More Chalkboards

Quilting around the robots was not as difficult as I first anticipated.  I love this fabric for boys available at Spoonflower.

Monster Shirts

I made my boys some more shirts for Christmas.  Click here to see the shirts I made 2 Christmases ago.

Cranberry-Strawberry Jam

I made use of leftover cranberries from the holidays with this cranberry and strawberry jam.  

2 cups cranberries

2 cups strawberries

1 cup raspberries

1 cup apple juice

1 package no sugar fruit pectin

1 cup sugar 

1 cup honey

Pulse berries in food processor or smash with a potato peeler.  Don't puree, you want chunks of fruit.  In a large saucepan mix berries, apple juice, pectin and 1/4 cup sugar.  Bring to boil and let boil 1 minute.  Add remaining sugar and honey.  Boil 1 more minute.  Fill canning jars and process 10 minutes in boiling water bath.  If you aren't experienced at canning, this website has instructions with pictures.  You don't need a pressure canner to can jam!

Kid approved!

I got 3 pints (or 6 jelly jars) full plus some extra for taste testing.

Chalkboard

Just finished another Christmas present for Sophia.  I got chalkboards for each of the kids and planned to paint each and put their names.  Then I came up with the idea of making a nice quilted case for each complete with a pocket for chalk.  I am still waiting on some fabric I ordered to do the boys'.  It's hard to find cute boy fabric!

I especially love that the cover reminds me of a laptop case.  Ironic considering it is for a slate like they used in one room school houses a hundred years ago.

Wooden Dolls

One lucky little girl will be opening these Christmas morning.

When searching for homemade gift ideas for the kids this year, I came across several cute painted little people.  I took it to the next level and added some skirts and dresses out of vintage hankies.  The I made a matching bag to tote them in.

From Thanksgiving to Christmas

From This..

To This...

 From This...

To This...

Every year around Christmas time my Mother-in-law and I take one day and make as much candy as we possibly can.  Then I package it up and give it all away (Okay, there's some peanut butter balls in my freezer right now.)

Red Kaleidoscope Blocks

Here are the first four blocks of a kaleidoscope quilt using Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush Loves Me Loves Me Not Petal Red Fabric.

Click here to see the fabric stash I have picked out for this quilt.  

Pillows and Purple Ice Cream

Luke was on a pillow sewing kick this week.  He made one for Sophia and a small one for himself.  He's five and this was his first time using the machine (around the edge of the pillow).

I make lots of smoothies and sometimes when they turn out too think I call them ice cream.  The kids get way more excited about ice cream than smoothies.  They particularly liked today's concoction.

Purple Ice Cream

A handful each of frozen strawberries and blueberries

One and a half frozen bananas

One scoop of vanilla ice cream

1/2 cup of milk

1/2 cup apple juice

I didn't actually measure, I just threw everything in the blender.  I usually use plain yogurt, not ice cream, but I was trying to make it a special treat today.  

No-Knit Jersey Scarf

This scarf was inspired by the t-shirt necklace my friend, Janette, made for me recently.  Click here to see the one she made.  I love the idea.  You simply cut strips 3/4 to 1 inch wide of t-shirt fabric (in this case I used a light weight, periwinkle jersey knit I already had in my stash) and stretch it to curl the edges in.  

Here are the strips cut and stretched.  I love the way it looks like a high quality yarn.  

Janette found this No-Knit Scarf on Martha Stewart's website with simple instructions.  It's just square knots.  The original is made from yarn, but we had fun experimenting with this new technique.