Buzzmills

Merry Christmas...

And a Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve, "Elving"...

It's Christmas Eve and we are busy doing the usual "elving"...

Last minute decorating... Making...

Wrapping... What, you didn't save your Kleenex boxes to wrap gifts?  These are our traditional Christmas Eve gifts...new ornaments!

The kids got to color our wrapping paper this year...miles and miles of coloring pages...

And cookie and candy gift giving...old tea tins are the perfect "recycled" packaging...
And, of course, a little just sitting in from of the tree and basking in it's lights...
I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 

I'll pop back in tomorrow with a little Christmas mini message, but then I am going to take a little time off to enjoy some family time and recharge. 

Till next year...enjoy!

A Wintry Hostess Gift...

'Tis the season of gathering and holiday parties...and hostess gifts!

After making my wintry pillows earlier this month I thought that potholders would look great made with the same fabric and a bit of felt so I sewed up a couple sets of snowflake potholders to give as hostess gifts...

The backs have fun and festive fabrics too...
To make:  Cut four fabric circles (mine were about 6 1/2" in diameter), two front and two back.  Cut out four circles of cotton batting as well. 

For the back hand pockets, cut a semi circle pattern - half of the circle minus 1/2".  For each potholder you will need four semi circles of fabric, two exterior and two interior.

Sew semi circles right sides together along the straight edge with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Turn right sides out, press and top stitch along the straight edge.  Next, line up the raw curved edges of your semi circle hand pockets with the raw edge of your back fabric.  Pin and baste in place. 

Next, cut out and sew your snowflake applique (or any applique) to your front fabric (or not), I used picmonkey for my simple snowflake applique.  Sandwich two pieces of batting between the front and back pieces (with right sides facing out) of the potholder.  Baste around the edges with a 1/4" seam allowance.  

Next, sew on bias tape ( I used 1/2" single fold).  Dana has a great tutorial for how to do this, I will send you there, as I am by no means an expert bias tape sewer (tee hee, ask Jill).

Once you've got your bias tape sewn on you are all set!

Fun and festive potholders all set for giving!

I attached a little bundle of rosemary to mine...

And then, for a little bit extra, dangled the rosemary and potholders from a wooden six pack holder, filled, of course, with some holiday ale...

And, all set and ready to head off for the party...

Enjoy!  Have a great day!

Christmas Cheer...

Let the festivities begin!  This weekend brings family, parties, and hopefully cookie baking and present wrapping! Oh, and maybe a bit of last minute gift making!

Enjoy your weekend!

linking this moment up with Amanda.

Party skirt number two...

Today is "dress to impress" day at Violet's school.  And, while she certainly does have lots of lovely things to wear, she doesn't have anything in her closet that is super fancy...Are you noticing a trend here?

The thing is...fancy, functional and comfortable don't often go hand in hand.  We are definitely much more of a functional and comfortable family as opposed to fancy.  But, of course, as I said the other day there's always a little room for some fancy right?  Especially during the holidays!
I happened to have just enough fabric and lining leftover from my twirly skirt to sew up this little skirt for Violet to wear today...
It's so nice having littles to sew for because you can literally use scraps for the sewing!  The skirt is a simple gathered skirt (not enough scrap for a circle skirt) with an elastic waist.  It's lovely and long and swishy and she loves it!
And, it's pretty fun to twirl in too...

Plus, now we have matching mother/daughter skirts, tee hee... perhaps I will indulge her and wear it once with her.

Have a great day!