Turning The Page

I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year!!! I hope 2010 was all you had hoped for and 2011 is even better. Thank you for reading H&H, you mean the world to me!!!

xx,

Marianne

{ Eye Candy }

We're away on a mini vaca ~

So, while away enjoy these random images I've saved for some time now.

{ Happy New Year }

*all from Cottage Living*

hope your all staying warm and cozy

Top Ten Tutorials for 2010

Since we are heading into 2011, I thought I would take this opportunity to recap the

Top Ten Tutorials

on The Cottage Home this past year.

1. Turkey Shirt Tutorial

2. Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial

3. Reusable Coffee Sleeve Tutorial

4. Ruffled Pillowcase Tutorial

5. Laptop Sleeve Tutorial

6. Ruffle Bonnet Tutorial

7. Embellished Hooded Towel Tutorial

 8. Fabric Lid Jar Tutorial

9. T-Shirt Shrug Tutorial

 10. Mason Jar Pin Cushion Tutorial

Thanks so much for reading The Cottage Home in 2010.  Looking forward to a wonderful and exciting 2011! 

Happy New Year!

Art In Motion

Chanel Spring 2011 Show- It is visual stunning and inspiring, especially the aerial views of the whole "runway". Hope you enjoy...

The second part is probably better and shorter for those who don't want to sit through Part I...
Karl, you are a creative genius.

Three's A Crowd

LOVE this room with not one but 3 ottomans....The rest of the house is great too, definitely a breath of fresh air. The fretwork in the other rooms is amazing, be sure to check it out. I was going to only post the ottoman picture but I had to include these as well.
For more images of this house by Thomas Hamel go to House Beautiful

Felted I-Pod Cozy Tutorial

I wanted to share this post with you last week, but seeing as though this was a Christmas gift for my hubby, I had to hold off.  This I-pod cozy is made from the end of the sleeve of a felted wool sweater.  You can alter this tutorial to fit any kid of small electronic device - I-pod, I-phone, or use the entire body of the sweater and make one for your I-pad or Kindle.

This present was given to my husband from his two little girls - the gift tag said "Dad, you rock!"

Felted I-Pod Cozy

Supplies:

1 felted wool sweater sleeve (click HERE to learn how to felt)

1 button

1 elastic hair-tie

Sewing machine or hand-sewing needle

Thread

Directions:

Place the I-pod (or other electronic device) inside the felted wool sweater sleeve to measure for size.  Cut the end of the sleeve, leaving an additional 1/2" to allow for the seam allowance.

Turn the cuff right-sides together and stitch the bottom (raw end) closed (machine or by hand).  If you need to make the sleeve tighter, you can also sew down one of the sides and use whatever seam allowance you need to fit the electronic device you are using.  Cut the corners at a diagonal - be careful not to cut the stitching.  Turn right-side out.

Stitch the button, by hand, to the wool cuff.  Then sew the elastic hair tie as well.  Check for button placement by placing your I-pod inside the sleeve.  You want the elastic to stretch a little bit.

 Now your I-pod is nice and cozy!

Christmas Joy 2010!

We have had a wonderful holiday season this year and I hope you have as well! 

We had an extended Christmas celebration starting the weekend before the official holiday with a visit from my mom and her husband, Allen for what we called "mini-Christmas".  We then spent the rest of the holiday with our immediate family and my in-laws. 

Here are some pictures taken over the last several weeks of our Christmas:

Christmas Joy 2010

Mom and the girls did some holiday baking.  They made our traditional breakfast pastry called Swedish Tea Logs.  We have had these every year on Christmas morning since I can remember.  And even though Mom and Allen were here a week early, we went ahead with the tradition.  There is something so comforting about this pastry - it just tastes like Christmas.

We took the girls to see Santa with Mom and Allen.  Savannah had already told us ahead of time that she did not want to see him, so we didn't force the issue.  Her argument is that Santa is big and she is little.  Matilda, however, had not really seen Santa before so we gave it a go.  She did alright........she was not thrilled, but did not scream bloody murder like her sister had in previous years.  I'll say it was somewhat of a successful visit!

We hosted Christmas Eve dinner at our home for my in-laws following Christmas Eve Mass.  I always have so much fun setting a formal table.  A lot of the items used on our Christmas table have been passed down by relatives and are very special to us.

For Christmas Eve dinner I served a blackberry and mustard glazed ham (recipe to come), cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad with candied pecans, cranberries, and feta cheese and homemade bread.

We had a great time eating and drinking around the table.  But my big question is how did my soon-to-be 3 year old turn from a little toddler into a little girl?  Seeing this picture makes me realize how fast time flies.  What an angel - I just love her to pieces!

After dinner my husband served the gingerbread cookies he made as well as his homemade Wassail.

On Christmas morning we had our own little Christmas with just our immediate family.  We looked through our stockings, played with our new toys and just relaxed for a little while before heading over to my in-laws for more Christmas fun!

My mother-in-law made a gazillion types of cookies as well as her famous monkey bread.  Everything was so delicious and we munched on these tasty treats all day!

Then it was time for some more present opening at my in-laws.  Brett and I had lots of fun surprises under the tree and are very thankful and appreciative of all of our family's generosity. 

The most exciting part of Christmas for me is the gift giving.  My goal was to go 100% handmade this year, but that just didn't happen and I'm ok with that.  With catching pneumonia and have two little ladies under 3, I decided to cut myself some slack.

Here are a few gifts that I gave to others this Christmas (you will see tutorials for many of these things in the coming weeks):

I gave this book to my mom and Allen for Christmas as kind of a late wedding present.  The Bride and Groom First and Forever Cookbook is one of my absolute favorites and definitely one of my own personal "go to" books.  I made them two potholders out of the same fabric that I used for the girls flower girl dresses that they wore in Mom and Allen's wedding.

My mom is wanting to get back into sewing, so I gave her Amy Butler's new book, "Amy Butler's Style Stitches" and two charm packs of Kate Spain's "Fandango" to help inspire her to create.

Several family members received tile coaster sets from me.  This is definitely one of my favorite gifts!

My hubby received an I-pod cozy from his two little girls.  I made this from a felted wool sweater sleeve (tutorial coming tomorrow).  The tag said, "Dad, you rock!"

My daughter Matilda received a quilt that I made specially for her.  I posted previously about this HERE.

For my mother-in-law, I made her a whole set of vintage inspired craft room organizational items.  I'll share more about this gift idea in a couple weeks.  I loved how the set turned out and she did too!!

Savannah and Matilda received a princess tent that they are in love with.  Both girls love to snuggle inside with their favorite animals and blankets.

We just spent the rest of the day opening presents, lounging, playing and eating - exactly my idea of a good time!

And when all was said and done, we all needed a good nap!

This was by far the best Christmas yet and we look forward to many more to come.  I feel so blessed to be able to experience Christmas through my childrens' eyes.  They bring so much pure joy, excitement, magic and wonder to the holiday season.  What a true blessing!