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by Willow Vanderling from the Threadville Mystery Series by Janet Bolin
At Christmas, I can count on exchanging gifts. eating a major feast, and having fun with friends and family.
My Threadville friends and I have realized that, although we love giving and receiving gifts, some of us are running out of space to keep things.
Just for fun, we instituted a new rule this year--we have to make the gifts, and no one gift can be bigger than a Christmas stocking.
Here are some of my ideas:
1. Home-made jam
2. Embroidered (monogrammed?) bookmarks
3. Fudge
4. Embroidered coasters
5. Hand-knit socks
6. Hand-knit mittens
7. Jar of homemade pickles
8. Rum balls
9. Gingerbread men
Do you have other suggestions of things I might be able to make?
Do you have ideas for cutting down on the proliferation of gifts at Christmas and/or other times of year?
One person who enters a comment below will win a signed copy of the Threadville Mystery of your choice. The are in order: DIRE THREADS, THREADED FOR TROUBLE, THREAD AND BURIED, and NIGHT OF THE LIVING THREAD. You can read them in any order.
Read excerpts.
Find a bookseller.
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Check the sidebar to the left tomorrow to see if you won. And come back every day in December for another Killer Character's Season's Readings giveaway!
Posts
Good idea, to limit size of gifts. A scarf to match the hat and mittens would be a great gift, though a little bigger than a stocking. It could be a large stocking. My idea would be homemade spicy nuts. I see recipes for them online. Or honey cinnamon nuts. Granola mixed with M&Ms and raisins would be a welcome gift.
ReplyDeleteHomemade jam and fudge are my favorites from your list, couldn't think of anything better. For the book choice, I pick Threaded for Trouble and would love to win a copy. monstercreed@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteTo cut down on the number of presents, you could pick names from a hat. But who doesn't love homemade goodies. I would love Dire Threads! Thanks for the chance. angelhwk68@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteHomemade goodies (chocolate covered pretzels, trail mix, cinnamon almonds, hot cocoa, etc.), homemade ornaments, gifts in a jar (bath salts, sugar scrubs, brownie mixes), homemade soaps, scarves...so many nice things to make that people would appreciate. Thanks for the wonderful contest...I would love to read THREAD AND BURIED!
ReplyDeleteDewGirl19@hotmail.com
Homemade goodies re the best. Zeta@iwon.com
ReplyDeleteIf you can knit or crochet, the towel hang ups (you can hang them on the refrig door or oven door) and the knitted dishcloths are always a useful and neat gift to give. I have also knitted a cover for wooden clothes hangers which make a soft surface for hanging those expensive blouses or sweaters without leaving a hanger mark. dbahn@iw.net
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned pickles, but I have made canned dilled green beans for people some years, and they are always a hit. I like the above poster's idea about the knitted dishcloths, have missed those with the passing of my grandma.
ReplyDeleteThose are good ideas. I would like to receive any of them. Of course even if not homemade (unless straight from the author ;-) ) I would have to add books. But limiting the number and size is good. I am not too "crafty" but this years if not small am trying to at least make the gift useful.
ReplyDeletesallycootie@gmail.com
As a single senior I love to receive homemade goodies as I rarely bake any more! I've read books 3 and 4 so either 1 or 2 (both on wishlist) if I should win.
ReplyDeletekpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
You can crochet a scarf or make soap. raquel36m(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI like to give homemade hot cocoa mix with a handprinted mug. But everything you have on your list sounds wonderful. I'd love a copy of Dire Threads. BEVARCHER at ME.COM
ReplyDeleteHome-made candles are always fun (and easy) to make!
ReplyDeleteskkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
I just finished crocheting hats and scarves for people. They turned out nice. Now I need to make myself a warm hat...
ReplyDeleteElaineE246(at)msn(dot)com
Set of knitted dishcloths either with solid colors with Christmas image in each one or a set of colorful striped dishcloths. Stack them in sets of 4 and wrap with a ribbon. Google something like "knitted Christmas dishcloth pattern" and that will get you started. Linda Blalock llblalock(at)prodigy(dot)net
ReplyDeleteAny kind of homemade cookies----I hate to bake, but love eating holiday goodies. Some handmade bookmarks would also be very nice for readers.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Homeade goodies are always well received in our house, but I have noticed that more abd more of my recipients are getting picky (allergy, some food they're avoiding because it's the trendy thing to do). I have dietary restrictions myself but would never turn my nose up at a heartfelt gift. Sorry-rant over. I also like to give gift certificates if money allows to experiences. Thanks for the giveaway. I would like Dire should I win.
ReplyDeletedmskrug3 at hotmail dot com
Handmade coupon wallet or makeup pouch.
