Any ideas are appreciated.

Love the idea of doing the 'Mom' and 'Dad' towels for a couple and giving them to the Dad of the family (or the 'His' and 'Hers'). New Dads and Moms would love these! Men love big thirsty towels! My daughter uses green for the men in her family, and white for herself, so she can get them brilliantly white in the wash. Just follow their bathroom color scheme. Of course you can include smaller hand towels, wash cloths or bath puffs too!
Jacqueline

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by americangirl 30 Sep 2009

Great idea and useful. This is somethings that we all use and I like be practical.
Thanks for the idea.

picture pillows for some of the grandchildren with pictures of them from birth to now. they are 18 and 15. some of the others are getting quilts with their favorite cartoon character and some are getting embroidered towel sets and pillow cases.

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by americangirl 30 Sep 2009

This is a fun idea! They will really like these pillowcases. I love emboridered towels it is fun to make them match everything!
Thanks for the great ideas.

I bought a package of aprons and I am making grilling aprons for all the guys. Girls are getting bags and little ones busy books. My sister is always hard but since she is the only relative I have left except my emediate family I always want to do something special for her. This year since she ScrapeBooks I am trimming my test stitch designs and sending them to her to use in her scrapebooking. She also collects snowman things and last year at after Christmas sell I got a beautiful tin for 50 cents. What do you think? Will she like it?

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by americangirl 30 Sep 2009

I have thought about the apron idea for the guys that grill, but I haven't did that. I think this is a great idea for your sis. I hadn't thought about using test designs this way, I'm sure she will like it. It is a great idea and it will make her books different from everyone else. Good thinking. You are a very busy at embroidery ~ good luck with all this and thanks for the great ideas!
:o)

Oh my goodness - so many wonderful things that they do for others - that they don't keep for themself. I suppose. Hehehe! *4U

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by americangirl 29 Sep 2009

Very giving. I knew I could get some ideas here.

At the moment, I am embroidering ABC Books for both of my grandbabies for Christmas. They both love books.

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by americangirl 29 Sep 2009

That is a great idea and they make nice gifts.

I have been making table nets, to go over the table after it has been decked, to keep insects out of the food.
I buy some plain net curtaining and then stitch out different themes on them. eg. butterflies, lacy patterns, fruit, candles, shells, flowers. You can even put some 3D patterns such as 3D butterflies or flowers on.
Last year I embroidered ribbons and bows on one for my mom, and she was so pleased with her gift.
I embroider with only wash away stabilizer, so that after washing the net, it looks as if it was woven into the material.
Like all your ideas too.
Happy stitching
God bless.
Marietta

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by americangirl 29 Sep 2009

I like this idea. I have did a couple of these for my trailor, they are great. Very handy!

Oh, one other idea...I saw it on Emb Lib. coasters you emborider them then turn under the edges and press really good, use adhesive spray and put hem on cork and use a decorative stitch around the edge. I have cloth applique one I made for me, but if the glass sweats too much the coaster gets wet and your table is damaged anyway. I am going to do it they seemed to turn out great.

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by americangirl 29 Sep 2009

Thank you for your ideas. I will have to go and check this out. I love that site.
:O)

I always struggle with gifts for the guys...I have mad the ones that grill and would wear a apron one, but they have them now....so I am stuck there. I got a needle work kit from Purple Hat for $15. I know I will at least make 3 sets for friends and more if I do for my daughters too. They have 3 designs Americana, Pansy & Roses. I bought Pansy as that is my mom's name and I am doing a set for her. the set encludes a needle keep, scissor keep, scissor fob, & a pin cusion. They are cross stitch and stitch out beautifully. they are a in the hoop design and I did the first one in the hope, but really I don't care for the in the hoop look, so the others I will finish with my sewing machine. Other than that I love the idea of beautiful pillow cases.

you can laso make things on thule or organsa so they can put it on a shirt, make a table cloth, servietes, teatowel or a doyly or coaster. there is so many to make but it has to fit with the person you give it to, greetings Yvonne

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by americangirl 29 Sep 2009

Great ideas. Thank you. I wouldn't have thought of these.

I found 4 placemats and napkins at TJMAX for $10 and I'm making napkin rings with initials and stitching a design on the place mat for my BFF who embroiders for a living. She doesn't do applique, so I try to find something like that. Just figure out what they don't do that you can do!;)

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by americangirl 29 Sep 2009

Thank you. That is a great idea. I hadn't thought about thinking about it this way.

Personalised towels are always a welcome gift.
As are embroidered pillow slips or any gift that has been lovingly made by the giver.

And, since plastic shopping bags are being phased out, there will always be a need for tote type shopping bags.

Remember, just because a person is talented at sewing doesn't mean they ever get to make things for themselves.
Hugs n roses, Meganne

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by peggyhaws 29 Sep 2009

What a true statement....I remember going to the craft fair and seeing things I wanted and never making it for me. Others yes me no.

by americangirl 29 Sep 2009

Good point Meg. We do give a lot more away than we keep for ourselves. I will keep that in mind.
Thanks!