Christmas Sewing

I wanted to share a few projects that I recently finished up just in time for Christmas.  I have shared these on my Instagram, but I am not super active over there.  HOWEVER.... I do scan a couple of times a week and I came across Larissa Holland, a designer who makes absolutely adorable wool projects.  The one that grabbed me was the Santa and Mrs Claus that are a part of her T'was the Night series that she will be adding to each year.  Santa was this year, Mrs Claus will be written up for next year.  I had to check out her etsy and I found some of the cutest wool ornament patterns.



But then... I happened onto Wee Mouse Tin House.  So cute!  I decided to purchase the pattern and sew up a little mouse for my granddaughter.  I hope she thinks it's as cute as I do.

 I first attempted to make the teddy bear with flannel that I had on hand, but it raveled way too much due to the bear being so small.  There is really not a lot of room for error.  The next day I found some wool and sewed it up.  Oh! And that quilt for the mouse's bed?  A few years ago I made a sheet of 1/2" half square triangles by mistake and set them aside in my spare HST box.  I decided to use them for the quilt and I love how it turned out.



The other projects I finished up after about three years of starting and stopping are Primitive Gatherings Yuletide Ornies.


The red truck with a tree in the back is so classic, and I can understand why so many people love to use this design.  A few years ago I made a wreath using a red truck in the center that I hang on our front door.  Though snowmen will always be my most favorite, I think this could be a close second for me to decorate with.



Santa was the last ornament to finish because I needed a flat head pin to fuse wool to for the top of the tree.  I finally ended up with a pack in one of my Quilty Boxes one month, so I set them aside--and then they were misplaced for a few months!  I know, it would have been easier to simply just buy some at the time, but I was trying to figure out another method first (so Santa was set aside for a long time!).  I love how he turned out, but I do wish I could have found a cute stick for the tree instead of a dowel, but it worked.  It would be easy to change it out if I ever feel more strongly about it down the road.



And the snowman.  He's pretty cute too.

This will likely be it for my big sewing for 2019.  I have started and finished a few other projects, one of which was Bonnie Hunter's Punkin' Patch table runner.  I started it during a weekend away in Spokane during the WSQ quilt show this year.  I love getting together with friends to sew, it stirs the creative juices so much more for me.  I wish I could do a sewing retreat once a month for this reason alone.  I am still working on my Dear Daughter BOM, and perhaps I will blog again with my updated "chapters".  I am collecting clues for Bonnie Hunter's mystery, Frolic, but right now I am not jumping in.  I have so many projects going on at once, that my focus is faltering!  Plus I think I may want to change the colors, so I am waiting to see the finale :)  I have changed colors in past mysteries and really disliked the outcome, so in the meantime I am enjoying see the progress of others.

Happy holidays!

Clue 5 Link-up and Merry Christmas!

I knew I would be taking this clue slow given things I would be doing this week.  But it's such a great clue!  I finished my Christmas tasks on Sunday and then sewed up a few blocks. 

Ready to go, along with bonus pieces.

 I started my blog post a few hours ago, before I went back to sew some blocks.  I didn't anticipate being finished with Clue 5 tonight, but I am!  Now I am all ready for Friday's new clue release. yah!

Check out other clue 5 link ups here: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-5.html

I'll bet everyone has these teeny slivers after this clue!

This morning after gifts were exchanged, one of my sons  said, "you are still making cinnamon rolls, RIGHT?".  I really wasn't planning on it, we've been on treat overload for the last couple of weeks.  But I did make the recipe....  I use my grandma's recipe from when she worked in a school, and it is very good--it makes a lot though.  I wasn't planning ahead and started adding ingredients before I realized I should have halved it!  I will send some to neighbors tomorrow for sure!