ReplyDeleteVera Wilson said
snoopysnop1 at yahoo dot com
Your list is great. You could hand knit some pot holders.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Very good ideas. You can also donate to a charity and put a note in the stocking.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
Ideas are wonderful. Homemade goodies are the best. Biscotti, teas. Thanks for this giveaway. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHomemade cookies, fudge. A precious item that has been passed down thru the generations. A scrapbook of family pictures would be a treasure.
ReplyDeleteHomemade baked goods. Fudge, candy, cookies would all be appreciated I'm sure. I have a friend who decorates a tree with the fronts of Christmas cards from years gone by and it really is pretty. She has a little story about each card-who it was from, what was special about that year for that person etc. stclairck@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this great post since I agree with it fully and do it now. Impressive. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteYou can crochet things as well.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
Homeone sweets are always great!
ReplyDeleteafarage(at)earthlink.net
How about sending a friend an ebook?
ReplyDeleteEnjoy stitching stories.
ReplyDeletethanks
txmlhl@yahoo.com
Cookie mix in a jar.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite series.agavigan@cox.net
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! How have I seriously not read Night of the Living Thread yet? I think when it first came out and I saw it took place in October I thought I'd set it aside until the real October, but then I completely lost track! Well, January sounds like a great time to start it.
ReplyDeleteGreat gift ideas by the way! I'm doing a few reusable shopping bags printed from a photo company with my kids' artwork on them. They are due to arrive today and I am excited to see how they came out. I guess those would be hand/homemade with a little help. :) I've never tried it, but apparently body scrub is very easy to make at home.
Thanks for the chance to win! Merry Christmas!
kristin409 at comcast dot net
Hand knit scarves, mason jar cookie kits, crocheted cloche?
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
I usually include homemade gifts. I make perfume and bath salts using essential oils as well as food gifts. (Fudge, cookies, vanilla bourbon loaves...)
ReplyDeletecozyupwithkathy @ gmail dot com
Oh, in the past I also made jewelry, scarves (I only knit long straight things in garter stitch), and stationary, and soap, and...
DeleteI haven't yet read one of your books, but would love to!
ReplyDeleteI'm not very crafty, but maybe some pet toys? I have made prayer shawls, scarves -
Blessed Christmas! jeaniedannheim at ymail dot com
Gingerbread sounds good. With whipped cream. I have the first two books in the series.
ReplyDeletecatbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
Every year my husband and I make friends and family rum cakes for Christmas. Everyone loves them more than anything we could buy.
ReplyDeleteeswright18 at gmail dot com
Homemade truffles make a great gift. Being blessed as we are, a donations to charities are a good choice.
ReplyDeleterobertscm01@comcast.net
A small gift for each of the family pets or a home made personalized stocking for the family animal including treats.
ReplyDeletelaughlincat at gmail dot com
Cookies in a jar, our soup in a jar. Don't forget to attach the recipe.
ReplyDeletekaye.killgore@comcast.net
Homemade cookies. Rather than getting gifts for everyone, we do Secret Santa with a $25 limit.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
I love the scents of handmade jam ( can be purchased and support a local artisan)
ReplyDeleteLip balm is a nice gift, scented, flavored or not
If you know the person and their tastes, a gift of music is appreciated
An invitation to a party at a later, quieter date (slip invitation in stocking) or even to dinner
These sound great. Would love to win.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be nice to find a simple but cute bracelet in my stocking. Or another item I make to give someone that you don't know what to give is a suncatcher. Take bracelet memory wire. Collect a variety of crystal beads of various shapes and sizes and string them on the memory wire. Of course you need to make a loop at the top and at the bottom when finished. I also like to put something through the loop on the bottom like a Christmas ornament (snowflakes are nice).
ReplyDeleteI have a few suggestions (all ones I actually used last year). 1) Scented candles for power outages (we frequently have them). 2) Mason jar soup mix kits. 3) homemade cold process bars of soap. They leave your skin feeling amazing. servedogmom@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteHomemade treats always make wonderful gifts.
ReplyDeleteHome-made jewelry or hand knitted gloves are two of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
This is a great series! I'm enjoying reading it. Would love to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteHomemade treats - rum balls, Christmas cookies, fudge, fruit stollen and a lemon meringue pie for my son. Also a family scrapbook of past hoiiday and family celebration and events.
ReplyDeleteHomemade goodies - Christmas cookies, fudge, rum balls, fruit stollen , and a lemon meringue pie for my son. A scrapbook of family celebration of events, holidays, vacations and special moments. That would be the best gift of all.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for such great ideas! The Season's Readings winner of a Threadville book of her choice is Connie Reynolds. Connie, please contact Janet at ThreadvilleMysteries dot com.
ReplyDeleteI cross my fingers when I'm hoping for something. I knock on wood when I've said something is a certain thing and then knock to hope that I'm correct.
ReplyDeletethanks for the giveaways
txmlhl@yahoo.com