jenn- Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I am considering making hot pads and/or oven mitts for the women in the family (ie MIL, Mom, Grandmother, My Sister, and the random aunt of DH's I seem responsible for coming up with). I am thinking of hot pads like this one but with a design my embroidery machine will do. And matching gloves like these or similar. In the end though, how do you really feel about getting hot pads and oven mitts for Christmas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I think they are really cute! Maybe you could personalize a bit? I would think you made an effort, and love that. Dd made me coasters a couple of Christmases ago--the time it took made the gift even sweeter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripley Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I love practical gifts, especially homemade ones. And especially if the gift is one of those "I need to give something, but what do I give?" gifts from someone who might otherwise give me a candle, sweater, mug or bath salts. LOL Those oven mitts look great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I love personal, practical, handmade gifts. :) One of my all time favorites was a set of personalized towels from SIL - she used her embroidery machine to put names on. She's also done cute bags. I hope she has your idea on her list to do next! It would be easy to personalize for each family. To be fair, I grew up in the art show "circuit" and at her hey day, my mom was doing 38 shows a year up and down the east coast. Juried shows, some of the top rated nationally. So it's possible that my opinion is skewed toward handmade items due to my upbringing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I would love them, but I am not a person who shuns practical gifts. My favorite gift ever from my husband was my enamel/cast iron dutch oven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I would love it, and I think that is really cute and useful. It depends a lot on your family though. People have different ideas about gifts (they should choose it, it should only be for fun, bought not made) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I think they look wonderful and they would be really used and not put on a shelf and forgotten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Those look beautiful! I would be thrilled to receive those. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne J Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I'd be tickled ten shades of happy pink. Really. I loooove handmade gifts, especially ones I can actually use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I love practical gifts, and I love homemade gifts. When I become Supreme Ruler of the Universe, that's what all gifts will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 That would be cool. I love getting things that are thoughtful, functional, had love put into them, and not something I'd buy for myself, and that fits the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomOfOneFunOne Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 AMDG Ditto everyone else! I L.O.V.E! a homemade, practical gift! LOVE! I would feel blessed to receive that gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftymama Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I love handmade gifts, both to give and get. I would love these gifts, however, I like to be in my kitchen. If the women in question do not cook much it may not be right for them. If they do I would think they would love them. Sew Mama sew has had some great choices this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Totally depends on the gift. Your hotpads and oven mitts? I would love that- but I cook and bake a lot, and they will be put to use almost daily. Homemade spice blends, oils, hot sauces, etc? Love those. Someone gives me candles or bath salts or other "pamper yourself" homemade thing... they clearly don't know me very well, and those things will get recycled. A crocheted or knitted item? Meh. Depends what it is, but I knit myself. So I can appreciate the time and effort (especially if using good quality yarn), but a quick scarf crocheted with cheap acrylic yarn? Not so much. It would be worn a few times to be polite. I think homemade/handmade gifts are wonderful, but they are not one size fits all, and I think that gets forgotten sometimes. You still have to take the individual into account with each gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I would totally love those for Christmas! (or anytime) The only problem I've run into with receiving homemade gifts is that the giver is thinking more of what she likes rather than what the receiver might like. Style has been an issue - cute sayings painted on sweatshirts in bright colors for the boys are simply not our style and will not be worn. Homemade cereals made with lots of nuts just won't be eaten. In both instances I feel badly for the giver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
An Unexpected Party Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I think hand made gifts are great. And I certainly understand when someone is making the same type of gift for everyone. As one or two other people have mentioned, however, not everyone "identifies" with his or her kitchen. I would never say anything, but I don't particularly appreciate being given items for my kitchen when every other single member of my family uses it and benefits from it, too. My hobbies are not related to my kitchen, but everyone else in my family tends to get small gifts that are personal while I frequently get stuff for our home. Things for our home should go to us all, the way I see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I would LOVE them, especially if they matched my kitchen decor! (And, actually, I have been searching high and low for cute, reasonably priced oven mitts and hot pads and haven't found any I love, so a big ol' THANK YOU for posting the link because now I get to make my own!