(Inside A Black Apple)

Making Christmas : Pom Poms

I had an idea this year that I would wrap all our gifts in white or kraft paper tied with pretty colored yarn, all finished off with a bouncy pom pom or two.

I don't have a tool (and was too anxious to get started that I didn't even want to cut out the cardboard rings that many tutorials call for) so I used this method. It worked beautifully, and it was so fun to experiment with different weights of yarn and see the end effect on the pom pom. The thick wool roving yarn was my favorite - it made those ultra-fluffy light blue ones up there. I love how they look on a tiny box!

Making these was so much fun!

I ended up caving on my idea and using lots of colored, pretty wrapping paper because some of the little folks I know (and probably grownups, too) probably find my kraft parcels a little austere for Christmastime. We treated ourselves to some beautiful rolls of Snow & Graham paper (the penguins, cupcakes, and candy boxes!) and so there are lots of different, brightly wrapped packages under the tree.

But there are also some little brown paper packages. And lots of pom poms!

Merry Christmas & Happy holidays to all of you who visit here!
May the days ahead be merry & bright.

Making Christmas : Caramels

I haven't been able to make any really involved Christmas gifts or projects this year (really, this is the way it goes most years!) It does feel good to embark on little 1-2 hour projects, though, especially if you can give the product as a small gift or use it to gussy up your packages.

Yesterday I got out my trustiest saucepan and made what has become my favorite candy to make at Christmastime. The first time I made them was here, back in 2009 (includes recipe!), and I've been hooked ever since! They're more fail-proof than many other candies (ahem, fudge, ahem), so the likelihood of kitchen disappointment is low.

They also mail really easily, and keep for at least a week or two. This (for me) makes them better for gift-giving than cookies...you don't need to make them the day before you present them.

I'm going to package these up in some simple bags tied with manila tags and nice twine and send 'em off  to far-away friends!

Wintery Paper Doll Download : Dot & Roscoe

Hello there!
I have a freebie printable treat for you - the winter-y paper miss & fur friend I created for the lovely Crafty Wonderland programs are now available for you to download and print.

I recommend printing them onto sturdy cardstock or matte art paper (if'n you have it on hand.)
Both sheets (story/instructions & dolls/clothes) measure 8"x10", so they should be an easy fit on standard 8.5"x11" printing paper.

Download Story & Project Page

Download Dolls & Clothes Page

And of course, these are for personal and not commercial use. Thanks!

Happy Holidays!

Crafty Wonderland

Local Portlanders, come see us at this year's Crafty Wonderland holiday shopping extravaganza! December 10 & 11 (Saturday and Sunday) from 11:00 to 6:00 at the Oregon Convention Center in Hall C. It's going to be festive and exciting, and there is always such wonderful variety at these shows (perfect for polishing off some Christmas shopping lists.)

We're in booth 142 - come visit!

Studio Snaps

I moved my studio around this Summer, which was a little project that siezed me one day out of the blue. My work room is quite small, no more than a walk-in closet. And it's important for that tiny space to be cozy, not oppressive (otherwise, if this hadn't worked out, I probably would've needed to look for studio spaces in the outside world.)

The move-around turned out exactly the way I'd envisioned it, even though it was all rather harem scarem and done on a whim. We moved the heavy-duty printing equipment into a formerly useless nook in another part of the house, so my pint-sized studio wasn't consumed with electronic things. Now I have only a slim little computer, and the rest is full of my old toys, books, paints, fabric.

Nice things. Things I'm happy to have surrounding me.

I also got a very small loveseat we stuffed through the door somehow. Miette has taken up residence on it, and does his best bossing and dictation from upon a ratty old quilt my friend donated to our beloved ratty quilt collection.

My favorite 7-year old came over for a bit a week or so ago. We spent the afternoon at the antique mall, and then came back here for tea. Inevitably, we ended up in my studio, where curiosities on crowded shelves had drawn her like a moth. She peered into old paintboxes still full of crumbling cakes of watercolor and admired my strange monkey lamp (a longtime favorite of hers.) I think she might try to pocket it if it weren't so unwieldy.

It was the nicest way to spend an hour, and I was happier than ever that we fixed it up so that room is stuffed with only nice things, and not big hulking things riddled with power strips and cords.

We read Little Fur Family aloud and wound the silver keys on my wind-up toys until her mama called.

Holiday Sale Monday & Tuesday (Dec. 5 & 6)

To help all you elves with your holiday shopping, everything in the shop is 20% off 'til Tuesday at 12:00 am Pacific!

Holiday Cards of Yesteryear Return

The two card designs from last year (A Winter's Ride & the Holly and Ivan Paper Doll Cards) are available in very limited quantities alongside this year's Girl & Bear design.

Visit the shop to peruse these festive paper-goods!