Tag Archives: Winter Holidays

twelve

With 12 more days until the start of yule, to be celebrated across 12 days, here are some final gift ideas (for a total of 12).

10: Games

You can’t go wrong with a game – I’ve recently developed a love for German strategy board games! Be it a board, computer or console game, give the gift of FUN 😀

11: Theatre

I think buying tickets for someone to a show is a powerful gift. There is nothing like live theatre. Whether it’s a local group or a big production show, there is no experience like that of a performance on stage.

12: Donation to Charity

The biggest and best gift that you can give is “something” to those in need. That could mean giving blankets to a shelter, a cheque to a cancer foundation, goods to a food bank, or money to a charity. Think about giving to the local charities in your community – such as a woman’s shelters – or to international ones – like Heifer.

7 8 9 Because He Tasted Like Gingerbread

Aha, just kidding *ahem*

7: Something Norse

Ringpin by Wareham Forge
Ringpin by Wareham Forge

Need a Thor’s Hammer? Ringpin? The ever fashionable earspoon? Nothing says “I love you” more than a custom made pattern welded blade. Visit the Wareham Forge for all your Viking needs!

Seax Knife That I Commissioned from the Wareham Forge
Seax Knife That I Commissioned from the Wareham Forge

8: Hats!

musketeerhat
Musketeer Hat (from The Three Musketeers: The Game)

Who doesn’t love a good hat? Top hat, fedora, bowler, pillbox, tricorn, viking-rus style, cavalier – those are just some of the types that I own! Hats can be found all around, but do drop by to Edie Hats if you’re in the area – you’re bound to find the perfect hat gift there.

9: Socks

*imagine a picture of my feet in some really cool socks*

I have always, always enjoyed getting socks for the holidays. I always need them, and the kinds I get are always awesome – notable the ones bought by my Da (grandfather). Give that special someone a special gift for their feet – find some sweet socks at Sock It To Me.

Gift Idea 4 and 5

With Hanukkah just around the corner, and Christmas, Kwanzaa, and a boat-load of festivities on the way, why not make a gift this year? You still have time!

4. Ornament/Key Chain

Holiday Ornaments
Holiday Ornaments

All you need is a little Sculpey and some time. There are plenty of tutorials and projects to work from over at the Sculpey site, and many more scattered all over the web. The little guys up above I made last year with plain white Sculpey, and then painted with acrylics.

5. Screenprint/Paint Clothing

Napoleon Screenprint Tie
Napoleon Screenprint Tie

If you have the time, the gear, and a little bit of time to practice, you can screenprint a shirt, tie, you name it! I used EZ Screen Print, which is a great ‘no-chemical’ way to make screens, but I found that the shipping was so much for the special paper, and I wasn’t using the screens to their full potential. So another method of putting a desired image onto fabric is using the freezer paper method! Much cheaper, and works just as well I find! You do need a little more time to do it, and a little more practice, but you get *fantastic* results. Here’s a few good tutorials, but there are lots of other ones out there – investigate and decide what works best for you!

Winter Solstice Reading Season

Gift Giving Idea Number 3!

Bite Me! as Performed by Potatoes
Bite Me! as Performed by Potatoes

Books! Graphic Novels! Comics! Give the gift of reading – it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

‘Drawn Books’ that I recommend (based on what I have in my collection):

300

Bite Me

Castle Waiting

Louis Riel: A Comic Strip Biography

Never Learn Anything From History

The Baby-Sitters Club: Kristy’s Great Idea

The Three Musketeers

Watchmen

and (while not graphic novels, these two are very near and dear to me) Dragonfeathers and Tatterhood.

You can find most of these at your local bookstore or comics store (and there’s always online).

Telsa: The Celibate Scientist (by Kate Beaton)
Telsa: The Celibate Scientist (by Kate Beaton)