Another Rudy Day gets away

From a favorite vintage coffee advertisement.  I love the variety of cups hanging by ribbons from the Christmas tree!  The snowflake tablecloth is so pretty too.

Yes, this past Saturday was Rudolph Day for August.  And it completely got away.  I'm busy with planning and preparing for a visit from our faraway daughter and family, coming mid-September to stay three whole weeks.  And then there is just life in general.  Lots of time spent on preparing my Sunday School lessons for the next several weeks, garden to harvest from, weeds to pull (not keeping up with that!), cleaning to do, and on and on.  I'd love to bake some things for the freezer (to serve while our company is here) but the weather's been a bit too warm to do much baking.

Thus, on Rudy Day I did not do one single, solitary Christmasy thing.

One thing I have been working on sporadically this week is cutting out pieces for pieced Christmas placemats like this one:

They match the runner I made a couple of years ago.
 
Well, they sort of match.  I guess "coordinate" might be a better word.  The fabrics will vary for each of them -- I am hoping to make ten mats -- because I am just using up scraps.  I'm finding, though, that rather than using up all of my stash of scraps I am creating a good number of smaller scraps of Christmas fabrics.

Any ideas for using very small scraps of Christmas fabric will be welcome.  I'm thinking of using some for card making and gift tags.

Simple table topper from vintage fabric

This week I took a few minutes to narrow-hem the vintage red and green print remnant I showed earlier.  It came out the size of a small table runner, which means I will be able to use it in various places in the kitchen and dining area -- dining table, kitchen island, hutch, etc. 

The little bouquet is flowers from going-to-seed mustard greens in our garden.

Thought you might like to see the vintage doily as well.  This is a handmade doily from my mother's linen closet.  Someone had given her a set of two.  She passed them on to me some years ago.

I am pleased with how this quick little project turned out.  It looks great in my strawberry themed dining area, and will look nice later with Christmas decor as well.

A finished project

This runner has been on my "to finish" list for a couple of years now.  I am so pleased to have completed it.  My daughter loves chickadees, and I had wanted to make this for her birthday a couple of years ago.  When I bought the kit online, I mistakenly thought it was stamped cross stitch and embroidery.  I obviously didn't look too closely, for it was stamped embroidery, nearly all of it in satin stitch.

End motifs are like this

Entire runner -- I took this pic with the runner spread out on the floor.

I plan to give this to my daughter the next time I see her.  She can then put it away to have ready when the Christmas season arrives.  I'm not too worried about spoiling the surprise, as she seldom checks my Christmas blog, but even if she should happen to see it here, she will still be surprised by it, I guess.

One of the side motifs

It's a wonderful feeling to have finished this project at last!

Red and green vintage fabric print

I'm not sure this is even Christmas fabric (I sort of think not, as the motifs don't look too Christmasy), but the reds and greens are perfect.  I have had this smallish piece of vintage fabric in my stash for so long that I'm not even sure where I got it.  I have held onto it all this time because it's so pretty, but have not thought of a good use for it.  Today I decided that when I have a few minutes I will simply hem the edges and use it as a little table topper.   That way I can use it however and wherever I like -- at Christmas or any season!

Another little vintage card

Here's another little card which I came across in my photo sorting project.  Actually, this card is even smaller than the last one and was obviously used as an enclosure with a gift.  It's very simple with the church window and little choir boy, but I think it is so sweet.  There is something innocent and joyful about the small older Christmas cards from a simpler time.  I just love them and am thrilled to have found this one.  Hope you enjoy it too!

A sweet little vintage Christmas card

Recently I finished a big project of sorting through some old photos.  Mingled in with them were a few old greeting cards.  This little Christmas card was found complete with envelope and has not been previously used.  It's a sweet, though unusual little depiction of a Christmas music box (you can see the wind-up key on the base, to the right) decorated with angels -- I suppose they would twirl as the music played -- small golden bells, and greenery.  It is a "Brownie" card by Rust Craft, a favorite line of cards in years gone by.  Enjoy!

Candied Walnuts

This past weekend I tried a recipe for candied walnuts.  I was making a salad recipe that called for toasted pecans.  I didn't have a lot of pecans on hand, and I also wanted to kick the flavor of the salad up just a little bit, so I went looking for a candied walnut recipe.  This one, which I found in one of my Quick Cooking annual cookbooks -- Candied Walnuts -- did not disappoint.

(Parenthetically, let me add that these annual cookbooks -- of which I own three -- were acquired free because I had recipes published in Simple & Delicious or Light & Tasty in the past.  This is a fun way to get some very nice cookbooks, so if you have never submitted recipes to any of these magazines -- including Taste of Home -- you might want to consider doing so.  Even if your recipes are not used right away, you will receive a free magazine and often a free hardcover book eventually if they are  published.)

Back to the Candied Walnuts.  I don't keep balsamic vinegar on hand, so I just used cider vinegar.  And my canola oil was at the back of the cabinet, so I used light olive oil which was near the front.  These ingredients worked out just fine.  The walnuts were super easy to make and they are just delicious!  It's so nice to be able to make something so fancy and different with so little effort.

(Photo by Taste of Home)

These were good in a salad and they would be nice as a snack or appetizer, but I'm posting the recipe link here in my Christmas kitchen because I think they would make a wonderful kitchen gift.  Don't you agree?

A Christmas birdhouse

I was recently given this cute Christmas birdhouse ornament.  My mother-in-law found it somewhere -- probably at a thrift store or, more likely, the recycle area of her local dump.  I think it's very cute and will definitely make it a part of my Christmas and winter decorating this year.  I especially enjoy items featuring snowmen, snowflakes, icicles and so on because they can be left out and enjoyed all winter long!

