Card Making

I apologise for the lack of posts this week but I was not feeling well. I am much better now but this short break set me back a lot on my projects.This time of year there is always something to do and as Christmas approaches it gets busier every day.

At least the cards are done. We make our cards by hand every year with my brother.He is disabled and spends most of his time at home, but this gives him a lot to do.He is very artistic and does lovely cards.We have spent some fabulous afternoons getting busy and creative. Now I have to find some nice meaningful message for the cards and write all 40 of them. When I write my cards I always think of what people will think, feel when they read it. I can only hope that they will enjoy the words. I would love to send some of our cards to people I don't know. Once I saw this film where a small community sent christmas letters to anonymous soldiers in Afganistan. I found the idea really thoughtful especialy that they are so far from their family and home they can use all the support. Anyway if anyone has some suggestion on the topic, just drop me a comment.

Hope that it was a good week for you all. Here are some pictures of our card making.Not many days to go now so enjoy the time left till christmas.Hopefully we will be super-dooper busy in the weekend.

Christmas Cards

Quickie post today as I am supa behind! This is the first year I feel the pain to have made grandiose plans to be prepared, I hope it all will not fall through.The card making is really slow. We have to make 40 cards altogother.Luckily my brother  loves to help, and enjoys stamping and sticking bits.I just want to say a big thanks to M for the papers she got me last year!!!!! We love to use them for the cards.

I plan to make some small candy boxes for friends which we share on christmas day in the church. I have not decided as yet what I fill the boxes with. I found too many good recipes.This is one of them:

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Ingredients:

• 2 bags Wilton's White Candy Melts (14 oz each) or other white chocolate (I prefer Wilton's because it melts, cools, and tastes fabulously, and is easily available at Michael's in the baking section)
  
• 1/2 tsp Wilton's Pure Peppermint Oil (OIL not extract, and be sure to get the real stuff not artificial flavor - also at Michael's or baking supply/gourmet stores)
  
• 9-12 candy canes, crushed (I put them in a Ziploc and hammer them into 1/4 inch pieces)
  
• parchment paper
  
• large cookie sheet (around 11x13) with a lip

Directions:
1. Bring water to a boil in a pan, then turn to low. Put the candy in a separate metal bowl and melt the candies over the pan of boiling water. Be sure no water gets into the chocolate. Wilton's candy melts very fast, so keep an eye on it.
2. Stir in the peppermint oil.
3. Using a spatula, spread the candy on parchment paper that has been placed in a cookie sheet until it  fills the cookie sheet but do not go too thin - I maybe leave an inch or so around the edges.
4. Place crushed candy canes on top of the melted chocolate. Refrigerate until cool, then break apart with a butter knife (it will break very easily when cool). Store in an airtight container.

(recipe source:papermonkey)

Christmas Wish List

Howdy,

After a long long long day here I am again. The best part of the day was talking with my gran. We talk about how things were in the old times.I actually have to say most of the time she talks and I only listen.Today we talked about old christmases with sleighrides in the orchard and ice-skating on the river near the village.The thousand lights on the trees in the church and the nativity scene we so admired as children.However that is all gone now but it is still good to remember especially with gran.When we were small with my brother we had all our list figured out by the begining of December for the Baby Jesus (in Hungary he brings the presents on hte 24th Dec).I'd like to share my list for this year I hope you find some things you might like to add to your own wish list.I'd also love to hear what you are wishing for.
One of my favorite gifts to receive is books.Here are the two books I would most love to get.

Venezia: Food and Dreams

French Country Style at Home

Furniture and accessories:

ÅRSTID lamp from IKEA

SNÖVITA ornaments from IKEA

And a big aid in creating:
Singer sewing machine

I would be delighted to  receive any of these on Christmas eve. I'd love to know what's on other people's wish list so please share!

Village Life

Bonjour,

It has been a good week as my gran Ilona is recovering from two heart attacks. I think that the recent tragedy in our family has taught us all a lesson in that, life is precious and we should make the best of every day and not take for granted those that are precious to us. I am happ that I am here I don't know what I would have done if anything would have happened to her when I was over in Ireland. I know I could have come over in a matter of hours but it is not the same.I can go and visit her any time I want. We have a lot of fun with cooking traditional Hungarian food.I will share some recipes with you ladies soon.

I have just realized today that it is time to start planning for the holidays. For me it's a time to start Christmas sewing, cooking, cardmakeing. I'm about 3/4 done with most of the cards as those go out first. I got in the habit of getting an early start but due to the move this year I had a big gap on my schedule. I have to get going on my handmade gifts which is a bit hard aswe've scaled down our spending to save money as we have no income for December. That does not take the pressure off, as I do not like to shop for persents but make them. I had a good start on making my presents. I love sewing books btu my favorits are the christmas Tilda books. The books are full of vintage style and color! I'm just craving color these days. It might have something to do with Budapest being especially gray in the winter. Whatever it is, my imagination is running wild with Christmas color scheme possibilities. I hope I will be able to make all my plans, if not I hope the best for next year.
As we live with my parents for most of the time I started making decorations here. There isn't much room for a lot at my parents' , so I have to be a bit selective with what I make. I know I will still be really excited to create. This is my first creation, I made it for my mum, she was delighted with it.
Ladies, if you read this I would love to hear how your christmas plans are going. I cannot wait to read your comments.

Home at Last

Here I am again. We left behind Ireland almost 3 weeks ago.It was some hard good bye.We are having quite some break from work but no rest from anything else. I especially hate moving but at least I know this the one before the last. Anyway it is good to be home. I hope to get organized quite soon but I just have a gut feeling that it will take some more time than I originally thought. I am looking forward some good rest as till now we just traveled from place to place in-between interviews. It is such an uncomfortable limbo and it will stay like this until we can find our place which won't be that easy.

Anyway something good at last. We had some snow last week I know this year winter hit quite badly everywhere I still love to watch the snow fall. It is calming.Especially the next day unified white scene. I adore white, every white.I only hope it will last until Christmas.

The other day I found a quote for this years celebrations

"Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself." ~Francis C. Farley

Happy Advent!

New York Trip

Lately my mind is completely set on New York. I loved all the buzz especially Greenwich village and the SOHO/NOHO parts.It is so hard to work when these things flopping arround in my brain. I hope to visit again very soon.I would love to go to Michael's again. I got a lot of treasures there the last time.As I haven't given any details about our trip to the US here are some of my favorite pics from NewYork.