Crochet Raccoon Scarf (for him)

I still have a few handmade Christmas gifts (both given and received) to show you, and I’m particularly excited about this one. It was one of Jeff’s presents that I was most excited to make and show him, and that I fought hard to get him to open early. (I failed. I spend most of the month of December trying to convince Jeff that we should open all our presents right now, but it never works.) You might recognize Bees Knees Knitting as one of the sponsors of our crochet along this past fall—Jenny creates amazingly creative and adorable crochet animal scarf patterns, like these:

Jeff and I loved them, and he especially got a kick out of the raccoon scarf (top left in the picture above). I had my doubts about if he’d actually wear it, but hey, what is Christmas about if not giving gifts to loved ones that they can’t return and might never use?

Awwwww! How sweet is that little fella? He was really fun to make, and I was able to make him entirely out of yarn I already had, so it was practically free to make (minus the cost of the pattern, of course). Speaking of the pattern, I give it two thumbs up—easy to understand, clear instructions with a helpful diagram to show placement and sewing instructions for the ears and legs. I made a few minor changes to accommodate my own laziness (like working in a continuous spiral instead of individual circular rows), and it came out swimmingly.

Cute as that scarf is, it hasn’t been worn outside yet, which (I’m sure) can only be blamed on the 50+ degree weather we’ve been enjoying lately. But I can hardly complain about that! I’ll gladly take 50 degree weather in January over my lovingly handmade gifts being used. Especially since I spent the last three winters in Iowa, which could also be referred to as The American Arctic, That Place With The Same Weather As The Highest Point On The Himalayas,  Little Siberia, or When Hell Freezes Over It Will Feel Just Like This Place. I think I’ve earned a 50 degree winter.

Last-Minute DIY Christmas Gifts with Newly Woodwards

 Today is the final day of our little Handmade Holidays series--my goal with this series of posts was to share favorite meaningful gifts (both given and received), simple ideas for easy-to-make gifts you could create for someone you care about (even at the last minute!), and hopefully get you excited to make something of your own. Did it work? Have you made any handmade gifts this year? I'd love to hear about it in the comments (and I'm excited to show you a few things I've made to give this Christmas)!

Our final guest is Kim from Newly Woodwards--I've been following her blog for quite a long time. If I remember right, I think she found me on craigslist, where I'd put up an ad for some of my hats back in Iowa (is that right, Kim?) and I've loved reading her adventures ever since. She and her husband are master home renovators and always seem to have a great makeover or decor project in the works, and Kim sews and quilts and upcycles clothing and cooks delicious goodies (try her Happy Joe's-Inspired Taco  Pizza. You will love it. Guaranteed. If you don't, I will come to your house and eat it for you.). Plus she's just plain fun and lovable, and is a great taste of the good ol' Midwest!

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Hello, Maybe Matlida-ers! I'm Kim from NewlyWoodwards, and I'm thrilled to be here right before Christmas. Thanks so much to Rachel for having me!

Like many of you, I love to give handmade gifts for the holidays. I pin and bookmark ideas all year long in the hopes of finding the very best gifts for my family and friends.

And then, in spite of all my best-laid plans, I don't make half the gifts I hope to. Time always gets away from me. Can I get an amen?

So, I've begun to embrace the fact that I do better with smaller projects as gifts. They are much more manageable for my schedule and also allow me to enjoy the process, instead of stressing about it. I'm much more likely to finish handmade gifts that don't take more than a day or weekend (or even a few hours). So, here are some of my own favorite (quickie) handmade gifts that I've given over the years, including the favorites of my friends and family.

Lunch sack

E-reader sleeve

Custom photo frames

DIY hot/cold corn bags

Straight iron case

Colored pencil (or crayon) roll-up case

DIY advent calendar

Charm pack camera strap cover

Interchangeable framed holiday printables

I've also shared a few gifts from this year at NewlyWoodwards this week. (Including upcycled wool mittens, which may be my favorite new gift to give.)

