The October Awakening!

thriftylass

LoveaDove, thanks for those tips. I had a look today too. I'll be making these for friends hampers (got loads of felt left over) or these if I an find cheap scrabble set leftovers.

Also thought a chilli hamper (nuts, chocolate, powder, seeds, sauce) will be quite good and inexpensive for a few people.

MrsGSR

Talking of christmas presents, last year I made little spice mix jars up. One with a summer spice rub and another with curry spice mix and instructions on how to use them. They went down really well and I keep being begged for the recipes!

Kaybeebop

Woohoo reporting SFDs 6&7. Really easy when everyone's feeling awful with the cold. Made chicken soup yesterday & DMIL gave us some lamb for stew so it's in the slow cooker for tonight. Monday's normally shopping day but it's really drizzly & dreich had to dash out to get the washing in when it started to rain so it's jammies & afternoon naps in our house! Also half term with loads of stuff going on the 2nd half of the week decided it's relax & get better day today.

I'm loving all the crafty hints loveadove I always have great intentions especially for teachers but it's amazing how quickly everything catches up. Got most of my kids in & some other random bits & bobs but nothing much. Got a pre-loved baby sale next Sat that I need to get sorted for: keep on adding to the piles but never get anything priced or organised. Need to focus.

K

Calling14

Failed on most fronts already this month. Away next weekend as well. Will try and claw something back next week. Knew October was going to be a bad month. Got below 10k on my credit card but in light of nice dentist bill due may not be for long.
November will get really stuck in as got no excuses then and a full freezer. On naughty step unless I can get some ebay sales in.

thriftylass

MrsGSR wrote: »

Talking of christmas presents, last year I made little spice mix jars up. One with a summer spice rub and another with curry spice mix and instructions on how to use them. They went down really well and I keep being begged for the recipes!

Oh that's a good idea. I made myself a maroccan and jamaican spice mix this year. Might make a few more for hampers.

LoveaDove

Great ideas Thrifty and MrsGSR

Thank you for sharing!! I love crafting, and it is so rewarding when the recipient is so inquisitive about the making side of the creation!

I hope to be more prepared next year, and make more elaborate pieces. I usually paint, use oil pastels or encaustic (wax iron), but seem to have lost my mojo for all of these this year.

MrsGSR

I'm crocheting a blanket for the inlaws caravan. Thought that would not only give me something to do of an evening but would be useful.

cottage_retreatist

Oh everyone has some lovely hamper ideas!

I'm afraid I'm a jam lady through and through and the family expect a minimum of four jars per hamper now!!! Been doing it for about 3-4 years!!! It forces me to make new flavours so they don't always have the same ones!! I also used to make chutney when we have a veg patch cause I could get the ingredients for free from the garden! I also make mini xmas cakes but may need to make one gluten free this year which may be a bit tricky! Might make the whole batch gluten free but then not tell the others!!! :rotfl::rotfl:

I think when I have more money I might try making my own candles for family as well! I can't knit or crochet unfortunately though I do love those granny knit blankets and wish I had one!! I just get my loops mixed up due to being ambidextrous and knit right handed with a left handed loop gargh!!!!!!!! :rotfl: And the wool makes my hands feel really funny!!!!! Too many excuses!!!!

Spending day today but don't expect any more costs for the rest of the week! yay! roll on those NSDs!!!!!!!

So glad Monday is almost over!
xx

Superdopsa

NSK - thanks for letting me know about my part-time job income - I thought I would give it a try!

Re sewing machine lessons. Does your local church have a craft group? I go to a church craft group twice a month and there is a real mixture of craft skills, so maybe if your church does something similar you could find someone to help you there? Where I live there is someone who does 1-to-1 lessons at £25 per hour.

Thanks to everyone who has posted ideas for Christmas presents - I particularly like the Scrabble coasters!

strandedinaber

Woohoo, another SFD for me! As I spent half the day sat outside a coffee shop whilst freezing cold, I am quite impressed with myself. Hoping to make it through 'til Friday when I will be paying for a night out with friends. The only problem is I have letters I need to post, have no 2nd class stamps and don't want to waste any first class stamps on these letters. Still, I think they can wait until Friday which is a planned spend day anyway.

Sewing machine lessons - do you have any little independent craft stores around? A lot of them will run weekend classes as it often helps to boost business. Would love to do some knitting myself for Christmas gifts this year but just don't have the time at the moment. Maybe next year!