Crafts?

[Vikia]

So anyone else planning on "making gifts" for the holiday season? I am making warm and soft fleece throws...made 5 today, have a total of 20 to finish. Have to go back to the fabric store for more material tomorrow.

I will also be baking alot of yummy gifts as well.

[morea]

wow, that's great! I like to cross stitch. Takes me a VERY long time though! There's just something special about a handmade gift though!

[shellebelle]

Oh, I would if I could think of something to make! I can really only sew straight lines.

[greyghost]

Yes, I am making most of mine this year.

For my neices, my sister, and jewelry-making friend, I'm making earring and jewelry hangers. You just take 2 old frames, paint them to match some fabric. Take the fabric and wrap it around the back of the frame (cardboard for the earring holders, cut thin board for the bracelets & necklaces). Then take decorative thumbtacks to hold 2 rows of ribbon in place - you hook your earrings over that. For the larger ones that hold bracelets, you drill a hole into the backing and put old cabinet knobs in there - just drape the necklaces on top.

For my brother and brother in law, I'm making a cross-stitch that says "I smile because you are my brother... I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it."

My brother is in college, so I'm making a few "soup in a jar" gifts for him too.

I bead bottles, the old Victorian way. Best are the little old medicine bottles, they hold a flower or two and aren't too big to sit on a dresser or nightstand.

And then for the folks I really don't have a clue for: I went to a winery here in GA and bought a few bottles (and several for me!), ordered some winecorks, found little winebooks for $1 at Target and also little beaded pouches for $1... folks get a wineset.

I also make cards - I like stitching scraps of fabric onto cardstock to make pictures. I've actually got half of my Christmas cards for the year made already. But if I have time, I plan to make sets of four cards to wrap with ribbon and give away too.

And for the neighbors and all the folks in town that I very much like but don't know well enough to actually give anything to: I'll be baking cookies! Probably not the best idea since the owner of the B&B in town here seems to think I should open a bakery - it would be adding fuel to the fire!

I love to sew - I just don't have ideas this year! I think the throws sound awesome.

[Vikia]

The throws are easy to make - NO SEWING! Can be made in 1-2 hours. As I was cutting, my husband was tying. We made 5 in one day.

Just get 2 yards (182.88 cm) of matching fleece (print with a matching solid).
Fleece comes on bolts 60" (152.4 cm) wide.

Lay them on top of each other, right sides out.

I use clothespins to secure while lining them up. Cut away any edges that are not straight so that you have a rectangular shape.

Cut out the corners, cut fringe 1" (2.54 cm) wide on all sides.

Tie each fringe to the layer below with a square knot.

Tip: The short side will be the non-stretchy side - cut 4 1/2" (11.43 cm) fringe. The long side will have the stretch, cut shorter 4" (10.16 cm) fringe.

http://www.vikiandersonsites.com/forumimages/throws.jpg

[Vikia]

Greyghost I think your ideas sound wonderful! I love anything handmade.

[greyghost]

Those throws look so warm and cozy, Vikia!