Some beautiful, high thread count sheets and pillow cases.

Jodi-

Could you pay for a hairdresser to come to her home, or give her gift certificates to a salon if she's mobile at all.

Warm bootie slippers. Perhaps with a non-skid sole.

Does she enjoy creams or lotions? Special soaps? What about having a hairdresser come in to do her hair or a pedicure? I might think about doing a basket for her, filled with things she loves. The soaps, lotions, a candle (or perhaps a flameless candle) framed photo of the family, or of her spouse if you have one available. A lap quilt? How's her eyesight and does she enjoy reading? Would a reading glass work, those self standing ones are wonderful, I bought one for my mom a few years back. A lap desk?

How about preparing some one serving meals, that can be frozen in zip-loc bags and just nuked? You could make up a pretty basket full with extra little treats in it.

The only thing she reads are crossword puzzles. She's definately not into girly things like soaps and lotions. Her hair, difficult and doesn't really do anything with it. These are good ideas and I could my mom enjoying them but mom in law, she's tough and we're expected to bring her something. This stress' me out every year.

Does she write letters? How about some nice stationery/cards and stamps? Or, how about a basket filled with gourmet type candies/chocolates or jams/food etc.?

Or, how about some DVD's?

Housecoat, good radio/stereo. A subscription to a crossword magazine.

How about making her a nice family DVD for her to enjoy watching. My daughter-in-law did this for me and it is wonderful to watch over and over..

My father in law loved books on tape he would sit and listen to them for hours. He was not able to see well enough to read any longer so the books on tape were just the thing.
You can get them loaded on an mp3 player or in cd format too.

Going along with the DVD idea.. I wanted to do this for my MIL this year but can't...(long story)
How about getting a bunch of family albums and scan pics and put on an electonic picture frame?

My cousin is getting my aunt one of those electronic picture frames and loading the photos on it for her. Pictures of all her family, childhood, children, grand children, etc. I thought it was a great idea.

I would imagine she would like some little hand made coupons good for you cleaning her house, cleaning out her refrigerator or just about any household chore. I know I would :)

Sue

Wow, wonderful ideas I just wish she was into them. She's very introverted, non social and a poor communicator. She has two grandkids, one a girl that can do no wrong and the other a boy with severe learning/behaviour problems that she litterally can't stand. I think I will check on purchasing a dvd/movie and a subscription for the crossword puzzles. I've spent hours doing the patchwork blanket and the drapes and just didn't seem as though it was appreciated. This year she actually asked for another comforter. That hurt.

Subscription to TV Guide?

Yeah, that might work to but I know she watches enought tv to have the schedule down by heart. If you can't already tell, she's not a lot of fun to buy for. For the life of me I don't know how my husband came out so well.

Good chocolates or coffee?

Google 'cat and owner gifts'? Maybe a gift basket would do.

Well after asking for another comforter I would get her exactly what she wants. The ugliest one I could find. With a matching sweatshirt. LOL!!!!

lynn, you make me laugh.

This woman is so unhappy and I doubt she is going to give you great feedback. It's a hard life for her and you all.
Somewhere in her heart she recognizes you have tried I bet.
Give her what she asks for.

Also, maybe take a picture of her and her cat and frame it?

She's 80+ years old....your DH likely came out so well because at one time,she OBVIOUSLY wasn't as difficult to deal with...give her a break.

Instead of thinking of what you can give her,she has already stated-get her a comforter-at 80 years of age,she has a pretty good idea of what SHE wants,not what you think she should have.

For my mom's 80th birthday we made a photo album of our boys. One section was for the oldest through the years, next was the youngest, last was photos of both of them. She loved it, now that she is gone both boys will sit with it for hours.

Ont Gal is right. I never understood why people (speaking in general here as obviously the OP wants to get something that will please the lady) get so passive aggressive in their gift giving. She would like a new comforter. Some people simply prefer the feel of them over quilts. It's nothing personal against you unless you make it about you.

Buy her a pretty comforter she would like. For her taste, not yours.

She wants a comforter - so get her one!

As a quilter myself, I can't imagine why you made her one (and drapes! really?!) unless she specifically asked for them, and gave input on fabrics. I'm afraid that was YOUR decision, and it's not her fault she doesn't like them.

I have never made a quilt for anyone unless I absolutely knew they wanted one - it seems your MIL didn't want one.

I have found that a motion activated soap dispenser is a fantastic gift for any age but the elderly just love it. I purchased one today at the Brookstone outlet and should have gotten two darn it. You fill it with ordinary liquid hand soap and to use it you run your hand through the air under the nozzle, that activates it to give you a premeasured dollop of foam soap without touching the unit, thus no germs transmitted. I bought one for a Xmas swap and every one wanted it so I've attached a site with several types in multiple price ranges.

Here is a link that might be useful: soap dispenser

A digital photo frame pre loaded with pictures that will be meaningful. Scan some of the golden oldies.

