Yesterday, I discussed some tips for doing your Christmas shopping online. Today, I’ll talk about shopping at brick and mortar stores, starting with … the mall.

To maximize Christmas shopping at the mall, you’ll need to know the differences between the various department stores. Find out which stores have certain exclusive brands (if you are looking for a particular brand), as well as which stores are moderately priced and which are more upscale. (This will help you with your budget.)

Although large department stores are the cornerstones of a mall, there are also all the specialty standalone stores and spinoff store branches at the mall. If you live in an area with more than one mall, find out which mall has which stores before heading out so you won’t waste time and gas.

And, for gift shopping, the standalone kiosks can be a good choice. In fact, the number of these kiosks often multiplies during the Christmas season as gift-focused ones set up shop. These kiosks are more likely to carry one-of-a kind and unique items, which can even provide or inspire ideas for Christmas presents.

When shopping for Christmas at the mall, you need to keep in mind what you can realistically find there. Malls are a good place to find home and household items, books, music and movies, electronics, sports gear and shoes. You’ll probably have to look elsewhere if you’re looking for more exotic gifts.

Oh! and don’t forget the Outlet or Factory Malls! You can often find good deals at these places. But be careful … just because it is an outlet or factory store, does not guarantee you a low price anymore. Retailers have started taking advantage of this shopping mindset and may actually price there wares equal to or greater than what you can find in a regular store.

One final place to consider for Christmas shopping is downtown businesses. They are usually small and intimate, have unique offerings and offer more personalized assistance. Although downtown businesses are also likely to be crowded at Christmas time, there likely will be less of a crush of people like that found at malls.

When it comes to gift-giving, they say it’s the thought that counts. So, if that’s true … and I believe it is … homemade gifts are an ideal choice for gifts. Here are some crafty ideas for homemade Christmas gifts.

Fine Needle Work
Do you enjoy creating things with a needle? I’m talking about sewing, embroidery, or other such needle arts. Something that you made with the painstaking patience that needle work requires … even something as simple as a small picture frame, napkin or potholder … can come to be very meaningful to the receiver.

Every year when I was a kid, my grandmother would sew me a nightgown. But there was always one flaw … I have long arms and the patterns never made the arms long enough for me. So, one year she over compensated. I think I was 12 when she gave me what came to be known as the Dopey nightgown (because the arms were too long like Dopey’s cloths in Disney’s Snow White) and I kept it well into my 30s, only letting it go because it was so worn you could see through it!

Yarn Needle Work
Another common gift at Christmas is the winter hat, toasty warm scarf and gloves or mittens. Although you can purchase these items at the store, if you enjoy knitting or crocheting, why not make something one-of-a-kind just for someone you love? To this day, I still have the throw blanket my grandmother knitted for me one Christmas.

Workshop Crafts
Do the crafts you like to create require a workshop? Something like woodworking, metal working or the like? You can create a wide variety of lovely gifts in the workshop, such as picture frames, statues, toys, jewelry boxes and more. Again, because these gifts are crafted by hand, they hold a sentimental value that the same products purchased from the store just don’t have.

Basket Weaving
Now here is an interesting craft for gift giving. What will your loved one say when they receive a gift basket from you and learn that you wove the basket? Suddenly that basket becomes the focus of the gift … not what’s inside.

The Arts
Do paint or sculpt? Small paintings or water-colors make wonderful gifts. Even a nicely framed color reproduction of a painting you’ve sold can make a heart-felt gift. What about an airbrushed T-shirt? A hand-painted wine glass set? Use your talent to create one-of-a-kind gifts that will be treasured.

The point to all these options is this: take the time to make something for someone else. Your creative energy will create a gift worth receiving. It may not always appear that way at first, but over time the gifts that leave the most lasting impression are those made for us by those who loved us enough to make their very best holiday gift ideas for us.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a Christmas stocking that was made just for me. It has my initials and the year I was born on it. I’ve been told my aunt knitted it for me. Although it’s seen better days, I still have ii.

Making a personalized Christmas stocking for the children is a terrific tradition that brings a special joy to each member of the family.

I’ve had mine since I was a baby … but if someone you love doesn’t have one, it is never too late to remedy that situation. In fact, when I got married, I made one for my husband.

Let’s look at each element of design in turn to get your creative juices flowing. At the end, you’ll have a design and pattern for your personalized Christmas stocking.

Themes
Christmas has many “faces” to display on a stocking. The one I grew up with had a Santa theme, but there are others you can choose:

• angels,
• the Nativity,
• snowmen,
• Christmas trees,
• gingerbread men,
• a partridge in a pear tree,
• ornaments,
• wreaths,
• dogs, cats or other beloved pets, or
• something from your heritage

The list goes on.

Color Schemes
The obvious choice is the traditional red and green, but other combinations also go well with Christmas:

• white, silver and gold
• white and two shades of blue
• red, gold and purple

Generally, three-color schemes work very well. However, you can create a stunning stained-glass effect with a range of jewel-like colors.

Fabrics
My stocking was knitted from yarn. My husband’s is sewn from a simple cotton weave. Christmas stocking can be made from any fabric under the sun. It is really the color scheme and theme that help you pick the right one.

And you don’t need to stick to one type of fabric. You can add satin ribbon, golden trim, felt appliques … even plastic decorations can be added to the mix. Heck! You could even use suede!

Visit your local craft and fabric stores … places like JoAnn’s Fabrics and Michael’s can offer you a wide array of trims and fabrics, including laces, ribbons, woven, ethnic, glittery, sequined, beaded and tasseled.

The Pattern
Use a paper grocery bag to draw your stocking shape. Using a pencil, refine the shape until it is just the way you want it. Then trace a half-inch allowance on all sides. Then cut it out.

This is your pattern. Use it to cut out two mirror images of the shape from your main fabric. Sew them together (right sides facing each other) … remembering to create a hem at the opening.

Reverse the stocking and decorate. Now you have a personalized Christmas stocking!