happy holidays

We're winding down the studio for the rest of the year, at least as far as dyeing goes. The rest of this week I'll be baking and making. In the kitchen mostly, but I'm also really enjoying sewing right now, so there will be some quilt making happening, along with stitching away on a couple of new cross stitch releases for next year.

BUT there is news.

We will be having our first ever Year-End Sale next week, beginning Thursday, December 28. I'm discontinuing a couple of yarns, so they will be in the sale. And just to clear the shelves, I'll be discounting every single skein in the shop! More details will be coming.

Have a wonderful holiday!

seasonal sights

We've decked the halls around here, and we're enjoying plenty of holiday movies, Christmas music, tree watching and eggnog sipping.

I've been bitten by a huge quilting bug, so I'm busy cutting fabrics, patching blocks and sewing. It feels good to visit my old friend, patchwork! I've even broken out the betweens needles and done some hand quilting!

I've got a new cross stitch release coming up, but after that it will "Christmas break" all the way! The new year promises to be very busy, so I'd better enjoy some relaxing days while I can:)

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a simply joyous Christmas!

I've enjoyed this blog so much this year, and I want to say "Thank you" for your lovely comments and attention to my wanderings.  I'll be taking a blog break until the new year, but I'll be back in January with a new project for a new year : The January Journal.  See you then!

A Simple Christmas : Simple Recipes

I usually like to try a few new recipes each holiday.  Sometimes it's something sweet, and sometimes something savory.  This year it seems to be sweet stuff.

I actually made a version of this last year, but I thought it was more complicated than it needed to be, so I simplified it this year, and I love them!

Photo Credit

Mock Turtles

Milk Chocolate Chips - 1 bag

Caramel candies - 1 bag

Pecan halves

Sea salt

Place paper candy cups on a cookie sheet (I made 24).    Unwrap and flatten the caramel candies with your hands (dip your fingers in water to keep them from sticking) so they are about the size of the candy cups. Melt the chocolate chips in a small saucepan on low heat, stirring frequently.  Drop melted chocolate into candy cups to form bottom layer.  Place caramels on top of chocolate and top with a pecan half.  Top with remaining chocolate and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt.  Refrigerate for about 10-15 to harden chocolate.

(Mine look similiar to the ones shown above, but we had a power outage yesterday, so no pictures of mine:)

Try not to eat all of them.

A Simple Christmas : December Sketchbook

I've been sketching away the last few weeks, and thoroughly enjoying it!  Here are a few sketches from my sketchbook this month :

My sketchbook has really been calling to me lately.  I'm one of those people who go in cycles, or spurts.  For a while it's all about the knitting, then I can't spin enough, or stitch enough, then I just 'have' to draw and paint!  (If you're like me, let me recommend a great book I read a while back.  Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher.  Chances are your a scanner.  I know I am.)

There are lots and lots (and lots) of art supplies out there.  And most artists would be happy to try them all!
Kind of like there's no such thing as too much yarn...there's no such thing as too many watercolor paints, or too many sketchbooks, or pencils, or paper. You get the idea.  If I were going to the art supply store with a blank check, here's what I'd buy :

Top Row :
Daniel Smith Watercolor Paint Set - 18 tubes of high quality watercolor paint...wheeee!

2nd Row :
Alvin Titan Drafting Table - nice
Canson Watercolor Paper Block

 3rd Row :
Charles Reid's Watercolor Solutions
daVinci Cosmotop brushes - I personally like a 4 and 6 round
Successful Drawing by Andrew Loomis - a classic

Bottom Row :
General's Kimberly Drawing Pencils - Set of 10
Maruman Art Spiral sketchbook for watercolor
Time - to sketch!
Watercolor Journeys : Create your own travel sketchbook by Richard Schilling


Are you a journal keeper?  Or a sketchbook keeper?

A Simple Christmas : Decorations

I find the older I get, the less I want to "fuss" with special decorations.  I know folks who pull out decorations and knick knacks for every conceivable occasion : Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, etc.  I've never been one of those people, so I don't have a massive amount of stuff hidden away for various holidays and seasons.

I have a couple of small boxes of autumnal decorations, and six large boxes of Christmas decorations.  And we're working on getting that number down a bit.  I began collecting blown glass ornaments & vintage ornaments about 18 years ago, so I've got a good collection, and that's what we use each year.  They're like old friends who come to visit once a year.

