Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries: Dreaming of a Primitive Christmas

I am partial to primitive décor as maybe some of you are also. I like to decorate with antiques and primitives and at Christmas time I like to decorate with nature as my guide.

These ideas are a few ideas that I picked up from reading The Country Register the other day. So if you like greenery, pinecones and twigs, you can use them in your displays.


Fresh Greenery:

There are many ways to incorporate fresh greenery into your displays. Cut sprigs of evergreen or pick up some from your local shop and add to trenchers, bowls, baskets and crocks. Tuck greenery in or around pewter, redware or yellowware in exiting displays giving it a simple, yet elegant touch.


Wreaths:

The wreath has an important place in the history of Christmas. The circle shape of the wreath is made to represent Christ's eternal love, strength and the creation of new life. Evergreens are commonly used in the construction of the wreath. Try using fresh herbs, pinecones or dried apples instead. They will add primitive and country charm to your home.

Garland:

Popcorn and cranberry garlands are fun and easy to make! They will also give your tree old-time charm. 

Primitive Ornaments:

 

 

Trim your tree with handmade ornaments this Christmas. They add to the specialness of your Christmas tree.  These ornaments like the ones from PaxtonValleyFolkArt are perfect to put on your tree.

So if you decorate prim, country, rustic or whatever just use some greenery and pinecones to add to your decorating.

 

 

Have fun decorating!!  :)

 

 

Colleen

 

 

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries

 

 

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries Blog

Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Bajingled & Bedazzled

Christmas parties bring out the inner up-cycler in us all as swarms of non-thrifty people journey into Goodwill in search of the all mighty ugly Christmas sweater!  That bedazzled yarn thingamajig adorned with frightfully festive creatures, jingle bells, and glitter glue.  It's the chance to become a walking tree ornament for a day, but one has to have a magical attitude to truly bring the sweater to life.

These Etsy up-cyclers offer ugly gems with a humorous twist. Shop quick as the last party weekend is fast approaching- but favorite these sellers because the laughs last all year long.  A festive browse pairs well, mid-party, with after dinner drinks!

AuntSistsersPicks is yuletide humor done right! Warning: sipping eggnog while browsing not advised due to laughter choking hazard!

 

Everyone is in the spirit at UglyXmas!  Decking the halls with rock star attitude. 

 

Swing into TangledTinsel where all is "relentlessly tacky".  This shop owner lives up to the promise!

Who doesn't look awesome in an ugly Christmas sweater? Check out these two hamming it up at LaneysThisandThat.

Need more? Give the gift of laughter this year with Rock Your Ugly Christmas Sweater

LOVE  &  UP-CYCLE NATION!!

Jacquie Wheeler

Hand of Bela Peck

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Handofbelapeck?ref=si_shop

http://handofbelapeck1759.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hand-of-Bela-Peck/294397987277061?ref=hl

Blog Party Sunday -- Show Off Your Handmades

Welcome to our Blog Party Sunday. We would love to have you show us what you are crafting.

You are allowed to add 3 links to your shops or your blog.

The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items each week.
4. Family friendly items only.

The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops,  post about it on your  blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button below and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.

<a href="http://www.byyourhands.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy110/ByYourHands/blogparty.jpg">, </a>

Today's Featured Shop -- The Sunflower Cupboard

Today's featured shop is The Sunflower Cupboard.    Pat specializes in decorative painting on various surfaces.

Primitive Ginger Snowman

Dicken's Christmas Plaque

Prim Hope Angel

Checkered Sunflower Mirror

Be sure and visit Pat's shop to see all her handmades.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSunflowerCupboard

Witches Stitches - The Best Bread

I have to apologize. I am so busy finishing Christmas orders, (not complaining), that I did not have the time to do a sewing related topic. I promise after the holidays I will be back to that. For this week I want to share one of my favorite bread recipes.  This is so easy to make. The great part about this bread is the different ways you can make it. It is wonderful warm out of the oven, but the other great thing about it is, it makes the best toast the next morning. It is like a meal in itself.
Beer Bread

3 cups self-rising flour

3 tablespoons white sugar

Whatever else you choose to add – I will have suggestions after the directions.

1 - 12oz bottle of beer (the alcohol does bake out, and you do not taste the beer)

Combine the flour, sugar and whatever your other choice of ingredient is. When well blended pour in the entire bottle of beer at once. Mix until blended and all dry ingredients are combined.

Pre heat oven to 375 degrees

Butter the bottom and sides of a loaf pan

Pour combined ingredients into buttered loaf pan place in the center of your oven and bake for 55 to 60 min.
The top will be golden brown when done.
Remove from oven do not remove from pan, coat the top crust with butter and let cool about 10 min. To remove from pan just flip pan over and shake a bit the loaf will come right out. If it sticks a bit just run a knife around the inside of the pan between the bread and side. Then flip and shake again.
Now for the best part, you can add almost anything you want to this bread depending on what you are serving it with.
Here are some suggestions; you can use any one of these at a time:

2 cups of finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese (great for serving with chicken)

2 cups of dried cranberries (After you butter the crust sprinkle a full tablespoon of sugar on the top too)

2 cups of raisins (After you butter the crust sprinkle a full tablespoon of sugar on the top too)
A full tablespoon of dried herbs:

Rosemary (Top the crust with olive oil instead of butter)

Dill

Sundried tomatoes (Top the crust with olive oil instead of butter)

These are the things I have used, I am sure there are many others. When I make it with the sweet ingredients I serve it the next morning as toast. This is great if you have overnight guests. It is so good with coffee or tea. I make a loaf the night before. When it is done I put the butter and sugar on the top then just let it sit in the loaf pan until morning. I sit mine in my microwave just to keep it safe from the cat. My cat loves bread. Yea, who would have thought.

The best way to make this bread into toast:  I know, I know how hard can toast be, but I have found the best way is to slice the bread about a half inch thick. This is a dense bread so after it is cool for a while it will slice easily with a good bread knife. Put it directly on the rack of a toaster over and toast it a little darker than med. When it starts to brown take it out and put butter on it right away. I find if you wait it may get a touch dry. You can also add tart jam also. So good!!

When serving it with dinner serve it warm, just slice and serve and watch it disappear.

I hope you give this simple bread a try. Nobody will know how easy it is and it looks like you really fussed.  Thank you for reading and if you have questions give me a shout.

Thanks, Faith