Blog Give Away of Really Kewl Buttons

My girly, Tala who I haven't actually met is having a giveaway of hand made buttons. Go check them out and I want to win these... If you tell her I sent you I get more chances to win, BTW.

A Christmas Belief

Happy Yule!

At Christmas time I believe in the things that children do.

I believe with English children that holly placed in windows will protect our homes from evil.

I believe with Swiss children that the touch of edelweiss will charm a person with love.


I believe with Italian children that La Befana is not an ugly doll but a good fairy who will gladden the heart of all.

I believe with Greek children that coins concealed in freshly baked loaves of bread will bring good luck to anyone who finds them.

I believe with German children that the sight of a Christmas tree will lessen hostility among adults.

I believe with French children that lentils soaked and planted in a bowl will rekindle life in people who have lost hope.

I believe with Dutch children that the horse Sleipner will fly through the sky and fill the earth with joy.

I believe with Swedish children that Jultomte will come and deliver gifts to the poor as well as to the rich.

I believe with Finnish children that parties held on Saint Stephen's Day will erase sorrow.

I believe with Danish children that the music of a band playing from a church tower will strengthen humankind.

I believe with Bulgarian children that sparks from a Christmas log will create warmth in human souls.

I believe with American children that the sending of Christmas cards will build friendships.

I believe with all children that there will be peace on earth.

Daniel Roselle

Christmas Baking or How to have Your Cookies and Eat Them Too!

Thursday, I spent the day making my version of Martha Stewarts' shortbread recipe from her Christmas Book and the Chocolate Chip Quick Oatmeal cookies from the Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer. Then, I made the ganache and dipped the Bavarian style pretzels yesterday. I then spent the rest of day putting together the Christmas cookie plates for my friends and post person and thinking about how I am happy to be baking but not so happy to eat all the results. Christmas baking solves for my heart and gift giving of them solves for my waistline. I didn't take pictures of the cookies but I did take pictures of the pretzels.

Next up, a gluten free cookie for my friend, Sheila, who has Celiac Disease. Going to try out dried cranberry and coconut macaroons.

How to Make an American Kilt

Here is the wool tartan in the Old Blair.

For more years than I care to think about I have been trying to get my Da, Allan to get and wear a kilt. I finally convinced him last summer to go ahead and purchase the Old Blair Tartan and let me make his kilt for him. This process, was of course, speeded up by my girlfriends admiring him in my Stewart Kilt.

I have a great friend, Judy Wisehart, who makes kilts professionally and she agreed to show me how to make a proper kilt from beginning to end. So with fabric in hand, I spent a couple days at her house, cutting the fabric, stitching the pleats, pressing the pleats, pressing the pleats some more and then more steaming and more stitching of the pleats. When all was said and done, and the buckles and tabs were added after I returned to my house (finally as I had been gone from home for 3 weeks) it was finished. I then went in search of a sturdy hanger to keep it on (whilst also avoiding the malls in the search) and made a hanging bag to protect it whilst Da traveled it to home in Arizona.

Here are some pictures of some of the many steps it takes to make an American kilt.








The finished product and when I can find it, I will post the picture of him wearing it. Now on to stockings to go with..

Takumi Needle Set Give-Away

Go check this out.. Needle Set