Group Gift Exchanges
 

In general, how do you feel about participating in them?
I am talking about non-family groups such as work, church, organizations, etc.

Depends. I think white elephant exchanges can be a lot of fun, if well run with rules that make sense and participants who abide by them. But that type of exchange is more about enjoying a fun activity together versus receiving a gift. However, if someone is organizing a group exchange where I feel uncomfortable, I simply opt out.

At quilt guild I don't mind. All gift are quilt related. At work, NO. I am not a fashionista, can't wear jewelry or perfumes at work. So I would end up with another coffee mug. I do have quite a collection in the attic.

I'm in a group of 25 at a small guild. at Christmas and birthday, we all give the same gift. This year, my gift is emb. mirror covers. everyone buys or makes 25 of the same thing and hands them out. These suckers are taking 2 hrs each to make. i'm thinking of giving only to my good friends. there are abour 15 of these people I only see at the Christmas party. i'm wondering if I should make so many of these mirrors. the thread keeps breaking and is aggravating to make. Some of the people come and get gifts, but don't bring gifts. I don not like that. so what can I make for these people? I'm not to crazy to give 25 of these hard made gifts to people I don't know well.

Are you able to opt out of the exchange? Don't bring anything - don't take anything?

If you want to give something to the people you really care for - do it privately at a non-quild event.

I think the people that come to "exchanges" and only take are abominable.

In general I'm not crazy about them because everyone has different taste. It's a nice idea, especially at Christmas etc, but I usually end up donating whatever I got to charity. So it's not all bad but not my favorite thing to do :)

gag me with a spoon...

I used to participate, but not anymore. It seemed as though I got things I did not care for. I'd rather save my $$ for something meaningful to me.

I'd much prefer not to participate.

I would rather not participate, either.

That's pretty much my feeling. I end up with a bunch of stuff I don't want, don't need. I'd rather people just saved the money and told me "Merry Christmas" or whatever and we had a nice meal together.

LOL... me too. I don't need any more ticky-tacky or little "gifts" that I have to find a home for. It's just a pain and a waste of money. The one "exchange" I don't mind all that much is a Christmas ornament exchange. You can always put another ornament on your tree....

AND, I feel the same way about secret pal swaps on the board. I get mostly things I don't want or need, so I don't participate. I need less junk in my home, not more.

As we get older, do we really need "gifts"? Don't we go and buy what we want when we want it? Don't we have enough stuff?

Yes this year I like the ornaments that can be made for friends and close family. They can be put on a tree, or even in a window or anywhere.

I opt out whenever possible (my old work one was compulsory, which seemed to me to go against the point...).

As others have said it is usually a complete waste of money resulting in the participants ending up with a small (or not so small) item that they have no use for.

I can see the logic behind it, but I believe that it's a case of the idea very often sounds better than the reality!

Dislike the gift exchanges. Even ornaments, as we do not celebrate the season. The few guild exchanges I tried, I spent hours on the handmade gift ( guild rules) only to receive something slapped together just before the meeting. Not even donation worthy. Guild opted for a food donation or for several years we collected personal care items for the homeless. Turn out was much better and we all felt better knowing we were helping someone else.

I don't like them.

I do like them on here tho because sometimes I get stuff that I've never heard of! And then once I know what they are and start using them, I wonder how I did without it!

Exactly! You said it well.

So well put.... esp. the last bit. I will not take part in anything where I am TOLD I have to buy a gift. That, to me, is not a gift. A gift is when you give something willingly, from the heart, that you know someone will like. You should not be agonizing over, "Oh, I don't know what to get her, I don't know what she will like..."

I think a great alternative to a group giving each other gifts, is to adopt a needy family and give THEM what they NEED.

My quilting group does what I think is neat at Christmas time. We all make one or two items and have a silent auction for them. We buy tickets 3 for a dollar or what ever price we pick to use. We put bags by each item and put our tickets in bag we hope to win.Its fun trying to win and at the end all money goes to our local food pantry. At the end we all come home with something as well as helping some familes have a nice Christmaas meal.

