Antique Baby Sleigh

My Grandma Haney (most of you know her as third-person Grandma) recently moved down to Alabama, and the only thing I asked for from her house was this antique baby sleigh. It's not a family heirloom; she bought it at an antiques auction. I thought it would be perfect to decorate for Christmas, but I wanted it to look like it fit the time period. I had the idea of filling it with greenery and wrapped presents, but finding the right wrapping paper was difficult. I searched online for retro, antique or reproduction paper with no luck. My mom suggested scrapbooking paper. I found lots of great choices at a local scrapbooking store in Huntsville. The thick paper was more difficult to use than regular wrapping paper but I made it work. I had the idea of cutting a piece of fleece to drape on the sleigh like a blanket, and as a finishing touch, I included a stack of envelopes with our name and address on the top in brown copperplate calligraphy. I had the perfect empty spot for it in front of the bay window in the library. It fits with the room perfectly.

Butter Cookies

My recipe for Butter Cookies is delicious; I'm posting it here so that I can link to it on Facebook for someone. I've been making these every Christmas since I was 12. The recipe is from my old babysitter. I think about and miss her every time I make them.

Butter Cookies

One recipe makes about 25-30 cookies.

Mix together

1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg

Stir in

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Chill dough. Roll thin. Cut into shapes and place on ungreased cookie sheets (I line my baking sheets with parchment paper. You can reuse it for all the batches.) Bake at 425 for 7-9 minutes until delicately browned.

Icing:

1/4 cup butter, softened (1/2 stick)
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk

Mix together butter and powdered sugar. Beat in vanilla and milk. (I use an extra tablespoon milk so it's not too thick.)

Note: These cookies freeze really well. You can freeze them already iced. Put wax paper between layers in an airtight container and freeze up to a month.

Baby Shower Pics!

Thank you to everyone who came to the baby shower!

Feathered Friends

This is my new favorite knitted toy. I love these little owls! The pattern is from Susan B. Anderson and can be found in the current holiday issue of Knit Simple magazine. (The reversible squirrel/hedgehog is from the same story.)

I love that you can make this owl in any color combination you want. Heinz says that it looks like they're wearing little sweaters, ha.

Cozy Pillow

Before the baby shower last week, I made a slipcover for a little pillow to put in the 100-year-old little rocking chair. I used some of the flannel fabric that I had so that it would be extra cozy. This slipcover probably took me all of 20 minutes to whip up.

Napping Pillow

A napping pillow used to be my go-to baby gift. But I don't think I've made one since I learned how to knit baby hats. But I realized that I needed to make one for the nursery. The back is the same argyle as the crib skirt.

Christmas Nightgowns

I'm pretty sure my niece, Lili, doesn't read my blog, so I think it's okay to post a sneak-peek at her Christmas present. We're getting her an American Girl doll, and last weekend I remembered how my Grandma Haney made dresses for my Cabbage Patch Doll. You can buy outfits for the American Girl doll on their website (for $30) and ones to match their owner (for $60). I thought that it would be cuter, and cheaper, to make my own. So I got two Simplicity patterns and some Christmas flannel fabric (which I am in love with) and made these for Lili and her doll. The bottom hem of Lili's nightgown was plain, and I liked the gathered ruffle so much on the bottom of the doll dress, that I added one to Lili's to match.

Sewing doll clothes is my new addiction. Jo-Ann's and Hancock's had patterns on sale this week, so I bought almost all of the doll patterns they had. I hope I have time before the baby comes to make a few more outfits for Lili's new doll.

Alex's New Forest Friend(s)

I just finished knitting my first reversible toy. It was a lot of fun to make. This hedgehog turns inside out to make...



this squirrel.



I love the squirrel's bushy tail! The toy is nice and squishy and I think it will be a lot of fun for Alex.

Fabric-Covered Lampshade

I ordered this owl lamp for the nursery from Target. It came with a black shade though, which was weird. So instead I got one from Jo-Ann's that is sticky and comes with a pattern so that it could be covered with fabric. I really like the pop of green on the lampshade against the blue wall. I debated between red and brown rick-rack and finally went with the brown.

OWLS!

More than a month ago I ordered an owl mobile to match the nursery. I found a seller on Etsy who handmakes baby mobiles out of felt in really cute shapes. She made this one to match the colors in the fabric I'm using. The tree in the center is perfect to go with the room too!



She also made two little owls to be the pulls at the bottom of the ceiling fans in the room. I had to replace the football pull that was on there.

More Decals!

I added some animal wall decals to the tree scene. They're from Pop and Lolli and the best thing about them is that they're repositionable. They're easier to apply than traditional decals. I got an owl and bird set for the trees and clouds, and a forest animal set to put underneath. There are a lot more that I haven't used yet that I'll be able to put around the room. They are super fun!

Heinz asked why so many of them are wearing glasses. My answer is that it shows that it's okay to wear glasses and it's nothing to be ashamed of. I was the first kid in my class to get glasses, so I'm sure Alex will be too.

Tree Pillow

I am a big copy-cat. First I made the book slings that Katie made, then Ribbit, and now this tree pillow. I love how it uses up little bits of scraps. I would love to make some to match my living room. The tutorial is from here. I love how it goes with the tree theme in the room.