{diy: stamped ornaments}

Beautifully heavy, these lovely ceramic baubles felt much fancier than the $1.99 price tag (and 40% sale) suggested. I came home with three, fully intent on hanging them, pristinely white, on the tree. "It'll be so simple and Scandinavian," I told myself, happily imagining a whitewashed house, ten feet of snow, and a sauna in our (imaginary) basement.

And then along came this pin. Abby, of Aesthetic Outburst, had found the same baubles, and drew on hers. Is there anything that woman can't draw geometric shapes on?

After our anniversary plate painting, though, I'm a little wary of ceramic paints. Our fancy-schmancy Porcelaine pens dribbled, spat, globbed, or did nothing even after twenty minutes of furiously bobbing them up and down. So instead, out came the stamp pad. Two minutes later -- with no arm bobbing and minimal dribble (from the stamps, at least) -- ta da!

This is the point where everyone says, "Who on earth is Matilda?" -- yes, that's Tilly. Spin Tilly's bauble around and you'll see the year she was born printed on the back. (Spin mine around and you'll have no such luck... I'm predicting that there'll be a point in the not-so-distant future that I won't want that information available to the public).

Now, should I run back and get another one (two? three?) to save for imaginary, possible, hypothetical future family members, or is that really just asking for trouble? 

My Christmas Wall Tree

I'd loved this idea of a bits-and-bobs, collection tree ever since I saw it over at The Fable of the Table. And, with a rummage through my jewelry box, my buttons, pompoms, fridge magnets, ornaments that don't fit with our 'strictly red' tree this year, and a goodie bag sent over from Beijing, there were suddenly more than enough trinkets to fill up my tree.

My tree is backed with poster board with a linen surface, and the decorations are simply pinned on (and double-sided taped if pinning was impossible). It is outlined with a thin piece of twine. It can't get any easier than that!

I really enjoyed making it, and just love how personal it is. We have mementoes on there from such a range of times and places and people: incense from our honeymoon in Thailand, my badge from the summer I interned at IKEA Beijing, keys to Justin's old red Mitsubishi, a red clay heart from Auntie Jenni, a beaded wreath from Grandma Thies, coloured paper clips that I slipped off submissions to the Sonora Review, a pendant I remember buying in Nottingham when I was about eleven, a fishing lure that my parents attached to one of Justin's Christmas presents one year, and even the twine was a gift from my friend, Loreal! I'm sure this will be a yearly tradition, with new items added each winter.

For other beautiful wall trees, check out Jane's and The Sunday Collector's. And then make your own!

A Handmade Tree

As Tilly is able to stay up longer and longer, I am finding it best to have smaller and smaller projects on the go, so that it is still possible to get something sewn and finished in a day. And so, I've built up quite a collection of handmade ornaments for our tree this year. 

The little house, to symbolise our first year in our own home. The cross stitch heart, which reminds me of all the Danish-style Christmases I had growing up. Wool felt hearts, for all the warmth and love that surround us. Red and white felt do-dahs, because they are the fabrics I have most of. And little embroidered mittens, which can be picked off the tree and put onto Tilly's hands on chilly days.

White Elephant Gift

Work at the Writing Centre is over for the year, and today we have our office Christmas party. We'll be doing a White Elephant gift swap, and since we're all complete nerds, I thought I'd make something with a bit of a grammar theme:

Felt ornaments, adorned with my favourite punctuation marks! (Semi-colon, exclamation point, and an apostrophe/comma, in case you weren't sure!)

They were so simple to make, just felt circles with punctuation marks cut free-hand and sewn on, then stuffed!

Here's the gift ready to be wrapped, with a little note explaining what they are!

And, the dessert I made: an English trifle, with real imported Bird's custard, but no sherry this year! (Cran-raspberry will have to do... I hope you know the sacrifices I'm making, baby!)

Yummy looking, but again, oh so simple. Angel food cake, jello, frozen strawberries and raspberries soaked in juice, custard, more frozen fruit, and heaps of freshly whipped cream... in that order!

This should be the best office party ever!