Doll Cradle and Quilt

This is one of Sid's presents. I bought her this adorable wooden doll cradle but it needed some bedding. I found this cradle quilt tutorial at Sew Mama Sew. I think I needed to use even smaller scraps though to fill it in more. I like the way mine turned out and Sid will love it, but I really like the quilt in the tutorial. I plan on making a pillow to match...I better get on that if I want to put it under the tree with her cradle!

One More Quilt for the Pixie Chick

I squeezed in one last quilt for Sid.

She really likes it...she won't share it with anyone.

I finished my Christmas sewing, although I can't show any of it because it was all gifts for people who read my blog. I do have one I can show, but I haven't taken pictures of it yet. Hopefully later tonight I can post that one. The rest will have to wait until after Christmas.

Somebody Stop Me!

I can't stop baking! I usually am not a huge sugar eater, but this year I can't seem to get enough. Here is the last of the baking...
I think!
Rice Krispie Treats

Chocolate Topped Toffee

Giant Sugar Cookies

Rocky Road

I decided to use my homemade marshmallows to make Rocky Road. I made my marshmallows with the left over green sugar that I coated the last batch in. So the marshmallows are a lovely shade of mint green. Instead of putting sugar down in the baking dish so the marshmallows don't stick, I put crushed almonds. I poured the marshmallow mixture into the dish and put a tiny amount of powdered sugar on the top, then I left them to dry out over night. The next day I cut them into squares and dipped them in melted chocolate. I put them in the fridge so the chocolate got crunchy. MMM, it came out very yummy!

This was taken right after they were dipped.

Peeps?

The Gurranimals LOVE Peeps. Sid, she'll maul someone over a Peep! Ethan had a brilliant idea for my homemade marshmallows. He told me to coat them in sugar so we could make them like Peeps. I am sure this isn't a new idea to many of you, but honestly I hadn't thought about it before he suggested it. So here they are, our square green "Peeps". After I cut them in squares we thought of using cute cookie cutters....oh well, next time. Also for next time, I'll be sure to make the colored sugar a day in advance so I can dry it out well and get all the clumps out of it!

Another Fabulous Giveaway!

Check out the great giveaway at Buttercuppity! She's giving away a bundle of Heather Bailey fabric and an Izzy & Ivy pattern.

More Baking

Slowly but surely I am getting my holiday baking done. Here are some of the Almond Biscotti I gave away. We have eaten the other half of this batch already....they were SO yummy!

Happy Anniversary

Happy 1 year Anniversary to my little blog! It's only fitting that todays post is the same topic as my first craft post one year ago today.

Here are the kids gifts to their teachers. These first three are for Liam's teacher and his teacher's aides. These are actually from Liam and Sidney, she is the classroom little sister. There are 12 boys in Liam's class and every one of them loves Sid. She goes to class every morning to kiss her small brother goodbye, and every Wednesday her and I help out in the classroom.

Each bag has a post-it note holder, key fob, daily planner, and travel tissue.

This one is for Ethan's Homeschool ES. Her goodies are in a cute stocking instead of a bag because she got a mini totebag (with a crocheted scarf) last year. I had to come up with something different this year.

Here's to many more years of crafty posts, Happy Anniversary!

Check out this giveaway....

There are some really cute things on their site. But check out the adorable purse they are giving away.

http://izzynivydesigns.blogspot.com/

Let the Christmas Baking Commence

I started my Christmas baking with my Mom's fudge. I have to say this was my best batch ever, it was so creamy and perfect. Ummm, we've also already eaten more than half of it! Thanks for passing down your recipe Mom, it's the BEST!

Pixie Power Photo of the Month

Pixie Power Photo for November.
She was watching me set up the Christmas tree, waiting patiently to help decorate. I love that little girl!

Jammies Take #2

Ok, so I had planned to give Sid the nice flannel nightgown (from a couple posts ago) for Christmas. I planned on making an under shirt for it, which I did. But while making the shirt for her I realized I made her nightgown too big. Not terribly big, but just enough that the undershirt wasn't going to look right. So I scrapped the whole project, putting the nightgown aside for a few months when it will fit her better, and I just made a whole new set of jammies for her. SO glad that I did, I LOVE the way they turned out. But I have to apologize for this terrible photo. Not that my photos are ever really good, but I took this after dark in the bathroom with my cell phone.

