So you are looking for reaction stories better than "And what is this???" as the sister in law dangles it in front of everyone.

We quit exchanging adult gifts after that Christmas. But the rest of decided to exchange handmade cards despite her.

I've been promoting second-hand or handmake gifts since my first child's baby shower. Only one guest had the brave heart a second-hand handmade blanket. That is the one gift we still use 14 years later. Actually daughter #2 took it over and loves it.

My family must be wierd because as I think of it, I only have negative stories- - but that doesn't stop me from trying.
I wanted to make baby quilts out of my wedding dress. Now I don't look good in white and I married a man much larger than myself so I knew that my girls would never fit in that dress. My mom was so horrified that she ran off with the dress and I didn't get it back until a few months ago. I've been married 21 years! One girl is a women's size 14 and the other will get close. I'm an 8. So now what? Save it for grandbabies or sell the thing on ebay? Is it an antique now?

I gave gift baskets of food last year -- frozen ready to go meals. 2 of 3 people loved it. My mom must not trust my cooking yet as bits of that basket came back to me over the year. As in, "here's some noodles I don't know what to do with" from the stroganoff.