Day 11 of our Home for the Holiday Blog Hop!

Hey!  We are back in full swing today on Day 11 of our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!  I'm hoping you took advantage of yesterday, and worked on one of the cute blog hop projects!  I've seen quite a few projects finished already, from previous days!  I'm so thrilled you all are enjoying the hop!  

Do you enjoy fruitcake?  I have to say I've never had it...  I may have to try it this year!  I also know that back in the day it was a big hit!  With my grand parents gone... it is no longer at our gatherings!  

Fruitcake is a heavy, alcohol soaked, fruit and nut filled cake that seems as though it has been around forever!  

1.  It has an incredible long shelf life due to its alcohol content!

2.  Fruit cakes get better with age & need at least a month to "ripen"!

3.  They can also be resurrected with steam to bring back its moisture if it dries out.

4.  The baker needs specific skills to mix & bake them properly.  It can take up to a week to make!

5.  A fruitcake, is not a fruitcake without nuts and candied red & green fruits!

6.  Fruitcake is a good luck charm for harvesters.

7.  It is also on the top 10 re-gifted gifts list!  {Maybe I'll try it next year!!!!}

Today we have a wonderful Australian designer for you on the hop!  She is Lynette, from Lynette Anderson designs!  Here is her project- how cute is it?  Wow!!!  She also has a Gingerbread People holiday recipe for you!  The cookies are so cute- I don't think I could eat them!!!!  What do you think?  So be sure to check out her pics below & then head to her blog for more holiday magic!

http://lynetteandersondesigns.typepad.com/

See you again back here tomorrow!!!  Stacy

Day 10 of the Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome back everyone to Day 10 on our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!  We have 3 more great designers coming up after today!  Hasn't the hop gone by fast!!!

Did everyone catch Sheri's neat Noel little goodie bags?  I love how she tied them on to a gift!  Great idea!  It's going to be fun to see what you all do with them!  Lots of options!!!

As for today's designer... she has cancelled... Sorry!  We will take a pause in the hop and get right back at it tomorrow!  Please note, I'm just the host and do my best to bring you a great hop- but things happen!  

Day 9 on our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Today is Day 9 on our fun & exciting Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!  I think it is so great that each day we bring you a free & unreleased pattern/project designed just for you & the hop!  So if you haven't taken a moment to thank the designers... Now would be a great time!  I'm sure they would appreciate the gesture!!!

Today I'll be keeping it simple as I'm

teaching in Oregon... so I'll get right to it!!!!

I just loved Kathy's project!  Cookies for Santa!  How cute!!!  Again, if you missed any previous days... just go back and click the links to take you to the designers pages!

Up today is my friend Sheri, from Calico Moon!  She loves to create and work with wool!  I hope she's whipped up something great for you all!!!  Here is her recipe & link!  Happy hopping!  See you back here tomorrow!!!

http://shopcalicomoon.com/christmas2016.pdf

Day 8 of our Home for the Holiday Blog Hop

Welcome back!  It's Day 7 on our Home for the Holidays blog hop!  Are you having fun?  I'm having a blast!  You will notice my posts may be posting later...  I'm out in Oregon, so I'm 2 hours behind MN time!!!  I'm out here teaching for 3 days!!!

Before I continue... I wanted to make sure you were all aware of my 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!  Each day on our Facebook Page & on Instagram, we will be giving away something fun!  All you need to go is "like" our pages & leave a Holiday memory for a chance to win!  Here is the current giveaway....

Did you see Ali's sweet, sweet, wool reindeer!?  I don't think you will be able stop at making just one!  Before you know it, you will will have a heard of them just like Santa!  {My FAV is Rudolph, with the red Pom Pom nose!}

Ever wondered why the jolly old man in the big red suit is left cookies to fuel him on his "magical" night of delivering gifts to good girls & boys?!? Historians believe the tradition began during the Great Depression in the 1930's, as a way for parents to encourage their children to give and show gratitude for gifts they received.  This soon became a tradition!  Poor Santa... his belt can't get much tighter!!!

Christmas cookies have been around as long as I can remember!  I recall leaving out cookies & milk for Santa... and tradition passed on to my girls!  It seems like yesterday when we were leaving crumbs on the plate and dumping the milk to make it appear as the lovely Santa has been here!!!  Such good memories!!!!

Now that we are dreaming of Christmas cookies... I'll share Kathy, from The Cottage at Cardiff Farms recipe with you before you head to her blog!!  I know you will LOVE her project!  Santa, will too!!!  

http://thecottageatcardifffarms.com/blog/

Ho Ho Ho.... I'll see you back here tomorrow!

Day 7 of our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Hello!!  Welcome to Day 7 of our Home for the Holidays blog hop!  We have officially tipped over the half way point... with many more exciting projects still to come!  We have seen some fun Christmas designs including Redwork, Blackwork, wool, Christmas runners, Santas & elves!  I wonder what awaits on this fun & creative hop!!!

Yesterday Debbie offered a cute little elf made out of wool!  Her post was so cute!  I think it's great that new traditions are being made with the Elf on the Shelf!  Whoever came up with that, was on to something!  Wow!  It always amazes me what people come up with!!!  And speaking elves... here is Debbie's creative & unique little elf!!!!  How cute is he?

Ever wonder how the infamous reindeer came about?!?  I do!  So...today I'm sharing some tidbits from Mentalfloss.com about reindeer!   Reindeer were originally connected to Santa through poetry.  Before Moore wrote “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” (aka “The Night Before Christmas”) in 1823, no one thought about reindeer in conjunction with Santa Claus. Moore introduced the world to Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder and Blixem (the last two of which were later changed from Dutch to German, becoming Donner and Blitzen). While the first six names all make sense in English, the last two actually mean “thunder” and “lightning,” respectively.

As for little Rudolph, he wasn’t introduced until Robert L. May wrote a children’s book in verse for Montgomery Ward in 1939 titled “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Rudolph’s name means “famous wolf” in German.

I just gave you a "hint" for today's project from the talented Ali, from Ali Strebel Designs!!!  Could it it be.. the one with the shiny red nose?!?  You will have to go see!!!!  Before you go, here is Ali's delicious Toffee Bar recipe that I can't wait to make!!!  As always, it's a pleasure having her join us on the hop!!!  Happy hopping!!!!

https://www.alistrebeldesigns.com/

Please enjoy Ali's day & swing on back here tomorrow to see who's next on the hop!  Stacy