once with a banner saying Ho Ho Ho, another time with a little cap with reindeer antlers.

I also make cards & bookmarks.

My office has a christmas decorating competition each year & this year I took in all my decorations and made a Homemade Christmas with additions of traditional yummy sweet stuff made by my colleagues.

The display was commended by the judge, and this led to a procession of colleagues from other sections visiting to view, which I missed as I was on leave.

ps. the joint winners were Bollywood Christmas, and Bush & Beach Christmas where staff dressed up & performed as well as decorating.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Paul Burke
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 08:15 AM

Would someone make me a handmaid please?

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 09:07 AM

I add homemade cookies to my boxes that go to family members. These are favorite family recipes we grew up with, so they carry special clout. I have made gifts in the past, often sewn garments. No time to make more than cookies this year.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From:
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 09:29 AM

This year I crocheted a shawl for my Grandma who having chemotherapy at the moment. Last year I painted some glasses for her and mirror for my Mum. I enjoyed making them and I know they appreciate the presents I make more because of the the thought and effort than the ones I have bought.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Seiri Omaar
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 12:26 PM

I've done artwork on occasion.
Heck, David Rankine's Celtic Design course had to be used for something...

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Janie
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 01:09 PM

Baked goods, roasted pecans from my tree, sassafras and sumac jelly, pickles, relishes, packs of blank greeting cards and calendars using garden photos, embroidery.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: MMario
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 01:27 PM

sassafras and sumac jelly ?!?!?!

*drool*

mixed?

*drool*

seperate?

*drool/slobber* oh heck! who cares?

Might I suggest an item for the auction? and for the silent auction at getaway?

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 01:58 PM

I forgot about the cactus jelly in the fridge. I could have given some of that this year!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 02:13 PM

It's not a regular thing, but this year I gave a couple of friends one of these. They are made of the nuts of the Tagua Palm, hollowed and a lid fitted. Each is 'about' 1" to 1½" high.

I have given various things turned or carved from wood in the past...when it seems appropriate.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Janie
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 06:40 PM

Separate, Leo. Definitely separate.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 07:12 PM

I make embroidered ornaments, embroider borders on tea towels, and sometimes I even bake cookies. No cookies this year, though, as Jason ruined all my cookie sheets. I also make coupons for babysitting for Jason's brother and sister-in-law, so they can get out for an evening by themselves once in a while.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: JennieG
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 07:39 PM

I have made things in the past, mostly sewing because that's what I do best. Haven't made any this year. 6 months ago I made Young James Next Door a quilt to say "thank you" for helping his parents feed our cats when we have been away. Young James is 5 years old and loves his quilt, and so does his baby sister.

To say nothing of how many other qults I have made for baby gifts!

Cheers
JennieG who is sewing for herself this year

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 09:10 PM

This year an aching foot did not allow tromping around stores. So, ordered a bunch of CDs and mailers online and now it seems everyone is getting some homemade audio CDs. Most relatives got the clan cookbook converted to html format. Two got their weddings surreptitiously recorded and cleaned up and burned to disc. One got an old tape of her performing converted to CD, cleaned up a little, and burned to disc.

Used the Lightscribe type drive and discs which let you laser burn pretty labels on stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Janie
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 10:56 PM

When some one gifts me with something their own labor and thought went into, I really feel like I have received a gift from the heart!

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: leftydee
Date: 23 Dec 05 - 11:20 AM

Right on, Janie! The best gifts I've ever received were home made!

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Dec 05 - 11:52 AM

A friend made me a wooden bird table one year. It appeared in the garden with a big red ribbon bow and lots of birdy treats to get a right good buffet going.

Three years later it still gives me such pleasure. The regular birds have become 'friends' and my robin makes me smile every day. On snowy days it gives me a reason to venture outside, just to restock it and clear the snow away. I always end up wandering around and marvelling at the snowdrops peeking up or I'll give a little tidy out there.

Definitely the best pressies are made with love.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 23 Dec 05 - 04:55 PM

Well I had a go this year too...

Made bottles of Sloe Gin (Morticia... it's gorg stuff isn't it), I also made Blackberry vodka (wowwwwwwww rocket juice) and knitted a scarf (all I can do is knit straight lines).

I hope they like my pressies too.