I hope you are able to find a project or two that you could try. And, if you think it's too close to the holiday to begin, I'll tell you a secret. Nearly every gift I gave this year was started and finished within 24 hours of the gift exchange. ;) So, grab your supplies and get to making. (And I won't judge you if you give up laundry to make these gifts. It's a perfectly acceptable swap.)

Thanks again for having me, Rachel! And Merry Christmas!

Infinity Scarves and Homebaked Goodies with Sweet Verbena

I just love Katy of Sweet Verbena. She has such unique, creative sewing ideas and always puts such an original spin on projects. If I wasn't so horribly, horribly awkward in person, and bound to creep people out when meeting for the first time, I'd want to hang out with her and have a sewing playdate. The coolest thing about Katy, I think, is that she's a student and still puts aside time for sewing and baking and crafts--isn't that neat? I believe I spent all my college time being a nerd and trying to flirt unawkwardly (keyword: trying). Anyway, enjoy her handmade gifts she created for friends and family (I wish I was on her gift list!) and tasty-looking treat ideas!

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Why hello there. I'm so happy to be guest posting here at Maybe Matilda today! Rachel was one of the first to reach out to me when I first started blogging and besides that she is just plain awesome. She always has me cracking up with her witty posts and she has the best ideas! 

I blog over at Sweet Verbena, where I mostly share my passion for sewing. I'm a junior at Texas A&M University studying education. Christmas shopping on a college student's budget is no easy task. This year I finally feel confident enough in my sewing ability to hand make gifts for some of the people on my list. 

My easy, go-to for the ladies on my list is a Single Loop Infinity scarf (check out my tutorial here). I really enjoyed picking out the fabric with a friend in mind. This one is for my boyfriend's Mom who loves butterflies. 

I even lined it with micro-fiber fleece so that it will be extra cozy and warm!

This one is a soft flannel paired with silky, magenta voile. 

Last, a perfect plaid with my Mom in mind. 

I cranked these out assembly-line style and had 4 gifts good-to-go in no time!

But maybe you're not a sewer or you can't seem to think what  to make for anyone. So try wrapping up some home-baked goodies. I've found that those who don't usually bake themselves really appreciate this gift. 

These thumbprint jam cookies are among my favorite Christmas cookie recipes. Find the recipe here.

Chocolate dipped pretzels are a bit of a chore to make, but such a treat! I love salty/sweet combos. (Here's a tip: If your chocolate is too thick, thin it out with a spoonful of Crisco. It thins it right up and doesn't leave a funny taste.)

Holy moly these are good! Peppermint Oreo truffles are like little drops of heaven! I found the recipe here.

Now just wrap 'em up!

Hooray for being almost done with Christmas "shopping" without even leaving your home! 

Thank you Rachel for having me. It's been such a pleasure (:

Homemade Jewelry Organizer Tutorial with Pretty Life Anonymous

Do you guys read any fashion blogs? I am crazy picky when it comes to style and fashion bloggers. I love the idea, but it must be executed perfectly for me to fall in love with them. I've added and deleted countless fashion blogs from my reading list and currently have three (no joke, 3 as in "1, 2 . . . 3. That's it? Yep, 3.") that I have remained hopelessly devoted to. On my list of 3 steadfast style blog survivors are the sisters of the Pretty Life Anonymous. Two headless sisters (I presume they do, in fact, have heads, but I haven't seen them yet) with fantastic fashion sense (and one with an adorable new baby belly) who crack me up on a daily basis, inspire me to spend that extra 5 minutes putting together a sweatpants-less outfit in the morning, and are always introducing me to great new music, recipes, and trends. These two are winners in my book. And that really means something, since they are among the lone survivors in the barren wasteland that is the style portion of my Google Reader.

