handmade christmas roundup (finally!)

I've had new-year-procrastinitis. Every day that passes makes it harder to get back on the blogging wagon. And...we had a sad month. Our big family Christmas gift was a Labrador puppy. One that we've known since he was in his mum's tum, who we've visited since he was two weeks old. We brought him home the second week of January, and three days later found out he was very sick with a congenital heart defect. We made the awful decision to return him to his breeder for further investigation, but sadly, he died two days later. It has been a heartbreaking experience, and we don't feel ready to look for another puppy.

The rest of our holiday was joyful, though, and full of handmade goodness.

Lacy baktus for my mom (details on Ravelry)

peppermint bark (using the recipe shared by Soule Mama)

Christmas cookies - we made what seemed like hundreds and gave little parcels of cookies to friends and neighbours in lieu of Christmas cards

Christmas Eve pj bottoms - using Folksy Flannel and Burda 9747

mama-made flopsy doll made with hand-dyed organic bamboo velour

beeswaxed play blocks Daddy made from sawn douglas fir and birch branches

sailboat made by Daddy

rockerboard made by a man from a Waldorf community in New York (thank you Waldorf Mama for sharing his details last Christmas)

playstand made by my friend's incredibly talented 15-year-old son - perfect for building dens

happy holidays

Hope your holidays have been as joyful as ours! We're continuing our celebrations by traveling to see family tomorrow, but I'll be back in the new year to share our little handmade Christmas with you. And to introduce you to the newest member of our family. A baby, yes. But one of the four-legged variety. Until then, wishing you a peaceful and joyful New Year!

the elves are busy

Eva has begun work on her Christmas gifts. I couldn't believe how quickly she took to embroidery. The little green bird was originally intended to be a gift for the wonderful teacher who taught Eva's and Imogen's class whilst their regular teacher was recovering from an operation, but it was so lovely I couldn't part with it! I know that's a bit mean, but it was her first ever embroidery, and like her first pair of shoes, I felt I had to keep it.

We based the drawing on some paper birds we made last Spring, and Eva decided to add the word 'LOVE' to her second and third design. I have to thread the needle for her, but other than demonstrating how to stitch over the drawing, she has done all this needlework herself. I've so enjoyed watching the concentration and care she bestows on this handwork - she is very methodical and particular about where she pokes the needle, which colours she puts together, and how large or small her stitches are. I think the results are rather beautiful, and I'm sure the recipients will, too.