happy thanksgiving!

Today I am thankful for my family, especially healthy babies, modern medicine, and my sister-in-law's delicious chocolate pie.

Speaking of babies ... remember how I just had one?  Without further ado, I'd like to introduce Cora Margaret:

Cora is such a peaceful, sweet baby.  We just love her!  I was so worried about Ruby (a.k.a. "the brute") using her muscles on the baby, but so far it is just hugs and kisses all around.   Oscar, of course, is smitten as well  (it probably helps that she looks just like him).

We had a few hiccups in the hospital, so it has taken me longer to get back to the computer.  Between needing to recover and the holidays coming up, posting is going to be really light around here for the foreseeable future.  But can you blame me?  We are all super busy snuggling Cora.

For Thanksgiving, I crocheted Cora a silly turkey drumstick hat:

Funny, right?  After seeing it on Pinterest, I just couldn't resist!   I made up the the pattern as I went along and didn't write it down, so I don't have instructions to share with you.   You might be able to find a crochet turkey leg pattern online, and just add it to a simple hat.  After the holiday, I think I might take the drumsticks off and add some teddy bear ears for a more useful everyday hat.

At first it seemed like Cora really liked it:

But then she started making sour faces at me:

One-week-olds are so fickle.  :)

In completely unrelated news ...

I have a Black Friday Deal to share with all you Silhouette fans.  Silhouette is having a great Black Friday sale where everything in the online store (except the CAMEO, subscriptions, download cards, and gift cards) is 30% off.  You can get an extra 10% off using the online code, JILL, for a total of 40% off!

Also, the CAMEO will not be found in the regular online store, but you can find it on the "secret" Black Friday Page.  The Cameo is not 30% off, and my extra code will not apply, but it will be nicely discounted. The Black Friday Cameos are expected to sell out fast.

All shapes will be 50% off.

The Black Friday sale starts at 12:01 a.m. (MST) on Friday, November 25th.  Codes will be valid through the 28th.

Happy shopping!

Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts - review and giveaway!

It's no secret that I love Martha - everything that comes from her company is pure perfection.  Today she is releasing a new book, Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Projects for Year-Round Celebrations.

 

From Easter eggs, to Father's Day gifts, to Christmas decorations, the book offers dozens of crafts for every holiday.  It feels like a collection of all the best "Good Things" projects and special holiday issues of the magazine, all bundled in one spot.

Of course, there is a fabulous Halloween section (Martha's favorite holiday), which is the perfect jump-start I needed to get started on Oscar's 3rd birthday party, a Halloween extravaganza (at least in his eyes).

I am excited to try the Jar-o'-lanterns, featured in the Halloween section.  (Photos by Eric Piasecki. Reprinted from the book Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts. Copyright © 2011 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.  Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc.)

Jar-o'-lanterns

Tools and Materials
Clean glass jars
Paintbrush

Oil-based enamel paint (black and orange or yellow)
Extra-wide masking tape

Jar-o-lantern template (marthastewart.com/holiday-crafts-book-extras)
Marker
Craft knife
Plastic-covered 20-gauge wire
Needle-nose pliers
Wire cutters

 1. Working in a well-ventilated area, coat the inside of a jar with orange or yellow paint. Apply a square of masking tape to the outside of each jar. Press out any air bubbles. Use a marker to draw face on tape. Cut out features with a craft knife to form a stencil. (Alternatively, download and print jar-o’-lantern templates, cut out features, and secure over the tape; cut around them to form stencil.)

2. Using black paint and a brush, fill in the features of the stencil. Let paint dry completely, then carefully peel off and discard tape.

3. For a handle, loop one end of the wire with pliers. Make a lasso shape to hug the neck of the jar. Bend remaining wire over for a handle. Cut wire; make another loop to hook onto ring. Slip ring over jar's mouth; tighten as necessary.

How cute are those?  All I need is some orange paint and I'm set to start.

Ok, onto the really fun part.  Would you like a copy of the book?  Today I'm giving away 5 copies of Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Projects for Year-Round Celebrations!

I'm going to run this giveaway a little differently, just for fun.  To enter:

• Leave a comment telling me your favorite crafting memory!  It can be anything - a success, a funny failure, just the sweet memory of crafting with someone special.  I'll choose my 5 favorites for the winners.  Make me smile.  :)
• One comment per person please.  If you accidentally leave duplicate comments, please delete the extras.
• Please leave me a way to contact you, either with an email address, or a public profile that leads to your blog.  Thanks!
• This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.  So sorry, international friends!

This giveaway is open for 24 hours only!  Get your comment in by 9 a.m. PST, on September 28th.

One of my favorite crafting memories is when I got to meet Ms. Martha herself and talk to her about something I made.  It was October 2008, just 11 days after Oscar was born, and I had submitted a pair of baby booties to the MSLO employee art show.  She loved the shoes (I about passed out on the spot), but even more she loved Oscar, and took his picture.  The shoes and Oscar's little newborn face even flashed briefly on the show the next day.  My tiny celebrity!   It was a thrill.

Good luck!  I'm really looking forward to reading your crafting memories.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am going to take a blog break for the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!



Aunt Nancy's Famously Delicious Rolls:

1 pkg. active dry yeast

¼ c. warm water

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 C. milk, scalded

¼ C. Sugar

¼ C. shortening

1 tsp. salt

3 ½ C. Sifted all-purpose flour

1 egg

…………………………..

Soften yeast in warm water. Combine milk, sugar, shortening and salt; cool to lukewarm. Add 1 1/2C. of flour; Beat well. Beat in yeast and egg. Gradually add remaining flour to form soft dough, beating well. Place in greased bowl, turning once to grease the surface. Cover and let rise till double. Punch down and shape as desired, placing on greased cookie sheet. Cover and let raise till double. Bake in hot overn (400) for 12-15 minutes, or till golden brown. Makes 2-3 dz. rolls.