Not quite ultimate gift for a quilter?

Okay, there's a $25 limit on Christmas exchange gifts at my quilt guild. And, time is running out quickly. I've been wracking my brain (too difficult at times) and can't come up with something truly special . . . I don't think my quilting abilities meet with what some of these members turn out, so I don't want to try to make something that will be a disappointment to anyone. Last year I got a quilted apron and while cute was very heavy and just not something I'd ever use myself . . .

So, if you had $25 what would you prefer? I'm leaning towards notions but everything I think of seems like it would be something others probably already have or meager and insignificant . . .

(Can you tell my thinking cap isn't working well at all these days?)

How about a nice quilt magazine and some precuts?
Or a triangle ruler, those are special...

I don't know.

how about an old fashioned basket, like this

http://kosmopolitan.co.uk/wp-content...hopper3017.jpg

Make a lovely lining for it with pockets and put a few notions in the pockets and make some of Kensington's spiced nuts to include for quilting nibbles.

I suggest a 25.00 gift car to m* or 20.00 and a little notion or two. Who doesn't like replacement blades for their cutter? Or a new seam ripper...as they do get dull or a new pair of gingher scissors....or a new template and pattern to go with it...or aa small bag..you can make filled with little scissors, needles, and such....gosh can you tell I love sewing notions and gadgets!

A travel ironing board made from a TV tray is my most recent favorite thing that would be in that price range and of course fabric comes to mind.
Maybe a pretty sewing machine cover would be nice. One with a paper pieced sewing machine on it was a hit at a retreat I went to last year.

Maybe like this one. Notions

Claire...tell us more about the TV tray iron board!

What about a thread set. You can never have to much thread, and Connecting Threads has some nice sets.

A glass jar filled with colored threads is pretty and very useful for all quilters. Or a bunch of cat quarters and a FQ pattern book.

What are "cat" quarters Karen? Something I should know? :icon_heh:

Does the gift have to be sewing related Sandy? Maybe she would like a gift card to a nice little restaurant where she and a friend could go and sit having lunch and talk quilts?

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Originally Posted by kensington

What are "cat" quarters Karen? Something I should know? :icon_heh:

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Hahaha, that will teach me to type forum messages on my phone. Jeez, Debbie will be sending the SPCA after me for quartering cats! Quartered cats are not good for quilters, too much hair!

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Originally Posted by Mpyles

Claire...tell us more about the TV tray iron board!

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Take a wooden TV tray, they have them at WalMart and probably lots of other places. Cover with a layer of batting, I think I used insulbrite then cover with the silver ironing board fabric or the fabric of your choice.
I go to a sit and sew each month, it goes with me and is such a help as both an ironing board and extra table. I have a small cutting board that I put on top if I need to trim anything.

BTW,I am back. Sandy, I don't know if you noticed my little travel iron at the retreat or not, but I love it and it is a little workhorse. It was plugged in almost all day every day while I was there and Marilyn and I were both using it. Someone else came buy and used it once. If your buddy might need one for traveling, I highly recommend the one I got.

Amazon.com - SteamFast SF-717 Home-and-Away Mini Steam Iron - Travel Irons

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Originally Posted by Claire Hallman

A travel ironing board made from a TV tray is my most recent favorite thing that would be in that price range and of course fabric comes to mind.
Maybe a pretty sewing machine cover would be nice. One with a paper pieced sewing machine on it was a hit at a retreat I went to last year.

Maybe like this one. Notions

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Claire, did you read the post I made one time where I told about seeing the Batman logo the first time and wondering why they had t-shirts with a oval mouth and rounded off teeth? Well, I guess I tend to see things in reverse, and when I clicked your link and the block came up all I could see was a block and I wondered what it had to do with a sewing machine. LOL

Maybe it's time for me to get the other eye worked on!!

BTW I love that pattern! Oh, the wonderful ideas you all come up with.

Looking for a big basket next - love that idea and I'm much better at building things than quilting.

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Originally Posted by K. McEuen

BTW,I am back. Sandy, I don't know if you noticed my little travel iron at the retreat or not, but I love it and it is a little workhorse. It was plugged in almost all day every day while I was there and Marilyn and I were both using it. Someone else came buy and used it once. If your buddy might need one for traveling, I highly recommend the one I got.

