So, I have a list of blogs I check in on every day and one of those is Sew, Mama, Sew. Especially after they started posting daily handmade gift tutorials every day in November, from whence came the tutorial for the little artist's portfolio above (for my nephew), the too-cute crayon rolls I posted here earlier, as well as some more gifts I still can not share. NOW, they are running a Hancrafters' Holiday Blog Meme, so I am going to answer these questions and send them on, in hopes of inspiring some of those who are so good at inspiring me! Here goes:- What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I have so many favorite things about the way my family celebrated Christmas growing up. The monkey bread Christmas morning, my dad reading the Christmas story from the Bible before opening presents and the amazing care my mom took with stuffing everyone's stocking--something I strive to reproduce in my own family. Mom did a good job teaching me the art of gift-giving. 2. Have you started any new traditions with your family that you didn't practice growing up?
I would love to say that we have some great new traditions, but we're still a young family and last year was the first Christmas we had just the four (then three) of us so we are still developing new traditions. We do buy the girls new ornaments every year and this year Natalie and I made gingerbread ornaments, which was so much fun, I'd like to make it a yearly thing. Also, my sister's family practices this great Christmas liturgy throughout December that I'd like to put into practice myself next year. (You can read about that here.) 3. What do you love most about the holiday season?
Hmmm, what's not to love? I love the music (Natalie and I dance to Bing Crosby after lunch every day,) the decorating, the spirit everyone seems to be in, the Christmas Eve services, making gifts, and most of all, the wonderful Reason for the Season, as if the whole Christmas season is one huge reminder of what we have to be so thankful for, the birth of Christ our Saviour! We have so much to celebrate!!!4. What do you like least about the holiday season?
I don't like the frantic busyness. I was standing in line at Target the other day and the young couple at the next register had $340 worth of toys rung up and the conveyor belt was still full of more toys!!! I wish gift-giving were more thoughtful, as a rule, and less obligatory.5. Anyone close to your heart that you'll be missing this year?
Soo many! My parents in Mongolia, (yes, Mongolia,) my sister and her family in Washington, my Aunt, my Grandpa and his wife in California, and my Granny, who passed away three and a half years ago. (The best, most inspiring and funniest woman ever.) Ah, we're together in spirit, though! 6. What is your favorite holiday food?
My mom used to make "Green Stuff" every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's actually Watergate Salad, I think, and I was pretty much the only person who liked it, but she always made it, even if it was only me eating it for days on end. I don't think I would call it my favorite holiday food, but maybe a favorite holiday food memory. Hehehe, sorry, Mom ;)7. Do you have a great recipe to share?
Here is the Monkey Bread that we ate every Christmas morning growing up and that I still make for special occasions in our own family:Ingredients:3 cans buttermilk biscuits1/2 cup sugar1/2 tsp cinnamon1 stick butter3/4 cups sugar 3/4 tsp cinnamonInstructions:Mix 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Cut biscuits into fourths and dip into mixture. Pile into greased deep round pan or spring pan. Melt butter and add 3/4 cup sugar and 2/4 tsp cinnamon. Heat until sugar melts and then pour over biscuits. Bake 30-45 minutes at 350. Let stand 10 minutes and then invert.
By request of my lovely mother-in-law, I made this stocking for Casey's Uncle Scott's dog, Tank. I'm sure he'll be thrilled ;) Turned out pretty cute, I must say.I hit the jack-pot at JoAnn today. The fabrics I almost bought a few months ago for $9.99 a yard for a specific project, I bought today on clearance for $1.50 per yard. Amy Butler High Street Messenger Bag, here we come!I knew this would happen, but I wasn't thinking and I wrapped some gifts before I could take pictures of what I'd made to post on my blog. Hmmm, to unwrap or not to unwrap?
