Breathing

...normally again. Today is a great day because everything is done. I finished my sewing just last night, and any projects I had in mind for tomorrow will just have to wait for another time. After much cursing and tantrum throwing behind my trusty sewing machine, I did finally finish those pernickity houses. If I had started them last year, I probably would have put off finishing them until this year, but I am under a time crunch of sorts. You see My Favorite Girl is seven, and is probably too old for such things, and there is no way I could make it for her when she's eight. I figured it was my last possible year to make it for her, and I have been wanting to make one for her since she was a just a little bean. I think she will be happy; now she has a place to put all her little stuffie felt creatures that we make. I designed three new animals which she was very excited about. So far she only knows them on paper; I have been stitching them up at night after she's asleep. Without further ado, here are the houses and their tenants:

Yesterday we had a craft party at our house. The kids have been out of school since last Friday, and I wanted to do something that would take their mind off the wait...wait...waiting for even just a little while. Altogether there were 9 children here, and it went really well. So well in fact I may do it next year. I had lots of crafts to do, and they all made some bath salts for their mums and chocolate covered spoons for their dads and tiny graham biscuit houses for themselves. Their mums got to stay home and wrap presents or run out and get those last minute groceries, so everyone was happy. I was so busy in the hour and a half they were here I didn't take any pictures of their lovely creations, but they were beautiful! Last night I was exhausted, but it was a good kind of tired.

And now today is mine to just putter and put my feet up and convince the kids it really isn't the longest day of the year.

Have a merry, merry Christmas; and may all your gatherings be as magical as Christmas Eve.

Jolly Days?

Despite my intentions I am starting to feel a *little* bit of stress due to Christmas. My fabric houses are not going so well, and I have run out of kid-free sewing days, which means I have to stay up late and sew when I'm tired. Now that Christmas cards are coming in the mail, I'm really aware that I haven't sent out any yet, and those un-sent cards are not the hand-made ones I had planned on making through the year. The chocolate for my truffles is still sitting on the counter, waiting....

Looking on the positive side, I did get my parcels sent off and they should arrive at their destination before Christmas. Going to the post office last week made me realize that the date for international mailing has long passed, so once again friends Down Under will not receive a card in time. (Sorry S. Family!! Expect a letter in the New Year!)

Back to being positive: I did finish a few sewing projects that didn't make me have a tantrum at the sewing machine.

Some strawberry sachets for My Favorite Girl:

A reversible fleece vest for My Favorite Boy:

And some pouches for two marble collections:

Today will be busy, but fun I hope. I am volunteering with the kindergarten for their "Santa's Workshop". We will be spending the morning making crafts, and I always like that.

Have a great day!

Christmassy

We had our first snowfall this week, and those little flakes suddenly made us all very aware that it's almost the middle of December! Time to bake! Time to shop! Time to wrap and get ready!
I've got the shopping done, and have started on the baking. I had a white chocolate day of sorts, and made these goodies:


Chocolate covered pretzels with red and white sugar sprinkles; white chocolate bark with dried cherries and pistachios; chocolate biscuits covered with white chocolate and crushed candy cane. We have been feasting on them every night after supper, and I fear they may all be gone by the time I get the other treats made.

Last night I tried some simpler baking, and am very happy with the shiny, kitsch-y look of my cereal wreaths:

The kids are looking forward to after school time today, since that will be their first taste of them!

This year I made cookie mixes for hostess gifts. I'm really happy with how they turned out:

I used some vintage jars, and made the tags out of paint sample cards.

I spent all of yesterday sewing. I had hoped to be further along by now, but the instructions for this project are just horrible. I made two of these about 15 years ago, and I'm amazed it didn't scar me forever. Here's a sneak peek:


I will be working on it and another one today as well. Wish me luck because I really, really need it for this project!

Meet Jingles

I have had a bit of success on the crochet front. I made a little mouse in single crochet the other night, and he has no obvious bulges, holes or extra bits. OK, maybe he's a bit long in the nose, but he's my first! I had intended he be used as a kitty toy, so I put a little jingle bell inside of him. Once I had him finished I realized he would be too big; in fact he's probably half the size of the cat recipient! He has been christened Jingles and is now part of the menagerie of Our Favorite Boy. Since then I have been doing a bit more in the crochet critter department, and have a list from My Favorite Girl on what she wants. I think the kids saw that these little critters have a much smaller incubation period than other projects they have asked me to make!



I'm not the only one being occupied by Christmas: the kids have been producing ornaments and decorations at a rate that would do any Supervisor Elf proud. There are so many things, it would take forever to try and post them on here. I do love this coffee filter angel, especially her little smiling face.



Kiddie sewing has been done as well, with each of my little elves making a small "stuffie".

Yesterday we went to the last Christmas bazaar of the season, and I picked up this little ornament:

I thought it was just adorable, and something I haven't seen before. Next year I plan on going to this particular bazaar a lot earlier, and with a lot more spare change!

Now that the decorations and tree have been put up, I'm hoping to start my baking and chocolate making. I have grand ideas here in my Crafty World; I'm really hoping for sweet success! Stay tuned...