Gift ideas that are not sewing related
 

In a few days my DH is having a birthday. Does anyone have any suggestions for birthday gifts? I get tired of buying him clothes, e-books (which he just bought several), taking him out to dinner each year. I'm looking for a different gift, he may like. He is a computer player. He sits at the computer for hours at a time everyday. He likes puzzles, reading, computer surfing. Any ideas? He's retired and has plenty of time. I will be monitoring this site off and on for the next few days.

How about an IPad? He could play internet games wherever there is wifi available. Perhaps a class to learn a new hobby or trade? Golf lessons, bridge, woodworking? But not quilting... He might help himself to your stash ;-)

What were his interests, when he was younger? Did he like putting together model airplanes or cars? Sometimes 'a blast from the past' is fun. :)

I broke down and got my husband an x box. now I buy him games. it was supposed to get him off the couch, but now he's there playing all night. at least he likes it and has fun

My husband always wanted to learn to fly so for several b-days I got him things like a helicopter ride, an air gliding experience, and even flight lessons - he loves those kind of gifts! He also loves sports so one year he received Seahawks tickets; this year Sounders (soccer) tickets. These are things he would never buy for himself since he's a very practical and somewhat frugal guy.

I appreciate all of the good suggestions so far. You have given me some food for thought.

Pabernard= I would love for him to get involved with my quilting, but he considers it's my hobbie. Sad but true. He does point out articles in the newspaper regarding quilting.

We do plan on going on a vacation next year, undecided exactly where. So can't buy anything yet.

He has a computer, lap top, nook, and down loads all of his games etc on the devices. We do like our computer devices.

What about an Itunes certificate (for buying games or books) or a gym membership? I'm retired and like computer games, etc too but I also love going to the pool at the gym. Or how about arranging a special surprise "date" like visiting a winery and staying overnight somewhere nice.

There is no way I'd want my husband involved in my sewing and quilting. He'd be telling me what to do and how to do it on no time! And he'd use my stash and not tell me so I'd never know what I had or what I didn't have.

Besides, he needs his own hobbies. So he's in another part of the house LOL

I gave my son a flight in a one seater(made into to a 2 seater and he sat on my lap) for his 10th birthday. it was...ummm awesome. I sat on a milk crate, i'm not kidding.
give him a flying lesson, they're not expensive.
My boss got a ride in an Indi car for his 60th from his wife.
If you're strapped for money this year, how about a model airplane (Michaels in NY has them, I don't know if by you they do).
get him a telescope, he can be kept busy for hours with that.

hey, how about a magazine subscription. we cancelled ours and tv guid and the newspaper. got the news off tv and msn internet, he and I don't miss the magazines, (I look at the drs. office or library). look up the tv on the info channel. now we go on a cruise every other year. that's or present and we give cute cards. small gifts for anniversary, (my husband does the traditional gifts). we like things that way. after awhile, what more do you need??? I like the memories made.

Google Geocaching and see if that would be of interest. He'll need a hand-held GPS device and you can also get a membership in the world-wide network of people who do this as a hobby. My daughter travels the world in her job and has done it in many foreign countries and in the USA. It also requires him to go out of the house and possibly do some walking/hiking. Good luck with your gift quest.

I gave mine a set of carving tools and 6 lessons. He loved it and did a lot of carving after that.

Maybe he would like what we call in our family an "adventure". You could plan something different, whether it is miniature golf, bowling, wine tasting, rock climbing, laser tag, a flower show, a lecture of something of interest to him, something different available to you that you could make an event out of. Like lynnie says, its about the memories made.

When ever I need a gift and want it special, I give an 'event' gift. Get a something to do (movie, game tickets, flying lesson, etc.) and fill a small container with needed supplies. You could add a scarf and airsickness bag for flying lessons, for example, or microwave popcorn, and a bottle of soda, and a small lap robe, for a movie night, get creative with the idea and you can add a laugh (see airsickness bag above,lol) for any activity a disposable camera is a great addition to a basket gift.

MISSPRISS---does your dh make sewing accessories???/ I just got some ripper handles fromsomone on the board
Maybe he can make stilletto's and such, if he does fancy crochet hooks, let me know. alot of people here are looking for nice handmade items for gifts. I know that I sure am. I'm doing alot of holiday shopping now on etsy, but have no problem supporting people here. I decided I wanted my friends to have quality one of a kind tools this year. fun too.

My sister in law did a surprise trip out of town...she packed my brother's bag and told him they were going somewhere and drove him to a favorite place they had briefly visited to spend more time there and enjoy the experience for a longer period of time. When we were all at dinner one night he said how much he loved it. Might be time for a short trip out of town for you and hubby.

How about a Kindle Fire. I use my kindle all the time for reading, surfing the net, and playing games. In fact I am using it to make this reply.

You don't say how old he will be but for my hubby's 65th ,( he was I.T. and has ALL the gadgets) I bought him an hour in a Bi-plane. He tore the seat of his pants getting in, but he loved it!

How about a massage? Makes you feel like new person.

If he likes gadgets and computers, perhaps a good quality weather station that records the weather and is hooked through the computer so friends and family can look in on how the weather is at your house!

Be careful what you give him.... I started giving mine Helicopter videos, then a magazine, and then he decided to build one (yes, a real one!) for himself. It was his lifelong dream come true!

A beekeeping starter kit and membership to the local beekeeping club.

http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com...departments/2/

Gift ideas that are not sewing related
 

For about 5 or 6 years for his b'day I would take him to dinner someplace wildly different and we would spend the night in a nice hotel/motel. One year we had dinner and stayed over in a converted grist mill in a room over the spillway, another year we had a picnic and stayed in the mountains, dinner and a room with the balcony over the Ohio river (guess we liked water noise)

How about a metal detector. It will get him off the couch and out of the house for a while. You never know he might a find a buried treasure . We got my dad one when he retired and he loved it.

Depending on your budget, how about a weekend (or just a night) at a nice bed & breakfast or a date night - dinner and a movie. Or tickets to a show or ball game.

How about a whole bunch of smaller gifts, but make him look for them in a la treasure hunt style. Make a day of it starting right after breakfast. It could include a note for lunch at his favorite place, a gift certificate for ice cream cones in the afternoon, a matinee movie, ect.... I actually never buy my hubby birthday presents cause that way he doesn't feel that he has to buy me anything which he says causes him untold stress..... :o)

Thank -you everyone for gift ideas. I ended up taking him out to dinner, his choice. Then we went out shopping for a gift for him. He decided on a new computer printer, which we both can use. We had a great evening together. Again thank-you. Some of these ideas I will use for Christmas, etc. Again thank-you.

this is a good thread we NEED to keep going. someone always need a good, unusual gift