Just finished my Xmas shopping...didn't set foot in a store!

[Raven]

I began making some gifts this summer and they are almost complete. For those on my list who don't appreciate hand made items, I got on line this morning and was done in less than an hour. This is a first for me and it feels GREAT! :hi: How are other people going to do it this year?

[matcom]

1. Hey Mom!

GOOD FOR YOU!

me: online 100% for the last 3 years. Mrs Matcom will hit an independent store or two for little things but we NEVER set foot in a mall.

online is the ONLY way to go

:loveya:

[MaineDem]

2. I'm with you

I've knitted some gifts this year and I have a few more to finish. I'll bake Irish Bread for a few people (like my hairdresser.) I've ordered the rest for the most part online. Even baseball tickets.

I don't "do" malls. I was in Boothbay Harbor yesterday. Small shops (the ones that weren't closed for the winter) with great sales help. Next week (I avoid weekends) I'm going to Camden to walk through those small shops, have lunch overlooking the harbor, and enjoy the last of my Christmas shopping. It's not coincidental that my two favorite needlework shops are in these two towns. :)

[cmd]

3. I get about half done online

I try to support the local economy when possible, but if they don't have what I want, I go online. I not much of a shopper and detest those crowded malls where you can't move. Happy Holidays, Raven. Now it's back to the counted cross stitch that I have to get done for my daughter. (Note to self: never try something like that again.)

[liberalmuse]

4. Man, are you lucky.

I started a little bit of Christmas shopping a couple months ago. Mainly I've been picking up things on sale, like 2004 calendars, or I go to the thrift shops and look for brand new items like Christmas candles, hand-carved wooden boxes and tiny picture frames (usually still in the box). Then it's time to get creative with homeade gifts--I sometimes make bath salts and scrubs, decorate the jars with gems and ribbons and include them in a large gift basket. I don't have a lot of money to spend this year. However, I've come across some really cool items online that are reasonable and unique, like a ying-yang teapot, for instance, so I'm going to stuff those in gift baskets. I'm going to ask my sister to donate money to Dean's campaign this year instead of buying me her usual extravagant gift.

I'm curious--what kind of gifts do you make? My talents are limited, so perhaps you have some ideas that the average person could use? Thanks!

[Raven]

5. Painted chests, a still life and a painted clock for my Mom...

and I also do some beading. I began painting classes in June, mainly folk art, american primitives and tole painting. In addition to being fun, I've produced some reasonably respectable items. A friend of mine asked me to do two painted bentwood boxes for her little neices. The bentwood boxes cost about $2 at the wood store. My friend says she sees them in the shops selling from $15 - $40 depending on the size.

[liberalmuse]

12. Excellent!

Those sound like awesome gifts. I know handpainted items can be very expensive, and there's no limit to what you can paint for others.

I suppose I'll have to invest in some classes, then--for next year. :)

[MojoKrunch]

6. Woohoo... been shopping online for a few years now

for the holidays.
Amazon rocks.

The only thing I buy from stores these days are gift certificates.

Mojo

[hobbes159]

7. spent 2 1/2 years (3 xmas seasons) working in a mall...

Left me with a PROFOUND dislike for anything retail during the holiday season. I call it PTRD, "Post Traumatic Retail Disorder". I get 99% of my shopping done online so I don't have to go anywhere near the malls! Fortunately my family loves to get things like books and electronics that are easy to pick out and order online....

[Catshrink]

18. I did it once.... I was moonlighting and never again during Christmas!

[supernova]

8. Good for you Raven

for getting done early. :D

I don't know what I'll do this year. Last year, I hand-made soaps and bath salts for all the ladies in the family. But I'm uninspired this year so far.

I like hand-made gifts. I like thinking about the person while I make it.

