Twas the Night

Hello and welcome, blog hoppers!  I'm delighted to have you visit and hope you'll find some quick-to-make gift inspiration with me today.  Let me start with sending huge thanks to Marlene and Mdm Samm for all their work behind the scenes - we appreciate all you do! 

  If you're new to this hop, you need to know that along with showing gifts that could be made in a few hours, we also show gifts received from the hop participant ahead of us on the schedule.  This way, everyone makes and sends something handmade  AND everyone receives something handmade. Pretty amazing, right?   Look at all the handmade goodies Bobbie at From This to That sent me...

there's a fantastic lanyard + vintage button covered scissor fob (with the prettiest sparkly red scissors), a blinged out tape measure, a decoupaged sweet gift keepsake, handmade notebook (with my initial made from a zipper), sparkly festive cup with straw  AND... pretty ribbon, seasonal fabric, yummy tea, mmmmmm... chocolates, the funny "Keep Calm" tissues and cute emery boards.

Yes, I know, Bobbie completely spoiled me with her thoughtful gifts.  Thanks so much, Bobbie!

Check out that mannequin shaped scissor holder on a lanyard - super cute!

Now for my own gift making ideas...

These little pouches only take two squares of fabric and can be made in different sizes.  I used 10.5" squares of fabric for this pouch.  Perfect size for tucking a small gift into! Click here to see my other versions.

 

I updated the look of my simple drawstring pouch (here's the link to my original tutorial) using two squares of fabric by adding some baby pom-pom fringe and not turning up the corners. 

 

Fill with jingle bells candy for a simple and sweet gift!

Another favourite gift to make - my ribbon embroidered snowflake spicy sachets, which I first made last year (here and here).

I have to say, that even though I've made these sachets before, my ribbon embroidery was easier this time - all thanks to a handy new light - a Beam N Read!

 I live in a house with few windows and limited lighting, so light for stitching is always an issue. Shadows get in the way of seeing my marked guides for embroidering those snowflakes on the linen, but with the Beam N Read I had all the light I needed.

It's small and portable (I like the option of using batteries or the USB power kit - depending on where I'm stitching) - unlike the lamps that I had been using.  It has made such a difference that I was lamenting I didn't have it with me the while helping my hubby on a kitchen install (I was placing screw cap covers in the back of a dark coloured cabinet and those LED lights on my Beam N Read would've made my job easier!  I'm just afraid if my hubby sees how handy this light is, he may permanently borrow it. ;o).

Make some to give, make some to keep - the gift of a Beam N Read will make all your stitching easier!

A favourite gift combo I like to make and gift to sewers is a needlecase  (especially the one designed by Tone Finnager  in her book Sew Pretty Homestyle), paired with a pincushion (such as this felt one designed by Betz White - pattern can be found in her book Warm Fuzzies).  Both are quick to stitch. 

Now that leads us to my go-to gift idea this year... my design for a round bottom drawstring gift bag ( I debuted this design a few months backs, using fancy fabrics - click here to see).  I love making bags....

Couldn't resist using some baby pom-pom fringe on the drawstring bag!

I had fun playing with this design using seasonal quilting cottons and making differing sizes.

Two sizes of round bottomed drawstring gift bags trimmed with different sizes of pom-pom fringe (my latest haberdashery crush it seems ;o).

These will be perfect for tucking in a variety of gift items (such as specialty soaps, lotions and bath salts for girlfriends).

I have plans to sew more of these including some in a larger size (using masculine fabrics, to fit some slippers I'm making for my guys), so it's a good thing these are quick to sew!

 I  also have a few other quick to sew gift ideas with tutorials or links to my patterns for you, if you click the links under my blog banner.

Thanks so much for visiting and be sure to stop by all the talented ladies I share today with.  You don't want to miss a bit of gift giving ideas and inspiration! Enjoy...

Wednesday, Nov. 19

Quilt N Queen

I Piece 2 Mary

Kwilty Pleasures

Creatin’ In The Sticks

From This To That

Sew Me Something Good (you are here!)

Gracie Oliver Arts

P.S.  Looking for the full schedule of the hop?  Marlene has it!

Happy gift making!