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Well hi there, Maybe Matilda, friends! This is W from the Pretty Life Anonymous and I could not be more excited to be visiting Rachel's blog today, since I LOVE her and I don't care who knows it.  But listen, I'm not kidding you when I say, I NEVER make my presents. And I mean never. Not because I don't think that handmade gifts are awesome, but because when I try to make them I usually end up with multiple glue gun burns, a body part sewn to a piece of fabric, or a bunch of gunk that looks more like a lavender flower threw up, then the oh-so-thoughtful homemade lavender soap it was meant to be. These failed attempts have thus resulted in my becoming the BEST gift card giver ever at Christmastime. 

But this year, a Christmas miracle happened. Pinterest came into my life {cue choir's singing} and my desire to DIY was renewed. And you know what? I've had some failures, sure, but I got back up, dusted myself off, spent 13508 more hours on Pinterest, and eventually had some successes. And today I am going to show you one such success, one so simple, even the girl with the track record of mod-podging her hair together can do it. 

Here she is! A pretty little homemade jewelry holder. Isn't she just presh?: 

What you need: 

-An unfinished frame w/no back (see Hobby Lobby)

-A couple of any kind of knob or hardware hooks you find cute

-Enough wire mesh to fill in the hole of the frame you choose (see Home Depot)

-Scrapbook paper

-Modpodge

-Paint

-Ribbon

Here are the steps. There are only 7. And number 7 isn't really even a step. That's how easy this was: 

1. Drill two holes a couple of inches apart at the top of the frame. 

2. Paint frame front and back, let dry. And paint knobs if they are unfinished. 

3. Measure mesh to fill the hole of the frame, cut to size, then glue gun in from the back.

4. Cut scrapbook paper to cover the front of the frame. Attach with modpodge.

5. After the modpodge has dried, attach knobs across the bottom with glue gun or screws. 

6. String through ribbon and rough up the edges with some sandpaper. 

7. Done. 

Take a closer look: 

Cute, right? The perfect gift to make any jewelry loving friend or family member, and a craft so easy and safe you'll even have all of your limbs once you are finished. And, it's like I always say, having all of your limbs = a Merry Christmas. 

oxox/W. 

Christmas Baking and Quick DIY Decor with Two Twenty One!

I hope you guys are already familiar with Chelsea of two twenty one . . . if not, the "you owe me for this one" list just keeps growing, which is fine by me. I could use some Christmas goodies dropped anonymously at my door. Chelsea's blog is one  of those never-miss-a-post reads for me--she bakes the most delicious, beautiful treats (the cake batter blondies she'll share in a minute were such a hit at my house that I didn't even get to taste them. No kidding--Jeff ate the entire pan before I even got to try one), she decorates her home like a pro, and she creates really elegant, lovely DIY projects. Enjoy!

 Hi Maybe Matilda readers!  I'm Chelsea from two twenty one, where I blog about home diy projects, recipes, and newly wedded life.  

I'm super pumped (and honored) to be here today.  I consider Rachel to be one of my first blogger friends.  I mean, how could you not like Rachel and want to be her friend?  She's hilarious, creative, a crochet master, an amazing sewer (the thread and needle kind, not the underground conduit for carrying sewage kind), and she keeps it real.

Today I'm sharing some of my handmade projects and recipes that you can turn into your own handmade Christmas gifts.  These are things that you can easily make and bake in the comfort of your home.

Let's start with the wine lover in your family.  Don't think you can drink enough bottles of wine by Christmas to make this wine cork candle holder?  Don't worry, I can help. That's OK, stop by a local restaurant or winery and ask them if they could spare some unused corks.

Short on time like everyone else during the holidays?  You can make these thrifty hurricanes the day before Christmas.  Easy peasy.  Make them Christmastastic by swapping out the split peas (shown below) for Epsom salt.

Who wouldn't love a jute wrapped monogram wreath?  Monograms never go out of style, in my opinion.  It's probably because people love themselves, so of course they love their initials.  This puppy can be hung year-round!  Very functional.

Need to take a platter of sinful goodies to your office Christmas party, church, or the neighbors?  Look no further!