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I have never received a handmade gift and I would love those. Plus, I love oven mitts. :) Now I am sad because I just realized I've never received a handmade gift (well, other than from my little kids of course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEm Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I would really love and appreciate a homemade practical gift like that. That being said, you have to know the person you are giving them to. I know if I did that for any of the women in my family (sisters, aunts, mom, or sil who are married to my brothers) they would love it and use it. If I made something like that for my dh's sister's, mom, or aunts they would not. They don't like practical things. They can buy themselves practical things. They want the things that they won't spend the money on themselves to get. And I appreciate that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Practical homemade gifts are my favorite. Give me something I can use and enjoy any time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share Posted November 22, 2013 Thanks for the encouragement everyone! And thanks to those that are pointing out that not everyone would like them. The more I think about it, my little sister doesn't cook much and they may not get used. Then again, maybe I should pair them with a good beginners vegetarian cookbook because the girl is nearly 30 and still relies heavily on my parents to feed her (and she doesn't even live with them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I am considering making hot pads and/or oven mitts for the women in the family (ie MIL, Mom, Grandmother, My Sister, and the random aunt of DH's I seem responsible for coming up with). I am thinking of hot pads like this one but with a design my embroidery machine will do. And matching gloves like these or similar. In the end though, how do you really feel about getting hot pads and oven mitts for Christmas? I would love to receive one of those hot pads for Christmas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jar7709 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Thanks for the encouragement everyone! And thanks to those that are pointing out that not everyone would like them. The more I think about it, my little sister doesn't cook much and they may not get used. Then again, maybe I should pair them with a good beginners vegetarian cookbook because the girl is nearly 30 and still relies heavily on my parents to feed her (and she doesn't even live with them). I think it's very thoughtful! But just my opinion, that kind of gift *could* be taken more as a judgement or admonishment than a gift depending on how it's handled. I've recieved "gifts" of "helpful" housecleaning tips books and supplies from my mom, who is a passive-aggressive sort about how I handle my house and family. Thanks Mom. But you probably know your sister better than I do, so feel free to disregard my experience. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I think they are lovely. It depends on the person you are giving them to. I happen to have a plethora of hot pad and mitts to the point I've boxed some up and put in the attic. I would think they were lovely and thank you and add them to the attic box for growing young adult children to choose to use when they move out. However, I can't own too many chunky knit socks. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I'd love it. Especially if it were truly practical. Not like homemade bath salts or something like that. Even in my "soaking in the bath" days I hated salts. But that's beside the point. The point is, yes, pot holders that are usable, and not just decorative are a wonderful gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I agree w/ Lady Marmalade. Some homemade gifts are ok, others not so much. (Though the time spent & the thought behind the gift is certainly appreciated.) I might use the hot pad, probably wouldn't use the oven mitt. (I have potholders I like already & don't want any more.) Plus, I'm not much of a cook, so kitchen stuff is not the biggest thrill to receive as a gift, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I'm trying to figure out how to post without sounding ungrateful. I do love homemade, practical gifts. Love them. Some of my all-time favorite gifts are from my arty SIL. And homemade cookies and candies will be appreciatively gobbled down, completely ignoring that I usually avoid sugar :) But as with all gifts, it is also more about thinking about what the receiver's tastes are. I've gotten handmade bath salts before, which would be great if I hadn't been living for years in a house with just those teeny tubs that no grown human can ever bathe in. I do almost none of the cooking in this house; the kitchen is more DH's domain. So kitchen gifts are pretty much for DH, who would rather just use a dish towel for a hot pad than find where we stuck any actual hot pads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Thanks for the encouragement everyone! And thanks to those that are pointing out that not everyone would like them. The more I think about it, my little sister doesn't cook much and they may not get used. Then again, maybe I should pair them with a good beginners vegetarian cookbook because the girl is nearly 30 and still relies heavily on my parents to feed her (and she doesn't even live with them). You can send hers to me! :D Every few years my sister sends me hotpads & oven mitts. Even though hers aren't handmade I still enjoy it because for some reason I hate buying them myself. If they were handmade that would make the gift awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I think that the person who gave it to me is awesome and has their crafting and DIY shizz together in a way I can only dream of. Though in my circle the dudes would get them too. Which I love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Though in my circle the dudes would get them too. Which I love. Mine, too. It's mostly the men who cook around here. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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