Delivering Treaty Goodness

I traded in my roller skates for my apron today and baked up a storm.
9 different scrumptiously festive goodies.
We lovingly packaged them up for our family and friends.
Tonight we spent time in the van with hot chocolate and Christmas carols delivering the treats and caroling for our friends.
It was such a nice way to spend some seasonal family time.

I finished up a few more gifts that we delivered as well.
This is a quick rocket pillow for a little guy we love so dearly.
The fabric on the back is full of rocket ships but I forgot to take the picture.
I am really liking making boy stuff lately.

Have you tried making apple sauce and cinnamon ornaments?
They are easy and smell just like Christmas, but I bit sticky to work with hence the flour.( I ran out of cinnamon)


I have been racking my brain on what to make for the Farm Boys down the road.
I had so many ideas but with time and energy started to run out, I started to fret a bit.
Then I found a cool idea online for quilted writing booklets.
I made 3 in about an hour and they turned our beautifully.
I was given the fabric and it has such an outdoorsy, watery feel I thought it would be perfect for our homeschooling friends.

With an elastic band to help secure it's contents, they can be toted any and every where.

The pads of paper I bought ended up being a bit too small but they'll work fine for now.

So if you are seeing this L, they have been delivered and so have your goodies.....

Visiting The Real Santa

How festive are these 3D snowflakes that I found online at Wikihow.
We made a couple today and can't wait to fill the house with more.

If you have kids you need to try this online version at Zefrank

Yesterday we headed to see THE Santa Claus at Woodlands Gardens.

this place is the epitome of Christmas spirit.

I get those goose bumps that say I am full of the spirit.

Every detail is attended to, like these authentic monogrammed chairs.

Santa is so peaceful and attentive, he makes you feel so warm and loved.

He takes the time to say an hello and really chats with the kids.

A hug goodbye and a quick "I'll see you soon," in their ears, made K believe that he is the real deal.

Thank you Santa for giving us another year of magic.

Weekend of Christmas Love

Yummy Peppermint Meringue Chocolate Ganache Sandwiches..... and Chocolate Ginger Bread
were made for a bake sale at the Santa's Breakfast I helped out at this weekend.
I set up crafts for the 150 some odd kids there and it was a super fun and busy 3 hours.

It put me into the spirit.
Then I was completely spoiled with a generous gift by my good friend and neighbour.
I was over the moon that she not only thought about me but went straight for my heart strings and got something from Smoking Lily.
A tea towel with Cougar Annie on it.
My hero!!
But I could not bring myself to use it as a tea towel so J suggested I make it onto a skirt...smarty pants.

Now I'm stylin'.

At the Freakin Coffee Shops' Christmas party last night, a few friends and I had a blast, eating, socializing and partaking in the annual gift swap.
I was called near the end and had my sights set on a book about Mouth Sounds...yes.... and I was stoked till it was stolen and I ended up with a 5 gallon jar of dill pickles.
J was happy about the pickles and I...well I am actually jumpin about the glass jar it came in.
There is always a silver lining.

But what am I going to do with all those pickles????

I brought my owl napkin holder that had become a point of contention with my hubby and kids, but I saw it went to a good home.
M brought an old toaster, I had so much fun wrapping it for her.
Can you tell what it is?

The guys who got it said he is never going to unwrap it....thank goodness my 45 minutes wasn't wasted.

We crafted these egg carton beauties, spotted on Crafty Crow, for a quick weekend craft session.

I showed you the scarves I made the other day, but I had to wrap one as a gift and thought that this bag was delightful to package it up.

The Scandinavian Stitches book I bought has given me so many quick sewing project to do, like this bag.

It is a quick knock off of one of her patterns.

I have had the luxury of so much sewing time lately and feel so inspired.

I love to create and have so many projects on the go that I am actually looking forward to the season to be over and done so I can slow down a bit.

Who am I kidding...I love it.

Starting to get Caught Up and Enjoy the Seaon

I saw these wonderful Winter Magic photos by photographer Per Breiehagen on one of my daily blog stops at Sacred Lotus.

Stop by Per's site to see both Winter Magic 1 & 2 to see some truly amazing and fun winter scenes.

Reminds me a bit of Jan Brett.

Gifts are flying off my sewing machine lately,and I am excited as today I attempted my first pair of mitten.

Prototype successfully done and ready for mass sewing.

I can't wait to share these little beauties with you guys, you may even get a pair for Christmas.

I also made a few scarves.

I have always had a fascination with old keys.

Where did they come from?

What did they open and where did it lead to?

I remember one that come with the house I grew up in as a child and it was a treasure to me, one I wish I could have kept.

I drew this key and appliqued it to this lovely fabric for a gift for a friends birthday tomorrow.

I should make a couple for myself because each one I make I think, "Gee I like that, and boy it would look great on me...." but have to remember that they are gifts and I would get nowhere on my list if I only sewed for myself.

