HOMEGROWN Holiday gifts - Are you making any of your gifts?

[Cornelia]

There are so many amazing DIY gift ideas out there - what are you making? Matt here in the Farm Aid office made and bottled infused boozes, then crafted a personalized and FUNNY cocktail "cookbook" to accompany them. Horseradish vodka for the most kickin' bloody Mary ever - brilliant!

What are YOU making this holiday season?

[cheryl-lynne willis]

Most likely going to be making banana bread, some chocolate truffles, all types of cookies and other candies.

[Kali]

Infusions are always great fun. My favorite from last year was a rose vodka made from rose blossoms purchased from the tea section of our local health store. I let it infuse for a few weeks. With some of it I then made a simple syrup and mixed it in, creating a sweet rose liquor. It was DELICIOUS in cocktails. I also made a hibiscus vodka (beautifully colored but a little less flavorful) and many different ginger/citrus combinations. Oh and kahlua. The classic.
For other gifts... I have lots of canned chutney this year as well as dilly beans, and pickles of sorts. Little gift baskets with mini cutting boards and cheese might be in order.
I also do a lot of woodworking so a simple gift is a set of wooden coasters painted on the top with some funky design. Or there are quilted coasters as well....
We're getting into high DIY season here!! Loving it.

[Andrew Odom]

Absolutely! In fact I posted about it here: http://anotherkindofdrew.com/blog/2010/10/18/sewing-for-christmas/

Last year we did "HOMEGROWN gift boxes" which were recycled apple orchard baskets lined with a liner we sewed and filled with homemade jams, jellies, sauces, and pickles as well as homemade candles, and candle holders." It was a huge gift but the first year we made our own so we wanted it to be grand. We gave our nieces and nephews little checkers boards we made (sewn with wood pieces).

This year we made embroidered aprons (not so much work this year...hems and stitches) for the nieces and nephews.

[Torry]

This year I'm making a few Cornhole accessories: A folding beverage stand that has flip-chart scorecards...no more fuzzy math when it comes to the score!!!

[Andrew Odom]

@Torry - Please, please, put up a link or a design or something for that DIY. That sounds awesome and would work perfectly with my brother's cornhole set.



Torry said:

This year I'm making a few Cornhole accessories: A folding beverage stand that has flip-chart scorecards...no more fuzzy math when it comes to the score!!!

[David Moechnig]

We're giving away half-pints of a variety of jams and jellies made from home grown or foraged fruits. The one I'm most proud of is the black raspberry. I spent several days on my lunch break picking wild berries along the road in a park near my office. You should have seen the looks on the faces of passers-by seeing a guy in a dress shirt and slacks picking berries along the road!

[Erica Brown]

I always give jellys and jams I make every year, this year my mom and I are adding seeds from flowers we grow that everyone loves, we have made small envelopes out of scrap book paper to hold them.

[Aliza Ess]

Yes! Giving homemade herbal tea is one of my favorite presents. A great use for all that mint taking over the yard and giant basil plants too. Basil + lavender + honey is a favorite blend of mine. Neighbors of mine grew hops this year so I am using some in a sleepytime tea but it's a little bitter for the faint-of-heart.

[Karen King]

I am making soy candles out of free glass finds from recycling and basic four oil bar soaps with harvested items such as lavender and calendula. Also made a cooler full of bath salts and made containers for those out of recycled paper and a template from a packet of hot cocoa. I almost always give gifts of seeds from my garden and am making containers for those as well. Standard jams and jellies from my homegrown berries. Also homemade liqueurs out of foraged blackberries. Gifts of love.

[Karen King]

I am collecting things for making wind chimes. Anyone have experience with this and suggestions? Thank you.

[Cornelia]

Torry, Drew, forgive my ignorance, but this cornhole game is new territory for me. I had to google it just to know you weren't talking about this guy!

Torry said:

This year I'm making a few Cornhole accessories: A folding beverage stand that has flip-chart scorecards...no more fuzzy math when it comes to the score!!!

[Andrew Odom]

As my redneck family says, "Cornhole is one of the only games you can play without having to put down your beer." hahahaha. Seriously though, I first learned of cornhole when attending an FSU football game. I think it is a game born out of tailgating boredom. Essentially, cornhole is similar to horseshoes except you use wooden boxes called cornhole platforms and corn bags instead of horseshoes and metal stakes. Contestants take turns pitching their corn bags at the cornhole platform until a contestant reaches the score of 21 points. A corn bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point.


Cornelia said:

Torry, Drew, forgive my ignorance, but this cornhole game is new territory for me. I had to google it just to know you weren't talking about this guy!

Torry said:

This year I'm making a few Cornhole accessories: A folding beverage stand that has flip-chart scorecards...no more fuzzy math when it comes to the score!!!