I'd bring a comforter, too, if that's what she asked for. Loads of reasons she may have asked for it. Its weight, drape, loft... Possibly something's happened and its "not so fresh" anymore. Is it washable?

Also, in my world, a quilt, blanket, and comforter are very different things. You have called it a patchwork quilt, then a patchwork blanket and then said she asked for "another comforter".

I like comforters. Blankets are OK for over them when its cold, but no substitute for a comforter. Personal preferences--we all have them.

I would get some of those real fur covered mice for her cat, and if the cat wears a collar, a new one. And some sparkle balls, too. Another thing would be one of those throws that feels like the softest fur you can imagine. She can cover up with it, and her cat will love to snuggle in her lap on the throw. Our kitties can't resist the soft fur.

I'm not sure if one would consider the patchwork quilt a blanket, comforter or what. My husband had seen some that we had in our family and wanted his mom to have one as well. We found a beautiful warm Laura Ashley comforter at Goodwill and covered it with patchwork on the front, used the liquid embroider stuff to sign and date and used flannel on the under side against her. Her room is cold and her circulation is real bad so she's always cold. My husband cut all the 4x4 squares, I sewed them and we both put it together. He was quite proud of it and we took our time finding just the right fabrics. We thought it would be a family keepsake. She uses it but I guess she wanted a change. Her daughter got the comforter for her afterall and we will be getting stuff for the cat and some gift cards to local resturaunts. Thanks for all the ideas though.

Two.25 acres, I feel your pain. I should write a book about my MIL.

She doesn't want gifts; but the one time I broke down and sent the minimal item she wanted, without doing the overflowing box filled with "stuff," she pouted and cried for ages. So, I listen to the "don't sent me anything" rants, and quietly fill a box with things I think she'll use.

She always gets an assortment of teas; they delight her, thank goodness.

Does your MIL drink hot tea? Would she use an electric tea kettle to heat the water? They are very nice.

I add an issue of North Dakota Horizons (she reads and discusses it for months) and DH includes a copy of his North Dakota Hunter. It gives her lots of questions to ask him! (She lives in Maryland) I wrap everything.

This year she's getting a subscription to the Horizons (4 issues). In the past I gave a subscription to the Smithsonian, but it made her angry. The articles were "too long," and the magazines came "too often" for her to read all of them because she had "other reading" to do.

I think the idea of a subscription to her crossword puzzles might be appreciated by your MIL.

My MIL lives on Excedrin. She calls it "Exxxxxxx cdrin." She says they perk her up. I tried to explain about the caffeine in them and suggested she try a B-vitamin supplement and strong cup of hot tea instead, but "tea is for mealtimes."

She takes two Exxxxx-cdrin every afternoon, elevates her feet, crooks her head against the arm of the couch, twists her back in order to see the TV, and then angrily wonders why her back and neck hurt. I always wrap two or three large bottles of the Excedrin and include them in the box. Saves her a trip to the drug store.

I give her a couple booklets of postage stamps each year. She gets in her car, drives 2-3 miles, and buys her stamps, one at a time, at the post office. Yes, she makes a trip to the Post Office every time she wants to mail one item.

This year I'll add some 2-cent stamps for her to use when the postage goes up.

So, a couple magazines, tea, stamps, and Excedrin are the staples. I'm adding a CD of Shirley Temple programs (her latest interest) and I'm trying to make a disc of our summer photos for her to play in her TV. I'll add some candy, and cookies, if I get them baked.

I've made a couple friends promise they'll knock me off if I ever become as mean and hateful as she. Hopefully I will get old; I may get feeble. I'll be d@med it I'm going to become mean-spirited, spitful, and hurtful to anyone.

I'm always delighted if someone gives my boys (dogs) a little "present." It can be a 25-cent sample of a dog treat, even if it's not one I'd normally let them have.

One friend brings a couple tiny baggies filled with her dog's regular dry dog food. She lets them sniff it, and then puts it in their stockings (hung high near the ceiling) for them to "think about" until Christmas morn. This is such a wonderful present, for ME! And it does elevate their curiosity and "Christmas Spirit!"

Caroline, you can buy the "forever stamps" and use them even if the rate does go up. No need for the extra postage.

Two.25acres, I understand where you're coming from. My BIL's mother just turned 100 this week. They hosted a big party and lots of her friends and family came. They never got a thank you! As a crossword puzzle lover, I also vote for the subscription. You can look in the book she's currently using and get the subscription form from it. Good luck and I hope she likes her gifts this year.

If her room is cold, how about a space heater? An electric blanket?

If she dotes on this granddaughter, would MIL like you to buy something for HER?

Tea, cookies and DVD's are nice, plus a snack supply for the cat.

Does her room have a view? Give her some binoculars to 'bird watch' (AKA spy)?

Are you saying she lives in 'a home', or someone's home? Hard to think a rest home would let her stay holed up like that. When's the last time she was seen by a doctor? She may need meds for depression. (Nobody has to tell her that's what they are for.)

Would she maybe like to have a small pre-lit Christmas tree?

Sue