Help making my Christmas Presents

Just a suggestion.
When little my girls were given a cushion each that they loved to pieces and took everywhere. It wasn't anything designer or expensive. Somebody had just taken the time to find a facecloth with their favourite character and knitted a square the same size in a matching colour (kids love snuggling up to wool) and turned it into a cushion cover with a bit of lace between the edge of the facecloth and the knitted square. The cushion was fairly flat so they could use it as a pillow and she had sewn it altogether as it could all be washed and that way there was no fasteners for them to catch on.
hope you don't mind me suggesting the idea but I thought your nephew might also appreciate something similar!

I've just bought 2 small pine framed mirrors from Ikea (if there is one nearby). They only cost 99p each. You could decorate them according to the person.
Last year, everyone received a 'bit of home made' from me. I made up a batch of sloe gin (or vodka). The sloes were free. Bought cheap booze ('bout £7 per bottle) and added sugar. It was ready in time for Xmas. I just put in in pretty (smaller) bottles so and put a nice label on it. I also made some homemade Xmas chutney.
Hope this helps.

Lillibet wrote:

As a parent of a one year old can I suggest a home made keepsake for your nephew might be more appreciated than yet another toy?:D My house looks like toys R us exploded in it most days & every parent I know is in the same boat! Maybe a home made special cushion for him?

i agree,thats a lovely idea
something with his name on etc is lovely to keep

Beanietdc wrote:

OK then, I have decided that this year (in an attempt to spend less) I am going to make my Christmas presents.

I have bought myself a peg loom so I can make rugs, cushions, bags... haven't worked out how to use it yet or where to get the materials to make them......

Firstly, :T so you should feel proud of yourself :T:T Well done to you, Beanietdc

I have a peg loom (bought it a few weeks ago). I got mine from Ascot Smallholdings and ordered the instruction booklet too. I've had a play at using up el cheapo carrier bags to make a porch rug, but they were simply too flimsy, but I do have some thicker/posher carrier bags that I'm making a peg bag with. Is your loom the same as mine? (You can see it in the link above).
Where to get the materials from?
Well, depends on what you want to use. If it's wool, no idea. I'm going to be using fabric: old clothing/bedding/curtains either from our cast offs or from charity shops/boot fairs. I quilt and cut my nicer fabrics with a rotary cutter so I often have long strips as off cuts, so I'll be using those too.
I wanted to utilise the peg loom to make things from items that would usually be thrown away, so I've no intention of spending any *real* money on materials to make things up into