Now that things have slowed down at work, I’ve managed to find time for all the little things I neglected during the holidays. Here’s a prime example:
Tag Archives: homemade holidays
Homemade Holidays: Yoga Mat Tote from Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing
I’m just now getting around to posting some Christmas gifts due to their sensitive nature. This one especially, since it was for my sister Dawn and I knew her surprise would be spoiled if I posted it before Christmas. However, this is really a good anytime gift. It’s surprisingly fast and easy, too; the whole thing took me about thirty minutes.
I used an thrift store shower curtain purchased a couple of years ago.
I read somewhere a while back that pulling out a thread where your cut will be is one of the easiest ways to get a straight line. Let me say that my sewing projects have really improved in appearance since reading this tip, especially projects like this, which are nothing but straight lines. I used a thrifted shower curtain to make the bag, and the purple nylon cord came with the yoga mat, which was also a Christmas gift to Dawn, as some sort of carrying device.
The finished product--with my keys in the pocket so you'll know it's there.
I’ll be making another bag for my sister Demi soon, and I’m thinking about doing some embroidery on that little pocket. Any other suggestions are appreciated!
Another shot of the finished product, with the yoga mat peeping out of the top.
The pattern is from Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing. I purchased the book when I was in New York a few summers ago, and I keep coming back to it because everything is so do-able. When you don’t have a lot of time, simplicity really matters in choosing a pattern.
One of the best purchases I've made!
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Homemade Holidays: Doily Tote Bags
I fell in love with this doily canvas bag tutorial at first sight. I am always in the market for reusable bags to carry to the grocery store, especially ones that don't advertise a something.
I whipped up a few of these sweet bags for Christmas gifts. Ideally, they would be big enough to actually carry something other than a few apples. I guess that’s what I get for not reading the fine print on things. Oh well, I still think the bags turned out well–the negative (is that the right term?) of the doily is somehow a lot less grannyish than a regular doily.
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Homemade Holidays: Wreath Roundup
One of my dearest friends moved away recently, and she took her camera with her. She’d been letting me use this camera for months (what a good friend!), so naturally I’m missing them both terribly. I’m buying a new one as a Christmas gift to myself (any recommendations?!), but until that happens I’ll have to get creative as far as posting goes. Anyway, I’ve been drooling over DIY holiday decor all season, and my bookmarks are full of things I can’t wait to try for next year. The thing I’m most excited about is making a big, beautiful wreath. I have a feeling I’ll be making one of the following:
(Click the pictures to visit the tutorials!)
Pom Pom Wreath from BleuBird
Amanda's Holiday Wreath from DesignSponge
Felted Ball Wreath from Pickles
Ornament Wreath from ApartmentTherapy
Cranberry Wreath from The Idea Room
The hard part will be deciding which one to make! At least I have a year to think about it.
(All images are property of their respective owners.)
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Posted in DIY
Homemade Holidays: Cookie Mix in a Jar
When I first heard of cookie mix in a jar, I thought it was the most brilliant idea ever. Admittedly, I am pretty idealistic when it comes to things like this, and I didn’t take into consideration a lot of things. First and foremost, I didn’t think about whether the recipes offered up in these projects were any good. I quickly rushed out to buy flour, sugar, cranberries, and chocolate chips, assuming I could use all the mason jars I’ve been refusing to throw away over the past few years (in some sort of crisis I might need to can something, fast). I guess that was my first mistake, or my first two mistakes. Chocolate chips and dried cranberries are pretty expensive, and a quart and a pint aren’t the same thing (as if I could tell the difference?). The first jar I put together was really pretty, but somehow I horribly mismeasured and didn’t realize until the second jar that things weren’t adding up at all. What I have are pint jars, which are roughly half the size that I need them to be since the recipe I had was for quart jars. Rats!
So, I decided I would halve the recipe. This really appealed to me for several reasons, including but not limited to: 1. I refuse to buy new jars when the point of this whole thing is to be frugal and reuse things that would otherwise be thrown away, 2. halving the ingredients means I could make twice as many gifts with same amount of ingredients. I go on this way for a while, making about three jars total (including the first couple of messed up ones) before I realize that I’m going to be giving people the ingredients to make cookies I’ve never actually tasted. Since some jars were really ugly and wrong because I’d messed them up anyway, I just decided to make that batch and see how they turned out before I proceeded. That was a smart move, because these cookies didn’t turn out well at all. The only liquids called for were oil, vanilla extract, and water (it was a vegan cookie mix), and I ended up adding a lot more water than the recipe required because the batter was just so dry. Maybe I did something wrong, but I tried really hard to follow the recipe rather than just eyeing things like I usually do, and the cookies turned out really dense and bland and burned on the bottom. Needless to say, I will not be giving any of those cookies away!
The failed cookie recipe and failed picture of failed cookies; they really looked more like sausage balls than cookies.
I’ve since found a new recipe that I decided to try out today, and if it’s successful I’ll be packaging and giving it away. It’s not vegan, but the only additional ingredients required are butter, vanilla, and a 1.5 T of water. The recipe is basically the Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe, found on the back of the bag of chocolate chips. I substituted flax seed powder for eggs, which is where the 1.5 T of water comes from. This may also explain why my cookies ended up as flat as fried eggs, but I’m okay with it–they are still delicious.
First positive sign: it actually looks like cookie dough instead of a crumbly, oily mess.
To make these delicious cookies, you’ll need:
- a pint jar
- 1 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 3/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Mix the salt, baking soda, and flour and add to your jar. This will form the first layer. Next, add the brown sugar, then the white sugar, then the chocolate chips. Using twine or ribbon, tie a nice card around the jar. I’ve made a couple of samples, feel free to download and use them!
I'll probably use this fancy one.
I thought I should make a fun one, too.
The cards show everything else you need to know, so I guess I’ll just leave you with pictures of the final product!
This is only the first batch. By the time I was done baking the plate was overflowing, and that was even after I ate a few 
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Posted in eats