...because my baking SUCKS. When my group of mom friends started talking about doing a cookie exchange, I thought, "aha, just my thing!" But like so many of my recent baking attempts, my dreams of a well-dressed cookie went down in flames. First I made Peppermint Bark, and I suppose it tasted good enough if you could get past the fact that it looked like vomit (hint: do not mix the candy bits in with the white chocolate, no matter what the recipe tells you. Sprinkle, sprinkle!). Pecan Brown Sugar Shortbread should have been easier...was it the butter? The temperature? My mixed? Ugh, I can't even talk about it. Luckily my friend Anna was on hand to run over and stir up some cashew brittle. Everyone else brought amazingly tasty and beautiful cookies, which I am now passing off as my own. If "passing off" can include "throwing down my gullet every time I pass the table."
The only things that kept me from feeling too guilty about the inadequacy of my swap were the gifts I'd made for all the babies--little mitten ornaments. I now have the pattern memorized and can finish about 1.5 of them during Pete's naps.
Speaking of Christmas gifting, I drew Kaitlyn as my Secret Santee. She had requested a needle case, and I was going to be sensible and buy a nice one...but left it until the last minute, and then wasn't satisfied with the available selection. So voila!
It's an improvement on the one I made for myself, I think, but there are still a few flaws. The fabric I chose for the pockets isn't sturdy enough, and I had total Mommy Brain as I was cutting so things came out a little tight. The side flap I added is just "eh"--I wanted to make it a zippered pocket, but it was 11pm and I didn't have an appropriate zipper on hand. Next time.
The mini mittens are the cutest thing I have ever seen! Or should we call them fingertip warmers? :)
And what gorgeous fabric you used for the needle case!
Posted by: Veronique | December 20, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Please tell me you are taking orders for those cases. It's such an awesome design- never too many pockets!!!
ps- you can always call me if you need a hand baking. I keep on hand an emergency stash of fine pastries chronogenically frozen ;)
Posted by: Craptina | December 23, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Lovely, lovely needle case! I think your gift was truly the envy of the Secret Santa exchange. ;)
Posted by: Jessica | December 27, 2008 at 01:13 PM
I love my needle case!!!!! It's the perfect thing for my collection an dyou have saved me a fortune in repurchasing :) Maia loves to play with it too... although maybe that's not as cute as i think it is. I'll need more detail on the peppermint bark--love that stuff!
Posted by: kaitlyn | December 27, 2008 at 08:42 PM