Jammies for Brothers

Here's the pj bottoms the boys are getting this year. They really like the Simpsons so hopefully they'll like the print.

Sid's Nightgown

Every year I give the Gurranimals a pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve. This year I decided to make them. I sat down to make them the other day and realized the pattern I bought for Sid's nightgown was the wrong size. Instead of waiting to get a new pattern I decided to just improvise. I wanted to make a nightgown with long sleeves but I didn't have any patterns with sleeves. So I decided to take two of my favorite sun dresses and combine them. She can wear a long sleeve shirt under it for winter, and still be able to wear it when it warms up. Maybe I will make a ruffled top like Raggedy Ann's to go under it. I absolutely love the fabric. How cute is the Raggedy Ann & Andy print, and it is super soft flannel. I think I'll make a matching nightie for her favorite doll.

Grandparent Quilts

My Mother asked me to make a couple of quilts for my Grandparents for Christmas. They recently moved into an assisted living type home. They are taken outside in the afternoons in their wheelchairs and needed something for those chilly days. I made them each a lap quilt and hand embroidered their names on them. I also made a bag for each quilt to be stored in. I hope they will like them. I have never tried embroidery before, I think it came out pretty good. After I figured it out, it was pretty easy. I'd like to do more embroidery, it's a handy skill to have.

Super Cute Giveaway

You have to check out Rae Gun Ramblings for a super cute Gingerbread Skirt giveaway! While you are there, check out the rest of her blog. There's some great stuff to see!

It is perfect for my little Pixie Chick!

Pixie Power Photo of the Month

Pixie Power Photo for October. Sidney wore her costume for most of the month. She really liked it. And truthfully, I couldn't get enough of her in it either!

Sidney Flintstone hopes everyone had a fabulous Halloween!

YUMMY!

Nothing is better than soup on a cold Fall night! This is my favorite soup, it is an adaptation of traditional tortilla soup. I make it with vegan "chicken" strips and soy cheese. If you didn't know that it wasn't traditional tortilla soup, you would not be able to tell by the taste. Just ask my husband who unlike me, still enjoys real meat. This night I made it with homemade corn chips. The Gurranimals LOVE homemade chips!

Here is my recipe if you are interested. Keep in mind, I cook crazy. I don't measure anything...ever. Well, with the exception of when I am baking. So all of the ingredients are added to taste.
One package of Morningstar "Chicken" Strips
onion
garlic
celery
cilantro
bell peppers (I like to use red, yellow, & green)
2 cubes of Knorr vegetable broth cubes
olive oil
cumin
coriander
1 can of corn or hominy
smashed corn tortilla chips

In your stockpot add olive oil & cook your garlic, onion, celery & bell peppers until your onions are translucent. Add the bag of "chicken" strips and brown them slightly. Add about 6 cups of water, the vegetable cubes, & the corn or hominy. Season with cumin, coriander and cilantro. Simmer until heated thoroughly. Add your smashed tortilla chips just before serving. Garnish with soy cheese & soy sour cream.

Quilted Cards

I recently saw a post about quilted cards, sorry I can not remember where. But they were really cute and super easy to make. Here are a couple I made recently.

This was for my parents, who recently celebrated 38 years together.

This one was for a 1st birthday. The party theme was Mickey Mouse. I wrapped the present in a matching drawstring bag.

Christmas already?

Ok, not really. But I think Sid has the perfect dress to wear for her visit with Santa. I made this dress a couple of weeks ago. I am in love with the red corduroy.

Here she goes....get ready.....

TWIRL!

It passed the twirlability test. It's Sid approved!

How Cute!

How cute are these little thingys?!



And why have I not heard of them sooner? What a great idea, everyone should have these. Never heard of them either? Learn about them here.

http://www.pokenzoo.com/

Check out this giveaway!

I am super excited about this giveaway! I LOVE Alice in Wonderland, it has to be my all time favorite story!

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2009/10/queen-of-hearts-and-alice-in-wonderland.html

How beautiful are these costumes?! My little pixie chick would make an adorable Alice, and she REALLY REALLY needs these costumes!

(Yes, I totally stole these pictures from the giveaway page so I can show how fantastic they are. In no way am I claiming these photos as mine!)

Bo Peep Skirt

I finished another skirt for the Pixie Chick. I used the pattern for the Bo Peep Skirt in the book Seams To Me by Anna Maria Horner. I think it came out pretty cute. Now I just need to find the perfect pattern for a top to go with it!