Christmas 2012

Christmas Vodka, looked super festive from day dot

 

Christmas this year seemed to appear from no where. I started to panic when I realised I had very little time to make the gifts that I wanted to give folks but I am happy with what I finally produced.

I first started knitting these gloves for my friend Gemma

 as she had said how much she had liked mine the year before

Then I found a recipe for a Spiced Aarancello (Christmas Spiced Vodka) from BBC Good Food App and thought that it would make a nice gift for some of my friends

- My flatmate makes amazing fruit liquors so it was nice to try my hand at something similar

 

As I mentioned back in October, I got a kindle pattern from a craft fair during Wool Week and was keen to make one for my Mam, Ii am really chuffed with the colours etc.

although it is a little on the large side

After the success of last years Christmas Jam I thought I would try my hand at my own recipe, Mulled Pear Jam, I liked how subtle all the flavours were although I would maybe put a little less

 sugar in it next time as it was super sweet.

I know that some people make/sell Christmas Pudding Hats but I thought I would try my own version. My own pattern so, again, proud of the outcome (would also make awesome tea cosies) can't wait to see pictures of the boys in them.

Ii also followed a Kate Davis pattern and knitted this hat for my Dad, thinking to make a girlie one for myself, once I have tackled the socks and jumper.

 

I really recommend homemade gifts, I got one this year (Blackberry Gin from Lynn) and I really appreciated that she has put time and effort into a gift that was for me.

 

Happy Holiday xxx

Peerie Catch -Up Before the Festivities

 

It's been a super busy month with several trips south and me maybe biting off more than I can chew with my homemade Christmas so I'm sorry that my blog has been quiet.

I flew home on Friday even though the world was ending and the weather was doing very little to disprove this.

Finally got my Birthday present from my folks (it was being knitted by Shetland Designers) .. I have worn it all afternoon and think it may be a permanent fixture in my winter wardrobe from now on.

 

My sister and Dave didn't manage to get sooth due to the weather so me and Em had a very nice afternoon making and eating Christmas popcorn and watching the very intellectual film 'Magic Mike'.

 

I was also faced with the welcoming committee who had lots of love and hugs to send my way - except for Meg who has decided that she isn't ready to forgive me for leaving (going back to Orkney)
.

Well I hope everyone has a Super Christmas and New Year and that you get to spend it with the ones you love!!!

... I will blog my Homemade Christmas post as soon as I know everyone has gotten their gifts

Christmas Pudding Hats

I was really struggling with what to make for my friends' peerie boys this year, they are between 1 and 2, I couldn't come up with something exciting that would beat the sock zebras from last year.

 

First I cut out the fleece, I wanted a rounded hat that wasn't pointy so I made a template by card, there wasn't much thought that went into it I just made sure it was symmetrical and the correct size.

 

Then I used the same template to make the cream topping, making sure that the edges matched up.

 

I sewed the cream on around the bottom then matched 2 parts together and used my sewing machine to sew round one of the long sides

 

Sorry for the picture quality I didn't notice it till it was too late

Once all the pairs were sewn together i opened them up and sewed them together, then I created a hem.

The cream and holly leaves are made form felt and just hand sewn.

 

My favourite part of this process was learning how to make the pom poms, I had never done them before and it was made even more fun by watching Elf while I did them.

 

I attached the pom pom and tah dah!!!

I canna wait to see photos of the boys wearing them, I plan to make a tea cosy in a similar way and possibly some adult hats.

 

 

If anyone is interested in try it please let me know and I'll upload a template and more detailed instructions ... Merry Christmas!!!

Mulled Pear Jam

 

Well today is the first day of December and my house smells like there was an explosion in a Christmas factory.

 I bought a large quantity of pears and was unsure what to do with them, then I thought Mulled Pear Jam for Christmas gifts.

After some experimenting I came up with this recipe:

Mulled Pear Jam
 

 
Ingredients

800 g small pears
450 ml mulled wine
1 orange
15 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
3 cups of jam sugar


Method

1. Peal and core the pears, putting them into some water with lemon juice to stop them turning too brown

2. Pour the mulled wine in to a medium heavy bottom pan and add the strained pears. Add the slices of orange, cloves and cinnamon then bring it to the boil on a high heat then reduce to medium and allow them to boil until the pears have softened.

 

3. Strain the pears, removing the orange and spices, keep the liquid as you can use it for some other festive recipes. Then return the pears to the pan and mash them to the consistency you like (I like a bit of a bite).

3. Add the sugar and bring to a rolling boil for 15 - 25 minutes until the jam doesn't run when put on to a cold plate.

4. Now transfer to your sterilised jam to the jars, be careful it will have cooled but it is still very hot. I use a sterilised jug and funnel to make sure I do not spill the jam.

5. Put a small disc of grease proof paper on top of your jam, then screw on the lid

 

6. Decorate your jars if you are giving them as gifts, this year I went paper lid covers instead of fabric (think I do prefer fabric though, just wanted to try these for a change) and a little pear shaped tag so that their are no questions about what it is.



If you like it please let me know...

