Whew! We could *possibly* be ready (we just saw that Santa is in South America!).
I am going to take some time off from this space between Christmas and New Year's to spend some time with relax a bit with family. Thank you all for taking the time to read, comment, and discuss everything that goes on here. I appreciate you all more than you know, and we're going to have some fun in 2012. Happiest of Holidays to everyone out there! Enjoy every minute!
xo,
Blair
| | |
|
When I fold the laundry (which, truth be told, is not as often as it should be, a clean heap can usually be found on the chair in our bedroom, dubbed by the family as the "chair of shame"), I usually watch a few minutes of tv and on Sunday I was watching the Food Network, Barefoot Contessa in London. Ina Garten's recipes are very dependable for our family, I've never really made anything of hers that didn't turn out delicious without alot of crazy prep. On this show, she made white chocolate lollipops, and they looked so easy, I knew the kids and I would have fun adding them to our holdiay "baking" list.
I'm not a big fan of white chocolate, so I chose semi-sweet chocolate chips, and we picked to add to them: roasted cashews, dried cherries, candied ginger, toffee bits, miniature peppermint candy canes (these available at Home Cake if you are local, read a great write up about this store on Seattle Bon Vivant.).
We melted the chocolate in the microwave, then spooned the chocolate onto parchment in rounded globs. We inserted the lollipop stick into the center and gave it a little twist to cover it, then proceeded to add something to each on (or not, since we left some plain for Ian, the purist).
We made about 40 out of 3 bags of chocolate chips (okay, we did eat some of the chocolate). They set up at room temperature in about an hour, then we bagged them in cellophane and tied them with yarn.
Super easy!
<><><><>
P.S.- Check it, I have a new header : D
| | |
|
I like to think of myself as one of those people that sees some amazing display at a store like Anthropologie, thinking- as we all do- "Wow, I could so make that.", and then goes home and actually makes it. That doesn't happen as much as I'd like it to. However, my creative fires were lit during a recent trip. Those adorable little salt shakers recycled into sweet little Christmas shakers they are currently selling? Whoever created them did brilliantly creative job, I just couldn't afford to buy a dozen of them, as I would have liked.
Let's take the proverbial handmade by the hands, shall we?
These are a bit smaller, but the idea that I actually came home and made them is making me so very happy. About 5 minutes each once I'd gathered the supplies.
I found a set of lovely salt shakers with screw tops on etsy, but these are available at thrift stores. The tiny trees may be trickier to find, but they are out there. (The seller I found mine thru doesn't seem to have anymore, but do an etsy search for miniature tree.)
Other than that, I used Martha Stewart coarse white glitter, some tape for the inside of the top, a bit of craft glue, that was it. Make sure the inside of the salt shaker is clean, then dab a bit of glue on the bottom of the tree, stick it inside the shaker, and use a pencil or knitting needle to move it how you want it. Put some tape on the inside of the top to prevent the glitter from spilling out. I poured enough glitter inside to cover the wooden base of the tree, and that's it.
Disclaimer- While I did not choose to buy the lovely little Christmas shakers they had for sale and make my own instead, I did in fact buy 4 other beautiful things, spent too much money, brought them home, plopped them on Peter's office chair, with a sticky note reading "Santa should give me these".
| | |
|
I met my big deadline, and life now enters a new, relaxed holiday mode. December was off to a rocky start... I really didn't have my schedule together and was a little scattered (what? dinner? you guys want dinner? from me?) but somehow, I found a rhythm that seemed to get me through.
And now? With deadline met, the wine tastes a little sweeter, sleep is a little less restless, and I can't wait to start a crochet project to carry me through the holiday break... the crochet project that I'll be doing just because I want to do it and no other reason.
I have some DIY projects to share here, but I think you may have to give me a minute. In the meantime, don't forget about those times I was stuck in the house during the holidays because of snow-covered streets, making things like the simple wreath of avoidance (love that one) or one of the products of my crochet-obsessed period, the crocheted granny square scarf that is a cinch to make it you are already a crocheter, perfect for anyone with a cold neck. Or the simple sewn scarf that is also perfect for a cold neck. And don't forget the tomorrowland holiday trees. Or crocheted candle cozies (these are all over our house right now, its so cold here everything needs a sweater).
And unrelated... maybe I'm just a little premenstrual, but this song makes me cry like a newborn right now.
Flat out.
Wet rag.
On the floor.
And also random, the deer are patronuses, thank you Nancy and Priscilla! How did I miss Harry Potter connection? That must be why I love them so much. Every day at 4pm, bam! Patronuses!
| | |
|
a doe and a buck in my front yard. And now I have them. Thanks for indulging my corny request Peter!