I've heard that these cake batter blondies are addictive.  Top with Christmasy sprinkles to make them even more addictive.  Tell your friends and family that you're not responsible for their blondie detox program.

Oreo Truffles.  All you need is oreos, cream cheese, and melting chocolate... and you don't even have to turn on your oven.

You might as well make two batches of these buttery cream cheese bars because you'll want to keep a batch for yourself.  I'm not kidding.

And there you have it!  I hope these handmade ideas are helpful to you.  Have a wonderful holiday season!  Thank you so much, Rachel, for having me!

Handmade Shops for Christmas Gift-Giving!

Can we get real for a minute here? Of course we can. I can say whatever I want and you can't stop me. Booger. Poopdeck. See?

Anyway, let's get real for a minute here. How many people, exactly, are you planning to make Christmas gifts for? 1? 3? 15? If you're anything like me and are realizing the cruel truth that Christmas is only 12 days away, some of those handmade gifts may not be happening this year. There's only so much time in the day. So, as I'm narrowing down my handmade gift list to what is actually feasible in the 282 hours left before Christmas, I thought maybe it was time to share a few handmade shops that would make a great addition to your holiday shopping list. Handmade gifts are always special . . . even if they aren't handmade by you.

I haven't personally experienced all of these shops--I have shopped with and love some of them, some are the shops of friends and family who pour an awful lot of love and talent into their work, and some I have just admired from afar. And many were found on my Handmade Shop Directory, which I would highly recommend you check out if you're looking for awesome handmade shops to visit! But anyway, these really are all shops I've found and enjoyed, and none of them are paying for a mention here. (Don't you hate it when you can't 100% trust a recommendation because maybe the shop in question paid for a glowing review? Not the case here. Shop with confidence, my friends.)

I love the whimsical paintings and artwork at Andralynn Creative Designs--her shop has a lot of fun items like felt toys, sculpted ornaments, and magnets and buttons, but my favorites are her storybook paintings. I'd love to snag a few for Forrest's bedroom:

This one, I seriously cannot get over. My old college friend Lauren is the knitting fiend behind All Stuft Up . . . adorable hand-knit monster and monkey stuffed toys. I love them so much it almost makes me sick.

(Many of her creations are made to order and probably wouldn't be ready for Christmas giving, but she has plenty of ready-to-ship cuties, like Harriet, pictured above, and all the monsters in her Ready to Ship section.)

 Speaking of adorable stuffed cuties, I may have actually "aaaaah!"ed when I first visited SOMA Craft Me Happy. Don't they just melt your cold, cold heart?

 

Such adorable little teddies! I want to take them ALL home!

You will seriously love the illustrations at Les Joues Grises . . . did you know garlic could be so delightfully cute?

I, for one, had no idea. I want that garlic print in my kitchen, stat (not to mention her other vegetable prints, too!).

My sister-in-law, Jaida, just opened up her brand-spanking-new shop a few weeks ago! She knits accessories and sews nursing covers . . . my favorite item is this sweet little poncho:

I want one for myself. So, so cute, right? Somebody better snatch that up before she realizes she should be selling them for, like, triple that price. It's $12. For realsies.

Dear Nicole has lots of fun home decor and holiday decorating items, but my favorite are the rosette necklaces:

I'm pretty sure wearing a necklace that springy and happy would obliterate not only your own winter blues, but those of any onlookers, too.

And if you're one of my family members reading this, look away now, because somebody's getting a gift from Sincerely Serenity . . .

Beautiful, fun, inspiring, and hilarious handstamped rings, necklaces, and bracelets.

I love the item I ordered, which I can't show you in case someone is peeking. It was customized for someone and came out just right, and was shipped really quickly in cute, gift-ready packaging. Two thumbs up!

That should be enough to get the old wheels in your head turning, right? Check out the Handmade Shop Directory for more fun ideas, and if you're here in Utah, make sure to visit the Jingle Bell Hop at the Bungalow Boutique in Heber for more holiday shopping, handmade creations, and family fun!