As Christmas is fast approaching a sense of panic overwhelms you with what to buy for your friends and family.

You run around getting that list together trying to remember what you purchased last year.

But here's a new idea of where to shop and what to buy.

Home Grown Alternatives, which is a group made up of local artists and crafts people organised by Mary Tatem and Christine Hinds Wellman, is offering different types of gift ideas that would even be perfect for those living overseas because it's a piece of Bermuda -- all Bermuda made items.

Tomorrow in the Admiralty House Community Centre Ball Room from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. an array of local artists and crafts people will have their items on display amidst a feeling of an old Bermuda Christmas in the air.

The idea for the group was the brainchild of Ms Tatem who said: "I wanted a different way in which the arts community could be represented other than Harbour Nights and at the hotels.

"I wanted there to be something that would draw us together.'' Mrs. Hinds Wellman, whose husband David designed the group's logo, added: "The difference with Home Grown Alternatives is that we are artists and crafts people coming together to present work rather than having an organisation organise us to present our work.

"We have never done it ourselves and it will be a one-day come-shop and but gift ideas.'' Ms Tatem said there will be Bermuda-made crafts for sale -- hence the name of the group's logo `We've got it Made in Bermuda'.

Mrs. Hinds Wellman said some of the gift ideas are for Christmas while some of the products are what they sell all year.

"We are trying to heighten local awareness, diversity and the talent that exists right here. More and more locals are buying home handmade products.'' Ms Tatem added: "As an alternative venture we want to represent ourselves as environmentally aware and we also have the alternative gift wrap paper.

"Once the gifts are purchased you can go have them wrapped in recycled paper.'' Mrs. Hinds Wellman said the ball room can be transformed to suit whatever event is there.

"People will come if they have something to come to.'' Ms Tatem added: "It is really very pretty in the ball room with old Bermuda plants. It's really lovely.'' Some of the many artists and crafts people selling their goods will be Margaret Downing Dill with her beautiful Bermuda water colour calenders, and her sister Jane representing arts and crafts.

There will be Christmas decorations by Penny Cumming while Paula Symonds is doing decorative baskets and Christmas items. Roberta DeSilva will have Christmas handmade toys.

"We are doing a culminating event for the year. We will be having a cedar tree which we will donate to the Hospice and we also had donations from different businesses such as the recycled paper from Specialty Gift Wrappers,'' Ms Tatem said.

Mrs. Hinds Wellman added: "It's going to look great. We will transform that ball room. It will be another world.

"When we set up for Harbour Nights and in the hotels it is very different compared to how we will set up for this. This will be more of a presentation.

"Everyone will have a tablecloth and they will make their section their own personalised area. There will be an old Bermuda Christmas feeling, and it will be all natural.'' She also said: "After Harbour Nights everything stops and this is a something that we came together to do which happens to be for Christmas.'' BERMUDIAN CRAFTS -- Organisers of tomorrow's pre-Christmas extravaganza featuring locally made products are Mrs. Christine Hinds-Wellman (left) and Ms Mary Tatem.