Hey Rob: Depending on how "elderly" the parents are.......my 88 year old mom asked for bedroom shoes for her birthday. It is not really a "sewing" project but she has so many lap quilts, doesn't have much need for kitchen items place mats potholders etc. Her cooking days are slowly coming to an end and since I was out of ideas too. The new "store bought" slippers with a good hard sole were just perfect. Now to see what I can do for Christmas......