I'm making fleece stuffed animals for my nieces and nephews. The fleece was only $4 per yard at Joann's this weekend, so that's only $2 per toy.  The total cost with trims and stuffing will probably be less than $5 each.  Also making an embroidered pillow for my mom (about $5.50) and crocheted market totes (around $5 each) for each of my sister/SILs and for my mom/MIL.  My MIL and FIL (two separate households) are also receiving crocheted throw blankets (made with the chunky yarn so they work up really quickly).  These are more expense --about $35 each for the yarn.  The time savings for the more expensive chunky yarn is worth it though.  I also needlepointed my dad a belt.  (So expensive--the kit was $75!  His last one from me lasted almost 8 years though and he gets daily compliments on it.)  Its almost done.  Only about 10 inches of binding left to go and then I can have the leather put on it!

Timzagain--do you have a pattern or directions for the denim sling purses that you could share?

I'm still working on appliqued tea towels and have made quite a few.  I finally found a cheaper source then where I was getting them so that's dropped my cost per gift down alot.

I made DIL a quilt for Christmas and a friend talked me into entering it in our fair here and I won 2nd place.  I've been quilting for several years but that's the first time I've ever done anything like that.  Now I'm ready to make another one to enter next year...

I'm getting prepared for a Christmas craft show as well as setting aside some things for gifts.  Decorated stockings, Christmas bird nests, pillows, candles, jar mixes.  I hope everyone else likes them as much as I do!

I'm halfway through my last pot holder.  At least I hop I haven't lost count!  I've strted on Momm's banner (embroidered) but can only work on them a little at a time because of my eye.

I have finished all of the pan handle hot sleeves.

re-tired

I'm going to make fabric covered photo albums for a few friends who either don't scrapbook, or simply don't have the time to do so. I'm also going to make a small album for my mom, with pictures I've taken of my kids & my nephews. I used to make these (years ago) when I did craft shows, and could easily charge $20-30 for one large album!! Anyway...I have a lot of leftover fabrics & even a few unused photo albums already, so the only thing I'll have to invest is my time. I've also used small albums and even the little cheap "brag books" and made recipe books with them using fabric with a food or kitchen motif.

I've also planned to make some homemade jams & jellies and give little food baskets to the kids' teachers. I'll use scraps of holiday or fruit printed farics to top the jelly jars with, and add a little ribbon bow, and it'll look really nice. I'll add a small tin of homemade cookies and/or candy with the jelly/jam.

 

Oooh I love making things!  I can't ever decide what to make for who, and how I can get away with making the cheapest things ever!  :)  One of my favorite gifts is flannel PJ pants.  Jo Ann always has flannel on sale for $1/yd on Black Friday, so that's $3. 

 I got the cutest thing EVER yesterday and I can't wat to finish them.  I stopped in the local quilting store and they sell these little things made by Moda fabrics called Honey Buns.  It's 40 coordinating strips of fabric 1.5" x 42".  You can make 4 "sweet treat" bags with their free pattern.  The bun cost me $20 which is probably ridiculous if I really think about it but I'm so bad at coordinating fabric and I am making 4 bags.  I might go back and get another and make 4 more if these turn out well.  They also have a free pattern for a little wallet that's pretty much just big enough for your ID, a little cash, and a few credit cards.  The essentials, I guess.  I'm going to try my hand at a few of those too.  The patterns can be found here, along with some quilt patterns as well!  http://www.unitednotions.com/un_main.nsf/free_patterns

I was just reading the post on aprons and also a post on cloth napkins.  I'm considering making some of those as well.  I usually wind up getting myself in over my head when it comes to all the things I want to make and then get them half done and they fester in my sewing room closet.

I also have a great pattern from fiber arts for felted clog slippers.  You knit them in wool then wash/felt them.  They're pretty awesome!  I have made about 15 pairs of them in the past few years and I'm going to make a few more this year.  They work up pretty quickly, but I cannot find the stupid needles I need to make them.  They MUST be around my house somewhere but who knows what the heck I do with things sometimes?!

I'm also fond of beer bread mix and pizza dough mix.  I think I have a grab bag party to go to and I might make up a basket with a few mixes and maybe a 6-pack or something.  They're super easy and I can sew up a quick and easy little cloth bag to stick in a quart size ziploc. 

But I'm always looking for more ideas!  :)

OOOOH I forgot too.  Today I was at Macy's.  They were selling these wine glasses or martini glasses or beer glasses that had a theme painted on them and then a recipe on the bottom.  They were packaged individually.  I thought they were SUPER cute but who's going to pay $25 for ONE glass?  Craziness.  I am considering hitting up the Dollar Tree for some cheap glasses and making my own of those.  We'll see about that one.  Depends on how my other projects end up going...

Can you share the pattern for the slippers that you felt?  I have been looking for a good one.  I love working with wool and felting it.  Thanks!

The pattern is made by Fiber Trends.  You can download it right from their website!  Here's a link;  http://www.fibertrends.com/product/83494/AC33e/_/AC33e_Felt_Clogs_-_PDF_Download  It is worth every penny, they are AWESOME slippers.  I'm wearing mine right now! 

Sorry, I took so long to respond.  I just noticed this post a minute ago.

I don't have a pattern - I kind of did my own thing.   I used the construction of a very basic zippered cosmetic bag or pencil case (two rectangles of fabric, a 7' zipper - then added a strap made from the same denim)  I jazz up the bags with appliques from fabric remnants, fabric paints, a few stray "gems" from other projects etc.    Nothing at all elaborate about the construction - it was the decorating that makes them unique.  

I'll try to find/ make up sensible directions that can help you.