December 2012 – the long thread

December 27, 2012December 27, 2012

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays! Above is a fabric bow I made last week. The background fabric is from my Stamped collection for Kokka, available here, among other places. Since I haven’t posted in a while, I thought I’d give you a quick update via Instagram photos.

Cranberry Upside Down Cake from Martha Stewart was super easy. Here are the cranberries in the pan — the finished cake wasn’t as pretty as Martha’s, but it was tasty. Would also be nice for a holiday brunch.

Legos have been spread out all over our kitchen table since Christmas.

I got a bit of sewing in before Christmas and have about 20 of these blocks that will turn into something one day.

Love vintage ornaments. This little rocking horse is from our childhood tree. I think it’s missing the reins and I had to glue the leg back on this year.

And there were birthdays this month too. My younger daughter got this cute little guinea pig to keep my older daughter’s lonely pig company. Yes, I know, only cute if you like little furry rodent-like creatures.

I made little mini-totes for 18″ dolls as party favors.

Then my older daughter had her birthday which we celebrated at school with our annual box of birthday doughnuts from Sublime Doughnuts here in Atlanta.

And I finished what is hopefully the last round of major edits for my book, 1, 2, 3 Quilt, which will be available sometime in the fall.

I’m also planning the year ahead and struggling with the fact that I can only do one of the quilt trips I’d like to do in the spring. So I think I’m opting out of QuiltCon to head out to Quilt Market in Portland. It’s a tough decision, but I’ve never been to Portland and my husband and I are thinking of making a vacation of it. And it looks like I will have another collection coming out with Kokka at spring market, though I haven’t finished it yet!

December 19, 2012December 20, 2012

In the kitchen

I’ve been on a cookie-baking binge the last couple of days. I made several batches of snickerdoodles, my favorite cookie ever, from this excellent recipe. I replaced the regular salt with a honey infused salt that added an extra salty flavor. I want to make a batch of over-sized snickerdoodles soon.

I’m also planning to make this pear bread next. Then of course the kids want to make the decorated sugar cookies that end up being such a sugary mess! We’ll make those this weekend.

What are your favorite recipes for holiday sweets?

December 15, 2012

Comfort

Spent the morning teaching the kids to knit. It seems like the right time to stay warm and gather around for a quiet activity, close to family. My older daughter made up her own knitting instructions “through the fence, around the barn, save the pig, jump off the roof and gather up the pigs”. This might make sense if you’re a knitter, but I do think that creating a story about the process helps you pick it up. She said she was saving the pigs from becoming bacon. And look what a good job she’s doing! Both girls (8 and 10) are knitting now and both doing very well.

After the tragedy yesterday, I’m left with many thoughts about our society. Thoughts about gun control, mental healthcare and isolation. I talked to my kids about the event, figuring it would be better for me to tell them than have them hear something at school on Monday. After helping them process the idea that someone could do something so horrific and then reassuring them that they are safe at school, I told them that anytime someone does something bad in this world, many more people do good. I’m sure this is statistically true, but hard to remember.

December 11, 2012