Frugal Christmas

The credit crunch is hitting many people and this year it is actually OK to give home-made gifts rich in time, and low in cost. Finally, people have worked out that a gift made with care and attention really can be worth more than one with a large price tag attached.

At Clampitts, we have been preparing for Christmas since August when we harvested our Gooseberries. They were turned into a lovely rich chutney, full of fruit and spices.

From September, we were collecting blackberries, and what a year it's been for them! The first few were turned into gooey jam, while the later ones were added to our own Cox's Orange Pippins and made into Apple & Bramble Jelly. I am rather proud of this, as it's crystal clear and utterly gorgeous - the secret is a splash of Cassis in the mix, yum! Recipe here.

Finally, in October we pruned back our lavender beds, but collected the stems and dried them, before removing the fragrant dried flowers. I have been beavering away making little applique and patchwork cushions to fill using offcuts from my quilting, and now have a load of fabulous smelling lavender cushions to fill the wardrobes and drawers of our nearest and dearest.

Hopefully they will agree that a basket filled with months of effort is a suitable Christmas gift.