Now to name them...
| | |
|
Saturday's advent was decorating gingerbread houses. I knew there was not going to be much actual house decorating for the holidays until after the weekend, so just as I'd hoped, these kept the kids happy and occupied for most of the afternoon. Ian's house is a reindeer farm. (You knew there had to be one somewhere.) As he explained it, this is where Santa's reindeer are raised. The farmer is a frog, but you can't see him cause he's busy. (Course.) Each of the flags designate which country they will cover. Apparently, the US is well covered, as is Switzerland and Germany. The fate of the other countries rests on whether or not he can locate any other flag cupcake toppers in my baking drawer. Here's hoping...
I am joining lots of friends and posting photos over at habit all through the month of December. So much fun, be sure and check in.
| | |
|
I had a treat last week (well, several treats, but more on that later), I got to preview Betz White's new online workshop, Fab Felt Holiday Crafts. I have taken Betz's previous holiday workshops and have used so many of her easy, clever holiday project for gifts, I love that her projects are doable with few materials, and infinitely customizeable. Once again, she has outdone herself, not only is this workshop full of more easy, original, totally doable holiday crafts, its being offered through Craftsy.com, a new video platform in High Def, with a very user friendly interface. I was able to skip easily to the individual crafts and hear the instructions for just those when I was ready to start making them. I chose to make the "Flower Ornament" but, because the holidays are a little too far away for me to really start thinking about them (read that as procrastination or denial) I strung several of them together as a new bunting/garland/hanging strand for my studio.
**Wise craft readers can click this link to preview Betz's course and register for $10 off the course price.**
And, because I was feeling nostalgic for Bench Monday, one last photo-
xo,
Blair
P.S.- I can't wait to tell you about Schoolhouse Craft!
| | |
|
Emma made a set of nesting dolls as a gift, up in her Papa's studio, while we were in Colorado. (One glimpse of that view out the window is a good reason to be hanging out in the studio.) There's definitely been much hanging out in that room through the years.
Ian made a bowl out of junk mail and eco-paste (flour and water) and I can't even begin to describe how proud he is of it. He surprised me last week when he came to me saying he wanted to make this, because in all the frenzy of preparing for our trip, I'd never had the chance to do my yearly nag talk with the kids about making things for others. Nothing had been made, other than their cards, and I was just chalking this year up to the one that got away. So the fact that Ian had this idea in his mind, and stood poised and ready to execute as soon as we had the time made me smile. My dear Ian, not the most enthusiastic crafter of the bunch (but really good at supervising the crafting). It puts him at quite a disadvantage in a handmade household like ours. Maybe he's actually discovering his crafty side? I lost track of him one evening in Colorado, only to find him alone, in Papa's studio, tearing up bits of paper and junk mail, prepping to make his bowl.
Sometimes I feel like I'm never heard, I know you moms can relate. Hopefully, giving small handmade gifts like these, as my kids are coerced inspired to do each year, gives them a real sense of pride and ownership. My dream is to not have to ask. A small Christmas miracle.
In return, we got some lovely handmade gifts too. Letterpressed art, a graphic novel.
Not available in any stores.
: D
<><><><>
Big news! Kathy has Denyse Schmidt's newest line Greenfield Hill!!! And so does Cynthia! I've been waiting months to break the bank on this line! I know a lot of folks think this newest line is, well, ugly. But I think Denyse has her finger on the pulse of an entirely new direction. I have been waiting for smaller prints like these for a long time.
| | |
|
When Emma was a wee babe, Peter and I (mostly me) started this little tradition of hiding a glass pickle ornament in the tree and asking her to find it on Christmas morning, to commence the present opening. I don't know why I started it, probably just cause I could (I was the adult.) Neither of us ever did this as kids, but it has totally stuck with the kids. They will NOT open a present till they find it.
Even when we've totally forgotten about it.
Like this year.
We held the kids off from running through the house and shreiking till a reasonable hour (7:30am) by asking Santa to leave their stockings in their rooms. When they could not be held off any longer, we released them into the family room to see what Santa had brought, while the adults groped for coffee cups and coffee cake.
We came in to find them sort of looking around the tree intently. Oh! The pickle!
Ian: Is it over there?
Emma: No, keep looking on your side.
Ian: I'm sort of getting tired.
Emma: But we have to find it, so keep looking.
(15 very quiet minutes later)
Peter: Good grief guys, you still can't find it? Is there one there?
Emma: Yes! I saw it the other day.
Peter: Well, good luck! (goes to sit down)
Ian: Now I'm really getting tired, maybe I'll just go through my stocking again.
Emma: A-HA!!!
The adults sat in amazement as this all went on for at least 20 minutes. The self-control to not just even pretend to find it and dive into the loot was incredible.
I did a little research when we got home on the whole accidental pickle tradition we have. Come to find out, its a German myth! Just read.
I may have to break it to the kids.
Its an ugly ornament anyway, I must confess.
Does anybody else do this?
| | |
|
