Gift ideas needed
 

Our Friends of the Library group always has a staff appreciation dinner for the library staff before the holidays, and I like to make small gifts for each person. There are 13-14 on the staff so it's not difficult, but I plan to start in the summer. Here are some of the things I've made in the past: mug rugs, pot holders with homemade jam, chap stick holders, key fobs, ornaments. What little gifts have you made?

Gift ideas
 

snappy bags are always a good one, they are made with a tape measure closure. My husband likes them for vehicle registrations

Kleenex holders for those little pkgs. sachet bake to hang in the closet or place in a drawer

Love the snappy bag idea. Do you have a preferred pattern?

Post-it note holders. You can make some really cute ones with small acrylic picture frames. Pinterest has lots of tutorials for them.

I have been making pillows for gifts. I use Misty Doan tutorial for the nine patch pillow. If I don't know of a favorite color or decor I use a theme, books, travel, sport, hobby. Filling is fiber fill. I have several that have been washed and dried many times and look great. I don't over fill so they are nice for behind the back or for chair cushions. They are fast to make using 5 inch squares.

Tree decoration?

My niece made tree decorations last year for employee gifts. She got blasted for assuming all celebrated Christmas by several co workers. They came to the Christmas party with Christmas theme and she gave each attendee a handmade decoration, a fabric folded star. She wanted to do something special due to the pandemic atmosphere. Her supervisor told her to apologize for offending these employees. The company gave out Christmas stockings filled with items and the 'offended ones' didn't complain about those. She now has a new and better job. It's almost impossible to be nice anymore, only generic hello and how can I not offend you today?

I just followed the link from the Quilting Sayings thread and there are many free quilted gift ideas on it.
https://bomquilts.com/

I thought of that after I made the suggestion.
It's unfortunate what happened for your niece, despite all the other parts that supported Christmas.

Correction ... I should have suggested a "holiday decoration" ... meaning it does not have to be a tree decoration or WHY. I have tree decorations that I hang from windows, cupboard door knobs etc. Too, many non-Christmas-cultures have moved to putting up trees, calling them celebration trees.

Anything snow is often a fall back in such situations. And usually safe!

That was being mean to your daughter, how sad that is what now happens for being nice. And I think those people are ungrateful snots, and for her supervisor telling her she needed to apologize, I would have said no, not going to apologize. I hope she finds nicer people at her new job.

Since it's the Friends of the Library group, how about some bookmarkers?
I found these DIY sites recently. If you don't like this style, there are tons of other tutorial/instructions for other type on the web.

https://quilterscandy.com/fabric-book-marks/
https://iseestarsquilting.com/diy-fabric-bookmarks/

Has soup bowl cozies been suggested? We love ours and assume everyone else would.

Maybe a fabric covered small notebook or holder for a tablet for in your purse? A bag holder for plastic bags, or a mini version for the car.

How about a book mark? Here is a link to a Heart book mark I posted on the QB .

https://www.quiltingboard.com/links-...d-t293915.html

Or a fast and simple book mark is shown in the photo below using a pinking shears or pinked rotary blade.

I think a book mark for each attendee would be a nice little gift to give. It doesn't have to be a holiday theme and then no one is offended.

I do a lot of bowl cozies and pot holders. and Embroidery or quilted hand towels. They are always well received .

Zipper bags. You can make them in any size—-4”x6” is great for purse organizer bags, 12”x3” are good for colored pencils, etc.

Not sewing project but my Aunt gave me a set of 5 crocheted snowflakes with a longer hanging loop. They are starched & I pin them to my valances. I leave them up after Christmas & love looking at them. Each snowflake is different, of course.

Thanks for all the great ideas! I'm now thinking about bowl cozies with a jar of homemade soup mix inside. Found a great recipe for various types of soups-in-a-jar somewhere online. I can tie each cozy and jar up with a nice bow and some instructions, of course.

As for bookmarks, as a librarian, I don't really like fabric bookmarks because they are often too thick and stress the bindings. I do like paper ones, or the fabric triangles you can put over the corners, though.

