a different sort of Christmas {+ some BIG news!}

{mum's windowsill...lined with some sweet, vintage-y things}

{many of the little ones playing a game with a couple of the uncles}
{a package for my brother and sister-in-law...my tag says "Wishing you a very Merry (vintage) Christmas!"...Oddly enough we both gave each other vintage things for Christmas...I'll have to take a photo of what they gave us later...so incredibly cute that it deserves its own post!}
{knitted fingerless mittens I made for my mother-in-law}

{baking Pecan Mandelbrot, similar to biscotti, which turned out to be quite a hit}

{I found the recipe in my Martha Stewart Cookies cookbook, also available online here}

{packaging the Pecan Mandelbrot...you really can't go wrong with a Martha recipe & Martha packaging supplies!}
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Another Christmas season has past, but before I file this one away in my memory, a few photos of scenes from my Christmas spent with family, some things I made for gifts, and some other ponderings on this recent holiday...

It really was a bit of a different Christmas season for me this year. To start with, we decided not to get a tree. The first time we didn’t get a tree in 8 years of marriage. Which felt a little odd to us at first. We felt like we were letting Pappy (our favorite tree-seller man) down just a bit. Also, Hub and I decided not to exchange gifts with each other either (although he cheated on this little pact quite a bit!). I also (gasp!) didn’t send out any Christmas cards this year. Now, I may be sounding a bit bah-humbug at this point…but there is something to be said for trying to simplify an already crazy, stressful time of year. I truly think one of the main reasons we really skipped the tree as well as exchanging gifts this year was the blessing of some very special news…we will be having our first baby in June! A true miracle and blessing which pretty much makes everything else pale in comparison right now. Lugging out the tree decorations and spending money on material things neither of us really need seemed a bit, well, less than exciting compared to our very exciting news this year. All I really want to think about is what this baby will be like, what things I could knit for the baby, how we should decorate the nursery, and give my body some rest from this stressful season for a year. However I did bake a couple batches of Christmas cookies. And I did put up my favorite little vintage village along with decorating the mantel and a few other special touches to make the house feel a bit Christmas-y. And I even attempted to make caramels again this year. My first attempt at them last Christmas had gone so well. They were delicious! This year, however, different story. For some reason I had 2 caramel recipes…one in a magazine and one printed out from the Internet. The printed out one was folded in half and stuck in the magazine by the other recipe. Hmm…which one did I use last year? I couldn’t recall for certain but I was pretty sure it had to be the printed out one that used about half of the ingredients as the other one. But the magazine recipe had far more detailed instructions. So, in my (pregnant) mind, I logically thought, I’ll use the ingredients from the printed out recipe but follow the magazine’s instructions! Brilliant, right!? Not right. After about 8 minutes of boiling the ingredients on high heat, I started to smell a bit of a burnt, marshmallow sort of smell. OH no! I had completely ruined the caramels! The pan was entirely burnt on the bottom and the burnt bits were mixing in with the bubbling caramel mixture. I still threw in the vanilla extract at the end, hoping that might magically rectify the situation...somehow. Hub came into the kitchen at that time and I told him what I had done. I’m pretty sure he made a couple “blonde jokes” and asked what I was thinking. Who follows the ingredients from one recipe but the instructions from a different one? Who does that sort of thing? A pregnant woman is all I can guess. I don't know? It seemed so logical at the time.

So the next day I got back in the kitchen again and made a new-to-me recipe, Pecan Mandelbrot. A crumbly sort of bread-like cookie, similar to biscotti. This went much better than the caramels... so I think I'll stick with the Mandelbrot next year!

Hope your Christmas season was merry!

xo~L

Knitted "Snowball" Garland {Project 3}

Knitted "Snowball" Garland {Project 3}

I don't know what it is about yarn and knitting projects that always evokes a cozy, warm feeling in me. That must be why I do most of my knitting when it is chilly out! This final project requires some basic knitting skills and just a few moments during some chilly evenings to whip up as many of these little knitted balls (or "snowballs") as you desire. This knitted garland will add a layer of warmth to your home or can be used in many other ways too such as trimming a gift, or giving as a gift!

