Make Something!

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My post today is about gifts.  As most of you know that follow my posts here, I try to gift home-made as often as I possibly can.  I really believe in giving from the heart, and for me that usually means making something!  Unfortunately sometimes that also means that I don’t gift to as many people as I would like.    However I’ve also noticed that even the very simplest of home-made gifts are treasured.

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Today I’m sharing some of the  many things I’ve made and gifts through the last couple years.  Some of them will have links to tutorials I’ve written; either here or on my personal blog.  There’s still time before the Holiday to make a few things… or just start fresh in January and start making for next year!

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I’m going to start with paper crafts.  One of the my all-time favorite gifts is to make a handful of cards, tie them together with twine and give as a stationary set.  Anyone can always use a little stationary set.  You can even attach a beautiful new writing pen to the twine!  Tutorial on my personal blog, click here.

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Another paper crafting thing I love for the holidays are home-made gift cards.  I don’t seem to have a tutorial on them, but all I do is cut brown craft paper to make a tag, layer it with a scrap of fabric and a little piece of white paper for writing on; sew the together with your sewing  machine.  Fast and easy!

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Of course, home-made baked gift items for the holidays are just absolutely the best.  The gift package above is my wonderful, amazing Christmas Almond Bread.  It makes the most delightful gift.  Tutorial and recipe link on my personal blog, click here.

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The above recipe was such a hit with my neighbors that I’m tempted to make it again this year.  I actually wrote about it here on this blog and you can find the link by clicking here.

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The next thing I love using for home-made gifts are Mason jars.  I mean seriously, is there anything sweeter!  I made the above mason jar cowboy cookie mix a few years ago and actually kept a few for myself for a cookie emergency!  These made the best cookies!!!  I did not come up with this idea on my own!  I copied it from  here.

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Another gift I love giving to my sewing friends is a jar made into a pincushion and filled with little fun sewing accessories.  I made this one, but did not come up with the idea on my own!  If you type “pin cushion jar” in the search in Pinterest, you’ll find every idea imaginable!  But it is such a fun and easy gift; and I know from experience that little girls learning to sew LOVE this gift!

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And speaking of little girls…  there is nothing better than home sewn items for their baby dolls!  I made the above wash cloths, diapers and changing pad.  You can find the free patterns for these items by clicking here.

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If you are handy with some woodworking AND sewing, you can make doll furniture too!  My husband helped me out by making the baby doll bunk beds and I made the doll bedding.  We did not have a pattern for either.  But you can look at the blog post I wrote on my personal blog for some close up pictures on both of the projects by clicking here.

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One of my very favorite things to sew for a little girl is a purse.  I wrote a little pattern and a tutorial on my personal blog, click here.  This is such a fun project and in my experience has been a hit every time!

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Buntings.  Oh, farmgirl friends.  I love buntings.  I have made them so many ways for so many people (and for myself!!).  I think my husband told me once that I needed to stop hanging those silly things in every window!  But really. They are so much fun.  I do have a tutorial on my blog of the bunting above.  It’s easy, uses scraps and is oh so happy to hang!  Click here.  (The tutorial is at the bottom of the post, you’ll have to scroll way down to see it!)

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My daughter and I and her little girls made the above mitten bunting and we had such a fun time!  You can get as creative as you want, or as simple.  It is darling now matter what.  Here is a link to the idea that we copied.  There is a little mitten pattern and some ideas.

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Now we’ll move on to some of sewn items that are my go-to items for gifts.  I do try to think outside the box; but I always, always come back to potholders!  I can sew them so fast now that it’s almost crazy!  To make them yourself, click here for a tutorial on my personal blog.  (Paired with my embroidered dish cloths and home made tags, they make an awesome gift! You don’t even have to use wrapping paper if you don’t want to!)

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And now for the embroidered dish cloths.  I wrote all about them here a few years ago and I know many of you have used my pattern.  But you can click here for that blog post and my pattern!  I try to keep a little “kit” in my car and every time we are on the road, I will crochet a dishcloth or two and tuck them away for a quick gift!

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Mug rugs!  Have you ever made a mug rug?  If you haven’t, then it is time!  You can make them as simple as you want, or as carried away!  I got a little carried away on the above mug rug and added a few candy bars, cocoa packages and a beautiful mug.  This was such a fun gift.  I do not have a pattern or a tutorial for this but if you search “mug rug” on Pinterest, you will find so many ideas!

