Homemade Christmas in Progress
Over the next couple of months I am going to highlight some homemade gifts that I am putting together for people this Christmas season. We have decided to go for an exclusively homemade Christmas this year and I am thrilled to show you what I have come up with. I will be making these items below over the next couple of months, and will share the process with you so you can make it too! It is fun to be able to be crafty together, isn't it?? Also, I would love some more ideas, things that you have made for people, or things you wished you could have made for them because it was such a great idea.
Here is what I have come up with so far:
*Granny Stitch Dish/Washcloths
*Sweater Hats (from Handmade Home)
*Rosemary Sea Salt
*Natural Goat's Milk Soap
*Fiber Garland (from Handmade Home)
*Dried Spices from our Garden (Rosemary, Lavender and Sage)
*Lavender Rice Hot/Cold Compress
*Pocket Tissue Case (from Patchwork Style)
*Linen Embroidered Handkerchief (from Linen, Wool, Cotton)
*Quilted Pot Holders or "Millie's Hot Pad (from Handmade Home)
*Silky Eye Pillow (from Handmade Home)
Did I miss something? I am sure I did, if you have something to share that you love that either you made or was made for you, go for it.
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November 3rd, 2009 - 04:49
That’s a fabulous idea! When the gifts are homemade… you feel the love and effort put into it! I would love to d something like that!
November 3rd, 2009 - 04:49
And that’s a LOVELY Banner!
November 3rd, 2009 - 15:02
I am really excited about it too! Thank you, glad you like the site
You are always so encouraging Veens!
November 3rd, 2009 - 09:37
We are making sign boards. Painting boards cool colors we have left from other projects and then adding inspirational messages, or names for kid’s bedroom doors.
November 3rd, 2009 - 15:03
That is a great idea! Are you painting the words on or printing them somehow? Do share.
November 4th, 2009 - 23:26
The lettering on the signs will be cut-out on a cricut….that way the kids can help me. Can’t wait to see your Rosemary seasalt.
November 3rd, 2009 - 12:01
Do you know how to make those cool sling-bags? They’re made of like 2 pieces of fabric…1 is the shoulder strap (sling-style) and the bulk of the bag. The other is the bottom piece. I’ve been trying to make one but I can’t seem to get the bottom on right.
They look something like this…
http://www.partystuffgifts.com/images/thumb/TowelSlingBag.jpg
I love your fabrics in that picture! beautiful!
November 3rd, 2009 - 15:09
I have seen people with those and always wanted one! It is a really versatile bag. I would love to make one. I’ll try and find a pattern and see if I can make it. We’ll see if I can get the bottom on- now I am nervous
Thanks for the idea!
November 3rd, 2009 - 13:36
we made cherry, almond, coconut granola last year…it was a hit so we might do it again this year. also been knitting colorful cotton wash cloths…
November 3rd, 2009 - 15:09
Oh, girl I need to make some of that right now. NOW! Do you have a good recipe for it or did you just come up with it on your own?
November 3rd, 2009 - 14:11
You are so crafty. I would love to be a part of your family so I could get some of your cool gifts. I would love to do more homemade, but I am not that talented in the area of sewing and knitting. Charlotte has been wearing her “berry” hat that you made and everyone has been raving about how cute it is. I think we are leaning toward a gift free Christmas making an emphasis on special activities instead like doing some fun crafts or mommy/daddy dates. I think it will be a good new tradition.
November 3rd, 2009 - 15:13
You are too cute! You are sooooooo talented I don’t even get what you are talking about. Quit that rubbish Becky!
I am very glad the hat works, it is hard to guess how big the kids head will be during the cold season, it is kindof hit or miss really. I want to see her in it!
So, tell me more about the gift free Christmas!!! Are all of you doing it or just the Jonah Lang family? Tell me what you are thinking. I would love to hear it. I love how it sounds.
November 5th, 2009 - 08:11
It won’t be totally gift free but here are some of our ideas for this year:
My sister and I are not exchanging between our families. Instead we are going to do a cookie decorating and Christmas craft party with our kids the week before Christmas.
My girls are obsessed with “date” nights and we haven’t made time to do very many. So I am thinking certificates for a special night out with just mom. I know they would totally love to go get their nails painted (It’s around 8 bucks at a “real” nail place) and then go for ice cream or something after.
With the Lang’s, we have moved to Family presents that encourage family time. Last year we received board games and gave movie tickets. This year I’m thinking about giving dinner out to my MIL/FIL with a babysitting certificate where Jonah and I would come over with pizza for their kids and greatgrandma so just Joe and Joan could have a night out.
It has really cut down on the expense of Christmas and is way better then getting stuff my kids are done playing with by Christmas night. When I ask them their favorite part of Christmas last year they said it was when we did a ginger bread house, so I know I’m on the right track… Making memories!
November 10th, 2009 - 10:05
I would really love to get my family to the point were we can create activities to do for the Holidays. It is so great that your kids remember the simple joys of Christmas and that your making memories to last a life time. I don’t have my own kids yet, but your movement is so inspiring!
November 3rd, 2009 - 21:05
last year, i made my nephew some felt food (cookies, pancakes, ravioli, and eggs and bacon) and bunch of headbands from grosgrain ribbon and ponytail holders (you can google instructions) for my teenage cousins. all the gifts were a huge hit!
good luck with your projects–looking forward to the outcomes! nice material, too! i was just in savannah, ga and picked up a bunch of good material at a store called fabrika. LOVED it!
November 3rd, 2009 - 22:01
Nat, felt food is so fun to make! I love working with felt most of all because you can just cut it and you don’t have to worry about the edges fraying- it is way cool like that.
So glad they were a hit, I need to find the grosgrain ones, those do sound fun!
November 4th, 2009 - 01:38
Great fabrics! I just recently found your blog through one of the book blogs and I’m happy to see you have crafty stuff too
I look forward to seeing your homemade gifts as you get them made, fun!!
November 4th, 2009 - 10:14
I was just thinking about how much I love making gifts for people for Christmas. I’m making some hats and scarves and maybe some amigurumi animals.
November 9th, 2009 - 21:13
The idea of a homemade Christmas is just awesome! We won’t be home (Holland/Germany) for Christmas this year so we won’t be exchanging gifts. To be honest I don’t mind that very much. I don’t like the ‘bigger n bigger presents’ kind of thing for Christmas.
.
So I love you idea. I once made small embroidered linen bags filled with lavender for the clothes’ closets and baked cookies, but I guess that’s about how fare I went in the homemade area sofar
I like the ’special activities’ of Becky as well. Sounds like fun to me and I so agree, kids will always remember those!
November 10th, 2009 - 10:30
Bethany,
I am so excited about all your ideas. I have this love for creating things lately and it’s people like you that encourage me.
Christmas gift giving can be really stressful when your shopping for individual gifts. The ones that come from the heart leave the greatest smiles. Last year, I made my boyfriend a green, caped, corduroy tam (for his big head of dreads) out of second hand jacket and he made me a homemade dread rinse with his own label. We both absolutely loved our gifts!
I am working on making All my gifts homemade this year and hope to open my families eyes to their own creativity.
If you ever go thrift shopping or to garage sales you can always find some good materials to work with and recreate things. I found a cute flower corduroy skirt that was my size and cut it to make it a size 4 T to fit my Niece and then used extra materials to make a matching headband. She loved it!
Old seed bags make great, easy to make, little duffle bags.
I can’t wait to see all the gifts your going to make!