As you scurry about filling last minute quilting and fabric art orders, getting gifts finished for family and making other holiday preparations, you might like to take a look at some Quilting and Patchwork posts about gift wrapping and giving for inspiration. 
Gift Wrapping With Quilt Fabric
Using Fabric for Gift Wrap
Christmas Showcase for Quilters and Other Crafters
From Home Biz Notes, a b5 blog I write with Yvonne Russell, you’ll find some more last minute gift giving and wrapping ideas, too.
Are You Gift Wrapping Challenged? Follow These Basic Video Steps
Add a Fancy Cellophane Plume
Gift Giving Suggestions for the Home Business Owner
I’ve been tucking …read more

As I was checking out Katelyn’s post, Gift Tags From Scraps, over at Stamping Mad, I was stuck with the idea, “What about using fabric scraps from our quilting?  These would make neat patchwork gift tags.”
So often, techniques for one type of art or craft can be utilized in another.  Also, you could combine paper scraps with fabric for a mixed media effect collage gift tags.
Katelyn has given directions for making these gift tags at her blog. 

Making quilts, lap or baby size, for worthy causes occupies many quilters, either singly or in groups.  Also school children often become involved in class projects that result in quilts for babies and youngsters in hospitals.  I’ve often helped the sixth graders in our school when they put their creations together.
Recently I read of a group of ladies who made quilts they donated to the birthing center of a local hospital.  The donation was made in memory of a past president of their guild who apparently suggested the idea.
One lady made lap quilts for elderly in nursing homes, “to help …read more

Cathy, at Tangled Thread, has a nice suggestion for a last minute Christmas gift for sewers, quilters, embroiderers, etc.  She pictures a collection of sewing gadgets, scissors, pin cushion and more.
What would quilters and fabric artists like?
*scissors
*pin cushions
*assorted basting pins with colored heads
*unique threads
*rotary cutters & extra blades
*assorted unique threads
*fat quarters
*quilting videos & DVDs
These are just a few of the items.  Browse through a quilting store or ask the clerk or owner what she’d like.  Put these in a basket, tie with a ribbon, and you have something to please any quilter.
                      

My daughter seeks out quilting calendars and particularly likes the one produced by Quilting Arts magazine.  She also entered their contest this year for calendar selection.  Her fabric art entry was one of the 30 selected in the first selection.  We all were thrilled even though she didn’t make the final 13 used for the 2007 calendar.
However, others companies produce calendars that appeal to quilters.  Some are derived from paintings of quilting scenes.  Others have quilting designs.  Some even may contain patterns for the quilt designs.
You also can make your own quilting calendars with photos of your fabric art and quilts.  …read more

Even though it’s only October, it’s probably time to start making your quilted and patchwork Christmas gifts….if you haven’t already begun them.  I’ve noticed, as I’ve browsed the online quilt fabric stores, many are offering sales on quilting supplies.  Your favorite “brick-and-mortar” store probably has sales, gift ideas, perhaps even classes for making these.
There are many small items, as well as bed quilts to make as gifts.  Some of these include: placemats, potholders, clothing, wall hangings of many sizes and types, small appliance covers, toys, doll quilts, and more.
Do you have something special you’re making for holiday gifts?  I’d enjoy hearing about …read more

Many quilters nowadays are creating smaller projects, like wall hangings, postcards, mini quilts, and framed fabric art.  Fabric and fiber artists often seem to be getting away from the larger bed quilts.
However, as I think about it, the small quilts aren’t entirely new.  My grandmother made quilts for my sister’s and my dolls.  She took the scraps from her larger quilts and other sewing, then created these tiny coverlets for us. 
We loved them and used them.  Unfortunately they wore out, so I didn’t find them with the few dolls’ clothes my mom had saved as memorabilia from our childhood.
However, these could …read more

My daughter made quilts for both of her grandmothers to comfort them in nursing homes. And they were very different quilts to meet the needs of each grandmother.
 My mother had Alzheimer’s so didn’t really notice the pattern.  My mother-in-law wanted a small quilt to hang on a particular wall in her suite.
So we decided Mother would enjoy a lap quilt most, made of soft fabrics.  We actually used patchwork printed fabric, filled it with thin batting and backed it.  Then we tied it.  This was well used and worn when Mother passed away.
The quilt hanging for Mum’s wall consisted of four star …read more

Even though not all soccer and World Cup fans are men, you may be looking for quilt and patchwork ideas and patterns for the sports-minded men and boys in your life.  These may include quilts, wall hangings, and pillows.  Perhaps you’ll even want to make a soccer theme vest.
Quilting for the Men in Your Life: 24 Qulited Projects to Fit His Style by Pearl Louise Krush gives you ideas and patterns for quilts and home decor projects in sports-centered themes.  Among these are patterns for soccer, football, and golf designs.
With a little creativity, you can interchange soccer designs for quilts with basketball, …read more

Today at a graduation party for a friend’s son, we saw a quilt that captivated my 11-year old grandson and interested me, too.  This was a gift made for the graduate of fleece fabrics and personalized with fire fighter designs.
He’s been involved in a fire fighting program for young people since he was 14-years old, so the quilt had meaning for him. 
The squares were 9-inches.  Those made with triangles alternated with plain ones and others with a fire fighter design…truck, firemen, Dalmations, etc.
At first I thought these designs were cut from fabric, pieced, and appliqued.  However, they were entirely made …read more