But this is the time of year I always get a little itch to make decorations and gift tags and such.  Nowadays that usually means something knitted or embroidered, or some watercolor gift tags, but in the past I've made floral nosegays, painted ceramic ornaments, wired & glittered pinecones, make countless bows, cut up scrapbook paper and who know what else!  So, if you're in the mood for a little crafting, the internet is full of great ideas, big and small.  Here are a few that I've enjoyed :

Wild Olive : I Saw Three Ships Ornament Pattern

Alisha Burke : Handpainted Gift Tag Download

Abigail Halpin : Gift Tags

How About Orange : DIY Geometric Christmas Tree Card

Lemon Squeezy : Gift Card or Cash Holder Printable

We Love to Illustrate : Paper Gingerbread House Printables

and here's a little something from me : a simple little snowflake to cross stitch

Simple Snowflake : Click on the image and save to your computer

You've probably got your tree and house decorated for this year, but you can tuck these ideas away for
next year (like a couple I've got my eye on)!

Do you like to do crafty things around the holidays?

A Simple Christmas : Celebrations

With the popularity of Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, and blogs it's no wonder people get overwhelmed at Christmas time (and the rest of the year, for that matter).  We live in an accelerated world that keeps going faster and faster!  It's easy to add 50 great ideas to your to do list just by scrolling through your Pinterest feed.  But sometimes, (oftentimes) less is truly more.

So, don't forget to keep your joy, keep your sanity, and keep your budget!  Simple celebrations help us focus on individuals- not crowds, moments- not days.  A few of the things we strive to do each season include :

Get outside in nature with someone you love.
It's easy to spend too much time in stores, in front of the computer or TV, in restaurants and at parties.  Try to get out in nature, just a little bit.

Eat a few treats.  
Yes, absolutely, enjoy some of the wonderful goodies that abound this time of year.  I make cookies every year, and we really enjoy them.  But they are treats, not a regular diet.

Light candles.
The days are shorter and darkness falls quickly this time of year.  Celebrate this season with extra candles around the house.  Have you ever seen ugly candleglow?  Me neither.

Spend some time doing nothing.  
It can get hectic, crazy, and overbooked right now.  Be sure to plan a day or two that doesn't have many obligations or chores in them.  Your soul will thank you.

Help Someone.
Opportunities to help others are everywhere right now.  Do some of them.  The wonderful thing is...it helps you!


What are some of the small ways you celebrate the Christmas season?

Gift Guide : For the Knitter

Being a knitter, I can tell you the one thing every knitter always wants...yarn.  And books about knitting and/or knitting patterns.  Even if they have a room full of yarn and a bookshelf full of knitting books/patterns...they want more.  The trick is...what kind of yarn?  Which book?  Which pattern?

Ah, well, this is where you need to actually know your knitter.  You probably wouldn't want to buy a 'sheepy-wool' kind of gal some rayon beaded yarn, or vice versa, a 'sparkly-shiny' kind of gal some woolen spun worsted with bits of hay still in it.  You do your homework.  Fortunately, most knitters are only too happy to help you with a list, or at least point you in the right direction.

Me, I definitely fall into the 'sheepy-wool' kind of knitter.  I love fleece, handspun, and wooly yarns...and I love natural colors, heathers, and classic designs.


A Simple Christmas :  Gift Ideas for the Knitter

• How about some lovely O-Wool Balance?  Organic, beautiful, soft and 24 lovely colors to choose from.
• If you are feeling extravagant, and have a knitter who leans to the natural side try Juniper Moon Farm's The Shepherd and The Shearer. Check out the link for more information, but it looks like a great idea if it's in the budget.
• Beautiful copper stitch markers.  Who can't use more stitch markers...especially when they're this pretty?
• A set of Signature Needles.  I don't have any, but I've heard nothing but great reviews.
• Clara Parkes Yarn-making journey, The Great White Bale.  
• Shades of Winter : Knitting with Natural Wool
• A yarn bowl to keep your yarn tidy and untangled.
• Brooklyn Tweed's Sweater Cards (!)  Seriously.  As a knitter, spinner AND sketcher (and struggling watercolorist), I started drooling when I saw these.  At $25 for a set of 15 cards, it's not a bad deal (at a little over $1.50 per card).  
• The Natural Knitter : How to choose, use and knit natural fibers from alpaca to yak.  I got this book as a Christmas present a couple of years ago, and I love it.  It's jam packed with information, and wonderful patterns to boot!
• A copper shawl pin.  I like the penannular style, it just works well. 
• And finally, how about a lovely sock pattern?  Mine, of course...Folklore Socks.  They're very addictive!

