Guest Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Some of you inspired me to create little hampers next year with some h/made goodies in. We went to the garden centre today and after buying our seed potatoes, (we got 'kestrel' potatoes in case anyone knows about these things ) we also bought some seeds; 3 carrot varieties, parsnips, sprouts, peas, sweet corn, chilli peppers and turnips (can't wait for our first proper crop) Anyway, they had loads of sale items so, I got myself a book of slow cooker recipes for £4.99 (should have been £12.99) and 14 yankee samplers for 80p each (we all know they should be £1.60 each ) some orange and cinnamon scented drawer sachets for 50p each (should have been £2.25 each). The candles and the sachets will go into the hampers along with anything else nice I see through the year, plus a few h/made goodies. If we get a decent fruit crop I can make some jam from our own fruit. I can't believe I'm thinking that far ahead, I was always your typical, last minute rush shopper, perhaps you've had a positive influence on me p.s. I found 6 extra samplers in the bag when we got home, no idea how they got there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lailapet Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 I for one am very impressed!!! I thinkhampers with home made and other goodies is a great idea for Christmas and as I will be going on two willow basket weaving weekends this year I could even make the hampers themselves... My mother gave away jars of honey walnuts and tomato chutney for Christmas. She would be thrilled (and extremely surprised) to receive something like that from me but with so long notice I can start doing what you're doing and take advantage of the sales and bargains along the way. The biggest problem for me is normally WHAT to get people but this is a very good idea. Thanks for the inspiration. Laila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 you're welcome, how lovely to be able to make your own baskets too ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lailapet Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Hmm, my baskets will definitely look as home made as they are! I really enjoy the activity, the smell of the willow and the beautiful surroundings where I go to do it but I doubt very much I'll ever be very good at making baskets... But they will serve the purpose. I'll post photos when I get that far Laila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 . I'll post photos when I get that far Laila yes please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Sounds lovely - well done you! Our new gardening club (of which I am the Chair!) is having a potato growing competition this year and our local garden centre has recommended Kestrel as a good one to grow. I believe it is similar to King Edwards but the markings are more purple than red. On the Christmas front - I've bought 8 rolls of giftwrap in the sales that will more than last me through next Christmas and probably beyond! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Sounds lovely - well done you! Our new gardening club (of which I am the Chair!) is having a potato growing competition this year and our local garden centre has recommended Kestrel as a good one to grow. I believe it is similar to King Edwards but the markings are more purple than red. On the Christmas front - I've bought 8 rolls of giftwrap in the sales that will more than last me through next Christmas and probably beyond! Jo ta it's our first time growing our own and the instructions said it was a good all rounder and quite disease resistent so we plumped for that one. Once we know what we're doing, we might experiment with different varieties. It was either kestrel of another one called Elvira I think!? But that was more for salads and/or boiling. We always try to buy pretty none specific wrapping paper which can double up for Christmas and/or birthdays but I haven't bought any in bulk. My mum bought me a shredder this year for christmas so I can use it to make the packing for the hampers next year, I'll use recycled paper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 I'm impressed..............very organised, and a great way of getting thoughtful gifts appropriate to the recipient ( rather than the last minute dash and "that'll do" type presents which I end end up getting rather more often than I like to admit too). It's also a great way of spreading the cost as well, which always helps with budgetting . But don't go and do what I've been guilty of, either storing presents away in a great, tucked away spot and then not being able to remember precisely where you've hidden them, or forgetting exactly what you've got tucked away, and ending up with 3 presents for one person, and nothing at all for someone else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 Poet, without wanting to state the obvious, ITS 13 JANUARY can you please let us get January out of the way before talking about christmas. I love christmas shopping, but I have to draw the line somewhere, if I mentioned it now, kev would probably take my credit card away from me the last birthday is October, no christmas shopping until ever one has a birthday present. (unless, you really, really, really have to ) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 The title of this thread made me feel quite jittery. My SIL will have bought all her cards and wrapping paper already.....and maybe one or 2 bargains already. Everything will be wrapped and labelled by August. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 We hit the Boots online sale & got everything for the family for Christmas & their birthdays We've used the print-out to write the recipient's name on so we know which present is for whom Which garden centre did you go to, Poet? Well done you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 I've bought cards and candles ready for next Christmas, in Oxfam - they have a sale on at the moment. Laila - scroll down to the Crafty Fingers section and tell us all about your baskets - it might inspire some of us to start making some ready for the hampers . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 I start pickinig up little bits & pieces too - just have to remember I have got them & where I have hidden them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 I've bought Christmas card making kits in the sale. A total of 80 cards, I will swap the bits and pieces around from each kit to make the cards more individual. Better start making them now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 i'm putting them in the drawer under the bed, can someone remind me nearer the time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 i'm putting them in the drawer under the bed, can someone remind me nearer the time? Not a chance in this world that I'd remember ...............but there's plenty of more organised people on here than me . Why not try posting a "Help" type topic next November, and see how many people can remind you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 Well done Poet, sounds like an excellent shopping trip I've started already too, well just after Christmas I bought 10 scarves for a total of £4 from the market. I can't knit so these will be a good base for my gift bags this year, and hopefully the homemade stuff won't be so obvious with a nice bought scarf in the bag too I am also looking for some cheap Yankee candle samplers, and am hoping to have a go at proper bottling of some pears from my tree this year. I am scrounging around for suitable jars. I hope to wrap them all up in homemade tote bags tied around with string and a nice brown paper label. Thanks for the tip about the Oxfam sale Lesley, I will be off to the local one on Friday when I do my shopping. Ooh all this planning is so exciting, much better than the draught proofing I am supposed to be doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 giving home grown hampers is a lovely idea, well done you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 DH told me we have a few demi johns in the garage so am going to make some flavoured spirits too, just not sure what yet!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 Oooh sloe gin, rhubarb schnapps, raspberry vodka and blackberry vodka! So easy, you can't go wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 DH is growing rhubarb, I like the sound of rhubarb schnaps- I just don't know where to start! I'll have to do some googling, I s'pose I have to start them off soon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 ooooooooooooooo, this will come in handy http://www.danish-schnapps-recipes.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 TRy the recipe section in here Poet. Kate is the resident alcoh......... erm.......schnapps maker She's posted loads of recipes in there......... (just don't bother asking her after 8pm - she'll be 'testing' them again ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 I use this site for liqueur recipes. It looks really basic but is full of ideas, you could be lost for days in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 nice one claire ta xxxx any links to recipes gratefully received Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