I managed to find some time to make this funny little dolly for Natalie for Christmas. I found the tutorial here. I made a pretty basic version, but I'm excited to try some more creative dollies too! With the exception of some more bird ornaments, I'm all done with my Christmas sewing!!!! Now I have some baking to do :)
It's been a flurry of Christmas preparations around here. For awhile I thought I bit off more than I could chew with Christmas gift-making, but I really think if I had just started earlier, it all would have seemed less daunting. I'm having fun, though. I really want to leave time to make one of these for Natalie. Here are some little birdie ornaments I made. They are from this book, which I love, it's my new favorite, along with this one. Can't share any other projects yet, though, due to Christmas surprises! January should be a great blogging month for me, though, because I've made some really cool stuff that I'm dying to share. On to other things, I took this picture of Natalie with the JCPenney Wish Book yesterday and it made me so nostalgic, remembering how my sister (happy birthday, Jana!) and I used to sit down, each with a different color pen, and put a star next to our favorite thing on every page. Natalie's favorite things were pretty much every thing :) Actually, the dress-up clothes she's pointing at are what she's getting for her birthday in March! Shhh!So, is anyone else sick of the word "holidays"???? Me too, but I read this great post on Feminathat you may also enjoy. Until next time...!
This is my one hundredth blog post!!!! Can ya believe it? It's been almost a year since I started this blog and I've grown very attached to it. I sometimes joke that in the event of a house fire, I'd grab my kids and my blog ;) I hope it has been a joy to some of you and hopefully you're inspired enough to start a blog of your own! Yay!
I made Natalie this dress this past week and she's been waiting and waiting for *church day* to come so she could wear it. It turned out too cute. That was her idea to cross her legs like that in the picture. Yes, she is quite the little girl these days :)
Is it too late to post some pictures of our Thanksgiving at Gramma and P-Pa's house? I guess since this is my blog, I can decide that for myself, huh? :) Here are my favorites: Natalie playing dress-up, one of both the girls (finally starting to happen more often), one of all the cousins on Casey's side and a so-sweet one of the girls with their Gramma. Love it. 
So, I have a list of blogs I check in on every day and one of those is Sew, Mama, Sew. Especially after they started posting daily handmade gift tutorials every day in November, from whence came the tutorial for the little artist's portfolio above (for my nephew), the too-cute crayon rolls I posted here earlier, as well as some more gifts I still can not share. NOW, they are running a Hancrafters' Holiday Blog Meme, so I am going to answer these questions and send them on, in hopes of inspiring some of those who are so good at inspiring me! 
By request of my lovely mother-in-law, I made this stocking for Casey's Uncle Scott's dog, Tank. I'm sure he'll be thrilled ;) Turned out pretty cute, I must say.
I managed to find some time to make this funny little dolly for Natalie for Christmas. I found the tutorial here. I made a pretty basic version, but I'm excited to try some more creative dollies too! With the exception of some more bird ornaments, I'm all done with my Christmas sewing!!!! Now I have some baking to do :)
It's been a flurry of Christmas preparations around here. For awhile I thought I bit off more than I could chew with Christmas gift-making, but I really think if I had just started earlier, it all would have seemed less daunting. I'm having fun, though. I really want to leave time to make one of these for Natalie. Here are some little birdie ornaments I made. They are from this book, which I love, it's my new favorite, along with this one. Can't share any other projects yet, though, due to Christmas surprises! January should be a great blogging month for me, though, because I've made some really cool stuff that I'm dying to share. 
...for Christmas time!!!! We decorated our house yesterday. Last year I weeded out my Christmas decorations and kept only what we loved and this year, I'm thrilled that I did that. We opted for a small table-top tree this year, since keeping Layla out of a big one would be so much trouble, and we chose our most special ornaments to put on it. Natalie and I made a ton of gingerbread ornaments yesterday, so everyone who comes by our house this season gets some. The stockings I made last year (still some of my favorite things I've made) are gracing our mantle and my beautiful nativity has some new pieces again this year (thanks Angela.) Ah, I LOVE Christmas time. I'm a good busy with making gifts and we're teaching Natalie what Christmas is all about. So far she has no interest or concept of Santa Claus, which doesn't bother me a bit. It's great. 
I made Natalie this dress this past week and she's been waiting and waiting for *church day* to come so she could wear it. It turned out too cute. That was her idea to cross her legs like that in the picture. Yes, she is quite the little girl these days :)