[nuxvomica]

9. I have a few paintings to do and that's it

I just started doing this last year and I'm much happier spending a few hours working on a painting than even one minute in a mall or department store. I hadn't painted in 30 years and forgot how much I liked doing it or how good I was at it. Now that I know I'm an INFP thanks to another post, I've learned I'm in the wrong career and probably should've been an artist. So Christmastime is when I get to feed my soul. Ironic, is it not, that I can get so much spiritual fulfillment from this otherwise horrific time of year. And with the money I'm saving, I gave generously to Adopt-A-Family so that poor kids can have as many material things as rich ones. ;-)

[Crewleader]

10. Hi Raven

That is wonderful, you're finished. :hug:

Due to my being under the weather for awhile,and I haven't shopped too much I send my family what they need most,money. And as far as my son is concern, money fits his choice. Last year I bought videos he didn't want so,it's easier to please him. Earlier in the year I did get some small stuff for some surprises, but other then that most will understand.

Happy Holiday Friends! :grouphug:

[Catshrink]

11. Advice needed: I have two adorable grand-nephews ages 2 and 5

who live in Alaska (I'm in Phoenix). Last year I shopped for them and put together the coolest gift boxes for them. One was SpongeBob themed and the other more an Elmo kind of thing. They loved them, big hit and all that. But, the postage was $25!. This year, I'm gonna wuss out and buy them gift cards. But I can't decide what stores. They have Wal-Mart which I won't do....

Other choices are Toys R Us, Home Depot (the older one thinks tools are really cool), B&N, Borders, Sears, Penney's, and Costco. I'm learning toward Sears because the older one can get his tools and the younger one can get what he wants, too. But then, the book stores are pretty attractive also.

Or I could get them a whole stack of McDonald's gift certificates and further nudge them toward obesity and cardiovascular disease.

[matcom]

13. drum set

i threatened my sister this year and told her on the phone i was getting her 4 y.o. a drum set to 'encourage' any musical talents he might have.

you could have heard a feather drop via the silence on the other line. after about 30 seconds i told her i was kidding

BBBBBBWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHAAAAAAA

[GOPisEvil]

14. Great minds think alike!

I was shopping for a friend's baby shower. While perusing the list, I was trying to locate the "toys that made noise". :evilgrin:

Too bad they didn't have any available at the nearest Target. x(

[Catshrink]

15. Yeah, I did that too.

The silence on the other end of the phone was deafening.

The older boy does love music and his parents sing in amateur/community theater.

[Raven]

16. Books, books and more books!!

They will hate you now but they'll get so smart, they'll take care of you in their old age. My son's grandfather (on my side) and grandmother (on his dad's side) were great readers and really encouraged him to read. Today he is never without a book and I think it helps his writing too.

[Catshrink]

17. I lean that way, too.

I always had a book when I was a kid. Such adventures! Mike Mulligan and His Steamshovel. Curious George. (Not that George, that George isn't curious about anything -- but you knew that.)

[bloom]

19. I ordered most of the things for my list last week.

And it felt great.


Books, mostly. We have an ancestor who was a mystic in the 1600's and Amazon carries a lot of his books. Seems appropriate and even if they don't want to read it all - it's still kind of interesting, anyway. "40 Questions of the Soul" and that sort of thing.

I got something else for my spouse and kids that was only sold online that I had been looking for.

[matcom]

20. now that we know Will is gettin' a hand knitted sweater this year.....

will he like it? :D

[Lady Freedom]

21. Coal, Ther other easy gift!

[loudnclear]

22. Not shopping at all...here's what we are doing

We are all either making or baking our gifts. Putting money into family savings account to help needy members of family as more of them lose their jobs. About 37 of us in the family have agreed to only buy necessities, reduce or eliminate luxaries and travel, spend the minimum in 2004, shop at family or other small businesses, for discount stores when necessary we will shop at Costco (we buy in bulk and then divide it up among the family). We will not buy any more appliances, electronics, or autos until 2005. There are also a few families in the neighborhood who will try this type of boycott. The 37 members of my family are spread out in four states: PA, CA, NC, NJ. (My NJ family members livid about the increases in tolls and sales taxes that are needed to make up for lost Federal payments. Also, they say there are gashtop like tactics about traffic violations to raise more money.

Happy holidays to all.