What are your favorite knitting gifts?

A Simple Christmas : On Trend

It seems as though I'm not the only one who's focusing on A Simple Christmas this year.  As I've been reading in my blog reader, and around the web, I've noticed several posts about simplifying and celebrating naturally.

Here are a few :

Homestead Revival - Decorate the Halls, Simply

Moss Eclectic - A Natural and Simple Christmas

Fruetcake -  A Simple Christmas Inspiration

Ethel Gloves Your Day - Natural Outdoor Holiday Decor

Simple Mom - Plan Your Peaceful Christmas


My Pinterest Christmas board :

What are your favorite simple Christmas ideas?

A Simple Christmas : Music

Just a quick note to say ....Pandora Christmas Radio.  If you're at your computer, why not enjoy some lovely, free music?  Bing Crosy, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis...free!

Just sayin'.

A Simple Christmas : For the Cook

A Simple Christmas may seem a little bit of an oxymoron for the cook!

But I enjoy cooking and baking (a lot), so it wouldn't seem like Christmas to me if I didn't do a fair amount of baking.  It's kind of sad that most of the people I know (with a couple of exceptions) claim "they don't like to cook."

But for those that do....here is my favorite cookie recipe.  I've been making these since I was a teenager, and they are good:

Iced Butter Cookies
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (the real stuff, not imitation)
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Cream the butter and sugar together until creamy and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, blend well. Add the flour. The dough should come together in a big ball or mass of dough.

Place in plastic wrap (I shape it into a thick frisbee shape) and chill at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.

Roll out half of dough at a time, use favorite cookie cutters to make shapes, place on un-greased baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees about 10 to 12 minutes or until just turning golden around the edges. Remove from oven and let cool completely before icing.

Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 tablspoons water
food coloring (optional)

Mix together in a bowl.  Ice cookies!  This makes a sort-of off-white icing color.  You can add a few drops of food coloring to make different colors, if you like.  I just make the off-white color, I like it.  I've considered getting some natural food coloring (India Tree makes little kits just like the conventional ones), but haven't gotten around to it.

Depending on the size cookie cutter you use, you can get anywhere from 4 to 6 dozen cookies from one batch. I made two batches and got about 12 dozen.

If you have a cook on your gift list, here are a few ideas :

Top : Psalm Cutting Board, from ExquisiteInks

Middle : Personalized Labels, from LittlebeaneBoutique
Gourmet salt sampler, from Craig's Market
Rustic Craft Designs' Wood Butter
MidTown Olive Press' Infused Olive Oils

Bottom : Alice Waters' The Art of Simple Food
Komo Grain Mill
Earth to Table, Seasonal Recipes from an Organic Farm

And if you are interested in fermented foods and priobiotics, Cultures for Health is a great resource.

What are your favorite cooking tools and supplies?

Gift Guide : For the Spinner

A Simple Christmas for the Handspinner :

Row 1 :  All spinners love more fiber, from Julie Spins.  Beautiful Superwash BFL .
Row 2 :  Crown Mountain Fiber Club, Schacht Handcards
Row 3 :  Three Bags Full DVD, Finnsheep Wool Locks, The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook

Spinners love to spin, and that requires fiber to spin with.  You really cannot go wrong buying some fiber for your spinner.  Outside of that, books and videos about spinning are always welcome.  The one shown above is by Judith MacKenzie, an excellent teacher, who recently lost her studio to a fire.  If your spinner enjoys preparing fiber, you might consider handcards, combs, or a drumcarder.

And if you're really thinking large, how about a sheep?  Or a flock? :)

A Simple Christmas : Natural Gifts

We lean toward the un-slick, the natural, the low-tech.  Give me a good wood cutting board and a sharp knife over another kitchen gadget any day.  I actually saw a "cupcake maker" in a store the other day.  I thought "I have one of those...it's called an oven."  I've never understood why people buy rice steamers, bread machines, sandwich makers....cupcake makers:)  My stove/oven do all of those things.

Not being a "gadget" gal, I love natural things.  I like using them, wearing them, smelling them, and decorating with them.  And the bonus?  Most of these are from small businesses, so you're supporting small, local, sustainable business.

