via emma’s design blog.

The Enchanting Marie Celeste Ship Hat

I love to give presents.  I love shopping for presents.  I love to make presents.

Sometime’s it’s just so overwhelming, I can’t stop.  Sure, I make my lists throughout the year, but so many good ideas and not enough resources, and the whole thing falls apart, and the gifts are late or don’t make it.

Well, I keep remembering this post from the fabulous DesignMom herself, over at RealSimple.  And it’s just so freakin’ simple.

Here’s Gabby’s amazing rule: Something to read, something to wear and something to play with.

Keep in mind, if you have kids, this is a great guideline, and it can certainly apply to the adults you give to as well.  This was also written with holiday gift giving in mind, but I’m going to try to remember it all year long.

This wonderful advice will also help me stay focused and make sure the gifts I make/purchase are useful and will last.  There’s nothing worse than a pile of chotchkes that collect dust or end up in the bin (or even re-gifted!

You can see all the rest on Riitta’s site, along with her other projects.  I especially love the snowflake project.

via FFFFOUND!

or delicate wall adornments

or cushions.

I’m glad someone out there is making those nasty plastic bags pretty.  I’m glad they won’t be in the landfill and can still be useful.  I think the organic shapes are very pretty, I’ve always been inspired by lace, so delicate and carefully made.

Thanks to designers block for introducing me to Laura Marsden.

Then, this morning, while clicking around, I found these:

I would keep these forever, wouldn’t you?

found at MoCo Loco

The two images above were found on BilbiOdyssey, which is an extensive collection of images and information, prepare to spend HOURS.

Rudolf Leuckart Wall Charts

From Morbid Anatomy.

Ernst Haeckel

Weed Charts

I could pour over the antique and vintage wall charts.

Have you seen the Cabinet of Curiosity, a Flickr group where you can find similar charts and collections of curious things.  Also, Organized Collection, another Flickr group, perhaps the modern version of the older wall charts. Collections.  Vintage Science.  Cool Data Visualization Techniques.  Diagrams.  The Walker Treasury Project.  Museum of Samplers.

I love those “paint it yourself” pottery places.  They are not the cheapest thing to do on a rainy day, but they sure are fun.  This one in Poulsbo, had glaze samples velcro’ed to a tile, and I couldn’t take my eyes off them.  I played with the little tiles over and over, and as I look at this photo longer, I want to make a quilt out of it.

Then it I get lost in quilt land.  I’ve always loved quilts.  Madly.  I loved making Iz’s quilt and the little scrap quilt for her doll.  Grandma Ruby quilts and belongs to a quilt club which keeps her busy.  I love the Virtual Quilting Bee.  When we were working on our Eco Quilts at LuckyStitches, We read about the quilts of Gee’s Bend, and I couldn’t stop pouring over the images of each quilt.

I have dreams about making another quilt (jeez, among other things, my list keeps getting longer!), and with Christmas approaching fast, I’m thinking the quilt idea is going to have to wait until the new year.  Which is ok, day dreaming about quilts, looking at fabric, working in the notebook is all fun too.

I’m also really interested in free pieced quilting.  I don’t think I could stick with following a pattern and cutting tons of squares, triangles, etc.  But I could make it all up as I go along.  I like what happens when you wing it (sounds crazy doesn’t it, coming from a control freak!), but I find I’m most creative then.  I guess you could look at it like playing with fabric and stitches and just letting it all happen.  (I am so talking myself into this!)

You could think of this post as part of my Take Pictures and Plan plan. More lists later…

Felted Sweater Coasters : See these and these and these, oh and these, gosh I love these

Blankets:  I love this one, this one,

Napkins: This is my fave tutorial because I LOVE bias tape. Here’s a tasty one not using bias tape.

Freezer Paper Prints: The ideas have been percolating over here (in my head…), I’m eager to attempt a few….here’s a cute tute, and a bunch of great ideas on Flickr.

Pillows:  In a perfect world I’d love to get some fabric printed and make some groovy pillows.  But I have other ideas for pillows too. here, here, and all of these here.

Bags: The possibilities are just endless.  But this season I’ll probably focus on fabric shopping bags….. I love my EnviroSax, but I think I love my flip&tumble bag more, it’s easier to carry…., but I also love making bags out of found clothing/bedding/fabric.

Looking for your own ideas?  Check out SewMamaSew.  There are so many Handmade Holiday tutes, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list. But start now. Or the list over at down—to—earth.

You don’t have to sew to make your gifts either.  I’ve been cooking up a storm and have been tossing around food gift ideas, maybe a collection of my fave recipes, or ingredients in a jar for my fave soup or cookies.

The possibilites are endless, so I’m making my list and checking it twice, going through my supplies and doing a little bit every week.  I’m hoping to get together with some of my fellow craftettes and plow through the project list so I’m not late!

What are you going to make for the holidays?