{gather}

~yarn (any colors of your choosing)

~knitting needles (I used size 8)

~tapestry needle

~scissors

{make}

(Refer to photos above for each step below.)

1. How to knit a ball: Row 1 - Cast on 3 stitches. Row 2 - Knit into front and back of the first 2 stitches, knit 1. Row 3 - Purl 5. Row 4 - Knit 3 stitches, knit into front & back of last 2 stitches. Row 5 - Purl 7. Row 6 - Knit 2 together, knit 3, knit 2 together. Row 7 - Purl 5. Row 8 - Knit 2 together, knit 1, knit 2 together. Row 9 - Slip 1 stitch purl-wise, purl 2 together, pass slipped stitch over. Cut yarn (leave approx. 6" tail) and slip tail through last stitch to secure.

2. This is what your knitting piece will look like at this point.

3. Thread the tail onto the tapestry needle and with the wrong side facing you, weave the yarn in and out around the outer edges of the circle until you end up back where you started.

4. Stuff the center of the circle with some scrap yarn to make the ball more full and as you hold it in place, pull on the tail to form the ball.

5. Tie both tails together in a knot to secure the ball.

6. Thread each tail onto the tapestry needle and pull back through the ball and snip off remaining ends to hide.

7. This is what your finished knitted ball will look like.

8. Repeat above steps to create as many "snowballs" as desired for your garland. Then, thread a tapestry needle with yarn and pull through the center of each ball to create the garland, spreading them apart as much as you prefer. Obviously this project can be tailored to whatever color yarns you prefer or string, twine, ribbon to make the garland.

Thanks for joining along in my 2010 series of Christmas projects!

More soon!

~L

Pretty Paper Mache Ornaments {Project 2}

Pretty Paper Mache Ornaments {Project 2}

Adorn your tree, house, wreath, or gifts with a few of these whimsical paper mache ornaments. They're so pretty and a great way to use up some of your favorite craft papers, pieces of ribbon, and even a dash of glitter for just a bit of sparkle.

{gather}

~paper mache/cardboard ornaments

(I've found these ornaments available the past few years in my local craft stores.)

~decorative, patterned craft paper

(thin paper works best, rather than the cardstock weight kind)

~decoupage glue

~old paintbrush

~scissors

~velvet ribbon

~glitter

{make}
1. Trace around one side of the ornament on scratch paper to create a template to follow.

2. Trace around template on the craft paper allowing for a bit of overlap so that no part of the ornament underneath will show and cut out each piece.

3. Using decoupage glue and an old paint brush, cover the ornament with the paper sections. Cover the top of the paper with the decoupage glue as well to create a nice finish.

4. Dust with a bit of glitter now, if desired...or allow to dry and use a glitter glue (such as "Stickles" brand) and spread on very thinly for a subtle sparkle.

5. Let dry and top off with a pretty ribbon!

Hope to see you back here again soon for Project 3!

Merry Berry Topiary {Project 1}

Merry Berry Topiary {Project 1}

This sweet, festive topiary is quite easy to make and will brighten up your table top, mantle, shelf, etc. It can be made to suit in various color combinations and is a good project to do with a group as it doesn't require much thinking, allowing more time for chatting and just relaxing as you simply push each "berry" into the topiary form.

{gather}

~topiary form

~terra cotta pot

~floral moss

~hot glue gun or wire picks (to secure moss)

~paint (we used spray paint)

~floral (berry) picks

~scissors (that you don't care about too much!)

{make}

1. Start by painting the pot your desired color and allow to dry. (Note: I did this project for one of my craft parties so I spray-painted all of the pots in advance in a few different colors. Then my guests were able to select what color pot they wanted and they were totally dry and ready to go.) 2. Put the topiary form in your pot...it may fit snugly so no need to secure, but add some glue if necessary. 3. Cover the topiary ball lightly with moss, using hot glue to secure. 4. Cover the base of the topiary with moss as well, using either hot glue or wire picks to secure. 5. Snip off the "berries" from the stems. Be sure to leave about 1/4" to 1/2" of the stem on the berry. 6. Have fun decorating your topiary by poking the berries into the form to completely cover it. 7. Enjoy!

