I am sitting here with my morning cup of joe and finished the last of my "ohhhh myyy gawd to DIE FOR" savoury scones I made the other day and realizing I have a TON of stuff to get finished before Christmas comes....

I do this EVERY year!!! I start making my gifts early in the Fall season (like Labour Day weekend), yet other things ALWAYS come up and I end up taking other more things than I can chew then I am racing towards the finish line before time is up!!!

breeeeathe AGgi. Breeeeathe!!

But I just can't HELP myself!!! There is just sooooooooo many things I want to make!!! I'm not alone right????

And I thought I could get in some sewing time today, but this morning I have to individually wrap all the meat stuff I bought at Costco yesterday and put order to the kitchen cupboards and freezer for all the stuff I got there yesterday. Then this afternoon my Mum and I were invited to a Home and Gift party from 2-4. (haven't been to those parties yet). I think when I get back I will set up the sewing machine and get cracking!!! I want to go to bed tonight and say WHEW... I finished and completed ONE gift!

Nope, your'e not alone!

I have decided to make two quilts this year, one for my parents and one for my in-laws. While I did pick fairly simple designs, I simply cannot find the time to work on them!!!
I work two jobs which puts me at around 60 hrs a week, and I think I bit off a bit more than I can chew... *sigh* There was a mess up in my schedule for this coming week at my second job, and I didn't get any hours, so I take it as a blessing and I'm going to work on my quilts!

Ohhhhhhhhh I love scones.......care to share your recepie...good luck on the sewing ...see stomach first lol :wink:

Ruth.. I will post that recipe today in the recipe section... But if you can't wait and need it right now... go to my blog

www.comfortcovedesigns.blogspot.com

I posted the recipe last week there including my Pumpkin-Cranberry muffins. I post many recipes there on my blog along with my ramblings of my quilting life!

Melanie, maybe it was meant as a sign to have that scheduling messed up so you can get back those quilts!

Today when I return from the Home and Gift party I WILL be taking out my machine, setting it up on the dining room table and finishing one of the two Sewing Machine Covers I am making for a gift for one of my friends I sew with Thursday nights

I'm doing the same thing. Due to some unexpected financial surprises, I need to make all of my gifts and now I need to come up with good ideas.
(I usually make gifts for the members of the family that appreciate items made by hand.)

I'm thinking about making aprons for some of the women in my family but that is all the further I've got. No one needs the pjs that I've made in the past, (they are still using the pairs that I've made them).

I've thought about quilted placemats for one family but I'm not sure that they would have the capacity to appreciate the time that I would put in to making them.

My great-niece needs pants so I may make her some pants.
Another idea is table runners.

So, my question is,....what are some good ideas for gifts?

I have been making my gifts for YEARS!

here are some of things I have made up in the past
runners
placemats
Christmas tree skirts
make your own chenile throw pillows
sewing related gifts for fellow quilters (sewing machine covers, pin cushions, scissors holder, tidy bags, etc.)
place mats
lap quilts
Christmas theme throw pillows
aprons
heirloom pillow cases
much much more!


hope this helps!

Well gosh Aggi, I finished some X-mas presents last week that I started early! Like over a year ago early! They were supposed to have been for X-mas last year!!!!!! :lol: :lol:

LOL too funny!

I don't think you're alone here, Aggi! We ALL do this! Actually, I'm pretty proud of myself this year--I've been working on this stuff all year long. I've finished a lap quilt for a friend, 3 table runners and 3 pincushions for my best buddies, and a bedspread for my mom (with Jackie's help). Today I'm hand-quilting the last block of a lap quilt for my DH--then I need to figure out what I'm going to quilt in the sashings and border. That one could go down to the wire, but I'm pretty sure I can finish it if I don't get side-tracked and start some other new project (although that's entirely possible!)

Yep new projects just jump out of the blue in a blink of an eye!!!! Sounds like you are quite productive!! I have decided that this is the year I will start making one cute pin cushion to put in Mum's stocking a year!! This year I will make a cute little turtle from a pattern I found while rumaging through my patterns the other day. I have it almost all cut out

Thanks Aggi. It does help. I've been making gifts too. I just hadn't planned on going all out this year. It is a good thing I have a big stash.

it definetely helps kapatt

You are most definatley NOT alone, me too I am coming up for air, but then something or someone would like something made and there I go again. Good luck with your gifts, sound wonderful.

