Final Day on our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!

Welcome to our final day, Day 13, on our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!  I hope you have enjoyed our annual hop filled with some of the finest designers, offering some of the sweetest handwork designs just in time for the Holidays!  All the designers in the hop provided their complimentary designs just for you!  I want to be sure to give them a big thank you for all their time and effort they put in to make this hop Merry & Bright!  

Yesterday, Leonie shared some beautiful pictures of her family, where she lives & this adorable table mat.  The colors are so bright & cheery!  Again, if you missed any of the days, you can go back and click the links!

I love this time of year!  I love snow, the smell of a fresh cut pine tree, seeing the twinkling lights all aglow and I especially love seeing all the Christmas displays!  I couldn't wait to share a few pics from my fun & exciting teaching trip to Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe in Oregon!  I had the best time and wanted to give you a sneak peek from the shop & trip!  I will be posting more later in the week!  One thing I loved about the shop, was the vintage look it captured!  I think you will agree!  

I also love to collect vintage Christmas goods!  And as you can see below, this trip included hitting some great vintage shops!  I can't wait to share more on that, as well!  

Can you believe that Santa bread!  That is handmade!  I should have brought that home and shellacked it!  

Since many of you are waiting for my project.., I'll share my recipe and let you get right to it!  And....Please be sure to support us designers and like our blogs & follow us on Facebook and Instagram!  We promise to bring you more hops & inspiration!

The link for the project has been removed, since the hop is been over for quite some time.  It is now available as a pattern/kit purchase on our website!  Enjoy!

Www.buttermilkbasin.com

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 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!