I Believe in Homemade Gifts

Granted, sometimes I feel like the only one who does.

Not all of my gifts are met with enthusiasm. Many people would rather just get a gift certificate or a DVD player or a cheese and wine basket. They will never get it and I just have to accept that.

On the other hand, many people are deeply touched when you give them a homemade gift made specifically with their needs in mind. So here are some gift ideas, many of which I've given to others, or have been given to me over the years.

Things to eat:

Hand canned peaches, plums, tomatoes, jams, jellies and preserves.

Homemade pickles, herbal vinegars, quick breads, muffins, honey, or garlic.

Things to wear:

Knit, crochet or woven hats, mittens, ponchos, socks, sweaters, stockings, skirts, ties, jackets, and bedroom slippers.

If you sew, you can make just about anything if you start soon enough.

Items for the home:

Pillows, drapes, blankets, draftstoppers, potholders, placemats, tablecloths, napkins, rugs, doilies, piano covers, toaster covers, and baskets.

Personalized Items:

Anything you can paint or embroidery a name onto is fair game.

Monogrammed towels, hankies, robes, bbq aprons, glassware, stemware, plates, mugs, and toolboxes can all be personalized.

Toys:

Teddy Bears

Sock Monkeys

Wooden cars, trains, planes made on a jigsaw

Wooden puzzles

Soft books (quilting)

Dolls

Short on cash?

Gifts of Time:

Be an angel and offer to use your dremel tool to put an ID code on all your 'gift recievers' possessions in case of theft or 'borrowing'.

Or offer to make a video documentary of each room of their house in case of fire or flood for insurance purposes. Such thoughtful gifts of time may fill the bill for those relatives and friends that don't want or need anymore stuff to take care of.

Or offer to make a scrapbook for them or scan their favorite photos to put onto a CD.

Whatever skills you have, you can roll them into some kind of a gift. Can you compose a song, write a poem, build a kite, refinish furniture? I've barely scratched the surface. Use my ideas to launch your own brainstorming session.