Weddingbee boards

I need gift ideas, Bees! 

MY FMIL and I have a great relationship, and she treats me like her own daughter. When my parents would not help me out with rent, groceries, etc my freshman year of college she let me continue to work with the seniors at her nursing home every other weekend in addition to the other job I had, and as long as I work full-time on breaks and summer, she keeps my rate of pay up. She treats me like part of the family in other ways, too (I'm always welcome at their house, etc.) so I really put a lot of thought into the gifts I get for her and FFIL. (No of us are great at expressing emotions, haha!)

Anyway, in past years I 1) bought her a multi-photo frame and put pictures of her first residents at the nursing home, which has been her lifelong dream to own. This was the first year they bought the actual home, before it had been run out of their house entirely. 2) Designed a tapestry with vines in the background (the facility is named the Vines) and the Bible verse that inspired it in script, and had it made onto a throw blanket. 3) Got her a gift card for a day at a local spa. 

She liked them all, but I know the first two were her favorites. She doesn't like seeing the price tag, and she buys herself days at the spa all the time anyway. So I want to get her something more meaningful, but I am seriously out of ideas! Thanks!

Could you hire someone to paint a mural at the nursing home?

Or does she like to cook? What about an awesome set of cookware (Le Creuset?) or cooking classes? Of maybe a Christmas tree and decorations for the home? Uh....

Those are great ideas, but she doesn't cook (doesn't have time, besides Stouffers, and doesn't enjoy it, and the house is already decked out for Christmas. :/ 

She's so hard to shop for! 

Something I wanted to do for my mom, MIL, and grandma for my wedding, but never got around to and I feel so bad: 

When you alter your dress, save the extra fabric (for me I had a lot from the length since I'm so short) and turn it into a handkerchief for her (and you can even embroider it if you would like)!  It's something that is fairly inexpensive, but has so much sentimental value attached to it!

Lilindy, that's a great idea, thanks! I'm really short, too, 5', so there will be a lot to take off! 

@pmerr: Another option could be to order extra length or fabric with your dress so you have the fabric to play with :)

This makes me wish I was getting my dress altered this year!

@pmerr: Good question, maybe you can ask your bridal salon and see what they could do?

@lilyfaith:  I know, I can't wait to see what you come up with when you do this!  I had grand ideas of even having someone crochet the edges of the fabric just to give it the older look.  I still have the fabric, I should really do that one of these days!  P.S. I'm also 5' tall! :)

@hhcheung2000 - that's a great idea, except FBIL's father owns a jewelry store. So they have gotten her all kinds of expensive and beautiful jewelry that I could never match. 

@Lillindy - I'll be sure to update everyone when I do! It won't be for about a year, though, since we're waiting so long! I think I might do one for R's grandma as well, I don't have a grandmother left so I think she'd really like that. 

Anyone else have ideas for a Christmas gift? Normally I'm on top of this, but I feel creatively deficient right now!

Oooh I thought we were talking about Christmas. And I meant a tree for her nursing home.

La di da, my brain is gone today.

@KMSull - we are! I don't think I specified that, though, whoops.

Anyway, I got a great wedding gift idea out of it, but am still at zip for the Christmas gift.

The nursing home is totally decked out! They take decorating for the residents really seriously, and the house kind of gets the leftovers, but it's still all decked out as well. It's something she really takes pride in.

Hahaha, I'm a dork, i didn't even read it properly...glad I helped you think of a wedding gift!  Now for Christmas...that gets tricky, I NEVER know what to get my MIL either!

It'd be easier if money weren't so tight, but I'm scrambling for everyone's gifts this year! I love the thought of making my own vanilla, but missed that boat since it takes so long. And that still wouldn't help for FFIL & FMIL's gifts, because neither of them cooks. 

Thanks, I'll definitely look at the site! It helps the inspiration flow to look at ideas.

I'm really interested in making her something, or putting something creative together. I think that'd mean more to her. 

I like the photo and family tree ideas! 

Bella, believe it or not, she already has a house keeper who cleans!

I just found this adorable idea that I might have to use for some of my other gifts! Not special enough for FMIL (or for her whole gift, at least) but I thought I'd share!

Does anyone have candle-making kits they swear by? I bet you could put them in all kinds of things! Anthro has some lovely jars, as well. 

Keep the ideas coming! I love all the inspiration.

*Bump*! This thread got buried last night. :)

@victoria: I'd like to quilt, but never have. Is it easy to pick up? 

@kazoochair: I do cook, and I would love to make them dinners, but I know exactly who they'd go to! (They still have two of the men from before the nursing home living in their house.) Also, I cook for them a lot, so I'm not sure how special that would seem. 

This is the problem with selfless people... I have to worry about them giving away their gift! I was also thinking about getting them a gift card for a nice dinner out, because I feel like they'd be less likely to give that away, but I'm really trying to do something that's focused less on the dollar amount and more on the thought behind it. 

I love that you made the meals for your DIL. That is one of the most thoughtful things I have heard! I bet she loved that you thought of that. 

I'm probably getting too caught up in making this perfect. 

Anyone else have any ideas?