A Question for those who make a lot of Christmas Gifts

**Englishlady** · 09-20-2005, 03:42 PM

I have been reading with interest, about all the lovely goodies you talented ladies make for Christmas, Birthdays etc.

Americans are way ahead of us here, when it comes to Crafts and stuff, you guys are  so talented

I suspect that most people here, would think a home made gift was "cheap" and would not  appreciate  the time and effort put in to make something personal.

Very sad I know

So to those of you who do make your own gifts, what home made gift/goody would you like to receive in your Christmas stocking?

**Goodi2shooz** · 09-20-2005, 04:01 PM

It's too big to go in my stocking,..but the best homemade present I ever received was a lovely crocheted blanket. It was very elaborate. I also appreciate homemade candies since I struggle with candymaking myself. (I'm forever buring myself).

**homesteadmamma** · 09-20-2005, 04:20 PM

I'd love to have homemade soap in my sock. I love it!!

**forestdale** · 09-20-2005, 04:27 PM

I like receiving anything knitted, fabric covered journals and homemade soap.

**joyofsix** · 09-20-2005, 06:09 PM

I would love to have food of any kind that didn't involve me doing the dishes that made it.

**Michele Annette** · 09-20-2005, 08:12 PM

I love all homeade gifts!

**dndylfe** · 09-20-2005, 09:40 PM

Definitely homemade chocolates and also seeds from someone's lovely garden; or bulbs (shows a lot of thought on their part).

Embroidered linens also, and one yearI received cloth napkins, which I loved.

**slowtypinwoman** · 09-20-2005, 09:50 PM

I love the toiletries too. Knitted and crochet things are nice sine I can't seem to do it myself. Jerkey is good because I don't hunt and don't want to start just for jerkey.
Well, really just about anything that I know has come from the heart. Just knowing that a person has taken the time to create something just for me, makes me feel special.

**nodmicks** · 09-20-2005, 09:55 PM

My favorite hand made was a batch of cookies from my best buddy when I was 20 and having a bad time. They were hard as rocks and totally indeddible but it was so so sweet she tried making me homemade cookies to cheer me up! I still makes me smile to think of it! Her cooking skills have really improved btw!

I would love any gift someone took the time to make for me!

**sunshine** · 09-21-2005, 12:23 AM

I love to get bath/body goodies-- I never make them myself, yet I love to feel pampered.

I like to homemade foods too-- something unique, that I don't cook.

knitted items are always appreciated, since knitting is work to me. .

quilted items-- lap robes, eyeglass cases. . . .

**Michelle** · 09-21-2005, 06:11 AM

I love to receive homemade gifts. I would say my favorites are small wallhangings and the like since they aren't clutter-y, and I need to cover my bare walls with something

I also like "disposable" gifts like pampering products--something I never make for myself but enjoy a lot and won't clutter my house when they're used up

.

It is true, however, that some turn up their noses at homemade gifts. If that happens to me with something I've given someone, I don't ever make them anything again. Such is the case just recently with my sil who had a very bad reaction to the flannel lounge pants I bought her. I was crushed because not only did I put a lot of thought into making those for her--she loves to wear that sort of clothing around the house, and I picked a fabric with coffee cups on it (she loves coffee). Anyway, I won't be making her anything again.

**Kimberlina** · 09-21-2005, 09:23 AM

I've made a real effort to make homemade gifts the last couple years. Almost every gift I gave last year was homemade, and though I like to think everyone appreciates them, I think maybe DH's family (sister and 16 yo brother) don't appreciate them as much as they might.

That said, hmm...what would I like to receive? Anything, really, since things that are homemade are so much more than just the gift, KWIM? (Although the crewel-work picture of the baby deer wasn't necessarily the most spot-on picture for DH's nana to give him when he was 23 and single, we still have it, and though it is not prominently displayed, it is still hanging 12 years later because she MADE IT for him.) Specifics? Lotions, soaps, food, clothing, housewares- really anything!

**pkellyc** · 10-06-2005, 04:38 PM

Homemade is a labor of love. Last Christmas my mil made up gift baskets of all kinds of store bought gourmet snacks. A friend of mine made us a basket of homemade snacks. Which do you think were eaten first? (some of that gourmet stuff was thrown in the trash by the way) yuck!

My favorite pot holders are a homemade gift. They are oversized and made with an old ironing board cover. Better than any that could have been bought.

I have a quilted sampler hanging with antique buttons on it that I just love.

A ceramic pitcher that I filled with kitchen untinsels I would never give up. This gift was so well thought out it matches my canister set perfectly.

As for what I would like:

I am terrible at taking pictures and I would just love a scrap book from my scrapbooking dd's of all the years gone by.

I would like a set of oversized napkins and if they happened to have a little cross stiched pattern in the corner I would like them even more.

Moisturizing homemade soaps would be great. I itch all winter. Not to mention the fact that I just like how they look.

I just love to recieve a well thought out homemade gift.

As far as people saving money I would never, ever, want a gift that would put a loved one in a financial mess.

My home is filled with things, but the homemade things always remind me of how much time and effort they put into my gift. I remember the exact Christmas I recieved my sampler and who it was from. I do recieve gift cards all the time, but I can't tell you what each and everyone was spent on. But I can tell you where each and every homemade gift came from.