The consolidated holiday post...

Well, first of all... I so didn't plan to leave that last post about the rolled up newspaper up there for Christmas. I figured I'd have time to post some sort of fabulous festive little message to say "Have a grand holiday" to anybody that stopped by to read.

But instead I got so swept up with the things I wanted to get done that I completely forgot to post at all. So I left you all with visions of me beating various family members with a newspaper. Happy Holidays!

Here's what I was doing instead of posting pretty pictures of trees and paper snowflakes...

The MGD 3 Day Plan for Cookies and Sanity:

Day 1: Make a list of desired cookies and the ingredients to create said cookies. Shop for any necessary items. Put them all away. Go do something else. You're done for the day.

Day 2: Make any cookie batter or dough that can be refrigerated for at least a day. Do not bake... just make bowls and bowls of batter and dough and pack them all in labeled containers and zip bags. Clean up the mess. Go do something else. You're done for today.

Day 3: Bake, bake, bake. Also make oddities like Peppermint Bark and Fudge. Feel free to taste-test any and all varieties and share with the kids.( The Peace Keeping Tool mentioned in the previous post can be used in the event of overzealousness.)

See, I don't work well in messy or disorganized situations. Call it OCD or CF (Control Freak-ism) or whatever, its just the way it is. I find that breaking the job into smaller bits that can be easily cleaned up works well. It also makes the actual baking more fun because there's not much of a mess at all, just cooling racks and cookies sheets. Various sizes of ice cream type scoops are perfect for making tons of uniform cookie blobs all lined up on the cookie sheets and make it easier for the kids to help.

We gift a lot of cookies and keep a lot to share when company comes. My sister bakes a ton as well so between what she gave us and what we made ourselves I'm pretty sure we'll be eating cookies until June. I'm okay with that.

Gifting:

Though I never finish everything I'd like to, I feel like I did pretty good this year. The thing is that once you start looking around for really cute things to make you find that there are about a million cute things you could make if only you had the time. In an attempt to narrow down the choices this year I tried really hard to chose projects that would be useful in some way for the recipient.

Gift bags for kids:

These little bags are a combination of a few different bag patterns. I put together the things I liked about each individual pattern to come up with one perfect gift bag. Each bag was made in a color chosen for the recipient and filled with things ranging from doodle pads, colorful pencils, and gel pens, to gift cards, and edibles. A total of 14 bags. Some with a bit of hand-stitching, each embellished or quilted in some way but each a little different.
Gift Hot Pads:

Yes, those red ones are shaped like ducks. Dad likes ducks... Mom's kitchen is red... it just worked out that way. The ducks were actually a pattern for place-mats but I figured hot pads would be more useful. The really funny thing is that while I was baking all those cookies I managed to burn my thumb to the point of blistering by using a hot pad with a thin spot in it... but I haven't made myself any new hot pads.
Gift tote bags:

These really great tote bags are a pattern in the book Simple Gifts to Stitch by Jocelyn Worrall, in fact its on the cover. Made from cotton ticking these bags are easy and fun to make. The pockets are formed by layering several sized rectangles on top of each other and then just sewing around 3 sides of the whole stack. I can totally see using the same technique to make other bags in various shapes and sizes. I had enough ticking fabric left after these 4 bags to make myself one!(Bags were gifted filled with goodies including homemade quick bread and jellies.)

Needle bags:

A while ago the seams on my needle bag gave out. Instead of buying a new one I thought I'd go ahead and make myself one. It turned out so nice I decided to make a few more to give to some knitting friends as gifts. Its a great way to use all those beautiful fat quarters I've collected along with some wool felt pieces instead of batting between the layers. There was a total of 4 but I forgot to take a picture before I put the first one in the mail.
Some knitting:

Tater's Little Knit Lamb was joined by Knit Mama Bunny. They are both patterns by Barbara Prime. I just can't say enough about these little cuties! I'm surprised by how nice they turn out because I've seen some really wonky looking knit toys before. You'll need a little patience when it comes to sewing the pieces together but its well worth the time and effort. I really enjoyed knitting them and I'm planning to keep the patterns close by so I have them to work on when bigger projects start to frazzle my nerves and I'm wanting something small and satisfying to stitch.

The doll (my own pattern) was given to my youngest niece... purple is her favorite color.

Gift hats:

These hats were relatively quick to knit. 2 strands of alpaca/merino held together and some simple stripes for variety. Much appreciated by the men.
I can't believe the big day has come and gone already but I know that, like us, lots of you are still visiting or being visited and the general holiday-ish-ness will continue through the new year. Its been really nice taking a much needed break from schooling and the typical day to day. I must admit that I've pretty much throw my hands up in surrender to cookies and clay ornaments for about 2 or 3 weeks and therefore have done nothing more than the bare necessities of laundry and dish washing.
I'm looking forward to relaxing for another week or so and also planning some real work, knitting work. I've got some new yarn, some plans, and even a newly accepted design in a very popular publication. After 2 rejections I read the the acceptance note and literally squealed so loud Mac Daddy came running because he thought I hurt myself! I can't wait 'til I can tell you!

Comments

[Yaehoo]

Hi, It's the second time i'm posting you without a reply. I found your site using Yaehoo, does your site support firefox?

[Lisa]

AMAZING! You are so inspiring! How long ago did you start making all of those wonderful things?! Can't wait to see your new design!

[Wendi]

Oh, I can't wait to hear what it is!
I LOVE all of your Christmas projects. I didn't get to make one single handcrafted gift this year. Oh, I take that back, I did weave a basket for my SIL, but that was it.

[Kara]

"I've got some new yarn, some plans, and even a newly accepted design in a very popular publication. After 2 rejections I read the the acceptance note and literally squealed so loud Mac Daddy came running because he thought I hurt myself! I can't wait 'til I can tell you!"

We can't wait to be told!!!

[bezzie]

Holy guacamole--you were busy!!! I love those gift bags!!

[Tempe]

I love all the different bags you made. You're inspiring me for this coming year's gifting! And congratulations on the acceptance. Really can't wait to see it! Hope the rest of your holidays are really relaxing and fun!

[Tana]

Congratulations on the design! I can hardly wait to see where it is! And I must say, you totally make crafting cool. I would have loved to receive any of those gifts. Must mark this post for next year...