So what present(s) are you getting for your girlfriends? (as in friends who are women rather than romantic interest)

[hmc]

I think buying for adult friends is pretty tricky. Want to avoid the scented candles and bottles of wine if poss! What have you bought?

Bump

i have bought sapphire earrings for my best friend (her birthstone), a cat brooch for another friend who is a cat lover, printed canvasses for some other friends (prints of their children in caught in fantastic poses without them actually having posed) a t-shirt for another friend

Nothing. We only buy for family and the secret Santa at work. I have stopped buying for friends' children as well because it was getting our of hand.

Those sound like really thoughtful gifts Cherry

Nothing. We used to before we had children, but then we started just buying for the children. We kinda came to the conclusion that whatever we wanted, we could buy for ourselves .

Actually, maybe we are just cheapskates....

i only buy for 4 closest friends and the 6 children they have between them

It is difficult. In the past I have bought -- a purse,

• books (novels)
• a board game
• a photo frame
• scarfs and gloves
• jewellery (costume not gold/silver)

No idea what to get this year so await further replies with interest!

Nothing. We only buy for the children of friends......

the children of my friends all have pyjamas this year. the 2 youngest have personalised ones, and the older 4 all have standard christmassy pj's.

I only buy for really close friends or secret santa. This year these have taken the form of a new gym bag (Argos), a pik and white animal print jewellery box with some make up inside (Wilkinsons) and a diamante encrusted computer mouse (New Look).

I guess sisters might also fall into this category, in that they are female and friends? They include some tops (New Look) and some hair curlers (amazon)

I have been making stuff, Aran Scarves and tote bags for Kate and Carol, Cable cardie for Debs, wrist warmers and bed socks for Sally and I shall be making some Boxing day chutney, lemon curd and decanting some sloe gin.

God I sound tight

Mostly homemade stuff: pink grapefruit marmalade, bouquet garni, cranberry and orange compote, green tomato chutney, cranberry and macadamia cookies and chocolate mocha biscotti. In the past I've also done forced bulbls - hyacinths and tiny iris reticulata.

I've bought one friend this plus a cleaner for 2 hours and another some Molton Brown handcream.

my best friend's birthday s 6 weeks before christmas, so i have thsi problem twice! Actually, I normally get her a gift set of something for her birthday (and i take ages choosing so that it's just right), because the christmas gifts have just appeared in the shops and it's all exciting! but when it's christmas, the glitz has worn off them...

I'm trying to get practical gifts for her this christmas, without going for gloves and scarves.

I did make her a kit for her birthday this year, which was all warm and cozy stuff - thick sparkly fluffy socks, bottle of baileys, sachets of hot chocolate, foot cream, that kind of thing (she'd just climbed a mountain, too!)

LatteLady - no you don't! You sound very thoughtful & caring - it's lovely to get homemade gifts that someone has thought about and put a lot of effort into!

None of my close friends have children..

This year I have bought best friend some leather gloves and a lip gloss she wanted, 2 other friends goodies from the White Co. and another some bed socks from accessorise (she is an eco warrier and never puts the heating on!)

I have got one of my friends a lovely vintage sparkly short jacket thing. It's not a jacket but I don't know how to describe it - it's a bit like a very short cape but has arms, just covers the shoulder blades. It's very beautiful.

Another friend simply wants a copy of a photo my dad took of me and my brothers blowing bubbles when I was about 3. I'll put it in a fab frame for her (if I can find one).

I'm not sure about other friends.

I put together a parcel of various things to my best friend who lives abroad - English tea, Kendal mint-cake, a nice candle, pics of the family, a book or CD.

I always do goodie 'bags' for my 3 closest female friends. This year they have got a selection of things all wrapped up in cellophane - book/wooden picture frame, choccies, smellies, homemade jam - I buy little things through the year and then all put together and presented nicely they look really spoiling but don't cost much.

You all put me to shame! Some lovely gifts here.

6 of us stopped exchanging gifts 3 xmases ago and we go away for the night to a nice hotel with spa. Great fun

I've got some Clarins body oil for one very close and newly pregnant friend, but that's it.

We don't really do gifts among my female friends.

If we are visiting each other's homes at Christmas, we would bring wine or chocolates or something, I guess, but that's it.

I want to be Jux's friend and get a vintage cape please!

I don't really buy anything more than 'token' gifts - so have got posh chocolates for a couple of people.

Another friend, who has had a bit of a tough time for the last few weeks, is getting posh chocolates and a silver heart thing that she can hang on her comouter table or somewhere to remember that she is v much loved (I 'think' she will like and appreciate this, rather than vomit!).

Best friend is getting cook books and spices - because I know she will like those better than chocs!

La Parisienne

Hermé macarons

Missoni headscarf

Bonsoir I would like to be your friend please!

Lattelady I think you sound very generous. A hand knitted cardie is a wonderful present, and handmade chutneys etc are so much nicer than shop bought, and have taken hours of effort.

Wish you were my friend