Merry Homemade Christmas: Vest and mittens

 Wool/fleece lined vest and mittens completed for Adrian! 

Merry Homemade Christmas: "Old Fashioned" Dress

An old fashioned dress for Audra, paired with an old fashioned hat.  I also have lace up boots that will go with the look. She sort of knows about it because I had to fit it to her, but she hasn't seen the final product. 

Homemade Christmas: Capsule Wardrobe

Very, very excited about this set for Anna-Kate!  I dreamed of a simple base layer (the peachish/pinkish dress) with some coordinating jumpers to go over the dress. Sort of like a capsule wardrobe.  She can wear the three jumpers just on their own in summer, or with the base layer dress for year round wear.  The first fabric is deer and foxes, then flowers, then cats.  I made them the next size up, hope they last!  I also practiced my button game.  I think there are 33 small buttons total in the backs of these. It's the same vintage pattern that I used to make this dress  (which Audra wore a lot and Anna-Kate wears now).  All of the fabric was thrifted or gifted, so this Christmas present was practically free.  I hope she loves it! 

Outside/inside

A foot and a half, more or less.

I'm thankful for my husband, who worked so hard to get the snow moved.

I usually try to be as helpful as I can outside, but today between falling and pulling a muscle and working from home, I was more the indoor supervisor.

Love my button organizer. 

Zippy didn't bother with the outdoors either.  Can't say I blame him.  It certainly looks like Christmas now!

Christmas Homemade: Upcycled Mittens

My husband gets two pairs of mittens for Christmas. The base layers are an old coat that I upcycled, the top layers are upcycled wool sweaters.  He knows about them because I had him try them on so I could make them fit perfectly.  He loves them.  He'll act surprised, I'm sure.

The first of many homemade gifts...more coming! 

Chocolate Pastries: Fudge Filled Foldovers

Thankful for this recipe from JoAnn (thank you!). She made these every Christmas season and gifted me the recipes of her cookie sampler collection (Still the best gift ever!). They are so good. Adapted from Good Housekeeping December 1983. Pics of the girls making them below.

Fudge Filled Foldovers

1 1/4 cup flour

13 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. sugar

1/3 c. cocoa

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg yolk

1/2 c. walnuts chopped finely

1/2 cup + 4T butter, softened

Pastry:
Combine flour, cream cheese and 1/2 c. butter (keep 4T for later) in food processor.  Shape in ball, cover, refrigerate for an hour. 

Filling:
Combine sugar, cocoa, vanilla, salt, egg yolk, 4T butter until blended. Stir in nuts. 

Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface.  Cut into squares. Place a scoop of filling in each square. Fold sides in. 

Bake 350 for 20 min. 

Our sitter

Adrian had his very first babysitting experience.  Audra had an appointment bright and early, so I asked Adrian to care for Anna-Kate.  He was very worried how he was going to manage to entertain a puppy and a little sister, but decided (with trepidation) to try. (He wasn't truly alone, his dad was upstairs sleeping). Clearly, Adrian not only managed, but did well.  I came home after an hour and twenty minutes to this:

Once we returned home, he announced he needed a break and retreated to his room. I might just call on him again for another babysitting job.