Giving Up Gift Giving?

I'm discovering that any real commercial purchase is going to be very thought out and planned ahead. Not only to decide where and what to buy, which was the whole point of this experiment, but also when. Most of the time I can sacrifice for a while until I can make the purchase the way that I want to, but what happens when someone's birthday can't wait until I've got my act together?

I've known this from the beginning, but I am extremely lucky to have a supportive, open minded, patient boyfriend as I launch into this experiment -- particularly when his birthday falls about a week and a half into it. Some creative thinking and lots of running around proved fairly successful, but perhaps only because Joe doesn't have typical desires for gifts anyway. Lucky for me, he didn't have his heart on an iPhone or Wii this year. He recently moved into a new apartment, so potted herb plants grown organically and pesticide-free on Phillips Farms in Millford, NJ, along with bright blue fabrics from the Garment District to make some pillow cases (raw goods that will be "manufactured" at home are going to be allowed this year -- I'm too hands on to give up building and crafting) fit the bill just fine.

I'm wondering if my family will be as pleased by my "inventive" gift giving this year?