What would you make for a super picky sil?

[deliarose]

Every birthday and Christmas my brother and I have pitched in to buy a pricey gift certificate to a spa or a very expensive restaurant. We don't have the money this year and I am out of ideas for her gift. She doesn't eat dairy and just added eggs to that list, so most baked goods are out of the picture. She is super picky anyway about food. Her taste in clothing and her home decor is basically bland and beige. What would you do? BTW- my brother is no help. He apparently can't buy her anything she likes either! Aak!

[mamajessica]

What about a really high quality wool cream colored scarf and hat set? She sounds tough. Maybe you could make her some handmade paper/stationary set with natural petals, etc? It's really a fun craft to do, and not too expensive if you make a few gifts at once. You can also make journals, etc this way. One thing that might help you keep in mind is that she probably actually would really like whatever you give her, she may just have a hard time expressing herself since she generally keeps up an image of some sort. Just a thought, because some of my best friends fit the description of your SIL!

[4evermom]

Maybe a kit of some sort, so she can make something just the way she'd like it.

[Shiloh]

what about like a nice set for entertaining -
table cloth, napkins (you can make funky napkin ring holders pretty cheap - chunky beads, a christmas ornament use your imgaination) maybe a table runner and a few extra napkins like for the bread basket or pot holders for bringing serving dishes to the table that are hot?

We got a really neat set in whites and gold for christmas.
you could buy a bland ready made set and embelish them with a more ornate fabric in those bland colours and beiges fabric, trim, etc.

I think if you bought a packaged set of table cloth and napkins you could probably make them more blandly sophisticated for 10 dollars more.

and sew up a boxy type little bag for them to fit into.

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

For Christmas, you might try Christmas decore things like tree ornaments or decorated candles. Also home made spa items, spa in a basket type thing. You can make your own bath salts with sea salt and essential oils, bath oil with olive oil and essential oils, bath bombs with bakeing soda and cream of tarter and so on. The doller store has lots of little things like a pumis stone or bath mit. Put it all in a basket with a bow.

Does she have kids? She might apreciate a "cupon book" of child care nights or something like that.

[LaughingHyena]

How about an evening bag? I think these would look lovely in creams and gold

http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00182.asp

[knittingmomma]

I was thinking some personal care products, if not, then maybe knit a pair of simple angora/wool beige mittens - (if she is in a cold climate).....

Warm wishes,
Tonya