Has anyone started on Christmas yet??

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Has anyone started on Christmas yet??
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nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 9:18 pm Post subject: Has anyone started on Christmas yet??

Hi, I recently had a PM from Callas on RC about home made stuff, so thougt I'd copy it onto here to get your ideas!

Is anyone making Xmas pressies already this year?? I made some last year and realised I had left it far too late so have started already for this year! Last year I made chill out kits containing wild damson gin (I had to make gallons of it!) home made chocs, almond and oatmeal washbags, the face creams, home made bailey's, crab apple jelly, then I added a couple of bought incense sticks and candles. Christmas eve I was still scraping the chocolate off the walls and was still wrapping on Xmas morning!!!

I've started already for ths year - knitting scarves! There's a silly fluffy chenille type yarn that you can get (synthetic though, unfortunately, but my mates will like it) if you knit loosely, you can get a fluffy scarf done in 2-3 hours! They will get the face creams and the booze again, but I have been saving up the candle wax and will have a bash at making those too.

Has anyone else started already or am I the only lone nutter???

Last edited by nettie on Tue Jan 25, 05 9:25 pm; edited 1 time in total

mrutty

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1578

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 9:21 pm Post subject:
We always buy some presents in the sales, so yes we are already stocking up. Not sure we've made anything yet, but we did keep boxes and baskets ready

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 9:27 pm Post subject:
I sold out of all my pickles and chutneys..so if anybody is thinking about having some more of my delicious cranberry chutney for 2005....now is the time to order! I also have my own range of views from the NY moors ( and the geese mrutty) which I will be producing in the form of high quality greetings cards(blank) should you wish to take opportunity of my special offer..... buy one and get it!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 9:41 pm Post subject:
Funny,I mentioned at work that there's only 11 months to Christmas. I plan to only make hand made pressies this year.

callas

Joined: 20 Jan 2005
Posts: 60
Location: east coast

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 9:47 pm Post subject:

Yes I have! Have started knitting hats. In previous years I have made cakes, puds, chutneys, choc truffles in handmade boxes which I copied the template from a old box of thorntons. Glaced fruits, jams, made felt sockings filled with small presents. Have made sliced dried oranges etc. and then threaded them through rafia to make decorative hangings. I always make my own cards and gift tags.

This year I think I will also have a go at packaging my own seeds - and I would really like to have a go at some products like those produced at Lush and have another go at wine.

I am starting early so that this year will be the year I actually have time to enjoy December! Without running around at the last minute stressed because I have left everything to the last minute.

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 9:52 pm Post subject:
Ooo Callas - hats! And I like the seeds idea too. Might pop a few bulbs into pots too, later on.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 9:54 pm Post subject:
Well in a sense now I never stop, as wine is definately going to be a major gift to people. Perhaps one or tow may also get some year old Sloe Gin as well. jema

callas

Joined: 20 Jan 2005
Posts: 60
Location: east coast

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 9:54 pm Post subject:
I thought with the seeds idea I could either print a picture from the computer onto an A4 sheet then fold it up and stick it down and make it into a packet like the shop ones...or if I have the time draw my own version of the seeds. We shall see.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 9:56 pm Post subject:

callas wrote:

I thought with the seeds idea I could either print a picture from the computer onto an A4 sheet then fold it up and stick it down and make it into a packet like the shop ones...or if I have the time draw my own version of the seeds. We shall see.

If they are flowers a dried pressed one on the packet?

callas

Joined: 20 Jan 2005
Posts: 60
Location: east coast

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 9:58 pm Post subject:
At this rate who ever receives them will be getting two gifts in one, seeds and something to frame. Pressed flowers is a really good idea.

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 05 10:03 pm Post subject:
OOO Treacy that's rather a lovely idea.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 05 8:53 am Post subject:
I have seen templates for seed packets on the internetwebsuperhighway. Might be worth printing one of them off to do your packets from, then they'll look really professional too. By the way, I don't think Treacodactyl had told me we were only doing hand made presents this year. I might have to trouble Nettie and Callas for their patterns....you'd better like handknitted things, Mister.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 05 10:49 am Post subject:
OK I'll spend the evening making the list: who will get what and how can I make it: while the old chap is at football practice. Last December was a bit of a rush... If anyone wants beaded brooches, necklaces etc. then talk to me!

chrisico

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 23
Location: nottinghamshire

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 05 4:44 pm Post subject:
I have started collecting odd balls of wool from the charity shops to make into little stripey purses for presents for my daughter's friends' birthdays as they come up through the year. Scarfs and mittens and even knitted slippers have been known to make an appearance at Christmas, in wild and wacky colours.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 05 9:04 pm Post subject:
I've started practicing wash mitts and soap, which are going to be my main presents this year. As I haven't made them before, I am going to personally road test the first lot, and hopefully graduate to mittens and moiterizers before december. christmas food and jams and jellys went down really well this year, so I will definately do those again, too.

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