This is for a certain someone special and if they see it here before Christmas they will know it is for them...the bird will give it away. (SO pretend you didn't see it)

Scratching a Few More off the List

Another creation from Syko's Scandinavian Stitches book.
These little house will be perfect for a dear friends 3 little ladies.
E helped pick the fabric and stuff them up.
Quite cute, I think I may need a few for myself.
They also could be easily be made into rockets for the boys...hmmm!!
I sense a project coming on.

I get inspiration/idea (or plain copycat) from many places, friends, books, blogs, etc.
This idea for these cute cloud pillows came from a big kids diaper/sleeper advertisement in a parenting magazine that I was flipping through at my friends house.

I made them for her little girl to throw onto her bed or floor to cozy up to, or maybe hang from the roof?

Her brothers will be getting these flannel pajama bottoms I made today.

I love to sew gifts for people.

I hope they love to receive them as much as I love making them.

Sewing Du Jour...

Met up with an old friend today at the fabric store.
I love when you haven't seen someone in a long time yet it seems like yesterday, that comfortable feeling of friendship.
Her son is in a Christmas concert and he is a king.

I had the chance to sew it up tonight, K is my model but I think it may be a bit wide.
I will have to wait till he tries it on before I can alter it.
I like royal blue with the gold trim.
It kind of made me mourn that we do not have Christmas concerts to be in, we go to many but it is not quite the same.

For myself I have been pining for a particular belt from my favorite clothing place in the world
Smoking Lily.

I grabbed some leather scraps from the local leather shoppe and now I can see I will have a whole new collection of belt...not quite as cool as I don't silk screen but cool non the less.

Their pictures are so much cooler as well.

Any ways, in between laundry, shopping, kids, eating and cleaning, this is what I crafted today.

A Couple More Gifts Made

I was recently told about the blog Syko.
I am in love.
Syko recently put out a book, which I had to buy (through Book Depository and if you haven't heard of it, it is the best) and it is full of fun sewing projects.

I want to make everything in the book.
Today with only a wee bit of time to spare, I ran through one of the ideas with a hillbilly twist.
Her way is so much better, but mine was so much quicker.

I made some birds from fabric I purchased at Ikea last year and cut out the birds for an easy peasy stuffy.
I quilted a bag for them as a nest and set the birds inside all cozied up.
This will be just perfect for my friends little baby girl.
I already have cut out 3 projects from the book that Ihope to get to this week.

Today I was also able to finish one of my robot pillows.
I think these will be a hit for any little man I have to gift for.

On the weekend we had one of the many Christmas dinners of the season.
We did a $20 limit gift exchange but we do it the fun way.
Draw a number a pick or steal a gift.
This is a high light for the girls.
E walked away with a foot spa and all the creams.....she was thrilled.

It has turned out to be the funnest "toy" they have had in a while.
We have had the kitchen full of bubbles since Saturday night and the floor is sparkling.


It has become a game to see who can get it the tallest, longest and such.
And every kid/friend that comes over is treated to a bubbling adventure.

I wish I had one of these as a kid.

Skate-O-Rama

When I was a kid there was roller skating every Friday night at the local Rec. hall.

Billy Idol and such blaring through the scratchy tape deck as we did laps upon laps around the gym.

After many hours and some hard work by some super awesome members of our team, they organized a Skate-o-Rama for all to come and join in a fun filled afternoon skate.

It was a success and I can see this become a monthly Sunday afternoon thing.

First we had a 3 hour practice and scrimmage....Yeah!!!

Then the party started.

I was on my skates for almost 6 hours today.

I think I may hurt a bit tomorrow.

This poor lady, first time out and I had to package her up for a trip to the hospital....I think she broke her arm really good.

Not a great thing for people to see or do for their first time out.

A concession was a great addition with snacks,beverages and merchandise.

Even granny was out for a try.

She is hooked.

Skate repair.

A fix up to the disco ball.

Tighten the skates.

Smile.

A D.J. spinning some great skate tunes.

Dancing on skates is much harder than I thought.

These are awesome.

And so are these retro skates.

Skate on!!

Long Arm Quilting

I finally sourced out a local lady that has a quilting long arm.
Even better she wasn't super busy and today I got a full tutorial and a quilt done.
Oh Boy!! Am I in trouble.
This is a quilters fantasy and for $15000 I will be having that fantasy forever.

This machine made short work of what would have taken me weeks to create by hand, if I were even to attempt such a design.

I know that there are purest out there that would never long arm, but for my time schedule and my abilities...I will pay the 2 cents a square inch to get it done.

This Christmas mini quilt was a gift for Nana tonight as she hosted her Christmas dinner.

18 people, too much food, desserts, and gifts makes for a perfect evening.

Opening gifts never grows old for the kids, or for myself.

I love to watch everyone smiling and sharing love.

K is no different.