Breakfast & English Muffins

These muffins almost became an in progress moment when I sat down and forgot

what I was doing thankfully the 'caramalised' muffin smell got my attention

 

When I woke up on Saturday I knew I wanted something nice for breakfast and decided that I'd either make muffins for breakfast or eggs Benedict, thought both may be too much so early.

I made half the recipe as I realised 20 muffins

might be too much for the two of us

 

I founds this recipe from AllRecipes for English muffins and decided these would be lovely with butter, fruit and a coffee... And they were!

When I was doing my shopping list I thought I should get something nice to go with them this morning (Sunday) I thought eggs Benedict but after Duff telling me on 'Best Thing I Ever Made' told me the first time I made hollandaise it would be crap, I thought I'd wait for a weekend when I had plenty time and eggs.



So then I thought Rachel Khoo's Croque Madame Muffins but because I had already made the English Muffins I looked at baked egg recipes on Pinterest and I found this recipe.

The baked eggs were SO easy and tasty I may leave out the Parmesan next time

as I used prosciutto and it is salty enough

 

I think these would be perfect for Christmas morning.. What do you normally have for breakfast on Christmas Day?

Movie Moment

 

It's Sunday, I've completed my checklist, its horrible and wintry outside and I'm ready for bed but it's too early ... What to do?

Almost didn't want to pop it as it is a really bonnie colour

 

Well if you are me and my flatmate you stick on a movie. But I have a little addiction I am not proud of, I love popcorn!

Slightly disappointed it wasn't blue or darker after popping

but it was super tasty

 

The other weekend I was at a friends deli in Stromness (Bayleaf Delicatessen) and bought an amazing array of goodies including these blue popcorn kernels.

      

My Favourite popcorn has a mixture of sweet and salty, I used Beyond the Picket Fence's recipe and it was really nice and so simple to make. I thoroughly recommend popping into the deli and getting some if you are local!!!

Practically Perfect Children in Need

I LOVE dressing up, even more so when I get to make the costume.

My earliest fancy dress memory is me as a witch and my sister as a scarecrow for Hallowe'en. Since then I'm been a bat, a mermaid (I was obsessed with Ariel), a skeleton, Pocahontas, a clown and many many more.

At the school our theme is From the Movies and I knew what I was gonna be straight away, as I hadn't gotten to dress up this Hallowe'en I decided to use it for CIN.

First time making a circle skirt and I'm shocked

 that I managed it as easily as I did

 

I was really lucky to get to see Mary Poppins on Broadway last October and after seeing the Pinterest photo I knew it was a must.

This is Day 2, skirt is finished bar the hem and the shirt has the ruffles

pinned to it to see what it would look like

I started off by making the skirt, I used a tutorial from A Pair & A Spare's blog but made it a little longer to work (although I do plan to take it up so that I can wear it after). I also used youtube to help me make sure I was doing the zip correctly.

The finished skirt, a little too big but I will wear it again

 

Then I started on the blouse, I was shocked how hard it was to find a white blouse in the charity shops, but eventually I got one in the Red Cross which was 'off' white but fit and the neck line wasn't too low. I had planned to pin the ruffles to the front until I spoke to the lady in the fabric grotto who said she had previously made a Mary Poppin costume and used the shirt backwards so I tried this and it does look more like Mary P.

The finished shirt, kinda want to do this to other shirts

 

The next step was to to accessorise ... what would Mary Poppins be without her umbrella, hat and carpet bag?

 

I had the offer of a carpet bag but sadly they couldn't find it and I had no time to make one too so I settled for a woven bag I had gotten from Accessorize, years ago.

 

Ran out of time to make cherries but it still looks cute

 

I was most concerned about sourcing the umbrella but after hunting high and low in the Blue Door Charity shop, the assistant pointed at the only umbrellas they had and this multi-coloured one wasna too shabby.

Sadly my umbrella does not talk

 

The parrot handle was easier than imagined I first started with head shape, I used papier-mache to do this then glues the green feathers on. The beak was completed at the 11th hour, after forgetting black card, but I am brally proud of the outcome.

 

The school did really well this year for Children in Need and raised approximately £3,125. What did you do for Children in  Need this year?

Secret Craft Fair Mission

Aamos Design Cupcake Pin Cushions ... beautifully made ;o)

 

It is no secret to Facebook or twitter that my sister Emma, Aamos Designs, has been working her socks off for the past month to make stock for this years Christmas Craft Fair.

Also got to celebrate my cousins recent engagement

... ching ching

I thought that she may appreciate a wee visitor and helper. So I booked a flight home to Shetland to surprise her... And although it was touch and go for a while, we managed to do it.

 

My welcome Party were very happy to see me

I keep forgetting to take cash but I think that was a good thing because I managed to work out a wee list of things I'd like.


Here's some of the beautiful crafts I found ...

I love my red hair slide by Donna Smith Designs

 thinking maybe mustard yellow and navy next

I have always wanted a sheep skin rug, and theses ones

 by Shetland Sheepskin Products  are amazing

 

Hoping to go back in and buy this today, pin cushion by Ella Gordon

 ...LOVE the colour and need it for currently quilting project

 

Of course there were lots of gorgeous Burra Bears

 

Pink Fish Christmas tree decoration, super cute

I may also pop back today for one last look ... Open 11am to 5pm today so pop doon to Clickimin for a look!!!