Christmas knitting, crochet and needlecraft projects

Dare I mention it?

Is anyone else making homemade christmas presents this year? What ideas have you got going? Have you thought about it yet or is it just me (my excuse is a very large family, so lots of preparation time needed!)?

This year I'd really love to resurrect my hairpin crochet projects.. one of them from at least three years ago (woops!) - this is basically making a lacework effect by crocheting with a tiny needle and fine thread and I have started making red coasters and lacy beaded edged covers for keeping the flies away from bowls of food left on the side. Bit fiddly, but I seem to remember once you get into the swing of it it's nice to do and looks dead flashy!

For other inspiration... I might take a browse at Etsy (wonderful homemade craft version of ebay) to see what kinds of things other people have made.

Anyone else got any projects on the go for christmas? Or any ideas about where we can get inspiration from?

I have, but they are soaps, lotions, potions, creams, jams, chutneys, herb bags, etc.

I tend to play to my strengths

Am going to make some small fabric tree decorations, and some "vintage" material bookmarks and herb bags...having seen the price of those in my local craft shop, I KNOW they will be well recieved... ( I mean, £4.99 for a ( very pretty, it is true) fabric bookmark, but basically some applique bits, hand stitched in a pretty pattern?)

We'll be making stuff again this year... Raya (eldest daughter) is keen to make tetra pak wallets, so we'll be saving the juice cartons for the next few weeks.

I always did soap and bath products since I was doing that as a business, but this year I'm thinking I may move away from that and probably do some "gawthly" tea towels as I was really enjoying doing the embroidery for that; gives me an excuse to use the sewing machine. My friends aren't huge drinkers (a few are teetotal) so making ciders and so on only works for the lads! I just haven't the energy to wrestle with the cider bucket so I'll probably leave that out too and maybe just do a few liqueurs for myself.

With that said I think at least one bath type thing will feature in somewhere. I don't really have a huge gifting circle as it were so I can put together what I like in plenty of time.