Some gift exchanges I like, some I don't. White elephant exchanges can be fun if well run. WOW bringing the same gift for everyone in your guild could get quite expensive and time consuming. I'm not sure I would want 25 gifts myself. I have enough stuff. My guild used to do a gift exchange every year where you brought a $10 - $15 quilt related gift.If you brought a gift you got a gift. We did different methods of distributing them. A couple of years ago I suggested that we all probably have way too much stuff. Why don't we do something charitable instead. I was really surprised at how well this went over. One year we had a panty party for a homeless shelter. A lot of shelters desperately need underwear. We all brought underwear and showed them off at the meeting. Things got a little bit silly as we showed them off. Then we packed them up and took them the shelter. They were thrilled. Last year we had a baby shower theme. There is a local center that helps women who can't afford it get what they need for their baby. Anything from diapers to baby beds. We all brought baby items and showed them off at the meeting. This is a lot more fun that what we used to do. We haven't chosen a charity for this year.

I generally don't participate. I don't need more stuff under 10 or 20 dollars. I prefer to purchase things I like.

I would really rather just spend time with these people. Giving gifts is so overblown, (USA) shared time and having a few laughs is the best gift anyone can give.

I actually don't care for them. I prefer giving my money to something worthy instead of buying or making things.

The last work gift exchange I did, I got an unendorsed gift card to a coffee shop. I was lucky when I took it to buy a coffee with. I had taught the woman at the counter's three children and we agreed that was strange. That wasn't as embarrassing as it could have been.

I hate knick knacky things especially ones picked by someone else. So, no, don't like them.

Several years ago I was working out of the clerical pool and was invited to join in the Christmas white elephant exchange. I declined because I didn't bring anything. There were extras several people brought so I was talked into participating. I opened a gift I considered extremely out of line, and I was absolutely mortified, especially since I knew only a couple of people. I was hired and continued working there for several years, but I never again participated in the white elephant. Nor will I ever participate in one!

I am "relieved" that some other people also dislike these "exchanges".

I don't like them no matter what form they take. Since we don't celebrate Christmas I usually opt out of any parties around that time of year. I don't want to come home with ornaments or Christmas related items to recycle and surely don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Feel the same way about other times of year also. Too much pressure and even with those who say otherwise, there is some pressure and judgement going on anyway. At least in my experience over the years. One boss had a holiday "shakedown" of employees. One of his favorites went around collecting $$ for his gift and she wrote down the amount everyone contributed and he used this against people during the year. Not exactly an exchange but reminded me.

Please post what a mirror cover looks like. Sounds interesting. Our group's exchange is "Bring a gift - get a gift".

A very interesting thread. The only gift exchange I've ever participated in was the Christmas Ornament swap. I enjoyed it. The funnest part for me was making the ornament. I love Christmas ornaments and love to put them around the house durning the season, so I can never have too many. And I prefer homemade vs store bought any day!

Don't like forced exchanges. I put a lot of work and thought into my gift and got something slapped together a few hours before the meeting which immediately went to thrift store. I am not a member of a guild anymore. My sister and I make door prizes for the holiday party of the nonprofit we are part of. We do it because we want to and have made many pincushions, small quilts, table runners, bags, and have given fabric from our stashes. I have done 4 swaps through a Facebook group. Have been burned twice and will not do anymore swaps. Of course those two were ones where I spent the most time on the projects and money on shipping.

I don't know how to connect something so for those of you who want to know about the mirror cover
it's under Urban Threads, type in Lace Mirror Cover, and it will pop up

Those look nice!

aren't they, they make nice gifts, but what a pain to sew out. maybe someone can add the thread to us.

arr you going to include the little mirror?

with a trre hanger, i yhink it would make a lovely ornament.

Is this the link?

http://www.urbanthreads.com/products...ductid=UTZ1270

Wow!! Those are lovely!

Lynnie, those mirrors are indeed gorgeous! It's easy to see why you don't want to make 25, especially knowing some people will not bring gifts for the exchange. That's so not good. If you don't bring, you don't get. Whoever is fortunate enough to get one of your mirrors will be delighted.

thank you coopah and especially jlt37869 for bringing the pattern to life for all to see.
it's a lot of stitches and keeps breaking threads. it takes about 1 1/2 hrs. to stitch out
longer when the thread keeps breaking, then the money for the stabilizers. THey are
so pretty. How many of you would like a gift likes this or is it considered just another
piece of junk? It would be nice regifted too. What else can I make? I really think I'll
only do it for the group of ladies I'm close to. Give something else to everyone else.

what do you all think of that?

any idea what I should charge for them?

I don't even like gift exchanges among family. I prefer spending time together and chatting etc. We have too much schtuff as it us. chocolate is welcomed tho!

Sandy