One tradition I've started for my niece in Seattle is to make her an ornament every year for her Christmas gift. When she goes off on her own, she'll have a small tree's worth of handmade ornaments from her aunt. I also made her a Christmas stocking for her when she was born. I wish I had made ornaments for my own kids every year (although I think sometimes they get a little needlework-ed out!)

I also stitched a gift for my friend Kathy from a magazine I had. I won't tell you what it is (she gets this newsletter), but it was fun to just look around for something to fit her personality in the patterns I have at home. That one took a few weeks, but is ready for finishing.

I'll also have to make an ornament for the yearly guild ornament exchange. The stitching is always much more fun than the finishing, so maybe I'll stitch something that will fit in a tuckaway pillow (I have a few of those in my stash at home.) Just snip and tuck -- what could be easier?

If you are late in getting your Christmas stitching started, why not look through your UFO's (UnFinished Objects)? Make a list of those you would like to give something you've stitched, and look for UFO's that are almost done (but not quite.) Maybe you've got something you just need to add beads to, or finish the backstitching? This would be a great excuse to get that puppy finished up.

Or, tuck a kit you have in your stash in your purse to take to work (or put one in the car for when you're waiting for kids.) A little Mill Hill ornament or pin kit doesn't take long to finish, and is small enough to take anywhere.

I have even given away pieces that have hung on my walls for a while. Ten years ago, I stitched Earth Angel by Lavender & Lace. My aunt said once that if I ever wanted to get rid of it, she knew of a good home for it. A few years ago, I took it off the wall, wrapped it up, and she was tickled to death.

Remember, not everyone appreciates the time and energy that goes into stitching, so only give gifts to those who have excitedly accepted such gifts in the past, or who have mentioned (a dozen times) that they'd LOVE to get something homemade. There are always bath salts for the rest of those on your list...

© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com