E.W.I.S

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 23 Dec 05 - 06:23 PM

Since I make my living producing and selling handmade pottery almost 100% of what I give as gifts is either made by me or has been obtained by bartering with other artists. My actual cash outlay for Christmas gifts is nil.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Janie
Date: 23 Dec 05 - 08:07 PM

Making gifts, I've learned over the years, is probably no less expensive than buying them, even excluding labor costs. By the time I buy all the ingredients for baked goods, the tins to pack them in, and pay the cost of shipping, I realize I have actually spent a pretty penny. This year I shipped 55 lbs. of baked goods to my husband's large family in Los Angeles. But...we only get to see them every 4 or 5 years, there are a gazillion grandnieces and nephews from age 10 down to 5 days (new twins) and I can't keep up with ages and interests. Their parents say the baked goods make us seem real to them, even though they so rarely see us.

Most of the California crew has never seen my garden. Making cards using the garden photos helps me share with them my own love and passion for flower gardening, and gives them an idea of our environment and our changing seasons.

Still, I always feel a little unsure--it is kind of like singing in public for us non-performers--will they like it? I'm I good enough?

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: ranger1
Date: 23 Dec 05 - 08:31 PM

I know what you mean. I think the same thought, along with "will they think I was just too cheap to buy them a gift?"

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: JennieG
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 12:15 AM

I have decided to make a gift for a friend - a cushion with an appliqued duck. It's a running joke stemming from a weekend away that several of us shared about 18 months ago, and a white duck that followed Jeff wherever he went. We even had him convinced that it was calling "Jeff Jeff Jeff" instead of quack quack!

I know that, once he gets over his initial embarrassment that I actually made him a gift, he will like it. And his wife will think it hysterical.

Cheers
JennieG - back to cushion making when I finish this coffee!

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: jacqui.c
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 07:48 AM

I'm crocheting a lap shawl for my daughter's mother-in-law, who is immobile at the moment, still waiting for her new hip.

I've made a shawl for my Secret Santee, which I hope will suit her.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: GUEST,Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 10:56 AM

Charmion arranged zeros and ones in sequence to convey the following message:

"Fruitcake!

"This year's output is approaching 20 pounds, and I'm not done. Contrary to all those dumb jokes about inedible fruitcake, my list of recipients has tripled over four years. Maybe it's my recipe ...

"I also make raspberry cordial (vodka, brandy, raspberries and sugar), and various jams and conserves. This is the first year since 1999 I haven't made cordial, and the family is not pleased."

We are not at all displeased, we are just ... just crestfallen. ;^)

ABC

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Jeri
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 11:43 AM

I was intrigued by the rumtopfff (whatever) thread a couple of years ago, so I started some. It remained in a cabinet until this summer, so I added more fruit and rum and sugar. I'm wondering if I should separate out the fruit and just bottle the liquid, or leave the fruit in and bring the load of it to SINSULL's for New Year's Eve.

I made some earrings for people, but I would have liked to have started earlier and done more jewelry making.

Heather Fielding knitted a scarf for me. She said she tried to pick colors that go with a jacket I bought when she and Rick took me shopping in '02. The jacket came from a significant time. The scarf ties now to then the same way it ties that jacket to my current clothing, the same way my holiday visits tie me to Toronto and friends. I only wish I'd given Heather something nearly as fine.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Mooh
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 02:13 PM

This past year, the Bride has been busy crocheting blankets for family members. At first we though of this as a really little old lady thing, then realized our stupidy and prejudice, and she went ahead with the project. My Mum spent her last weeks under one, our eldest has taken one to university where the residence is cool at night, our youngest cozies up under hers and shows it off to friends (!), my brother who's always cold now has something of a remedy, and soon a cancer patient friend will have one. (There's another on our own bed, made of odds and ends of wool.)

I used to love getting spontaneous gifts of art from my kids when they were small. Our home and workplaces were decorated with them all the time. I miss that a lot.

But when there's nothing else to give, give your heart, however you may.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Donuel
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 11:44 PM

By placing 2 dozen fruit cakes in a trash compactor with 1/2 a cup of olive oil and leaving compressed overnight, makes a nice substrate that can be sculpted and molded into busts of your friends and family.
Or at least that crazy uncle of yours.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: ranger1
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 08:05 PM

My grandma made me a quillow for Christmas (a quilt that folds into a pocket to make a pillow). It's warm and fleecy and Jay-boy has started calling me Linus because I haven't let it get out of my sight since I opened it Christmas morning.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: JohnB
Date: 31 Dec 05 - 02:39 PM