{Side note: I really wanted to photograph my topiary in the brilliant white, fresh snow...just for fun! Sooo, did I pick the snowiest, blustery day possible to do this? Yep. And did my neighbors think I was a little crazy tromping about my yard in the snowstorm carrying a bright red topiary? Perhaps. And did the mailman just happen to come by at that exact time too? Of course!!!}

Join me again soon for Project 2! See you then!

Christmas Projects 2010 {notions of sweet things}

It's the last day of November but truthfully, my mind has been on the upcoming Christmas season for quite some time now. I love all the crafty, homespun projects that abound and only ever wish I just had more time to do more! Every year I always vow to get a head start on Christmas and all the things I'd like to accomplish, yet each year it rushes upon me just as quickly as the year before.

Two years ago, I did a little series of Christmas-y/Wintry projects here on the blog every day for a week and it was so fun to do! So I thought I'd start that up again this year but with a little more time in between each post, saving me a bit of holiday sanity. As I mentioned back then, I used to host a little Christmas craft party in years past and I would always try to come up with a new project for us to work on. I'll be featuring a couple of those past, sweet and simple projects that I think are still pretty fun along with a new one or two! We'll see how it goes! I hope you'll join along in the crafty fun!

silver blooms

That first little gold paper flower I made awhile back for a wedding cake topper was the inspiration for making more in various colors. Each flower is cut by hand and finished with cherry red vintage stamen centers. These pretty luxe silver blooms are now available in the shop, a jarful of posies!

good things about winter

Enjoying the beauty of the first big snow of the season... The snow began Saturday morning and was so sticky that it clung to the tree limbs and even the tree trunks, the branches sagging under the heavy weight of white. Normally these thickly coated limbs wouldn't stay this way for long, the snow eventually sliding off and giving way. But even today everything is still cloaked in white. And it is so pretty to look at. Another good thing, feeding the sweet little Chickadees by hand... It's always a bit magical when the first one comes to perch upon my hand, feeling almost weightless...this tiny connection to nature.

Some are hesitant, flitting nearby, while others are bold and happily sit upon my hand.

And the last good thing...more time to stay snug inside, knitting!

Just in time before the snow fell, I finished these cozy gray fingerless gloves.

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Update: Per request, here is the link to the pattern I used for these fingerless gloves. I loosely followed this pattern and made them a bit longer so they'd go up my arm further. It's a pretty quick and simple pattern to follow! :)

tree trimmings and things

Oh yes indeed! It's that time!

Starting to put a few ornaments and other glittery things on the shop shelves...

More soon!
~L

mum's apple pie

Mum came up for a little visit late last week and we hung out and did fun girl things while Hub was away on a business trip. We ate Swedish pancakes at a little cafe, did a bit of antiquing, looked through magazines, and did some crafting too of course. Mum also brought up some pretty red Haralson apples that she had just received from a friend's orchard.

So we (or mostly she) made an apple pie. I've never made a pie. Ever. I make quiche all the time...so I'm pretty good at making my own pie crusts. But I've never filled one with fruit, even though I've always wanted to! So mum eagerly offered to teach me how to make her apple pie. I took a few notes and tried to keep up with her and the things she needed for the recipe as she is quite a skilled, speedy lady in the kitchen!

It really would have taken me about an hour to peel these apples by hand, not to mention slicing them all up too. But before I could even finish cleaning up the counter from the pie crust-making, I turned around and she had deftly peeled and sliced all 5 apples for the pie in just minutes!

We mixed the sliced apples with sugar, flour, and cinnamon and poured them into the waiting pie crust. I made a streusel topping (my own adaptation...mum usually puts a second crust over the top) using melted butter, flour, sugar, and cinnamon.