Elle

I didn't think I was alone in this. It doesn't matter what I make it seems like there is always more. My kids think I can make them anything at the drop of a hat. But I love it and wouldn't want it any other way. They don't ask me for tons of things to buy mostly things I can make them so I feel loved.

Me too. I got the bright idea to make all the kids and kids-in-laws lap quilts for Christmas. Which would have been fine, but I only decided about 8 weeks ago. I have 3 done and 4 left to go. I don't think I'm going to make it. And instead of working on them, I am here reading the board. Shame on me.

Nope, not alone. I start panicing in October. I'm pretty much finished this year tho.

I got my quilts done, YAY!

Some things I'm making this year for Christmas presents:

Each grandchild (all 5 of them) are getting fleece panel "blankies". All of them are 2 yds. x WOF and all of them will be done with a blanket stitch around the edge (I have ONE more to finish!!)

Embroidered sweatshirts: Three friends and 4 adult kids will be getting a machine embroidered sweatshirt. Four down and 3 more to go.

Each grandchild will get their own personal pillowcase (2 done)

Am making pillows for 2 other friends

All Christmas cards will contain FSL Christmas ornaments (I think I have enough of these -- have completed 56 -- which does not include the ones I thought were really ugly and threw out or about a dozen really tiny ones -- These are about 1".)

Another friends wants a purse like the one I made for Dirty Santa with some "small" differences of course.

My daughter wants a purse out of the black pre-quilted fabric I just had to go and show her...

My husband's nephew is getting a machine embroidered apron.

Whew!! I think that's all -- at least all that I can remember off the top of my head -- LOL -- breathe Joyce breathe :wink:

Nope, you aren't alone. THis year I'm making my Dad & his wife some embroidered denim shirt with their dogs name on them (his dog is in a championship field trial this year) and then making some monogramed hand towel and I think that a gag gift I will make is some embroidered toilet paper. Luckily I don't have a large family :wink:

I'll probably be making candy and cookies for our friends and will make some little sewing thingies for my sewing friends..like the froggie thread catcher or Izy's thread catcher.

Good luck with yours!

Today has been my panic day tooo... I am making quilts for the 6 granddaughters 4 done 2 more to go. Pillow cases for the Daughters and hubbys one set done one more set to make. 8 aprons to make only 1 done. And a Christmas wall hanging and table runner yet to make. Plus my dolls for the doll swap and some memory journal books for my daughters--haven't even started those yet.

Going to sew next friday, saturday and sunday.

Deadline is getting closer. No Aggi you are not alone.

Sounds like we are all in that same sinking boat :lol: That's the feeling I keep getting, I'm sunk. Am trying to have a lap quilt for ea gr kid and gr gr kid, have done more than 30 pillowcases, some sets and some loners for the kids. Would love to make aprons but not sure there will be time, most have to be mailed. Have a benefit auction Dec 5th that I have a flannel Christmas lap quilt to get pinned and quilted. Have a young home school gal that wants to finish up ragged denim quilts.....2, maybe 3 of them, she is so enthusiastic :D Wait til reality hits her :roll: she will have blisters from ragging the seams. We all will make it and will have a great Christmas, tired and happy :D

My panicking just went up a few notches.. I broke my quilting foot. While pulling a quilt through the machine, my hand slipped and smacked up against the box part on the back of the foot. The plastic notch that was held around the screw to changing the feet snapped in two places. That was a $100 foot!! I'm freaking out cause there is no Husqvarna dealer around here, (although mind you I will be calling every single dealer in the yellow pages tomorrow morning) I'm just glad I finished all the tree skirts when I did!

One year I had the great idea to make a quilted project for 7 people. :shock: Then I added a wall hanging for my Gram. It was craziness. But, it got done. This year, there's only a wall hanging, (the top is almost done), and 23 bookmarks for my students (18 tops are done). My mil wants a wall hanging, and the fabric is ready, but she doesn't care when she gets it. I hope to have it done by Christmas though. Then there's Mark's CW quilt...

