This was my first one.
This was my second one, and she went to Piper Palin.
Even I find it difficult to believe that I found the energy to make things yesterday. But I was restless after I finished cleaning up after the party. As we watched some favorite movies (Brave Heart, The Postman, The Last Samari and Sleepless in Seattle), I sipped my wine and finished up the above pillows and scarf.
The pillows we super easy to make. I found some tapestry wall hangings at the dollar store for $1.50 and took the dowls out of them. I plan on using the dowls with the strings still attached for another project sometime (a kids fishing pole game with magnets on the string and on the fish). Anyway, back to the pillows. I used sturdy muslim for the back, sewed and stuffed them. They will make really neat gifts. No, Aunt Julie and Grandma Jody, you will not be getting one of these for Christmas ... I'm not putting pictures on here of what you are getting until after Christmas!
I specialize in sewing and knitting squares and rectangles. I try to not use pins if I can avoid them. The scarf above was made by using a size 10 knitting needle and going 18 across (because it is for a man, and I'm not telling who at this time because it is a Christmas gift). For women I go 15 across and for kids I go 10 across.
In a Jar Gift ...
Here is an easy, fun and inexpensive gift to make. This is an oatmeal, chocolate (or other kind of chip) and coconut cookie mix. The people on my Christmas list get one of this babies whether they really want it or not. It is my tradition to hand these out each year, and I think they taste good. I hope they do. I guess they are more welcome than fruitcake, in some circles.
Recipe:
1 1/4 Cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Cup of 1 minute oatmeal
3/4 cup of chocolate chips
(raisins are good substitute)
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
When it comes time to bake these mixes up, preheat the oven to 350. Pour contents of jar into a big mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, combine 2 eggs and 1/3 cup of cooking oil. Add that mixture to the dry stuff and mix well. Use a spoon to drop globs of dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Pop into the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, remove from baking sheet to cool and then eat. This is supposed to make 4 dozen cookies, but I really doubt you will get that much out of the recipe. Enjoy!
Here are some easy to follow, step by step pictures.
1. This is all you need:
2. Organize your items to your satisfaction.
3. Use a whisk to mix up the flour, baking powder and salt:
4. Place the flour mixture in the jar first:
5. Add the oatmeal (sorry, it's hard to see the oatmeal):
6. Add the chocolate chips.
Keep packing everything down firmly:
7. Add the coconut:
8. Add the packed brown sugar:
My helper arrives. Dana wants to help so bad. She wishes that she has hands. There is not a day that goes by that our girl does not think about all she could do if only she had some hands. Anyway, while in the kitchen with me, she found a chocolate chip on the floor. I am keeping an eye on her to see if I will need to call the vet. Hey, wait a minute here! There are no dogs allowed in the kitchen. Dana, go away. Go away! Thank you. ....
9. Add the white sugar:
10. Put the flat lid down over the sugar. Place a 9" fabric circle on that, and then put the rim on. I'll show you the finished product later, when it is finished. I usually put rafia or ribbon around the lid, and add my gift tag and the baking instructions. Some years, when I am feeling rich, I add a wooden spoon.
Have fun!
It doesn't get any easier (or prettier) than this! I took an old bottle that I found in the basement at Camp Christian years ago, and filled it with 100 white Christmas lights and then just plugged it in. I was inspired by Sarah at ThriftyDecorChick.blogspot.com She has a really neat blog with a lot of cool ideas.