How about heavy paper book marks with the word read embroidered onto it. Do you have a embroidery feature on your machine? You can then embellish it with beads or a charm.

Maybe have a(n) (optional) food drive instead of a gift exchange?

My small quilting group exchanged those types of gifts for many years - as nice as some of them were, they are actually clutter for me now.

I am old(er) - so that may be a lot of where I am coming from.

I have actively disliked "holiday gift exchanges" for work or organizations for as long as I can remember. In my opinion, they are just one more source of stress during the holiday season.

We did a "clothing drive" for a pregnancy/family organization at a Christmas cookie exchange at the RV park a couple of years ago instead of exchanging gifts with one another. I really liked doing that. Participation was optional.

But - this may be a long-standing tradition that you wish to continue - so I hope you come up with something that you are comfortable with.

Totally agree with you, BearIsGray ... sometimes these extra gifts go beyond the necessary. (with no offence to those who want to do so)

Sadly, these token gifts, often are not as appreciated by the recipients as they exude at the time!

The switch to charitable gifts are a kindly gesture, in place of tokens can serve a very worthwhile purpose. However, they too can be a stress addition in our lives.

A few years ago, that's exactly where I was ... on the treadmill of an already busy schedule of life, and Christmas preparations. Then, it seemed, everywhere I was going (groups, church, work, chiropractor, physio etc.) was another charitable gift required, with specifics as to what it should be. Finally I relented with a shopping trip, just for the purpose. It was not a fun time, and not at low cost to me. Then there was the challenge of making sure I took the right item(s) for each collection. arrgghhhhhhh!!

Kind of took away the warmth of the gestures, and spoiled the whole thing for me.

I guess I have to agree with bearisgray about when you get older you are trying to do some "shredding" of things in your life. That is what my daughter says every time I try to "shed" something on her. When I was younger I didn't feel that way so much so I understand both sides of gift giving. Good luck on what you decide.

I made bowl cozies for my family last Christmas. They were VERY well received and I think a few people would like another round! I like the bookmarker idea. If you used an embroidered ribbon, the bulk would be mitigated.

I have so many thoughts. Holidays are always stressful because I am not Christian and don’t celebrate Christmas. But I am always kind and appreciative when I am gifted the endless
round of Christmas (not holiday) themed gifts, some homemade. I am sad to know someone went to all that work for something I will never use. I try and not be at most celebrations around that time of year.

Geez. How awful for her. I can't imagine being in the situatoin. I'd think if you came to a Christmas party, you'd expect it to be Christmas themed. Anyway, I'm glad she has a new and better job. Good for her!

I am not in a quilt guild, but am in a couple card clubs and we decided several years ago to put money in an envelope..everyone gave what they wanted, and gave it to the City Clerk in our town to put toward the utility bill of a family in our town who had been having a tough year. It isn’t a large amount, but hopefully helps out some. No stress.

Gift ideas needed
 

We decided several years ago not to exchange gifts. Instead we each give $10 which goes to our community Backpack program program that helps feed kids when not in school over the weekend.

How about a gift card to a book store like Barnes & Noble? You could "wrap" it in a cute, quilted wallet. Eyeglass pouches/holders would also be nice. I'll bet every one of them wears reading glasses.

The library trustees gave the staff gift certificates to a new store in town which I tucked into some eyeglass pouches last year. The staff really liked both gifts. My mom, on the other hand, didn't realize the pouch was a glasses case. She has been using the one I made her to hold coupons, pencils, etc.

The most useful gift I like to get is a well made potholder that won't let the heat through. I know they are not exciting. I use a busy print or batik so stains won't be so noticeable over time. I put Insulbrite between two layers of cotton batting. When I see thin silicone trivets at discount stores I buy those and cut to fit instead of the insulbrite. A kitchen is no place for a lousy potholder.

I agree with getting a well-made, useful, functional, potholder.

For guys, one that looks "masculine and grilling friendly"

Silicone trivets...good idea. I never would have thought of that. Thanks!