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!}
.....

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!