Amazon.com - SteamFast SF-717 Home-and-Away Mini Steam Iron - Travel Irons

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Oh, those things are really cool. Wicked cool!

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Originally Posted by K. McEuen

BTW,I am back. Sandy, I don't know if you noticed my little travel iron at the retreat or not, but I love it and it is a little workhorse. It was plugged in almost all day every day while I was there and Marilyn and I were both using it. Someone else came buy and used it once. If your buddy might need one for traveling, I highly recommend the one I got.

Amazon.com - SteamFast SF-717 Home-and-Away Mini Steam Iron - Travel Irons

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I have one just exactly like that one . . . hmmmm

Our guild just had their Christmas party. One favorite was a large tote bag with a medium-sized cutting mat in it with a new rotary cutter. There were lots of aprons, placemats and small quilts. I got the loveliest homemade scarf.

I gave a cute mug run along with a package of expensive cookies, some Chai Tea and a lovely mug. The gifts seemed to be very well received.

The mini iron and the little iron pad in one of the gift threads would be perfect.

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Originally Posted by Claire Hallman

Take a wooden TV tray, they have them at WalMart and probably lots of other places. Cover with a layer of batting, I think I used insulbrite then cover with the silver ironing board fabric or the fabric of your choice.
I go to a sit and sew each month, it goes with me and is such a help as both an ironing board and extra table. I have a small cutting board that I put on top if I need to trim anything.

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I made the small ironing board, w/adjustable folding tray table, also from Walmart. The top is plastic, legs metal, and the top is larger than most tray tables. I used the silver-backed padding and fabric to cover mine. I ran a drawstring thru the fabric top and pulled it taut, just like some of the older regular ironing board covers. I also obtained a travel iron to complete the ensemble. Being tall and sitting tall, the highest table position is perfect.

I really love that little portable steam iron and it's something that I probably wouldn't buy for myself and would really appreciate for a gift! That's my vote and here are a couple links to make a bag for the iron and one for the portable iron mat. This doesn't have the table but I've made several of the simple portable iron pads and they go together really fast!

http://usaapp.husqvarnaviking.com/ed...blewebsite.pdf
tabletop ironing pad tutorial | Little Birdie Secrets

These are the 2 I made to take to class for my ladies to press on. One I just use to tote the iron back and forth and its great I put the hot iron in it and button it up and away it goes. The other is about 3 foot by 2 foot and perfect for anything we do in class.Attachment 61693Attachment 61694

From one Quilter to another........Would we not love just about any type of gift that related to sewing or quilting? Be it a basket of notions, or a basket of FQ or charms and a magazine or cutter or template. Or a M*gift card. O a mug rug or two with mug and hot chocolate and cookies. Or if any of them are readers, a couple books about quilting groups..(there are lots out there to choose from).

Pray about it, read our ideas and trust that you have chosen the right gift for the recipient. If it relates to sewing or quilting I am sure they will love what ever you decide.

Someone spied and knows I finally found that ironing board cover for my craft table - the allusive one that took over a week to locate - and yes, there are some large pieces left. Ideas afloat.

This 'gift' will be placed under the tree and then we play that 'take-away' game (you know the one I mean?). You pick a gift, someone can take it away from you, it can be taken twice - once your gift is taken then you get to pick another - everyone goes home with something. The more a gift is 'taken' the more fun we have . . . I'm looking for F U N!!!

Oh, you are talking about the White Elephant gift. That should be funny!

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Originally Posted by Hulamoon

Oh, you are talking about the White Elephant gift. That should be funny!

