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!