I knew December would be rough diet-wise, but I've still kept up with logging calories at myfitnesspal.  So far I am only up by 5lbs and come January Kev and I already decided we are going to do our 2nd round of Whole30.  I found it really helped for kicking sweets.  The backstory on the Whole30/Paleo plan is that hubby's company started a new health push for those over the arbitrary BMI number they chose:  Lose 2 BMI points and gain $500 each participant into your HSA account.  Don't lose and lose $500 each participant (likely pays for those that lost the points).  I tried dieting from April to July with minimal to show except that I was back to where I was in the previous year's biometric screen.  Through Whole30 we both lost the 2 points we needed by Oct 15, and because I know how these things go, we continued for as much as possible until today.  So far I have lost 2 more points so unless they change things, I am in the clear for 2019's screen.  As much as I hate these "nudges", I am glad that I seem to have found what works for me in regards to diet and exercise (I do daily walk during the week, and add treadmill for at least 3 mornings).  My daily fitbit goal is only 7000 (compared to 10,000 "they" say to do), but I'm ok with that.  What I really dislike is that I have dieted my whole life and end up only gaining more.  I'm sure that's a story a lot of people have.

I hope you've had a wonderful holiday and celebrated in the way that brings you the most loving feelings.

Lefse!

I have nothing quilty to show right now, I need to move the wrapping paper stuff later today so I can work on clue 4 of the mystery.... however!  I finished up the lefse making for our Christmas dinner.  There are several different types of recipes of lefse, and I am sure depending on where in Norway it is made there are regional differences as well.  I want to make Hardanger lefse next--a recipe I found in my "Notes From a Scandinavian Kitchen" book.  It included brown sugar in the recipe.... yum!  The recipe I used is kind of a more bland one with just a bit of butter, salt, and milk.  I want to step it up next time :)



Our tradition for Christmas was along with all the food was a pan of lefse.  The night before my mom (and later me) would spread butter onto a sheet of lefse and sprinkle sugar on top.  It would be rolled up, usually cut in half to fit the pan and baked long enough for the butter to melt along with the sugar.  We were left with a tasty, and sometimes sticky treat to eat with the dinner.


When I started making my lefse today I forgot about adding enough flour to the mashed potatoes.  I ended up having it break in pieces when I tried to transfer from the pastry board to the griddle... back to square one!  There are two other things that are a must when making lefse; 1. rice the potatoes.  No lumps! 2. make sure the potatoes are cold.  Making mashed potatoes the night before is the best method.  Oh wait, three things: make sure your pastry cloth and rolling pin sock are well floured.  Once they get sticky, you will have issues.


A lump!! This is why ricing the potatoes is best. Unfortunately I had a couple of lumps fall back into my riced potatoes.  It's hard to roll out the dough thin if you have lumps.

Kevin likes to use the stick after I roll out the lefse to transfer it... he usually takes over after I get going.  I will admit that it is kind of satisfying to use it to roll the dough onto the griddle, it's almost magical :)


An in-motion pic.  Too bad it didn't turn out well...  Remember, when using the stick that the pretty side is up--it is rounded while the bottom is flattened to be able to run it along the the pastry cloth easily.


And the finished deliciousness!

I plan to put butter and sugar on these for Christmas and think of my mom and all the wonderful memories and traditions that she has given to me.

God Jul!

A Savior was born!  I hope everyone has had a nice Christmas, whether filled with family, friends, children, or not.  Enjoy the holiday especially to those who are finding the new normal as life changes.


I have had a difficult time with the changes following my parents' deaths 11 and 12 years ago, so many changing traditions.  While getting ready to prepare our Christmas Eve dinner--which our new tradition has become a rib roast we save from our 1/2 beef we purchase every summer--I was remembering all the holidays with my mom and feeling pretty sad.  Kevin came in and we talked about the changes and how I am still trying to find "it".  Holidays can evoke such emotions that are strong because I assume so many of us don't have that Hallmark movie ideal, so we believe we are missing out.  Kevin and I talked about how the new traditions need to start again with us, and we are finding that way now.  We do have traditions now that we've started with the kids (finding an annual ornament together with the boys--which involves at least an hour pressing buttons at the Hallmark Store in order to find the "right" one), prime rib of course, Christmas cookies, and the first Christmas gift by Dad on Christmas eve.  I think sitting around in jammies all day is also a great tradition :)


Anyway, however you celebrate or not, please remember that you are cared for by the Father.  If you are sad, feel free to message/email me and I'd be happy to chat with you.  In one more week we will be celebrating a new year, may it be even better than 2014!