I have been noticing that with the economy the way it is that there is a push for frugal gifts focusing on homemade. There are ‘buy handmade’ pledges all over the blogs. I think this is a worthy goal to be sure.
But I have decided that I do not want to buy homemade this but want to make it myself. I have enlisted the help of one of my big boys and my little girl.
We have come up with a list of what we like to do, what we do well and how that can translate into gifts for our loved ones.
My 21 year old son is a great baker. He and I are going to bake and fill baskets with goodies for our friends. We are including artisan breads, cookies, quick breads, tarts and biscotti. To this we will add homemade jams, jellies, preserves and dried fruits.
He and I are also knitting a variety of scarves and hats to give away.
Sweet Girl and I have already made sets of marble magnets for everyone and will include this in decorative tins with varies photos I have taken of the family and the garden. She is adding to this a specially drawn picture for the recipient to hang on their frig with the magnets.
I am also using my photos to have photo books printed for my mom, sister, and mother in law. I took pics of my neices and am having those photos framed for my sister in law. I am making a scrapbook for hubby with pictures I’ve taken of the progress we have been making remodeling our cabin.
For my best girlfriends I am making felt pillows in each of their favorite colors.
The hard group of people to stick to handmade for is my college age sons…they really just want cash, lol!
For the one leaving for college this spring I have made a recipe book of all his very favorite things to eat. For my second son who is being a ski bum this winter I am making a scarf. My oldest who is graduating and getting ready for his first real job I am still thinking of how to incorporate something homemade for his first house…
So I have my job cut out for me over the next couple of months. The housework may suffer and the laundry my multiply…but I’m sure it will be well worth it.
Besides I figure what I spend in effort I will save big time in money…which isn’t exactly the point but it doesn’t hurt either!
So, do you have any interesting handmade gifts planned for you love ones this year and if so would you like to share?
And any handmade ideas for my 23 year old heading out into the real world and setting up his first home?
Kim can be found at the inadvertent farmer raising organic fruits, veggies, critter, kids…and a camel!
How about hand knit dishcloths and cleaning supplies? Or if you are the handy type– a bookshelf or other simple furniture piece? If you can’t actually build it, maybe you could find one at a thrift store and refinish it . . .
Small pillows filled with wheat. Warm them in the oven and then you can slip them into bed to warm up – much nicer than hot water bottles or electric blankets.
You can spend as much time as you like on decorating the pillows. Make sure not to use synthetics.
Napkins are a good gift for a new home. Any kind of tea towels, knitted dish cloths, rag rugs, wreaths for decoration, benches, bookshelves, I’m not sure how handy you are. Good luck.
I hand-make (mostly knitting) as much as I can with presents – small things like knitted christmas tree balls, bigger things like socks, or bigger still like a waistcoat for my Grand MiL. Everything I make is loved and remembered more than the gifts bought. My MiL received two vests last year that until I told her (recently) who’d given them to her she couldn’t remember. She always remembers every pair of socks I make her and what year they were given.
Does your son need tea towels for his kitchen with a knitted top/loop to hang on the fridge or stove? A swiffer mop cover can be knitted (both wet and dry types). Cool looking throw pillows for his couch/bed? If you sew then there’ table linens or handkerchiefs. Christmas ornaments of every type for his own little tree? A crock pot with a bunch of your favourite recipies? Kitchen window herb garden kit?
I’ll stop now.
Quilts, couch blankets/throws, office chair shawls (something to wrap up in at the computer instead of cranking the heat up), or even pajamas. I’m 25 and wish that my grandma never stopped making them as the annual Christmas present. I received 5 pairs while in college and I’m now down to last two that haven’t worn out.
for someone headed into the world on their own:
-knitted washcloths and dishcloths
-knitted or sewn hot pads
-cloth napkins
-natural cleaning supplies plus the recipes so he can make more when he runs out of them: laundry soap, glass cleaner, general cleaner
-a binder with all his favorite recipes of yours typed out (if you haven’t already) and include a cleaning recipe section
-carved wooden spoons/scrapers
for holiday gifts, i tend to do a little bit of everything from what we have around here for extended family and close friends such as:
-luffas
-soap
-honey
-jam/jelly
-tinctures
-knitted dishcloths
for kids i knit toys, make wooden tree blocks and other natural toys
this year, for my kids, i’m sewing clothes for their dolls, knitting scarves and such for them and that’s all i’ve thought of so far but there will be more soon!
thanks guys for the great ideas…he is going to need everything and handmade will make sure he remembers his mama every time he uses them!!!