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From: StitchInTime
Date: 01-16-2006, 12:17 AM (1 of 9)
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Hi, I'm looking for some new and creative ideas for teacher gifts. I gave my kids' preschool teachers embroidered dish towels for Christmas and want to find something new, and useful, for end of the year gifts. I like the idea of bath towels, or regular kitchen towels, but seems redundant to give more towels. Anyone have some neat, and perhaps easy, gift ideas that they have made? I thought about personalized canvas tote bags...too hard?  
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's sewing machine.
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User: StitchInTime
Member since: 06-17-2005 Total posts: 30 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 01-16-2006, 12:54 AM (2 of 9)
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You can make sunglass cases for them out of pot holders, the quilted kind. I usually embroidery a little flower and the name or initials. After embroidering what you like on half of the pot holder fold it in half with the little loop at the top to one side. Sew down one side to the bottom and across the bottom. Pot holders come in all sizes so I usually take a pair of glasses with me when picking out the pot holder and sandwiching the glasses in there before I buy to make sure they are big enough. You can also Make coupon holders with the pot holders. Fold it in half with the loop at the top but this time in the middle, and sew a button on the other side to loop the loop around the button to hold it shut. Makes a cute check book cover also. I also buy makeup bags from the dollar store and embroidery something on them. I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 01-16-2006, 01:57 AM (3 of 9)
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You can make your own tote bags outa window screen. You can sew it and embroider it on your machines just like fabric( cause it's nylon). You make 'recipe in a jar' (there are booklets from Current Catalogs) and sew/embroider a nice topper. If she teaches art or has a messy type class. Buy a cheap apron at Michaels and embroider that. Make her a small wall hanging. With the kids names and a class picture (if they still do that) or if there's no pictures, the theme of the class with her and the kids names. If your machine does embroidery...do some lace and glue it to candles or soap. (use wax for the candle and water on the soap...it should stick) Or make some lace covered candle holders and add a scented candle. Buy some, now on sale clear glass Christmas balls. Decorate the insides. Buy a cheap wooden or 'paper' box at Michaels, Wally World, JoAnns, or Hobby Lobby. sew/embroider something nice to glue on top and finish the inside with velvet or 'silk/brocade'... If you KNOW she drinks tea or coffee....get a nice mug, some small packets of tea or coffee, biscotti, chocolate stir sticks, hershey kisses or a small ornament of some kind. (angels, kids, etc....) Ok...I've run outa ideas...and I don't even have kids... 
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: Pudge99
Date: 01-16-2006, 12:19 PM (4 of 9)
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OK. I know I am going to get a lot of boos and hisses for this, but I have several friends who are teachers and they get really tired of all the stuff they get that doesn't take into consideration who they are. There are only a few gifts most teachers like. Ones that the children make themselves that truely come from their heart, things that are useful to the classroom, and things that are original(think about how many candy/coffee/tea filled mugs a teacher who teaches 30 kids a year for 30 years is going to get). I say get to know the teacher find out what really excites them and then give them that. Another suggestion that was given to me by a friend who was also my daughters Kindergarten teacher. Get together with all the other parents in the class and buy something big for the classroom that the teacher would never afford by herself. That year she got a new story time rug. Think of it this way, $5 per student gets her a load of tacky mugs and relaxation gifts bought seperately. Together if there is 30 students you have $150 to get something really nice like a story rug or maybe a new printer for the class computer, or new book shelfs. Stick around after class and talk to the teacher and find out what she would really love to have in her class but really can't afford herself. I can almost bet that if you do it this way you won't find your gift on her yardsale table this summer. If you don't have time to hang out after school to get to know the teacher (some schools actually forbid it) then ask your kid. I know a lot about my kids teachers just from listening to the talk about their day. Teachers talk to their class about their passions. Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 01-16-2006, 10:10 PM (5 of 9)
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Buy them gift cards from Staples, Office Depot or Office Max (providing the store is still there...they're closing 110 of'em). Not having children I forget about the teachers needing supplies. Even though I see it before school each year. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: MotherInLaw
Date: 01-16-2006, 10:37 PM (6 of 9)
Which one is closing stores Kath? My luck it'll be the one close to us. 
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: paroper
Date: 01-17-2006, 12:29 AM (7 of 9)
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One year I found a pattern in a major pattern catalog for desk accessories. It didn't require a lot of sewing (and I usually hate crafts) but the ones I did really turned out great! I did a blotter and pencil holder out of teachers' fabric. The teachers used them for years and they weren't terribly expensive to make.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: dmoses
Date: 01-17-2006, 08:08 AM (8 of 9)
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If you are looking for gifts that you can sew, maybe you could try some 'clutter buster' type items...plastic bag holder/dispenser, fabric tray(inbox to hold all of those assignments kids pass in), tissue box cover, etc. Fabric bowls and boxes are also very nice.
Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: StitchInTime
Date: 01-17-2006, 11:28 AM (9 of 9)
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Thanks for all the suggestions! As far as the gift cards go, that is something the PTO does, and we are moving before the school year ends, so doing a group gift is not an option. The teachers really enjoyed the towels I made them. I just found a pattern for a casserole tote that I can embroider their names on, so I may go with that.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's sewing machine.
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User: StitchInTime
Member since: 06-17-2005 Total posts: 30 |
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