LOOKING FOR HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS? Why buy another mass-produced gift when you can make your own?

Nov. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- When you make a gift for another person, it’s more meaningful. Coming up with creative ideas for handmade gifts can be challenging for most. Even harder is finding the time.  Yet more and more people are looking for help with creating.

“Consumers are ready to break out of the box after two years of recession-induced creative immobility,” said Bruce Horovitz, USA Today in reporting marketing trends popping in 2011.  In particular people are drawn to products that help them make “fast-scratch” and “almost homemade.”

Home-made isn’t necessarily about turning lye into soap, it’s about creatively using materials you have or unique things you find and turning them into one-of-a-kind creations that you can treasure.

The Quilted Fish offers many kits patterns that help people create. Among the most popular are Glamp Kits and We’re All Mad Here Mini Top Hats.

The Glamp Kit is popular because someone can create a very functional gift – a hanging lamp – and so many different types of materials can be used.

A Glamp is a lamp that is dressed up with style, fashion, or whimsy. It is a hanging light that you build and decorate yourself. To make a Glamp you can purchase just the pattern ($8), the Glamp hardware ($22.50), or a complete Glamp kit ($37) which includes the Glamp pattern and hardware well as boning, peel n’ stick tape, and lining fabric for flame resistance. For more details go to http://www.thequiltedfishpatterns.com/shop/product/glamp-...

The We’re All Mad Here pattern ($9), a best seller year-round, is a pattern to make your own whimsical mini top hat in the same spirit of Alice in Wonderland!  Tiny hats are fashionable and fun, and better yet is picking your own design materials and making a totally unique statement.

When first introduced at the 2011 International Quilt Market they were a smash hit, and continue to be best-sellers because they’re perfect for gifts, costumes, a whimsical fashion statement, or just wearing around the house to remind your family who is Queen. To get the We're All Mad Here pattern go to http://www.thequiltedfishpatterns.com/shop/product/were-a...

For more tips on creating listen to Amanda Herring interviewed on Pat Sloan's radio show, including a discussion about We're All Mad Here mini hat!  Meet the Quilted Fish Design Team and explore an endless network of great ideas! Go to http://www.thequiltedfish.typepad.com to follow The Quilted Fish blog and get great tips and ideas regularly!