General Chat

I posted a card, just an ordinary hand made card, not over thick, to Australia today. It cost £1.90.

Most of my hand made cards go for ordinary second class and this year I bought most of my stamps at the beginning of the year before the price went up. I shall still have to buy some stamps but I don't mind as it is part of my hobby.

Ouch Ann, that was expensive. :-(

*hides crochet lady loo roll cover* :-)

*Slaps Foggy* "Chewbacca" indeed :-|

I think it's lovely to encourage children to make presents for family rather than buy.
I'm no tightwad (just careful :-D) but I do resent feeling obliged to buy gifts just to have something to give at Christmas.
Youngsters need various things as they are just starting out but I think there comes a time when we have enough and don't need any more (especially blimmin' brollies :-()

I often buy handmade gifts for Christmas ................ if I can find them


We have several friends who "have everything" .................. soooooooooooo, one solution is that we buy something while on a trip in the summer, or got to craft shows or even small artists studios


It was much easier when we were all travelling more than we do now ............... but all of us would look for embroidery in China, cushion covers made in Nigeria, even tea towels from Australia, a European country, etc etc

Meanwhile, we make our own jams and jellies ................. I used to do it, but now OH does it, with me as "consultant".


we give those to everyone OH works with, some friends, my physio, etc etc


We give away 40 or 50 jars every Christmas .................. people love them

We even get remarks like "I wouldn't mind your rhubarb and ginger every year". "I do love your marmalade"


Only thing is ................. I never make a list of who likes what.


The fruit we use is usually free ...................... collect blackberries from the hedgerows. Quince from the tree in the Botanical Garden where OH volunteers. Kiwi fruit and rhubarb from our own garden.

We have to buy seville oranges, and go to one of the farms for raspberries, tayberries and gooseberries.




sylvia

I had an aunt who had a loom at home and she used to weave Christmas presents for the family in wool she'd spun and dyed herself.

Sometimes she used to knit huge socks that didn't match from wool she'd spun...etc.

Words cannot describe how dreadful they were.

One year she decided to make a dressing gown for my son but only got as far as cutting out the pieces which she sent to me to sew together.

Fortunately she lived miles away so I could safely bin everything she sent. My many cousins who lived near her weren't so lucky.

Gwynne

One ,just one home made present made with ,and given with love is worth any amount of shop bought ones ,as far as i am concerned.Fred :-D

When nieces & nephews were little they gave me paintings & drawings, or something "crafty" they made at school, which I put on the fridge door (for a few months) or on display (I particularly liked the caterpillers made with egg cartons
:-D)

Appreciated them a lot more than a store-bought box of chocolates.

Anything home-made by the kids is wonderful. I'm thankful none of them learned how to make "dunnie dollies" - that's Aussie for those ladies with crochet frocks that you put on top of the spare loo roll.

:-)

I agree Fred. Though not everyone thinks they can turn their hand to a craft.

Shall we start a suggestions list Rose?

Gwynne, those socks sound great - I'll give them a home :-D :-D


Scozz, it's things like 'dunnie doylies that give crochet a bad name, as does 'yarn bombing' :-| :-|
:-D

Hello all,
Sorry to butt in on this thread ..............but on reading up on pensions (OH reaches that age in Dec) I think I read somewhere that you can get 30 1st class stamps and 30 2nd class for last yr prices.
Anne

You're not butting in at all Anne :-) , here is what it says on the RM page

"Whoever you write to, every penny counts, especially over the festive period. If you receive Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Unemployability Supplement, you can buy up to 36 stamps in either books of 6 or 12 at our Christmas 2011 prices.


The offer is available from 6 November until Christmas Eve
(24 December)
Stamps can be purchased from any Post Office®
Vouchers will be delivered to every residence between
8 and 18 October"

Oh I didnt see that about the vouchers being delivered. At the moment we are on Pension credit and havent recieved any. Wonder if we have to apply for them or are they sent automaticaly.

Anne

Anne if you go to this link there is a form to apply for the vouchers, and has a phone number if needed to check eligibilty.

http://www.royalmail.com/services/personal-delivery-options-uk/order-voucher-form

Done it now..that was easy. Many thanks,
Anne

home spun wool ~ that brings back memories.

Mum-in-law used to have sheep. She spun the wool and knitted "things".

She once made OH a vest. It weighed a ton!! He could hardly move when wearing it. We called it his bullet-proof vest. No joke, it could stand up by itself.

I think it was eventually donated to the op shop.

Island ~ I learned to crochet when I was about 14. I made lots of vests etc in the 60s & 70s (very trendy!), also baby shawls, dresses etc..... but I've never made a dunny dolly :-D

Often wondered what you called the toilet cover wooly things Scozz ,lol,we have a pink one done as a poodle in our toilet ,it looks quite cute really but i don't know who made it ,i think it's a pom made item.Fred.
:-)

Alway remember when my daughter was little, x stitching the back of a compact, and putting the initals of the teacher on it, also got my oh to make a trinket box, and I x stitched the top of the box both presents for nursery teachers, think they both appreciated them.

Also when newly married, and not much money, made home made chocolates for my friends, and MiL not appreciated by the latter, told she only liked bought presents!

I don't mind home made presents/cards, shows someone cares.
:-) :-) :-)

I like home made......Ive had homemade soaps and picture frames and other things,,,,,,best are made by children.....be it a crazy paint picture or a gold star stuck on a bit of paper------priceless,,,,and a little crossed stitch pic is fab...

indoor bulbs are nice and easy to do paint a pot jazzy.....

.,,,,,,,,, big bag of summer bulbs and split between 2/3 people are a good home do gift and works out reasonable....

things that can be divided up work out very economical....