I think getting ready for the craft sale was way worse than Christmas.

We have to be careful to not take on too much so the joy always balances out--my joy for quilting was slipping for a few weeks. Now it's back! :D

Oh gosh--Aggi--I just read your post above. :shock: Good luck!

Been there Done that. And still doing. You think I would have learned my lesson by now.

Aggi...check on ebay in the buy it nows....thats where I got mine..and for far less than what I woulda' paid a dealer. I HATE when something like that happens!!

It doesn't seem to matter how early in the year I get started, I always seem to run out of time to get everything finished before time to mail packages.

If anyone discovers a way to get more than 24 hours out of a day, please let me know. lol

Law 101. I stopped working and that really helps with the time but not so great for the budget.

My problem is that I have sooooo many ideas in mind for special, personalized hand made gifts and I never start until I feel like Christmas is almost here. Oh, well--like they say "it's the thought that counts"...... :mrgreen:

Some things I've "homemade for the holidays" :

Pillow cases - favorite colors or themes

cell phone pouches to hang off the handles of a purse (no more digging through your bag looking for your ringing phone)

shopping bags (quilted and not) for my "green" friends and family members who don't want to use plastic or paper at the store

drawstring laundry bags for college kids or anybody who has to haul stuff to a laundrymat or a drycleaner

wild ironing board covers for sewing friends (made one that looked like a surfboard for a friend who lives by the ocean)

double-sided flannel scarves with winter appliques (think snowmen, pinecones and berries, sportsteams) and then make rag fringe for the ends

hope some of these ideas help.

jeanie in indiana

I found a foot!!! I called my Singer dealer actually (I know him well as I send alot of business his way with my students) Although he is not a Husqvarna Dealer, he does have contacts. I called him first thing this morning when his stored opened. He called me back at my office within a couple hours. he can order one for me and it could arrive by Friday. THANK GAWD! I'll be quilting like a nut again this weekend!!!!

It helps to know the right people -- I'm so glad for you!!

Great ideas, Jeanie. Welcome from the Ozarks :D

First, Aggi, I want to say that you are not alone. In order to make all the patterns that catch my eye, I would have to live about 245 years.

Second, you can solve your meat packing problems by shipping it to me. LOL.

BUT........don't forget your UFO for the challenge. (or have you finished it already??)

Kapatt:
Somewhere on the board some weeks ago someone said she made breadbasket bags and someone else said they would get a basket, make a rice bag heater bag for the bottom of the basket then put the breadbag on top of the ricebag and Joila, a really great, useful gift. Well, I went to Joann's last night and got a basket (50% off on all their baskets in our store), I had a yard of fabric, stopped at the Dollar store and bought a pound of rice and this morning in less than 1 hour I made a hostess breadbasket ricebag heated bread bag and it's darling. I'm going to use this for many, many hostess, shower, I Love you, special occasion gifts that come up frequently. In total the basket I made for my DS cost under $10.00 . See the picture under the picture thread.

Its not finished yet.. but I am sewing the rows together HOPEFULLY tonight!!! I have the sinking feeling it is not going to be done in time :( sniff sniff

I did start making 2 sets of heirloom pillow cases last night (no quilting foot required for that). They make really pretty gifts! I'll post a photo when I complete them.

My foot has arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well I don't have it yet, but I did get the phone call that the foot has arrived in the shop and I can pick it up... Guess what I'm doing after work!!!!!!!!!!!!

I see from your blog you like to cook. How about making up your scone mix in jars, adding pretty fabric on lid and tying with salvedge edge of fabric ragged, or soup...who wouldnt love to have a jar of homemade soup , or some cookie mix in a jar....how about a small basket, with fabric liner and a few homemade items in it....maybe a good book and homemade bookmark and homemade fudge or little candle to light...some dried herbs from garden in little homemade bag. Everything doesnt have to be big and expensive...I love small homemade, thoughtful...."little pleasures" :)

Margie

Margie: Love your ideas...will probably use them in the coming weeks. Thank you.