Sensible little Christmas gifts

Most times towards the end of the year I start looking around for ideas in which I can share my love of gardening and crafting and baking with those I love.
One year I dried herbs in the microwave and they dried nice and crisp in 30-60 seconds.  I used a mix of Rosemary, mother of herbs and kaffir lime leaves and lime peel. A tropical herb mix from my garden, and a recipe for stuffed vegetables stuffed roast vegetables, it is very yummy.  So easy to slip the packet and recipe in with a Christmas card.




One year I crocheted snowflakes - check out all the free patterns here at Cratsy  I also made crocheted angels. There are some angel patterns on Interweave, so nice to be able to share free patterns.  Either of these can just be slid into a Christmas card, making it just a bit special.


I love to make gingerbread men, biscotti and shortbread as they are easy to put into little cellophane bags and tie up with a pretty ribbon.



One year I found these tiny aerogram notes (you have to be of a certain age to know what they are!) and I wrote this little poem, and inserted a tea bag in each one.  


On Christmas Day
at half past three,
Brew yourself a cup of tea.
I'll think of you,
You think of me
While sitting 'round
the Christmas Tree.

~ Author Unknown

This year I made bowl cosies with some pretty bowls for my co-workers.  I included my recipe for ham and pea soup, because that is something everyone has to do with their ham bone don't they?

Everyone can always use tote bags, and I am obsessed with the rag quilt method.  How good would this look made in Christmas colours!




Do you like making Christmas crafts and gifts from the kitchen?

Comments

  1. Joan ElizabethFri Dec 07, 06:15:00 PM

    Wow you are a busy person. I don’t craft stuff for Christmas. I am flat out getting my bought Christmas cards away.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JennySat Dec 08, 12:34:00 AM

    All such great ideas. I don't get more creative than knitting hats and mitts and occasionally an afghan. I really like your bowl cosies - they would be so handy here in Canada with our cold winters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieSat Dec 08, 06:49:00 AM

      Jenny there are lots of tutorials out there, and they are fun to make. Even in this heat I still make curries and soup sometimes.

      Delete
  3. africanaussieSat Dec 08, 06:47:00 AM

    I really enjoy having some thing creative going on, often more than one thing at a time!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MegMon Dec 10, 07:48:00 AM

    I love crafting things for christmas gifts, knitting washcloths and stitching felt ornaments. This year I have also made tote bags out of touristy linen teatowels. I love the idea of your herb mix, I have lots of herbs growing in my garden so I am going to tuck that idea away for next year. Meg 🙂

    ReplyDelete
  5. SamiWed Dec 12, 12:16:00 AM

    They are all lovely ideas Gill. This year I made soaps and foot balm :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. TracyWed Dec 12, 12:40:00 PM

    I like to give handmade and my intentions are always good but I usually have a few things I haven't done come Christmas.
    I love to pop a tea bag into my penpal letters and love receiving different teas from all over the world in return too. I glue the packets they come in into my journal.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love interacting with all my readers, thank you for your comments. Have a great day!

Popular posts from this blog

Up-cycling fabrics

Image
   In our hot and humid climate, jeans are not big movers in our op shop.  We had a $1 a pair sale rack, and still have full racks..... so I decided to make up a few different bags to see if we can somehow save these items from landfill.  Re-fashioning those items into something useful.  I made a few variations just to try out the market and sold this one on the first day they were put out! Each one is individual, depending on what fabric I have available. I tend to lay things out, and then just play around a bit.   Here I am laying out all the options before I start sewing.  I have joined a facebook group which is so inspirational and supportive.      Up-Cycled Cloth Collective | Facebook So often, it is just a case of seeing what is there, and then using it in the best way possible.  I was excited to find this tote bag, which was perfect as the lining of a bag for a teenager. this was also snapped up quickly. The bags were hung up at the op shop and hopefully this will continue to be
Read more

Garden share collective June 2014

Image
Once again another month has rolled by and it is time to link up with  Lizzie at   strayedtable  for our monthly collective where we share what has happened in our gardens for the last month and what we hope to be working on for the next month.  Wrapping up May and heading into June. Last month I wanted to work on: Seed tape .... I did make seed tape, and did a tutorial on the processs - you can see it  here.   It was fun, and worked well, expecially with kids. Mostly though I see a space and throw a few seeds in.  I can see myself doing it at the beginning of a planting season. Worms . .... I have been adding a little of the worm castings every time I plant something, and as a side dressing when plants seem to need a bit of a boost.  It does seem to help. Sitting .... plenty of that - I like the new (original) location of the swing where we have a long view of the garden. - veggie garden is just around that corner.... Eat veggies out of the garden .... so far we have
Read more

I have something to tell you.....

Image
Come on in to my garden.... I have something to tell you  Sit down in the comfy chair  for a little while, and listen to the tinkling of the wind chimes - are you relaxed? Good!  Remember how I entered that garden competition, and the judges came, and they wandered down my paths, taking photos?  Yes! I won runner up! a Fifty dollar gift card ........ from a real nursery, not the big box store that I normally shop at.  Oh gosh, how exciting.... I wonder what I will buy? Thank you Cairns Regional Council!
Read more