Christmas-ness.

I’ve been having a lovely time making Christmas goodies with a little bit of baking thrown in. December has gone so fast hasn't it! I’ve got a couple more little things I want to make but I really wanted to make a Christmas quilt by Christmas Eve so I think next week will be quilt week and I’ll put the rest of the project ideas I collected away for next year. I’m happy that I got a lot of them done though. I've taken pics of most things today so I do have blog fodder for the lead-up to Christmas.

This is the most fantastic project that Nixie emailed me, you can find the tutorial on Craftster right here. I had so much fun making this, and it was SO simple. If anyone has tried making a patchwork sphere you know what a pain in the butt it is right? Although this looks like patchwork it’s actually a no-sew styrofoam ball ornament. I would be making a ton more of these if I had any more balls but unfortunately I’m too lazy to go buy any more. I do have one quite huge one left though, maybe I’ll do a mega one to sit in a display somewhere instead of hanging on the tree.

I also received my first ornament from the 2007 Holiday Ornament swap, it’s so beautiful! I love it. It’s from Paula McGurdy, you can check out her blog here.

I’m going a little slow on the baking front (although that’s probably a good thing health-wise!), I’ve got about five recipes I want to try out, and a couple days ago I made the Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies (from Martha) that I did last year, mmm. Sugar cookies next. And I must make time for homemade marshmallows to go in hot chocolates.

And because I’ve had a lovely week just playing and making it means that finally his weekend I need to tackle the craft room (waaahhh) and my car. Much mess in both. My car is filled to the brim of uni stuff, wood, shelves, tools and a gigantic stuffed knitted scarf. And the other day I was yanking my window sun visor out of the back seat and it ripped and exploded disintegrated foam ALL over the car and myself. Not quite the white Christmas I was hoping for. Sigh.

Comments

[Donna]

That Christmas ball is brilliant - thank you, thank you for posting the link.

[Ellen]

Hey Miss Meshell!
I'm a long-time reader of your blog, and I must admit my favorite part of your posts are the photographs. I'm organizing a knit scarf drive, and I was wondering if you'd allow me to use a few of your gorgeous yarn photos on flyers and on the website.
Hope to hear from you,
Ellen:)

p.s., the cookies look deeeelish.

[Emma]

Wow those patchwork - or pretend patchwork - balls are awesome! I think I might have to try one now that someone has sent me some Christmassy fabrics! ;)

Also did you get my email to thank you for your package? If not, it arrived safely and to fetched it from the post office this morning. I love everything so thanks so much!!

[Anna Laura]

Those little balls look so great! I will have to have a look at the tutorial. Our store room at school had a few of them but I could never work out what to do with them!

[Queen Bee]

I love those patchwork ornaments - I'm definitely going to try and have a go at those!!

[Chara Michele]

I really thought that ornament ball was sewn until you said it wasn't, and then I had to look at the tutorial to understand how in the world it wasn't:) It looks wonderful! The ornament you got from your swap looks lovely too! :)

[Erica]

Only discovered your blog recently - thought you might like to see my patchwork balls, my mum showed me how to make these about 20 years ago (when styrofoam had just been invented haha) not quite as neat around the edges as yours because I used shiny slippery fabrics which didn't want to stay in the holes,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gramarye/336103948/

[shell]

Oh yes, the holiday clean up! I've kind of ignored my art room and under the house (where I store all my bigger uni projects), and I plan to do that until after new year - this year I'm gonna enjoy some holiday time!

Love the ornament - it's soooo beautiful and looks perfectly made. I think I'll have to check out the tutorial for myself.

Sounds festive at your place - baking and quilt making - how wholesome and utterly wonderful!

[sammyjo]

very cool ornaments and the cookies look yummy lol

[Nixie]

Cool, you tried 'em! Your balls look great! I tried to do some with the cuts horizontally but they didn't look as good.

The cookies look yum-o! Maybe I'll try those- I'm doing some rum balls tomorrow ;) Ooh and I love the festive recipe background on the Asta post!

[Jasmine Pierce]

My favourite Xmas outfit was a red velvet dress my mum made for me - still fondly remembered

[hellofortune]

o so cute!!! the kitty is so cute... and so easy! it looks so much more technical than that!

yum ive never had choch gingerbread!!! i might try it!

love your blog!

[cruststation]

That's a beautiful Christmas ball, great use of fabrics.
Loving the ornament for the swap, am always inspired by your crafty / baking energy.

[Elizabeth]

A no-sew ball eh? Well I'll be a monkey's uncle, who'd a thunk it? It looks excellent. I love the kitty peeking out of the panel. super cute.

[norththreads]

Oh I must be getting old!!!!!!, I used to make these balls years ago, but how cute with updated fabric! I love your stocking, very nice work!

[Leigh]

I love your blog! Just found it. Your pictures are amazing. I read in your bio that you were getting a canon digital SLR. Are you using it now? I looks like your current pictures are with an SLR. We got the canon digital xti SLR a few months ago and I'm crazy about it. Still learning what I'm doing with it though. I wanted to post about your blog and your great pictures. Hope that would be okay with you? Leigh

[nico]

meshell!
omgosh i havent visted in so long ive missed so much... COngrats on finishing school!! WEEE!!! omg and your going to start a small handmade business!! YAY!!! ive missed your bright colorful fun and lovely blog. the ornament and stocking you made are great! really nice. cookies too. more than we did for xmas for sure! we didnt do anything cept get presents and wrap em!

hope you have a good holiday :D

[Mini Storage]

That so amazing knit-work!
Very impressive!
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