We like to make Christmas cake and Christmas pudding to give to our family and friends. We make the cake a month ahead and soak it in brandy before cutting it into pieces. The pudding we make the week before Christmas and steam it for 3 hours and then it is ready to wrap and give away.

I always make all kinds of candy. Fudge both peanut butter and chocolate, Hard cinnamon candy, Opera creams, choc covered pretzels, peanut brittle. I will get busy soon with it. It all keeps well for a long time if stored properly. I also do the cookies. Of course there is the embroidery ( I work on my gifts all year long). What is your favorite thing to make??

I used to get Christmas ornaments, a set of really pretty ones, then personalize them for each family member with a Sharpie. I'd usually get white ones with the satin finish, not bright finish, with maybe cardinals, or deer, something nice on them. I don't know if they make that kind any more, actually. I also used to get the real 'satin' ones, that have the styrofoam ball in the center, and sequin them all up, pinning the sequins and beads on, also lace, ribbon trims, etc. That was before machine embroidery, hee hee hee. Before computers, too, actually. Hugs, Marji

Thanks for your input. All the talent here never ceases to amaze me. Ever year I tell myself I am going to make gifts all year long like Grandma. I never seem to be organized enough to get cranking early in the year. When I ask this question I also meant the embroidering you will be doing. Grandma ask what I plan to do. I am going to make some FSL to put in the few Christmas cards I send out. Plan on making some Christmas stockings for all the young ones in our family. H&*

This year i am making bags for the family as it is summer here and we are out and about a lot in summer and all will be getting a carriall type bag to carry drinks and snacks etc seen one at a tupperware party and it was way to expensive but gave me the idea.will post when done. like to make white christmas and coconut ice and christmas chocolates. It would be great for a receipe section here especially with all the different cultures.I think I just may ask Veronika that one.

Wow, all the things I used to make for the family - I got out of the habit of it - since 2000 - when I moved to NC - my husband had a hard time with Christmas - a family issue - so we didn't celebrate much and all the fun stuff I used to do - stopped - now that we are in UT - we may slowly ease it back into the picture again - if I can remember how to do anything - Hehehe! *4U

We don't exchange gifts as such, only for the children as we're up to 8 GK's now so that's $400

If we still bought gifts for the adults that amount qould quadruple and who can afford it these days.

Though we do buy for Adults if they have no kids.

Some years ago I started making everyone a new Christmas ornament to add to their collections. Everyone looks forward to see what I have made each year. This year I will probably make Snowflakes out of cork, hat-pins and beads. A change from ones I have made before and a bit different to anything you can buy. Now I can also buy plain baubles and embroider FSL covers for them. Then there are tote bags, slippers, baseball caps, kitchen hand towels, pillow slip sets, bathroom hand towels, embroidered socks, place mat sets. Sometimes I wish we still gave gifts as I love to make things to give away to people, it makes me feel so good to give.

Hugs n roses, Meganne

I don't think the general SA family celebrate thanksgiving. We normaly just buy for the kids, and grandparents. I heared good idea if the family is big, all names goes in a hat. You have to MAKE a gift for the person whose name you draw

My DIL in Australia, start buying her Cristmas gifts immediatly after Christmas, she buy about all the gifts after Christmas for next year, she said it is much cheaper, because after Christmas everything is marked down. So if there is a unexpected birthday or something like that, she got something to give. I think that is a good idea, but one problem for me is that after Christmas there is no money left for the next year, so I must wait. Ha-Ha. Love Marie

DLMDS that's NOT FAIR! If I knew you were cleaning machines I would have bought mines...LOL LOL Besides embroidery I would L*VE some Gingerbread Cookies right now...any bakers out there??? FIESTA ;D *2U