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Along the line with mug rugs are coasters.  The above ones that I made were from a pattern in the book Sewing Illustrated, and were such fun.  Coasters of any sort of so quick to make and so rewarding.  These can be stacked together, tied with twine and a home made gift tag!

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This is the one of the gifts I gave this holiday season to two young teenage girls that were in Quilting class this summer.  I love this fabric and thought they would make the cutest covers for a 2018 day planner.  They came out darling.  I used the tutorial (click here) as a jumping off point and then changed it up a bit.

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And one last thing to share is made by my grand-daughter.  When she was wanting to give gifts to some of the teachers in their home-school co-op classes she immediately knew that she wanted to gift home-made.  I was so proud of her.  So I took the opportunity to teach her how to sew a simple zipper project and she made these five little zipper pouches, all by herself!  Even if you have never sewn a zipper project before you can do it!  Click here for the tutorial that I taught her from!

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And if you don’t have time to make something hand-made I have found the next best gift to give is a magazine subscription!  Especially one from MaryJanesFarm!  Click here to order one or two!

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I saw this darling picture on Instagram the other day and thought I would share it here.  This is my resolution for 2018!  Care to join me?

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Happy Holidays to all my Farmgirl friends!  I hope you have the very best holidays.

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Until our gravel roads cross again… so long.

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Dori

  1. Krista says:

    I have definitely jumped on the home made gifts train. This year I have been working hard to make many of my gifts home made, but sadly I haven’t been able to do as much as I would like do to time restrictions. My goal for next year is to step it up and make many more things home made and plan a little better for the crazy busy time of the holiday season. Your home made items are beautiful and a huge inspiration to me. I hope to learn more sewing in the future so I can make some similar projects. I will join you for the new resolution for next year.

  2. Kim Rice says:

    As usual I enjoy every blog you write and every creative idea you share!
    Merry Christmas to you and your whole family Dori!
    Keep those blogs a comin’!

  3. Carol says:

    I, too, make it a point to make something every Christmas that is homemade. I have been doing this for decades and I often have friends say how much fun it is to put out all of the things I have made them over the years. I love getting homemade gifts too and you have a lot of great ideas on your list. Isn’t Pinterest a great place to get inspired? Merry Christmas, Dori, to you and yours!

  4. Kate says:

    Thank you for the inspiration! This year, starting in January, I plan to make many gifts. It is something I used to do, but have been off track. This will be a good boost to Santa’s Workshop.

  5. Katie Pence says:

    Wonderful, inspiring ! I just love hand made gifts.

  6. Marlene Capelle says:

    Really cute ideas. I’m almost done making this year’s gifts but I’m running out of time. What else is new, right?

  7. Joan says:

    Wonderful, super ideas!! I too do the hand made gifting. One year I did purchased and welll, politely it was suggested that hand made items were expected. So that let me know what would be best BUT I was running out of really nice ideas until you posted and now next year will be started the first of the year. Again thank you so much for sharing your special ideas. God bless Merry Christmas.

  8. Marilyn says:

    Thank You for these suggestions. I will try to start making gifts for next Christmas. Wishing you and yours a Blessed Christmas and a Happy,Healthy 2018.
    Marilyn

  9. Marvene says:

    Oh Dori — to be so talented, a gift from God. My mother did a lot of sewing and nearly all our gifts under the tree at Christmas were homemade, BUT, much as I loved her, she couldn’t hold a candlestick to your talents. God bless you more, sweet Dori . . .

    Marvene

  10. Alexandra Wilson says:

    Dori! This post is fantastic. You are very talented! I’ve been a little down on myself for not getting started with making gifts much earlier this season. I think I’ll get a couple of cuddly flannel blankets done for the girls and some hot cocoa kits for some close friends and family. Oh! I did give out some home made maple nut granola for some “Friendsgiving” favors. That was fun and the kids could easily help. Hopefully this summer we can get some fun woodworking projects completed. We will have to refer back to your doll bunkbed–so cute! Maybe I can get some of your stationary packs and tags completed, too. Thanks for the inspiration! Happy Holidays!

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