I'm completely stumped as to what to get for my parents. Quite honestly, they already have everything they need. They are also fairly minimalistic people, who appreciate things that are useful, as opposed to decorative... Well, my mom is, and my dad is always getting in trouble for his "dust collectors".
In anycase, I need two presents for the mother, because it's her birthday in a week too. She is an architect, reads a lot, but also seems to have every book I could imagine, skis (but I've already made her warm ski clothers), does generic housewifey things like cooking, one of those people who is interested in a lot of things.
My dad is also an architect, with a specialization in landscaping. He's currently designing waterparks, and gets way too excited about it. A total kid at heart. Into cars and trucks and that sort of thing. He's also a glass artist. And draws and writes a lot.
Another thing I might be able to draw ideas from is the fact that I just moved from Vancouver to Montreal, so bring them back something french canadian. I thought about this, but quite honestly, the one thing it seems you can get here that you can't get back there is cheap, high percentage beer, and I really dont think that'll fly.
Haha.

Etching is super easy. Just go to your friendly neighbourhood craft stora and pick up some Armour Etch. Stick stickers on the glass where you don't want it to be etched, and cover the rest in the creme. Follow the directions on the bottle, and voila...
I like the beer mug idea. Men are so impossible to do presents for, I find.

katiebird - I just got sticker letters from the dollar store for mine... they're easy to find.

The crotch is always the first place to go for me! (and no, I don't do anything unusual while wearing my jeans. Just a lot of walking, maybe)
On jeans that were already pretty roughed up, I let them get a bit paint splattered, and put patches all over.
I've recently had a similar problem though with a pair of jeans that were previously my "square" jeans, so I'm not too sure what to do, asides from wearing them with mini-dresses.
I'd love to see what you come up with.

A tip on the gauchos; if you have big tall boots, gather them mid calf and tuck them into the top of your boots, so you get that billowy gatherd thing going on...
Does this make sense?

It's super super low maintenance. It pulled at my scalp a bit for the first day, but now its fine.
The annoying part is people touching/pulling/playing with my hair. Especially ones I don't know. It's fun though.
Here is a picture with the colours... me with my band (insert ad telling you to check out our low-fi one-track recordings at www.myspace.com/pussinb0ndage)

I'm, obviously, the one with the red hair...
Woot.

I did my hair in yarn extensions.
I had a friend braid my hair into tiny little braids.
Then, she used a darning needle to poke yarn (3 pieces) through the top, and folded them over, so each braid is like a chunk of braided hair and 6 pieces of yarn....
She braided that, and knotted the yarn.
I waaaay underestimated on the time it would take. My hair is quite long normally, and there is a lot of it, and the entrie thing took about two days, includsing an all-nighter, but really, once you are half-finnished, you arn't about to stop.
Now I don't have to brush my hair for a month.
Here are some pictures I took with my webcam, but due to something funny with the lighting, the colours didn't show up at all. The braids are bright briight red, yellow, orange and pink...

mine is from a quote by hitler when he talks about removing all artistic lunacy and artistic pollution from his ideal little aryan world. i liked artistic_pollution better, but it was too long for a livejournal username, and i figured it was more practical to keep them the same.

For those of you looking for picks, I just thought that I'd mention that the most expensive pick I have ever bought was worth about 75 cents... Most places sell simple pickes three for a dollar...
Also, note that they come in different thicknessess... I personally find that the thinner ones are easier to punch holes in, and the thicker ones are better to play with...
I wanna comment on the earings, but I can't see the pictures...bloody computer...

I'm impressed with how many people have heard of the Dears. here I get a lot of 'who's that?' (I'm in BC, the other side of the country, but still no excuse) I had the t-shirt, but didn't wear it cos of it's oversizedness.
I was so excited when I saw the plaid flannel (left over from some pants my sister made) cos blue is a tough colour to make something work with.
I love that neckline...The other idea I had was to attach a cowl neck to it. I wasn't really sure how to do that and make it turn out good. If anyone has any suggestions on that for next time, please let me know!
And also, go ahead and steal the idea! It's mostly just making the t-shirt fit better. If you do, please show me what you've done, I'd loooooove to see it!
And thanks for the awsome response. It makes me feel oh-so-pretty!