Armadillo and Monkey Softies

I made this armadillo softie for my no. 2 son for Christmas. 
We had a making Christmas and when asked what he wanted I was presented with this page of his DK The Natural History Book (fantastic book).  This is what I came up with.  Not my finest work, but he recognised it as an armadillo and is delighted with it, so I am happy.

No. 1 son wanted a surprise, so I made him an Albert Monkey.  I've made several of these before (here) with a pattern from this Softies book.

The younger two got one of my little Kiwi each. 

I used reclaimed blankets for all of the softies.

It's nice seeing them enjoy my handiwork.

Hope you had an enjoyable Christmas.

Happy Christmas

If you were one of my neighbours you would have received

a visit from us 6 and one of these-

a bundle of home made ginger bread cookies (recipe here)

or a jar of home made biscotti

to wish you a happy Christmas.

May you and your family have a safe, happy and peaceful Christmas this year.

With best wishes from,

CHD

Gingerbread Cookies

This gingerbread cookie recipe is a favourite of ours.

125g butter, softened

1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 cup (180g) treacle

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Silver cachous to decorate

1.  Place butter and sugar in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until pale and creamy.  Beat in egg, then beat in treacle.

2.  Add dry ingredients, beating gently to combine into a cookie dough.  Wrap in plastic wrap and place in fridge for 1 hour or until you are ready to cut out the cookies.

3.  Heat oven to 170°C.  Line 2 baking trays with nonstick baking paper.

4.  Roll out dough to about 1/2cm thick and cut out cookies using  a cookie cutter.  Place cookies on baking trays and back for 10-12 minutes until firm and golden.

5.  Remove to a wire rack to cool.  Decorate with silver cachous while still warm.

Notes:

+  They are a soft biscuit texture.

+ I made double the recipe for the above picture. 

+  These cookies keep well for a week or more in an air tight container.

+  It is a recipe by Julie Le Clerc that I ripped out of a magazine years ago and adapted to the above.

+  I love my Tovolo cookie cutters as they give the indents to place the cachous in, making decorating a cinch- I've seen them at Stevens here in NZ.

+  Let me know if you give them a go.

Things I'm Loving- School's Out, Sewing Space and Having Kids Home.

This week I am thankful for...

...our long school holidays which started early in the week. 

We celebrated with lime sodas. 

I'm loving my Christmas cakes being all finished. 

The front one is for my in-laws and the other for us. 

 I make two each year.

With a bit of moving kids around, I'm thankful to now have my own room. 
I love that I finally have it organised with my machines (yes, I have 3- a normal sewing machine, a leather sewing machine and the over locker) all set up to use and supplies organised so I can find them. 

Making things is so much easier. 

Making things makes me happy.

I finished all these guys...

...and this lot for custom orders.

I love seeing a bundle all packed up and waiting to be delivered.

Finally and mostly I love having these 4 come home this morning. 

I had surgery this week and they had to go away for a few days.

But, nothing beats having them home on our deck where they belong.

Hope you had a great week.

Linking in with Paisley Jade and others being thankful here.

Mousse- Oh La La

We went to a French Country themed Do on the weekend-oh la la.

We were each sent a recipe to make for the banquet. 

 I made Chocolate Mousse for 23. 

This is the recipe.  I made double.

It was delicious...

...and I don't normally like mousse.

Things I'm Loving- Family, Christmas and Craft Supplies

This week I'm loving my Camera+ app that is making taking photos more fun and the photos much more beautiful than I've ever managed before.

I am thankful that my 4 children are getting on as the best of friends
(at the moment!).



I'm loving dressing my daughter in cute dresses and her Salt Water Sandals which I bought her in the States- so much fun after 3 boys.

The tree and that wreath are up and I'm loving the anticipation of Christmas.

I took delivery of some delightful merino wool felt for my dolls after a lengthy hunt for a supplier.  Such beautiful colours and felt from the lovely

 Janet at Felt on the Fly.

And then I came across this loot of beautiful leather for my doll shoes in some great colours that delighted me so much I could barely contain myself-
silly, I know.

Then today, before he heads to work for the evening, the Dr started putting our pool up ready for lots of summer fun.  It will take a few days to fill but I love in advance the delight on the boy's faces when I bring them home from school to find it. It worked a treat last summer. 

Hope you had a good week.

Linking in with Paisley Jade and others here.

Wreath

If you came to my front door this is what would greet you. 

I whipped it up the other night with things I had lying around.  

It's not perfect, but does the job of brightening up my entrance way

for Christmas and welcoming visitors to our home.

Wreath base- Bought last year at Ikea, but only got around to using now.

Berries- From the Christmas Heirloom Company,

 because I liked them, but had no idea what I would use them for.

Ribbon- from my stash.

Pine cones- From sending the boys on a hunt on the farm path near our house.

Red bird- from Country Road.

Penguin Cake

Our precious number 3 son is 5 today and

his favourite thing is his toy penguin, Icy.  

So, I made him this Penguin cake, as requested.

He is such a fun boy with lots of spunk and never short of a hug to give.

I'll only have one left at home next year,

when he starts school with his big brothers.

I'm going to miss having him around during the day.

(Cake idea from the Australian Women's Weekly Kid's Birthday Cakes book)

Things I'm Loving- Beach Day Off

This week I'm loving...

Being thankful for time with my family. 

The Dr and kids taking a day off work and school and finding a beach all to ourselves to hang out on.

  The kids swimming even though it was way too cold...

...and insisting that it wasn't- check out the white fingers.

A delightful op shop haul from a small town op shop hop.

(A stool to re-cover, vintage doily, fabric and blankets for birds and dolls and a vintage hat box complete with Royal Dutch Mail postage label to Wellington from Amsterdam (so excited to find that)).

I'm also loving capturing shots of my family and playing with my new phone app.

Hope you had a good week.

Linking in with Paisley Jade and others here.