Quilt 35

Quilt 35-King size (YIKES!)-2000

Bridesmaid dress extras turned into a Christmas Ornament

You read that right, bridesmaid dresses turned into Christmas ornaments. Have a shoulder strap?  Have the little packet of extra beads they attach to embellished gowns?  Perfect!  It's actually easier than you'd think.

I used a shoulder strap and fed twist ties through it to make it bend-able. I then secured the ends by twisting and hot gluing a piece of fabric around them.  I then bent it into a Christmas tree, securing twice with sparkly ribbon.  I used the extra beads and such to hand sew embellishments.  I think it looks even cuter in person.

And the halls are decked.

 And the halls are decked at our house.  I have oodles of decorations, but decided to take out a select few this year, keeping things as simple as possible. Except for books.  I somehow already have around 30 Christmas books (that have been read repetitively daily since I brought them out).

I gave you a couple sneak peaks already to our Christmas decor.  In case you missed them,

 Stocking/Mitten Advent Calendar
Christmas Stockings
Every Christmas Framed
Quilted Wreath Table Runner

Here's a couple more nooks in our house.  I hope your house is looking festive too! 

Christmas Stockings: Mama made

How have I never gotten around to making us some stockings?  Well, problem solved.  My neighbor let me borrow a pattern she had from a Thimbleberries book.  I made four, as I'll need one for this new baby next Christmas.  I also cut out a 5th, just in case, which makes my husband nervous.  I mean if there was ever a need for an extra one, we'd want everyone's to be made with the same fabric, right?  That's what I thought.

Hopefully by next year, I'll hand stitch our names in the white space below. Don't imagine it will happen this year.

Christmas Tradition: Norton Lights

All ready to go.  To go where you ask?  To Norton Lights.  Around the corner from us, there's this family who put on a huge blinking Christmas light show every year.   The collect money for Make a Wish, last year they collected over $11,000!  It's awesome, a tradition we look forward to every year.  (And yes, the hat is mama made.  Must blog about that soon!).

Upon initial notice, someone was amazed, hardly blinked.  But soon the dancing and commenced.  It's really a quite remarkable show. 

And to think I caught it blinking (between this picture and the next).

Such a selfless commitment creating this show and greeting each person who comes the whole month of December.  This family has really succeeded in teaching their children what Christmas is all about.  Inspiring.

The sweet and silly faces that make me smile...

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Want to know how to make a super happy husband?  One who smiles when he enters the kitchen?  One who talks of coming home after work to see his wife eat cake.  One who will secretly throw away his brussel sprouts so he has room for dessert.  One who talks about 15 seconds in the microwave makes it just melty enough to melt in your mouth.  One who compliments your handiwork everyday...well, until the cake is done.  Yup, it's safe to say not much makes him happier than this cake.

Whip up your favorite yellow cake.  I make this white cake, but omitted the 4 egg whites and used two large whole eggs instead (grease the cake pans super well). And then you add the love, in the form of chocolate fudge frosting.

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Stick of butter
Pack of chocolate chips
Cup of sour cream
4-5 cups of powdered sugar (I often replace a cup of powdered sugar for flour to cut the sweetness).

Melt butter and chocolate chips.  Add sour cream and sugars.  Whip it.  Whip it real good.  Then frost.


And want to know how to make a happy baby?  Beaters.  Which is a word he incidentally will say and then clap his hands. Another word that's more important than 'mama'.  Sigh.