Wish you were feeling better. Launching into the suggested projects will help. I think it's a great comliment you came to the group and trusted us with your needs.
Lots of great ideas so far.
I don't know if you're trying to stay within the vein of outdoorsy stuff, but a friend of mine bought a ton of ferro rods of varying sizes and got some very good pricing for the quantities he bought. He started playing around and putting different handles on them and they came out really neat. I made a few up with antler and horn handles. He used scrap wood from my shop and screwdriver handles from promotional screwdrivers. I also made him some strikers from pieces of small old files with handles to match the ferro rods.
There are also resources for inexpensive but quality CS knives wihtout handles, which can quickly become quite beautiful and functional with some epoxy, brazing rod for pins and scraps of wood and antler for handles. Funny, the gnarly, nasty, boogery-grained stuff you cut off and throw out makes gorgeous handles.
If you're a turner (I am not), small containers with lids are popular with all ages and both genders.
Get yourself a crooked knife and one of your favorite reglular blades and start carving utensils and/or bowls. There is a ton of information on this stuff and people get the biggest kick out of a rustic-looking spoon, spatula or fork. It's actually relaxing and fun to boot.
Anyone on your list use knives or traditional woodworking tools? Some good leather, scrap wood and contact cement - instant strop. You could shape a handle on one end if ou want. Strops are easy and people are always hinting to me how much they would like to have one.
Boxes are always cool and use small amounts of wood. Thickness-plane a board as long as the perimeter of the intended box (or make the box fit the board), make a 1/4" dado along both edges of the "inside," miter at 45 degrees into four pieces and tape it back together in "sequence," then make a lid and bottom. If you don't have enough of the same wood, use a contrasting wood. Glue the joints, wrap the sides around the lid and bottom, tape it and then cut the "top" off on the tale saw using the fence. A couple hinges and a hasp and you have a wonderful gift. If ou use a hand-plane you can forgo the hideous task of sanding and have a neat "look," especially if you grind one iron on a convex and plane diagonally (like a scrub plane) for the tops. If your iron is sharp enough, you get glass-smooth "ripples" any other woodworker in the family will wonder how you "sanded" that way.
Thanks for reminding me - I have a blanket chest to get done before Christmas!
