Anne Stradal has begun a new design series of clocks – I really look forward to this one, as she will include the well researched history of each, just as she does with her charming lighthouses.
The very first one may be seen now – so go check it out, and watch it emerge as she stitches it on her blog – The Cape Stitcher.
Today is my nephew’s 3rd birthday – HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDWARD!
It’s also New Year’s Eve – we’re spending it at my brother’s place, playing games like Smart Ass & Cranium. How are you celebrating?
Here are some super-easy marshmallow decorating ideas for last-minute New Year’s Eve treats. Did I mention how super-easy and last-minute these are?
you will need:*
marshmallows
skewers and/or lollipop sticks
and…
for glitter marshmallows:
bowl of water
sprinkles in preferred colors
for countdown and clock marshmallows:
edible pens
*I use Americolor gourmet writers. You can find substitutes in the craft store. You can also find a good variety of different colored sprinkles in the craft store. Choose fine sprinkles for an extra glittery effect.
to make the glittery marshmallows:
Skewer marshmallows or put on lollipop sticks. Working with one marshmallow at a time, very quickly dip a marshmallow into the water, remove immediately, blot on a paper towel and immediately sprinkle with the sprinkles to coat. Let dry.
to make the countdown or clock marshmallows:
For the countdown, skewer a few marshmallows. Simply write the countdown with the edible pens. For the clocks, skewer a marshmallow or put on a lollipop stick. Draw an almost-midnight clock face on the marshmallow.
The Rowan tree above is where I hang the bird feeders and it is a hive of activity at the moment. There are robins, sparrows, great tits, blue tits, dunnocks, black birds, bullfinch, wrens and a woodpecker having a real feeding frenzy out there. I was shocked to see a Sparrow Hawk swoop in the other day and pin down a wee birdie but it escaped unharmed. We also had a family of long tailed tits for a while last year and there are a pair of Jays that make an appearance every so often.
It’s a wonderful place to live and a real inspiration for my felted landscapes.
I haven’t been able to get to the studio over the past week but I’m hoping to be there on Thursday the 31st Dec. So if you are passing please pop in between 10 and 4. I’ll be working on some new felt landscapes and I also have a new toy to play with. It’s an inflatable ball for making felt vessels. I’m very excited to try it out. It looks for all the world like a bouncy foot ball made out of bubble gum! Photos to follow.
Hope everyone is well and enjoying the winter holidays as much as we are.
The stitching on the Talavera cross is showing progress now, as the colors make it come alive.
The Vintage BF is what I used with the navy floss on the square “bump” stitches in the diaper pattern. 
I suppose a trip down memory lane is apt for a new year’s post. Here’s an idea for a New Year’s Eve party sweet: almost midnight clock cookies on a stick. Find the original post HERE.
I have decided to take a break from the computer for the rest of the year. You may see a scheduled post or two, but not likely. I am also taking a break from sewing…pretty much. I may sew something for myself, but that’s not work, so it doesn’t count. Do you remember the holiday stuff I wanted to make? Well, it didn’t happen. I was busy, but with custom orders. I decided to give myself a break & not worry about skipping my list of to-dos since custom orders trump the list.
Lists…since both my boys landed on Santa’s good list, tomorrow morning should be fun. I love watching their faces light up when they rip into the goodies under the tree. Hubby was on the good list too…even without the house help that he used to be so good at. We don’t really do gifts to each other, we have the boys get us stuff instead. Is a 4 year old helpful with this endeavor? Um, no, not really. So we still kind of get each other stuff 
But on my list for this Xmas…for next year to have more help around the house. Should be easy right? After all, it costs nothing and nobody has to make a trip to the stores. Well see….
First, I want to share the Holiday card I received from the staff of Needlepoint Now – I’m sure all subscribers have one by now.
So now to the business at hand. I haven’t been diligent about posting lately, as I was busy with other things, and working on three canvases simultaneously. The Sunflower Cross in Talavera is the first of these on which I have been able to use beads.
Of course I had to fill my leftover mason jars with cookies, so I thought and thought and thought what shape would best fill the jars and came up with…sticks.
how to make mason jar cookie sticks:
you will need:*
dough
frosting
disposable frosting bags
decorating tips
couplers
rubber bands
frosting colors
sprinkles (optional)
sharp knife or pastry scraper
ruler
mason jars
*You will need one frosting bag, coupler, tip and rubber band, found in craft stores, for each color you use. I used a size “4″ tip (or “5″) for the background color and size “2″ (or “3″) for the detail on top. For colors, I use Americolor soft gel pastes (can substitute the concentrated pastes from the craft store), Bright White, Electric Green, Leaf Green, Sky Blue and Red. You can use a ruler and sharp knife to cut the sticks to fit your mason jars, but I used this pastry scraper from Sur la Table. I found mason jars at the hardware store, but some craft stores and grocery stores carry them, too.
step one: prepare your cookies and frosting
Prepare dough according to recipe and chill. Roll about 1/4″ thick and cut sticks with knife and ruler (to fit your mason jars) or the pastry scraper. Mine were about 1/2″ wide and about 3 3/4″ long. Bake and let cool. Prepare frosting and divide among colors you will use. Tint the desired colors and fill frosting bags that are fitted with couplers and tips. Tie closed with rubber bands. I used white frosting for the background (size “4″ or “5″ tip), and green, lime, blue and red for the 
details (size “2″ or “3″ tip).
step two: decorate your sticks
Pipe background color on sticks and let dry about 15 minutes. Pipe details on top with the other colors. If desired, use sprinkles instead of details. Working with one cookie at a time, simply pipe the background color and immediately cover with sprinkles. Shake off excess. Let cookies sit at room temperature overnight til dry enough to handle.
step three: package your cookies
When dry, carefully package cookies in jars. Attach sticker to top or tag if desired.
