Do you enjoy receiving homemade gifts?

[LokiBear]

Disclaimer - Christmas post on the Christmas thread.

I've just been pintresting some Christmas ideas and saw some lovely ideas for home made gifts. Things like peppermint sugar scrubs for feet etc and it got me wondering. I love the idea of giving something homemade but I would hate it to be just another thing that gets shoved in a drawer. Do you like receiving home made stuff, or have you got any tried and tested creations that go down well?

[KatherinaMinola]

Jam, chutney, home made cake - bring it on. Peppermint foot scrub - not so much.

[LizzieMint]

I do. I've had homemade body scrub given to me before, it was lovely.
I like to make things, so I think that makes a difference because a) I obviously like home-made stuff and b) I appreciate the time and effort that goes into things.
I've knitted gifts before but wouldn't do it again because it takes far too long!

[ThisWillSoOutMe]

Home made foot scrub would go in the drawer marked B1N in this house. I know it sounds really ungrateful but it just wouldn't get used. Sorry.

[Cherrypi]

Yes apart from chutney. Have a chutney mountain and we don't eat it. How do you break it to family members who have been making it for you for years?

[JustAShopGirl]

Nope - anything that has to be used up - soap, foot scrub, chilli oil, fudge etc. no not for me.

A beautiful cushion cover, handmade beaded Christmas bauble, handmade jewellery, lavender heart hangers for the wardrobe.. yes, they take time and effort and are usually thought about for ages.

[Tinkleybison]

I think it depends what it is. I've had a lovely homemade scarf and also jam which I've appreciated, but both of these involve some degree of skill and planning. If someone has used a skill to make me something I'm generally really grateful, if they've decanted some vodka and stuck some skittles in it or shoved some fruit in brandy for example - not so much.

[Lally112]

Normally I would flip at the mention of the c word in august but this interests me. yes I do like homemade gifts and its not just at xmas. birthdays, anniversaries, mothers day, the lot. these are the ones I keep - anyone who buys me a toiletry set or makeup set will probably walk past their gift in a charity shop at some point. DS1 and DD1 made me chocolates at the kids club this year for easter and they were the best.

[secretblackandmidnighthag]

Edibles/consumables - absolutely. The scrubs sound lovely but I'd be allergic to them most likely, so make sure the person you are giving them too doesn't have sensitive skin! I'd love to get jams and chutneys and things like that. Clothing though is so hit or miss.

[secretblackandmidnighthag]

Lally this is the Christmas topic, so not sure why you're shocked about Christmas being mentioned!

[Elswyth]

Yes, I'd think it a thoughtful gift. Though not food or toiletries.

[QuintessentiallyQS]

Not edibles/consumables no.

It is interesting how in my case, those who gift me stuff like this are usually people who dont normally make this kind of stuff, and decide to cook some up for Christmas from some recipe they have found, and not tested/tasted. It is usually quite vile.

Even cakes are dry and cardboard like.

I have friends who make fab chocolate concoctions, and delicious jams/chutneys, and cakes to die for. Do they gift their offerings for Christmas? No. It is always the amateurs who turn their creative juices into cheap gifts.



I am clearly quite opinionated, and ungrateful.

[TheFirmament]

I make people quilts as presents, and they usually seem thrilled but I wouldn't give edibles/toiletries. It's just pressure to eat something or slather yourself with something you wouldn't choose. If you don't like a quilt you can chuck it on a spare bed (though mine are fabulous obv :))

My worst nightmare would be to receive a huge jar of those salted lemons that I once saw Jamie Oliver recommending you give out as gifts. No thanks Jamie.

[TheFirmament]

Though having said that a friend once brought me some v nice homemade choc muffins when I was ill. She said "sorry these are just out of a packet, betty crocker". They were great. I was glad she hadn't got all crafty-creative about it.

[ClashCityRocker]

Like others, it depends what it is.

If its something that has taking a bit of time, thought and effort, I'm all for it. Something generic and batch produced like home-made foot scrub I wouldn't be over fussed by, particularly as anyone likely to give me a gift will know I probably wouldn't use it.

I think the same applies for home-made and non-home-made presents tbh. It is the thought behind them and I think home-made presents (thanks to pinterest and the like) can also be as generic as shop bought presents.

I am grateful to receive anything though! I would probably use the foot scrub a couple of times over Christmas and then it would linger in the bathroom cabinet, gradually separating and going all icky.

I'm generally pleased with Vodka in any form, with skittles or not.

[WastingMyYoungYears]

I would love to be given homemade gifts. Just PM me for my address .

[Only1scoop]

Depend what it is....

Dd receives a home made present every year from her cousins....this year a home made head band made out of an old pair of tights

[Viviennemary]

I think it depends what it is. These sugar cube scrubs sound great. But headband made out of an old pair of tights. No thanks!

[wigglesrock]

If it was something knitted - blanket, scarf, gloves etc then lovely.

If it's food, toiletries, sweets, alcohol then no, not for me.

[Picklepest]

It's something I feel you need to discuss with people first. I love doing if both people are in agreement. If I've spent 10-20 on you frankly I think you're cheap. Equally, make an effort. Nice jar ribbon label etc. if it looks like a boot sale it goes in the bin. If you're making tgen it should be nice right?

Foot scrub? No ta. Unless I already knew and liked your home products. Scrub just ain't a gift. Bought or made.

[Joyousthings]

It depends on whether it is something that is made for the person being given it or of as seems to be the case in our situation it is something the person makes to keep themselves occupied in their free time with no thought for who they are giving it to! So many cross stitches or knitted items that do not fit in in our home just make my heart sink. Also chutneys made to use up veg etc again make me think oh no.

[secretblackandmidnighthag]

God how funny, I am completely the opposite to most on this thread! I would dislike getting something homemade that I had to keep and possibly drag out of the loft every time they came to visit whereas food and drink and toiletries can be used up, enjoyed and are very welcome indeed! Our friends once made us a basket of different dips and flavoured vodkas, along with a bag or tortilla chips to dip and it was lovely!

[MostWicked]

I'm also opposite to many on this thread

Consumables - yes
Most of the time I enjoy them, but if I don't, I can appreciate the thought and effort, without being stuck with it.

Ornamental things - no
If I don't like it, I'm stuck with it. I was given a beautifully constructed, ornamental box, but it really isn't my taste and I don't want it on display, but I can't get rid of it or even hide it away.
I appreciate the time and effort that went into making it, and I appreciate that it is lovely, but it's not me at all.

[MrsDavidBowie]

I would not appreciate a home made gift at all.
But then I don't expect gifts at all..certainly my friends and I don't exchange gifts at Xmas.

[secretblackandmidnighthag]

I might set up an anonymous post-Christmas donation box outside my house. 'Leave your unwanted homemade chutneys here! Yours, The Cheese Monsters.'

[KatherinaMinola]

A decent cake would cost at least £10 to make, Picklepest - more if you're putting on decorations, ribbon etc, and possibly buying a nice tin - which is a gift in itself: then it could run to £15-20. Ditto a nice scarf, or quilted item etc - good ingredients/materials/equipment cost money. Not to mention the effort.

I agree that it has to be made by someone skilled in whatever they're doing - not someone who had got some batch-make idea off Pinterest. My MIL is a harridan, but I am always happy to receive a jar of her chutney.