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Chinese Christmas, or Thieves Christmas, is a fun way to do a gift exchange at a holiday gathering. The idea is that each person brings a gift within a certain dollar range. A $20-$30 range works well for this type of exchange, but you can establish any amount that you and your guests would feel comfortable with. Each guest will select a wrapped (or already unwrapped) gift, which they risk losing to someone else! Everyone will go home with a gift, but the fun is watching who ends up with (and who steals) which presents.The Rules:
The person planning the Christmas party needs to establish a dollar amount and make sure that all of the guests are aware of it. Each guest will need to bring one wrapped gift to the holiday party.
To make things interesting, it is fun to add parameters in addition to the price range. For instance, the host or hostess may wish to eliminate certain easy gift ideas. A popular example is to say no gift cards, no food items and no wine. So the guests would need to be creative in their approach to gift shopping. Each guest would need to select a unisex gift item that falls within these rules and adheres to the price range. This requires a little bit of creativity, and will add to the fun of watching the gift opening at the party!
To play the Christmas party game, each guest will need to select a number out of a bag or a hat. The person who chooses number one will be able to select any of the unwrapped gifts, and then open in front of all of the guests. Number two then has a choice: they may either choose from the remaining unwrapped gifts, or they may choose to take number one's gift away from them! If number two takes number one's gift, then number one gets to choose from the unwrapped pile. Once number one and number two each have unwrapped their gifts, it becomes number three's turn.
Number three has the same choice that number two had: they may either take the unwrapped gift from number one or number two, or, they may choose from the remaining unwrapped pile of presents. This pattern continues until each player has an unwrapped gift.
Sometimes an additional rule is added: once a gift has been "stolen" four times, it becomes frozen. This can make the party game fun and complicated, especially because players tend to steal gifts just to keep things interesting. Adding the "frozen gift" rule will limit which players can steal which gifts from whom, keeping things lively and complicated. No matter how you tweak the rules to fit your own Christmas party, laughter and fun is guaranteed to ensue, and everyone gets to bring a present home from the party!

Hi Sandy!
I love the idea of the idea of the ironing mat and iron holder. I don't have either so that would be a great gift for me - haha!

I participated in our guild exchanges at Christmas and the one year I got a quilty mug that had a fabric cover on it with pockets. She filled it with all sorts of small quilty notions. (Everyone else wanted my gift.)
The next time I received a embroidered wall hanging. It is beautiful. (Everyone else wanted that gift too.)

I always try to think of something or make something I would want to receive as a gift. Since I don't know until a night or two before, if I will get there or not, if I can't go, I end up with my own gift! Hmmm, might have to make one of those iron pads. Our guild meeting is in the next town through the woods so if it snows, I don't make it. I have a friend who would pick me up, but I don't even sit in the passenger seat if it snows.

We play that game too, with one difference. The gifts are not unwrapped! They can be taken twice - all the other rules are the same, but what surprises when they all get opened at the end!

Made a few of those ironing tables but DH had to do the stapleing for me. The wood was really hard and I don't have the strength in my arms to do that part. There is a picture of it in my Flickr album, row 8, 2nd one in.

Hugs,

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Originally Posted by Hulamoon

Oh, you are talking about the White Elephant gift. That should be funny!

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It's actually called the Chinese gift exchange. The White Elephant is the one where you pick something new or used from your own house that you don't need to give away. That is the one my MIL and SIL did every year. I refused to play that one with them.

I had been wracking my brain and looking in vain for a $10 gift for my small quilt/book group's Christmas gift Exchange. Decided on making a fabric box and putting a gift card from a new LQS in the area. Sandy that might be a quick and good solution to your problem. May

Something that we over well at our guild one year was a quilting handy guide with things like standard measurements, standard stitches, how to bind, or finish .... not necessarily a how-to guide so much as a reference guide with illustrations. You can pick one up at BAM, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon. But I also like notions, and you can get creative with $25. Maybe a small fabric bag and fill it with threads, some small rulers, maybe a few fat quarters ......

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Originally Posted by kensington

It's actually called the Chinese gift exchange. The White Elephant is the one where you pick something new or used from your own house that you don't need to give away. That is the one my MIL and SIL did every year. I refused to play that one with them.

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hahaha, sounds as if you know their gifty ways far too well. lol.

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Originally Posted by kensington

It's actually called the Chinese gift exchange. The White Elephant is the one where you pick something new or used from your own house that you don't need to give away. That is the one my MIL and SIL did every year. I refused to play that one with them.

