Ina Garten is a goddess. I don't think there is a single recipe of hers that I've tried that hasn't come out amazing. OK, these shortbread cookies have only five ingredients (butter, flour, vanilla, salt and sugar), but still, it's all in the proportions and these shortbread cookies are perfection. Every bite is probably irreparably clogging my arteries, but it's so worth it. The recipe is here, and I give you my word that these will be the best shortbread cookies you've ever tasted. The one ... Read more
Happy Friday + Color-blocking
It's the end of the week again, which means Christmas Eve is 10 days away...I am a teensy weensy bit overwhelmed. Anyway, Happy Friday! Have you been enjoying the color-block trend as much as I have? I recently acquired this very cool fabric, and it's got Lycra (though mostly cotton) that gives it a sheen and stretch and almost raincoat-like feel to it. I immediately wanted to make a jacket. This pattern from this book is actually a peter-pan collared coat, but I didn't want to break up ... Read more
Holiday Crafts Roundup – Ornaments
With jingle bells in the air, I've got my crafting on these days, and it's like Santa's workshop around here. K made these beaded snowflake ornaments last year (using this) and they add great sparkle to our tree - aren't they pretty? In a couple of weeks winter break will start, which means loads and loads of extra time with K. I've been gathering a jillion craft and diy ideas and thought I would feature a few of my favorites every week - it'll be an easy reference for me for those moments ... Read more
Suspended in time
This is K when she was about 2. I had made this suspender dress from this book and was thinking about making it again so I unearthed these images. I was then pummeled with nostalgia. Do you see those curls? I loved her curls. Shortly after this photo was taken, her hair started to grow out straighter, pushing the spiral tendrils toward the bottom - business on top, party on the bottom. At age three, we cut off the last remnants of curls and I still mourn that day. Don't get me wrong, she ... Read more
More Felties: Li’l Fox and Baby Bear
We're getting a little bit of a late start these days. I'm down to the wire for making Christmas gifts and what do I do instead? I make a bear cub and a kit, just because they're so fun to stitch up. Rose and Bob, as you may recall, were in wedding mode last time we saw them. Well, a few years have passed and they are now proud parents to a delightful little girl cub who spends much of her time dressing up in fancy embroidered dresses and playing with her best buddy and neighbor, a clever ... Read more