Row 1:  Cherry wood salt cellar & spoon; Handthrown ceramic coffee mug
Row 2:  Organic wool felt dryer balls; Organic soap sampler pack; Linen photo album
Row 3:  Organic natural wood baby rattle; Organic Body Care Recipes book; DIY Moss Terrarium Kit

A Simple Christmas : Un-Perfection

I used to be that person who spent months and months working on Christmas decorations, planning my trees (yes, plural), making lists (oh, the lists!), deciding on recipes and gift wrap, ribbon and tags, wreaths and arrangements, and....I'm getting tired just remembering all of it.  I had notebooks full of "perfect" ideas, "perfect" rooms, "perfect" tablescapes, and on and on.

I've lightened up a lot.  Over the last few years, we've been trying to simplify our lives in many ways.  Not by avoiding doing anything, but rather by spending more time doing the things we truly love, and less time worrying about how it may "look" to other people.  Focusing on real food and nutrient dense foods,  eliminating un-needed "stuff",  enjoying the outdoors, and solitude.  We're quirky and we know it.  So our home doesn't look like a magazine spread, but we love it...and it works for us and the way we live.

So, here I am ready to help anyone who would like to get off of the "Christmas done to Perfection" merry-go-round!  Here are a few tips to help you become an Un-Perfectionist :

Photo Credit

How to be an Un-Perfectionist

Lose "The List"
No, you don't have to stop making lists (like I could).  But you do need to lose "The List".  You know, the one that has 143 things to be done in 3 days, and 4 of those things involve a glue gun.  That's a recipe for disaster.  So, make your grocery lists and gift-giving lists, but stay away from anything that sounds like :

• Solder 36 napkin rings together
• Hemstitch 36 pure linen napkins and embroidery holly on each
• Make 28 meringue mushrooms for Buche de Noel -TODAY!
• Gather greenery and make 8 fresh 24" wreaths - TODAY!

Stay away from magazines
Really...and Christmas magazines are the worst.  All magazines are trying to sell you something, either directly or indirectly.  And it's usually something you don't need.  If you are desperate to look at Christmas ideas, go through the 57 magazines you've collected over the years that are stuck in the guest room closet (you know they're there).

Stop competing
Don't try to out-shop, out-bake, out-decorate, out-wrap anybody else.  Do you remember what the gift wrap looked like on the gift your aunt gave you 4 years ago?  Yeah, me neither.  Nor do I remember what the gift wrap looked like that I gave my mother-in-law 2 years ago.  Let it go.

Celebrate the small things
This one should probably be at the top of the list.  Celebrate.  The small things.  A wood fire, the lights on the tree, fresh baked bread, the smell of balsam, flannel sheets, beautiful music, crisp air, bare branches, a buttery cookie.

Use what you have
Especially, the things you love.  We have candles, books, mugs and bowls that we love using at Christmas.  Using them each year becomes a tradition in themselves.

Simple really is better
It's a cliche' for a reason...it's true.  Using good quality products, favoring natural things, focusing on easy recipes, developing and celebrating traditions...all of these make the holidays more of a celebration instead of a chore!

How do you keep the season simple?

A Simple Christmas

Hey, here's an idea :  What if you had time this holiday season to really enjoy the things you love, spend time with the people you love, and give gifts you're happy to give...all without turning into a cranky, sleep-deprived, stressed-out diva covered in flour dust and glitter?  Yeah, I'd like that, too.

So, when exactly did Christmas turn into a marathon to be endured, instead of a celebration to be enjoyed?  If it's not a shopping contest, then it's a "everything must be handmade and/or perfect" contest.  Well, I say "Phooey to that!"

Let's revolt.  Let's refresh.

To that end, over the next couple of weeks I'll be sharing some ideas, some suggestions, maybe a few recipes, decorations, etc., that aim at simplifying the season.  And it won't be perfect, it won't be all-inclusive.  But maybe it'll give you a nudge in the right direction, a spark of an idea that you can run with, or just a nice idea for a gift.

So let's celebrate.  Simply.

Snapshot Saturday 12.01.12

It's December...and although there isn't much chance of snow around here this month, this is a shot I took last January when we did have snow around here.  But December means Christmas!

I don't know about you, but I really don't want a harried, over-shopped, over-booked, 'made-in-China' kind of Christmas this year (or any year for that matter).  I'm also not interested in wearing myself out making, baking, and decorating.  I don't want to be a stressed-out handmade gift machine.

So this year, we'll be celebrating A Simple Christmas.  In the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some of what we're doing, what we're not doing, some low-tech gift ideas, and some easy and delicious recipes, and who knows what else.  I hope you'll enjoy my ideas, share your ideas and sit back and enjoy the season!