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Was the reason you refused to play because they'd already given away Martin . . . ??

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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas

Was the reason you refused to play because they'd already given away Martin . . . ??

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No... It's hard to explain in a post. I don't want someone to take it wrong. But, Christmas is so special to me, and a time of the years when tradition and the "Special" means more than so many days before. Getting together and spending an hours, with 25 people you are supposed to care about trying to dump some broken, cracked or dirty piece of junk you don't want on them, just doesn't seem like Christmas to me.

I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend, but I'd rather sit at home by a cozy fire on Christmas Eve than do that. Oh well, after a few years, my Bil said the same thing, he wasn't playing to get some dirty dart board wit no darts that his mom found in one of her rental houses. She thought it was funny to stick people with that junk. But, boy did she get mad if she got stuck with something she didn't want. Like a used back pack. She went OFF!

I played the first year we moved here, and I was a good sport, but once I saw how it went... NO THANKS. My parents are gone, Christmas means to much to me. It's the only gathering we and our kids attend (besides our own) and I thought the least we could do as a family is manage to come up with one new and useful gift each. $10.00 limit. If our kids were getting together with cousins, aunts, uncles and gramma, at least they should feel it's Christmas and get to take home a new gift. That's just me. So, I did not play any more.

Martin and the boys played another year or two... but, they ended up saying the same thing. It wasn't really a fun time of gift giving, it was a time of dodging gifts. Bil was uspet and said they same thing. He said he was the only one who SHOPPED for his gifts. The last year I hosted it, we did new gifts, and it was a blast, now that is fun to watch... to see all the men trying to get that Norelco shaver, to find out after it was safe, that was another exactly like it under the tree and the fight was on again!

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Originally Posted by Blondie

hahaha, sounds as if you know their gifty ways far too well. lol.

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Ditto, but you should see how hard they would try to get a nice gift if there was one in the pile! And get upset if they didn't get it.

That sounds sad Kensi I wouldn't want to play that either. I thought it was white elephant because my dd called it that. They did it at church with new gifts, and stole from each other. I'm going to print out Sandy's rules and give it to her.

Thanks for posting this, Sandy! It gave me a lot of good ideas for our exchange. See you soon!! :))

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Originally Posted by kensington

Ditto, but you should see how hard they would try to get a nice gift if there was one in the pile! And get upset if they didn't get it.

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The junk white elephant thing makes no sense to me as a family gift exchange. If it's done after, as a game, that might be ok, but why bother gifting junk if they can't be bothered to get something nice.

Ditto, y Ditto, y Ditto . . .

Although we have had a case within the family where some 'white elephant' was gifted back and forth for several years and that was truly fun. We didn't do the exchange where you actually had to beg for someone to steal something worthless, but the ugly costume piece of jewelry that went from house to house for many years was absolutely hilarious and enjoyed by all. We have never, though, been a family where we were close enough to all the relatives so that we got together and exchanged gifts. I quite often miss the thought of having those close family celebrations, but within our own immediate family we're busy establishing our own set of traditions.

My parents and siblings do a Yankee Swap on Christmas Eve. I have never heard it called a Chinese gift exchange before. Anyway it is ridiculous. Someone always brings gift cards or cash which are not allowed. The same sister throws a fit when anyone in her family doesn't get what they want and you can interchange my little brothers first wife with the second based on how they both couldn't wait to see who loved their gift the most and then take it just because they could. So not worth it to me. It should be fun and the adults should act like it. I started my daughter when she was 9 with her friends doing their own for a $5 limit and they never bickered. I think her little group of friends still do that.

Have fun shopping!

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Originally Posted by Mpyles

Claire...tell us more about the TV tray iron board!

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I'm not Claire, but I took one of those things with a soft pad on one side, and a mat on the other...covered it with flannel, then attached it to one of those blond wooden TV tables.....everyone seems to have them.... The little table sits at my left, when I am sewing... I love it..... It's so easy to see and press....

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Originally Posted by K. McEuen

....Or a bunch of cat quarters ...

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ewww! quartered cats! Karen!

I don't like Chinese gift exchanges, but when there is one, I always buy lottery tickets.