Thursday, April 22, 2010

Gifts

I'm finishing up two quilted gifts and thinking about gift giving. High school graduations are fast approaching.

Lately too much of my gift giving has been relegated to gift cards. I tried giving gift cards to exotic places, like Michaels (exotic to teens) or Bed Bath & Beyond, only to find out that the cards were being turned over to the parents for cash. Not broadening horizons as I'd hoped. So I stick to book stores. And large chain bookstores at that, because my birthday gals and girls are all over the country.

Not as satisfying as making--or even buying--a gift. When you pick out a gift for someone, you're thinking about them. Their wants, their needs, their tastes. You try for something you think they'd like, but that also has a little bit of you in there. I'm wearing a pair of earrings I got from a friend. They look like something she'd buy but something I'd wear. Perfect.

One of the joys of making a quilt for someone is thinking about them as you make it. That can take months. I imagine their pleasure in it, wrapping themselves up in it, spreading it over their bed or couch. Its wonderful to have that person in your consciousness for the time.

I have found something that joins the best of both worlds. I made a little wallet that can hold a gift card. Pictures after the gift is given.

What about you? Have you any wonderful ideas for gifts this spring?

7 comments:

Camille Minichino said...

Oh, I never dreamed kids were cashing in their gift cards!
I have a little paper twisty that I make to hold the gift card -- but now I'm rethinking!

I make little scenes for all occasions, but most of the people in my life now have one, so I'm open to new ideas.

One thing I'm sure we all do is have our author friends or panel members at a signing, do a personal message for our gift occasions, then I can hand it over with "I know this lady; she's terrific, and she wrote you a message!"

Terri Thayer said...

Signed books are a great idea.

Camille, a friend of mine just came back from Chicago and visited the Thorn Houses at the Art Institute. She said they were amazing! Have you been?

Camille Minichino said...

Oh, yes, a few times! I used to have to go back to Fermilab and would make that detour.

There's also the famous fairy castle at the Museum of Sci and Industry, nearby. http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/fairycastle/

Camille Minichino said...

The fairy castle cost $500,000 (in the 1930s!) to build -- funded by silent film star. Real diamonds in the tiny chandelier, real plumbing ...

I could go on, but will mercifully stop!

Linda O. Johnston said...

The hand-made wallet for the gift card and pictures is a great idea, Terri. I like gift cards since they're more thoughtful than just cash, and people can choose what they want from the stores you've selected for them.

signlady217 said...

Well , the kids/teens I buy for all love gift cards, and they all love to read, so I'm ok there.

I only do extensive time-consuming gifts for select people whom I know will appreciate the time and effort I put into it. I do think about them specifically while I'm working on it, and can tell them every stitch comes with love and thoughts of them!

Betty Hechtman said...

The Thorndike miniature rooms at the Chicago Art Institute are amazing. The Coleen Moore doll house at the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. The museum is in my old neighborhood and in the days when it was free, I used to practically live there.