Saturday, August 13, 2011

I have a question...

I have a question for you all.... Christmas will be here before you know it and I have been pondering about gifts. I know that there are so many ideas and quiltly projects out there and every year it seems that there are a few that really stick out to us quilters and everyone is making them for gifts. I remember in the past there were the Criss-Cross Coasters, Pot Holders, Oven Mitts, Rice Bags, and a million other things. So my question is.... What are you making for gifts this year? Have you seen any FREE tutorials out there on blogs with neat little gifts to make? If so which blogs????

As for me, I don't have a clue what I will make this year. Last year I made several rice bags and gave them to almost everyone in the family. Oh and I made a few pot holders too. But this year I have drawn a blank. Please help!

The past couple of days, Hunter and I have been a little under the weather with head colds. Nothing major, just enough to drive you crazy. As far as quilting goes.....nothing new here. Still plugging away on that T-shirt quilt, still breaking threads and skipping like crazy. But I am on the last row of blocks so not too much more to go. Then after I get it off the frame I will take it to my domestic machine and fix anything that needs to be fixed. Right now I am taking a break, I'm home alone and doing NOTHING! LOL! Richard and Hunter are at my sister's house shooting rifles with her boyfriend. Not too far from here, I can hear them shooting. :) Andrew went down to the Coon Club for the evening.

I got a small order of thread in from Connecting Threads. A great sale at only $1.74 a spool.

Richard picked up his books for this semester starting Monday. Look at them!! And a bag full of nursing supplies for class. And he still has two more books that he needs to pick up as soon as they come in.


And I will leave you with this photo of Hunter when he got home from school on Friday! He was soooooo tired. Have a wonderful weekend


Kristie

12 comments:

Three Birds Inspired said...

Ones that come to mind for me are the infinity scarf, aprons and placemats. Last year there was a blog that had all kinds of Christmas gift ideas. If I can find the link I will sent it to you! Oh, last year I made very cool winter scarfs (for women) using the curly looking fleece stuff from Joann's. No hemming and they go together almost as fast as you can cut them out! They were on Karen's blog: sewmanyways.blogspot.com

You can look back through her tutorials. The scarves I made were a huge hit!

Yvette said...

I look forward to seeing what everyone says on this.

WOAH!! That's a lot of books.

Honey Bear said...

My sister left me a large number of pillow panels with matching fabric for ruffles. I may make a few pillows but am not into ruffles. I decided to use a number of them to make quilted bags. We load four or six on our Nolting, quilt them, then cut them out and make into the bags. I hope to get back to them soon- seem to have a pinched nerve giving my leg fits and in addition trying to housebreak a brand new 2.5 lb, 9 week old puppy.

Janet O. said...

I am pretty boring--I just do soap every year. I did make potholders one year for birthdays, but I didn't want the pressure of making so many all at once. Birthdays are spread out over the year. I recall one year I gave holiday aprons to a few good friends. I have made jam and given it and I collect ceramic shortbread pans, so I have done plates of shortbread, too. But, again, mostly soap! I'm no help.

Katie M. said...

Christmas ideas - wallets (they really are easy), small notebook holders that can be hung on a fridge with a pen handy, I made my 16 yr old granddaughter a padfolio with pockets for notes and a pen and added a zippered pocket as well - she loved it!. How about fabric baskets, bowls filled with home baked cookies? And what about the gifts in a jar? Make up some flavored hot cocoa mixes, tea mixes, even soup mixes - put in a nice jar and cover the lid with a pretty cover. Oh, I have tons more but don't want to hog the blog :-)

Katie said...

I have some small 15''x17'' small quilts (Jo Morton) that I plan to give...mainly for really good friends and family. I also am making some of those fabric cards I saw in SEW Somerset summer 2011 by Glenda Bailey. You can pretty much use scraps and they are really cute. page99. good luck! (crud, is it really almost xmas?!)

Tammy said...

I haven't even thought about Christmas gifts. Last year I did lavender sachets; made a square muslin insert filled with lavender and then covered that with a silky looking fabric. I also made some cloth napkins that when you fold them they look like Christmas trees so I used Christmas themed fabric. Here's a pattern I found online through Google. Mine is a bit different because I add a tree trunk. They are so easy. http://quiltersfun-joan.blogspot.com/2010/07/christmas-tree-napkins.html

Libby said...

Great topic Kristie! I made potholders last year from blocks that I hadnt done anything with;) I may make my Grandmother some more of those. She doesnt use them..she displays them on her "fancy" table. lol
I know that the site SEW MOMMA SEW has tons of free patterns and gift idea tutorials. It is a great site!

Darling Jill Quilts said...

Am finally catching up on blogs! lol

I have no idea what I will make anyone for Christmas this year. Probably nothing as I am becoming a scrooge! lol

Michelle said...

This is always a problem I have too! I love to give handmade things...but either feel like I've "done everything" or just run out of ideas. I'll be sure to let you know if that next great idea pops in my head! LOL

Kentucky Granny said...

I have a whole folder full of projects I downloaded with this in mind. I will be glad to send you a copy of the entire folder if you want to see them.

Nemo said...

I plan to make a few mugrugs for Christmas this year - and do some knitting. One of my projects are to knit all the Christmas decorations from the book by Arne & Carlos. These are great for gifts - and, since there are 55 patterns in the book, I should be able to get a few more done before Christmas. I've also got softies on my list - together with "pea-bags".