My Christmas Shop on Amazon

All through July, I have been thinking about adding a few items to the Christmas Shop which is part of my A-Store on Amazon.  I'm not very good about updating this shop, and I'm not sharing this link so you will necessarily shop at it, but just mostly for inspiration and for Christmas items I  have enjoyed using (mostly books) and want to share the info with others.  Hope you enjoy your visit if you stop in at My Christmas Shop!

For some fun and Christmas inspiration ...

(Pour yourself a cup of Christmas coffee and enjoy!)

... I'd like to invite all of you to visit my Christmas Board on Pinterest! 

I love Pinterest even though I seldom find a lot of time to go there.  I just use my "Pin It" button when I find something that inspires me.  It occurred to me today that those of you are are visiting here for Christmas in July (and beyond, I hope!) might like to visit my Pinterest board and see some of the nifty ideas and art I have found.  Hope you enjoy your time there if you visit my Christmas board!

Planning for Christmas in September

 Yes, I'm planning a mini Christmas in September while our daughter and her hubby and four little ones are visiting us out here.  It has been many years since we've celebrated Christmas with them, and we won't really be doing so now -- just a little mini-celebration. 

My plan is that those family members who'd like to take part will draw names, with a $1 per gift limit.  The local dollar stores will likely be our favored shopping sources.  Then we will wrap our gifts and, at some point during the visit, have a little Christmas party.  I'm thinking I will decorate very simply to suggest the Christmas season -- probably a Christmas table runner, perhaps a Christmas centerpiece (or just a mason jar full of evergreen sprigs), and a string  of lights.

I'll probably use this runner which I sewed in 2009; however ....

it's barely possible I'll have these placemats finished in time.

We will have a festive repast -- probably just something like appetizers, cookies, fudge and punch -- and exchange our small and simple gifts.  Sounds like fun to me!

A fabulous resource -- TipJunkie's Christmas in July!

(Image from TipJunkie)

If you are not familiar with TipJunkie, you are missing a fantastic resource -- not just for Christmas ideas, but for recipes, crafts, party ideas, organizational helps, printables,  all sorts of DIY projects and much, much more.  I subscribe to their emails and I have found so many amazing ideas that way.

Right now, TipJunkie is hosting Christmas in July.  Head on over: TipJunkie's Christmas in July!  You will find ideas for decorating, hostess gifts, Christmas trees, Nativity sets, kitchen gifts, bath and beauty gifts, stockings, gift wrapping, and homemade gifts for everyone from kids to neighbors to co-workers, teachers and more.  I think one could easily spend a day browsing this site, so go on over and see what's happening!  I guarantee you will find some great ideas!

Fantastic felt food

Over the past few years I have made lots of felt (and some crocheted) food for Christmas gifts and for other occasions too.  I showed the sugar cookies earlier this month, but I've made lots of other items too.  These fun projects are small and portable and can easily be taken along on vacation to work on wherever you may be.  Best of all, kids love felt food.  If you have kids or grandkids and like to make handmade gifts for them, felt food will likely be a hit!

Pumpkin pie with whipped cream

Cheesecake (or cheese pie) with whipped cream and a strawberry

Strawberries

Cinnamon rolls

Fried eggs -- sunny side up

Strawberry frosted doughnut

Frosted chocolate doughnut with sprinkles

Assorted popsicles

Pancakes

Bacon & eggs

More popsicles

Bow-tie tricolor pasta

Bags of chips

A closer look at the potato chips

Peanut butter & jelly on wheat

Ham & cheese, lettuce & tomato on hamburger buns

Four slices of pie

Chocolate cream pie

Crocheted chocolate sandwich cookies

A bag full of cookies

Pie slices in a bakery box

Toaster pastries

Ready to give

Tomatoes in a box

Tomatoes out of the box

Lemon meringue pie

Hope you've enjoyed this look at some of the felt food I've made.  If you are interested in instructions for a particular food, let me know in the comments and I will add a link to the tutorials I used.  Happy Crafting!

Some favorite Christmas cookbooks

These are the first three Gooseberry books I acquired.  The one on the left is a particular favorite because it goes from Harvest right through Christmas and is packed with ideas!

July is a great time to look through your collection of Christmas cookbooks and craft books for ideas.  Like Vicki, who shared her collection here: Christmas in July: Cookbooks, many of my very favorite books in this category are from Gooseberry Patch.  Since my time is sort of limited today, I thought I would just share my favorite Gooseberry Christmas books with you all.  Just pictures and captions, to keep it simple.

Here again, the one of the left has ideas from Harvest right through Christmas.  The middle one is one that I have a recipe published in, so got that one free.  Christmas Pantry, on the right, is a favorite of mine.

These are all favorites.  Simple Joys of Christmas contains one of my recipes and a Christmas memory; Farmhouse Christmas has one of my craft ideas.  I bought Magic of Christmas at a Cracker Barrel in SC on a visit to my daughter when she lived there.

These larger books have so many of the recipes and craft ideas and they also are filled with gorgeous photos.  Here are Books 1 and 3.  I also own Book 2 but it was in use on my crafting desk.

Books 4, 5, and 6

Here is a link to Book 4, if you are interested: Gooseberry Patch Christmas Book 4.

Books 7, 8, and 9

A few more

And a few more

These Gifts for Giving and Merry Mixes cookbooks are filled with great ideas to make for gifts!

Hope you have enjoyed this look at some of my Gooseberry Patch collection.  If you don't own any of these fun and inspiring books, you can find them at Gooseberry Patch, on Amazon, at many bookstores or craft stores or country shops, or even at thrift stores and consignment shops occasionally.  Better yet, submit a craft or recipe idea to Gooseberry Patch.  If they use your idea, they will send you a free copy of the book it's in!