Sounds good, Sue! Before I got into old-fashioned rug hooking, I used to love embroidery.

I'm putting together old photos of my ancestors and extended family to make a photo book for my kids. Some day they'll want to know more about all these people. Traditionally, the photo book publishers offer significant discounts around Christmas and Mother's Day, so I'm waiting for a good deal to appear.

I'd like to sew a few gifts this year, but haven't decided on anything yet.

No. I started some Christmas stockings, but got busy with other things, so they won't be for this year.

I am twining rugs not for gifts, but I will donate one for our church raffle on the first Friday of December. My CFEL club is talking about having a booth at the craft fair then too, so I will be making things for that also. I am sitting here thinking of what I already have that I could donate for that.

I was going to make earrings and beaded necklaces (8 teenage girls!) but Chanukah starts Dec. 6. Etsy, anyone?

I don't plan to knit or crochet Christmas gifts this year, but I want to knit some Korkinesse for my DIL. They are little carolers--tiny hats and sweaters you put on wine corks, and you draw eyes and a mouth on the cork. A group of 5 or 7 could easily be perched on a book shelf or window sill.

I just got through a marathon of wedding gifts for a niece - late summer, and a nephew - early fall. I crocheted 12 lace napkin rings (#20 crochet thread) with matching coasters (#10 crochet thread), and one large doily for each of the couples (along with 12 cloth napkins - all in a handsome wooden box hubby designed and crafted). Every home needs a few heirlooms :-). It can't all be toasters and Crock-pots!

Between those projects I knitted small pan scrubbies using a new yarn from Red Heart - aptly called - Scrubby. They go well with the perineal favorite - knitted dish rags - which everyone in the family likes to get. I made NFL team color combinations for our football-loving daughter, all black and red for our son (those are his current kitchen colors), and the various other fun colors the yarn comes in for friends/relatives/neighbors.

College-age granddaughter is getting knitted ear warmers and hats with matching fingerless gloves. Her boyfriend will be getting 3, very handsome, knitted scarves - although we haven't met him yet.

I only have one gift left to purchase, and that's for hubby. We exchange one $1 gift from the Dollar Tree each year, a tradition which has now been picked up by other friends of ours who are tired of the gift-giving rat trap. All the gifts are done and ready-to-wrap. Our immediate family has a $10 gift limit, and we usually make gifts. We have tried to put the "fun" (and less stress) back into the holiday$.

-Grainlady

OH I like the Dollar Tree gift idea! I think Christmas gift giving has gotten out of hand but some families just cannot seem to deal with NOT buying presents so this is a great work around without breaking the bank every year because who needs that?

The only gift I worked on I have wrapped and delivered. It was for my sister. I printed over 150 pictures of all of our hikes this summer and last year. I put them all in a photo album in order with captions of each hike's name and then I put in a caption at the end saying "to be continued". There is still room left in the photo album so I will print off pictures of our hikes next year to give her as well.

So far I have crocheted 14 trivets, have 2 more to go. And have crocheted 6 dish cloths to match, have 10 more to do.

What a creative bunch! I love all the ideas, even though it's unlikely I'll ever learn the new skills necessary to copy them.

Grainlady, I'm chuckling at your spelling of perennial. I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you. If you look up the definition of perineal, you'll be laughing too. I'm a good speller, but I can't knit or crochet, so you're way ahead. :-)

Love that party music! Where do you get your willow? Are both the vertical sticks and the horizontal woven pieces willow?

Everyone has such wonderful ideas...they all look great. My family only has a handmade gift exchange - everyone brings one handmade gift and we all take turns choosing and srealign is allowed. (You know that old game....) It's a lot of fun.

Thank you, Bluebell. Yes, it's all made from basketry willow -- I grow my own -- four different varieties.

party_music, I love it! I was planning on making those little bird's nest necklaces with the kid's birthstones for my MIL and SIL but not sure I'll get to it. We don't do a lot of gifts; our family just isn't really big into that. We'll get something for DH's nephews; there isn't a lot I can make for them.

I lost my job back in August and started planning on things to do for the holidays that would be inexpensive. I asked for and received a potholder pro for weaving potholders, kitchen wash cloths and scrubbies. I've been making potholders and wash cloths for everyone. I have also decided to make aprons from mens shirts, I've been purchasing shirts at goodwill for the past few weeks, I'll start those when I can't work outside anymore. I'll also make some breads and goodies and I've already put up homemade apple butter. I'm really getting into using old clothes/materials and recycling them. My mom is elderly and gets a bit cold at night, I found a beautiful wool cape, quality material at goodwill over the weekend. I am planning on making her a shawl from it with matching slip on slippers. I also received a butter churn for my birthday and I will be making everyone fresh butter. I'll put everything in baskets when done.

Two25acres, I hope you'll have as much fun making the aprons out of men's shirts as I did. I got the idea here at the KT a few years ago, and made them that Christmas for seven members of my family.

Bengardening, if you're still following this thread, what are twining rugs?

You all inspire me to get busy!

I'm just working on a couple things for my Christmas swap partner, I will make some friends and family soy candles for Christmas. I also embroider flour sack dish towels for gifts. I do need to get serious and get very busy, after all next month is christmas!

When I was little my baby sister ate my Christmas ornament. Someone gave me a lifesaver man made of the candy and yarn.

At a craft show last year, I saw someone selling the frames for Twining rugs. I was very tempted to buy a set and use my fabric scraps to make some rugs or placemats but I talked myself out of it. Susan, Google it. You might find this a nice change from rug hooking. You can buy the frames online or on eBay, I think.

grainlady_ks, I'm going to have to look for that red heart yarn. My DD could use some scrubbies. I've crocheted a lot of barbie clothes for my granddaughter who is turning 4 this year. I've sewed velcro on the backs instead of snaps or hooks. I also crocheted a bunch of little animals, what ever for I don't know. I just love them. LOL

alisande , I made a separate thread to try to explain the twining rugs I make. Please check it out.