every year, my husband's family promises 'token gifts only' and every year we cheat. pitched in last year, and got mom a new stereo for the kitchen. the year before, we got dad the 'ultra white' light he had been qketching was too expensive, couldn't possibly work like that ;) but I discovered patchwork this year, and in the process of making my first lap rugs, was left with some squares that gave me the bright idea to do pot holder sets for everyone who ought to get a gift, but whom we're not so connected with we know what old movie or oddity they would like (the drummer gets sticks, the artists get nice brushes or art 'rolls' to store them in) so everyone's getting really cool, oversized potholders (a pair of 10" squares, and a larger 'trivet' that run 11x17 or so) in colors to match their kitchen, or their dishes, or their dining room, depending on how they usually cook ;) and I only have two sets that I needed to BUY fabric for, everything else was stuff I had on hand (ok, I'm a fabric packrat) :)

Thanks Minnie. I have been wanting to get one of these since usually my suitcase is really close to the limit. Now, I'll know exactly what to leave at home and what I gotta pack! :o) Jane

Yes! I lose Christmas gifts! I had a very busy day yesterday with a short window of time to wrap lots of presents while my son was at the babysitter. I have a genetic defect which makes me put things away in hiding spots and then forget where I've put them. My mother passed this gene on to me. I remember lots of holiday dinners where she remembered the rolls in the oven after we'd all begun eating, etc. She also buys "C" batteries at the store only to get home and find that they've changed into "AA" size batteries, and so on. Yup, me too. I buy 3 packages of Large undershirts for my husband only to get home and find out that I've got 2 "large" and one "Extra Small". So I finally found all of my wrapables yesterday and got everything done in record time! And I was smart enough to put ALL of the wrapped gifts in one big box in the closet. Oh, except for the space heater for my husband's ice-fishing shack. That was too big to put in the gift box so I put it in the closet and hid it under a coat. I'm SURE I won't forget to put it out on Christmas Eve with the rest of the presents........maybe a kind Kitchen Table person can remind me????

Best wrapping paper: Hobby Lobby! It has the lines on the back and is very heavy. They also have some beautiful papers. The rolls are big and last a long time - wait for it to be 1/2 price before you buy it though. Christmas and Seasonal papers..love them!