[benandjerry]

defo for me recieving and giving.    OH's sister in cambridge makes her own jams & chutneys, OH brother in cornwall makes his own jam & honey, OH other sister in Harlech makes jam, my sister in Notts makes jam, chutneys and beetroot, snowballs in 'prettied up jars'.  we do jam, chutney, beetroot and beach combed things.  I do lots of cross stitch, easy to make lavender pouches, cushions etc.  I enjoy making each gift and making it personal. 

I am liking the sound of the toffee vodka, my sister and mum would like that.....shopping list.....

When I eventually start to knit and  (  ) standby for a whole load of those wooly goodies. 

[benandjerry]

If I get time I also do 'cartoon strips' of the person I am giving it to, if they have done something funny this year 

I also like to do a hamper for my mum and step dad with lots of local stuff in like, cheese!

[Lesley Silvester]

I have a lot of old fleece as well. I can get some dying practice in at the same time.

[Greenerlife]

Going to have a go at these this afternoon too!


http://rosiepink.typepad.co.uk/rosiepink/how-to-make-felted-soaps-and-pebbles.html

[HappyHippy]

Felted soaps are great for keeping kids occupied (and quiet!)
Round soaps are easiest, anything with a pointy corner is trickier 

[Greenerlife]

Felted soaps are great for keeping kids occupied (and quiet!)
Round soaps are easiest, anything with a pointy corner is trickier 

My first attempt is drying     It looks just the right colour for my bathroom too! 

[devonlady]

Take 4 large oranges, pierce each one 40 times with a small pointy knife. Place in a large (sweety) jar and add 40 sugar cubes, 40 coffee beans and a litre bottle of cheap brandy. Shake 4 times a day (if you remember) for 40 days then strain through muslin, remembering to squeeze or eat the oranges. Put into small bottles, or larger ones for those you love well. Nectar

[Lesley Silvester]

I love the look of those felted soaps.

[Greenerlife]

I love the look of those felted soaps.

I'll take a photo of mine when they are dry, but they look lovely now! 

[devonlady]

And I've put all my unwanted fleeces in next year's runner bean trench

[Carse Goodlifers]

Over the last 2-3 years we have given our own homemade hampers to folk at Christmas.
Homemade mincepies, shortie, chocolate covered peppermint creams, pistachio fudge, jams/marmalade, bramble whisky (its like fruit squash  ) and plum gin.
They have always gone down very well with folks - especially older members of the family who 'have everything' already.

I also do bowls of hyacinths too (now's the time to plant them up) for giving at Christmas.

I would like to do something with some of the oak that we have cut up from our tree that was pruned but time is against me.  Maybe next year.

[Lesley Silvester]

We could set up a proper cottage industry between us. 

[devonlady]

Short of money friends one year made lovely liver pate packed into scrounged plastic takeaway containers and decorated on top with bay leaves and glace cherries. It was delicious.

[Bionic]

This year I am giving olive oil infused with chillis that I have grown and beeswax polish which is at this moment hardening in the kitchen 

[Lesley Silvester]

  Sally, I think you might need a bit of punctuation there. I read that as the oil was infused with chillis and beeswax polish.