Inspired by Claire’s spool and fob set, I finished a spool using one of the blackwork patterns from Love Tokens.   I picked up a baggy of these spools from a local thrift shop along with this adorable little nesting bowl set.   I also picked up 3 old wooden cigar boxes for a buck a piece – great for keeping my HDF spools handy.  I see some box top designs coming in the near future!

Along with the new year came the release of the first bi-monthly issue of The Gift Of Stitching.  Among other things, I really enjoyed  the article “Kitchen Samplers by Pamela Lewis of Praiseworthy Stitches.

   Not too long ago I was researching design transfer methods and I was surprised to find that there was not many websites with information on exactly how to go about it.  I  found Elizabeth Almond’s article a very valuable resource and plan on keeping it close at hand.

While designing and stitching “Love Tokens” for this month’s issue – I thought about how easy it would be to take the motifs and use them separately for stitching quick Valentine’s Day  smalls.  I will take some pics and post some of the finishes I came up with in a couple of days.  Until then, I wish you all the best throughout the year!

Wow, time has gotten away from me and I haven’t posted in a long time.  Here it is – the Christmas season and everyone is busy preparing for the holiday.

A good friend of mine has welcomed into her family an exchange student from Brazil.  Although our cold winter weather is taking some getting used to, Patrick is looking forward to our first snowfall.

Patrick has shared a recipe for Brigadeiro – a brazilian chocolate ball similar to what we would call a truffle and they are absolutely heavenly!  I spent the evening making them and then packaging them in pretty little tins.  Along with a bottle of Baileys – they make the perfect Christmas gift.

Brigadeiro

Here’s Patrick’s recipe.

1 can sweetened condensed milk

6 tbsp chocolate powder (I used nestle’s hot cocoa mix)

1 tbsp butter

Chocolate sprinkles

Paper cups – candy size

In a saucepan, over medium heat, stir together condensed milk, cocoa powder and butter.  Continue stirring until it thickens and pulls away from the bottom of the saucepan.

Pour into a shallow bowl and refrigerate until cool.  Clean hands thoroughly and coat lightly with butter.  Take about a teaspoon size and roll into ball and roll in the chocolate sprinkles to coat and place into individual paper cups.

I put mine into tins right away and stored them in the refrigerator (although I was told they don’t have to be refrigerated).

I wish you a Merry Christmas and for Patrick – a Merry White Christmas!

Because the temperature hovered around 100 degrees today I thought it was the perfect time to quote one of my favorite authors!

  ”What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.”

                                                                                                                              - Jane Austen

The May issue of The Gift of Stitching has some wonderful designs this month! The I Love Stitching needlecase by Loopylou Designs is my favorite along with the Mother and Daughter Huswife by West Wind Cross Stitch Designs on the cover. 

I have been quite busy and have not had much time for blogging as of late.  I have a new design that I have been working on called By My Garden Walk.  It’s a larger blackwork piece that I hope to have ready for release in July.  I hope to have my new website up and running by then as well – the “unveiling” will be announced soon.

After a discussion on the HDF forum, I’ve been wanting to try my hand at dying my own fabric with walnut ink.  The good thing is – I have a friend with plenty of walnut trees in her yard - the not so good thing is – I have to wait until Fall to harvest the hulls.  In the mean time, I have decided to try some “tea” dyeing.  I’ll do a little research and hopefully this weekend I will be able to give it a go.  Stay tuned!

 Kim just sent me a pic of her “Breakfast in Paris” this morning – a Christmas Eve tradition shared by her and her husband.

Today, Dec 6th, children will wake to find candy and goodies tucked into their shoes in celebration of St. Nicholas.

Celebrating St. Nicholas Day wasn’t a tradition that my family practiced while I was growing up.  When my son Christopher, now 27, was in kindergarten he had learned about St. Nicholas in school and so the tradition had begun.  We had lived in an upper flat and my friend Susan and her three children had lived in the lower flat and we shared an entrance hallway where all her kids took off their shoes.  I had bought a bag of chocolates and had plenty to share, so after everyone had gone to sleep and I had  filled Christopher’s shoes, I snuck downstairs filled their shoes as well.  Twenty years later, my brother now married to Susan, we still laugh about how her kids miraculously found candy in their shoes that morning.

I received this gorgeous tassel ornament from La Juana for the TGOS 2010 ornament exchange.  The hardanger stitching is just beautiful along with the beading that dangles from the center.  I am really looking forward to putting my tree up this year and displaying my new ornament front and center for everyone to see!