I meant to get around to it this year but didn't, having a Gall Bladder removed sort of knocked me a bit off my stride.
The plan was for a Low D whistle for my son, who is realy envious of the ones I have made for myself. My wife made a scarf and recieved a neat patchwork bag. We also got a fruit cake.
Being sort of handy in the past we have given Birdfeeders, Etched Stained Glass Boxes, Knitted Hats complete with names, scarves and hats, various Hand Forged Metal things as I also do some Blacksmithing. We never have seen a disapointed face with anything we have given (I guess we have sold many of these items over the years too, so the standard is always good, as are the things we have recieved, which include an 18"x7' handwoven overshot table runner).
Happy New Year to All, JohnB.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: black walnut
Date: 31 Dec 05 - 02:59 PM

One year I knitted sweaters everybody and I think they looked great, but I don't think anybody wore them much. I didn't do that again!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: freda underhill
Date: 31 Dec 05 - 06:41 PM

I make my own face and body lotions and give them as presents sometimes. I gave my neighbour's daughter (who is 9) a patchwork bedspread for Christmas this year - I started it when she was a month old!

The best present i received this year was from my secret santa's wife (jen brooks) - she knitted me some beautiful stripey socks! I had mentioned stripey socks as a possible present in my wish list, thinking that i might get some factory produced ones! these ones are perfect and have been very beautifully knitted! I will treasure them for years.

being the height of summer (41 degrees here today) I will have to wait for winter to wear them!!

freda

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Joybell
Date: 31 Dec 05 - 06:52 PM

I gave a copy of my travel diary "Joybell's American Adventure" to some friends who like my writings. Printed here at home with pictures. I love what I can do with my computer and bookbinder. Also copies of my Pantomime script from last year - to my kids and grandkids. I included a copy of the film we took during the production so they can see Grandma acting silly. Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Kaleea
Date: 01 Jan 06 - 04:30 AM

I have often made gifts for friends & relatives, but I found out over the holidays this year that I created a big hit which has become a trend. I had seen the "pickpocket" (leather pocket for your picks on a keyring), and had a bit of leather left from another project. I made one & placed a few picks & gave it to my nephew for his birthday last year. The picks were standard picks which I had cut out a hole in the middle--as is popular these days. My 25 yr old nephew told me that all of his friends had to run right out & get a pickpocket & fill them with holey picks! My nephew is never without a pick now, and all his guitar playing pals use only the holey picks. I never thought a geezer like me could start a trend with a bunch of kids.

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: tarheel
Date: 01 Jan 06 - 07:13 PM

i have many online friends who are "excellent craft folks" and it really thrills me to pieces to get a handmade piece of art made by them during the holidays! it even thrills me more so to know that they think enough of peg and me to send us uch a beautiful handmade gift,by them!
i envy those who can make such wonderful things by hand!
i am so thankful to be a part of their circle of online friends too!
it's one of those things that you really treasure in life!
tar...

Subject: RE: BS: Handmade gifts
From: Scoville
Date: 01 Jan 06 - 07:53 PM

I don't often do food gifts because my extended family and most of my close friends live several states away and I'm afraid food wouldn't be edible when it got there, but I often make non-food items. My sister-in-law, who has a slightly morbid sense of humor, got a Dia de los Muertos shadow-box, made from a shadow-box I got for something else that didn't work out, and seven little clay skeleton mariachis I got at a church rummage sale. I painted it all up and it was adorable. She got a set of painted horse--she likes horses--ornaments last year. My mother got a windchime last year (we have a big back porch on which to hang things like that). My brother is getting a T-shirt quilt when I can find time to finish it.

My mother gave my uncle an album of pictures of him as a child at Christmas, 1942. She found the old films in a box of family pictures she had in the closet. He's the oldest of three and was the only child at the time. The prints came out pretty well considering the film was 63 years old.

Fruitcake is misunderstood. Good fruitcake is a treat. My mother makes terrific fruitcake (she doesn't even preserve it in whiskey and she still has people begging for a second loaf when she makes it to give away).

Kaleea--I'm glad I'm not the only one who calls those things "pick-pockets". We were afraid it was just a running joke among the local old-time musicians here. Mine is made from two cheap Texas flags and hangs on the end of my dulcimer, though. Keyring is good thought, though, since they keep falling out of my wallet.

Mooh--I'll give a second "yea" vote for crocheted blankets. My aunt knitted one for each of her kids, nieces, and nephews when they went to college and I used my constantly in my cold dorm rooms. Now I use it in my cold office.