And about 40 minutes later, voila! My kitchen smelled heavenly and the pie was pure bliss! Is it wrong to have pie for dinner and breakfast the following morning? I think not!
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mum's apple pie

pie crust
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
2 Tbsp milk
1/4 tsp salt
Mix together with pastry blender and roll out flat, using extra flour to keep from sticking. Place in pie dish.

apple filling
about 6 cups apple slices
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Mix apples with sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a big bowl. Pour into pie dish.

streusel
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
3 Tbsp melted butter
Mix dry ingredients together, pour butter over, and toss with fork until large chunks form. Cover apples with streusel.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 40-45 minutes. Enjoy!

california {from ocean to desert}

{pacific ocean & torrey pines} {another torrey pines ~ I liked this photo too!} {at the beach, near Oceanside, I think?} {outside 1 of 2 Anthros visited in the same day...and I didn't buy a thing! can you spy Hub and I?} {Rodeo Drive...had to see what this was all about. Okay. Now I have.} {driving through the mountains...Sunrise hwy through Cleveland National Forest} {a glimpse of the desert from the mountains} {crazy big boulder mountains...these were just crazy but the picture does no justice} {hub in the desert...he really wanted to go there and see some cacti, so we did!}

Hub and I were in San Diego and elsewhere last week...my first real visit to California, other than a couple layovers in LA. Honestly I'm not completely in my right mind to write a lot of nice things about California or our trip at the moment. The weather was so-so, the traffic was horrendous, public restrooms were hard to come by, and I'm still battling a bad cold I got there mid-week (hence the clouded view I have right now of our trip). There's nothing worse than being very sick when you're away from home. All you really want is your own cozy bed, right? True, we didn't see the entire state... It is a quite a big state and we were only there for a short time. But in that short time, we did see quite a bit and drove over 500 miles or so. I came to the realization on this trip that the way we like to visit new places is to drive around, explore the surroundings, get out and see things, find good restaurants, etc...rather than visit the typical tourist attractions. Although the good restaurants part didn't matter much to me as nothing tasted quite right. But looking back on my pictures now, after a few days of being home, I realize it is a rather pretty place...aside from all the traffic and crazy driving. Maybe next time I visit I'll have better luck and better health!

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(10/28/10: I meant to post this earlier in the week ~hence the date~but catching up on life and being sick just kept getting in the way! More soon, when I'm feeling better, hopefully!)

next to you my deer {c'est fini!}

hello!

As mentioned in my last post where I was figuring out to how finish my deer topper, I wanted to share what I ended up deciding upon and how I finished it off.

I really liked the contrast of that pretty brown flower-y paper base against the seafoam color of the deer. Little white and pale pink flowers, tiny toadstools, and a few handcut paper leaves in pale pink and brown mingle at their feet. Now in the shop, here.

Today is another sunny day in a row of sunny Fall days and I'm busy working on a custom cake topper order, a sweet pair of foxes...back to work!
Happy creating! ~L

in the studio {figuring things out}

Today in the studio, I've been working on a couple new cake toppers...

like this sweet deer couple above. I loved this seafoam/peppermint colored pair of deer I made previously so much that I just had to create another pair. But now the fun/perplexing part is deliberating on color schemes...I often spend a very long time, looking through my stash of things, drawing inspiration for colors that will complement my deer couple from the pretty papers I have, the season, and all the other fun little doodads (like flowers, mushrooms, ribbons, leaves) that I will incorporate on the cake topper. I lay stuff out (like above) and just see what is really exciting me.
So, once I finish that deer topper, I'll share it with you soon and you can see what I ended up deciding on! But I did finish a little pair of Autumnal Owls in a violet purple color. I was inspired by many of the things in my garden, the foliage, turning from green to hazy shades of purple. Never done purple owls before but thought I'd stretch my boundaries!
They are now in the shop, right here!
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Happy Wednesday!
Go MN Twins!

thrifty entertaining...

Well no...this post isn't about entertaining on the cheap, but moreso about utilizing a few of my recent "thrifted" finds for a dinner last Saturday night:

{photo 1} Nothing vintage, just the oregano I had on my table for a little garden greenery...

{photo 2} Adorable owl napkin rings...I love love love these for a woodland/nature themed dinner.

{photo 3} A really great old cheese board with thick glass cloche...we served a "blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and honey" appetizer...you can't go wrong with that combo. Also seen, the corner of my favorite new (old) thrifted plates that I got in the summertime adorned with strawberries, butterflies, and ladybugs upon them...they are so sweet that I use them almost constantly, regardless of the occasion...

because everyday should be a little bit special, right?