12 Days of Christmas Days 1 & 2 ON NOW on our website!

Welcome to our first days of our "12 Days of Christmas" Online Event!  Over the next 10 days, you will be able to enjoy new goods, holiday recipes, a FREE puzzle piece to collect and make into a complimentary pattern from us to you and enjoy decorating ideas and more on our website under the "12 Days of Christmas" category!  You won't want to miss out this festive event!  Let the merry making begin!

First, I am going to introduce you to one of my shop gals!  I will be sharing a bit about them and share one of their family recipes and Holiday memories.  Let's meet Diana!  


Diana is our "shipper" gal!  She prints, pulls & packs your orders!  If she has time, she also ships them!  Not only does she do all that... but she prints all the pattern instructions, getting them ready to be folded/packaged!  Talk about a multi tasker!!!  

Diana is also an early riser and starts her day at 7:30 am!  Even though she is fairly new, and after having her here with us for a couple months, I can't imagine how we did it with out her!  She sure keeps thing humming along for us!

Diana has fond memories of putting reindeer dust and carrots outside in the yard and baked delicious cookies to leave out for Santa with a glass of milk.  The kids would make reindeer dust out of dry oatmeal and glitter and sprinkle it out on the ground.  Since the dust has glitter in it, the reindeer can see it from afar!  For some reason Santa would eat his cookies but there always seemed to be a few carrot chunks left in the yard!  We were so excited that Santa had came!

Here are few things that we kicked off our event with!
   

 

Welcome to Day 2 of our "12 Days of Christmas" Online Event! Today we are offering 3 sets of patterns that are half off, a gorgeous Christmas wool bundle, Home for the Holidays "Chalk it Up!", a darling Winter Barn Ornament & more Holiday offerings & cheer!!!!

Today we celebrated with the locals at our "Ugly Sweater" Party! We had soooo much fun! Those who sported their Holiday sweater revived a FREE pattern! Everyone got the opportunity to draw a piece of paper from a bucket to revive a prize! If you were on the "naughty" list... you got a candy cane {at least it was not a chunk of coal!}... If you were on the "nice" list... you received a bundle of wool! The sweaters were fantastic! Kelly and I both wore the same cat sweater! What a riot! We also decked the halls with sparkly garland and Little Debbie Christmas trees!!! We definitely are making this an annual event at the shop!!!!!!

 
 

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek!  Head over to the website to join in the fun!  We have lots of good specials on there too!!!!  HO HO HO!  See you soon with another update!  Stacy

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 12 of our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome back to Day 12 on our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!  After today, we will have 1 more day left to make it merry for you!

Today I woke up to beautiful, fluffy snowflakes falling in Oregon!  It was such a pretty sight!  I also had the pleasure of watching Debbie's grand children enjoying the first snowfall this winter there!!!  It was the perfect way to start the day!  

Shortly after capturing that moment, I was boarding a plane and heading home!  As we started descending, I was surprised to see all our snow was gone...  Looks like I'll be dreaming of a white Christnas!

Did you stop over at Lynette's blog & enjoy her sweet snowman purse yet?  It is darling!  How great was it that she gave you step by step photos/instructions to create her project!  Great job Lynette!!!

To celebrate the first snowfall... I thought I would share this delicious cookie recipe with you all!  These will be great to add to your Holiday cookie baking list!  Enjoy!  

http://wickedgoodkitchen.com/snowball-christmas-cookies-best-ever/

Today brings Leonie, from Leonie Bateman Designs!  She will be our 3rd Australian designer joining us on our hop!  She's such a sweet gal!  I know you will enjoy her post & project!  I can't wait to see what awaits us, on this 12th day of the hop!  Let's check out her recipe & click the link below to head over to her blog & get inspired!

http://www.leoniebatemandesigns.typepad.com/

See you tomorrow!!!!  Enjoy your day!  Stacy

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 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

Day 6 of our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome back everyone to Day 6, on our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!  In case you didn't click "refresh" in your browser and didn't get Gail Pan's darling little runner pattern, here is the direct link.  http://gailpandesigns.typepad.com/.  Clicking the home button on a blog or clicking "refresh" gets you back to their current page/blog post!  I try to do as much as I can for you... but once I get you there, you may have to do the above!!!

Speaking of the lovely Gail Pan, here is a pic of her project she created for the hop!!  How cute is this!!  She even used her new fabric line in it!!!

Today I'm sharing something sweet with you!  It's gumdrops!  Each Holiday Season my great grandma and I would go to the dime store and buy Christmas candy!  Gumdrops were always on top of the list!  First, we loved them and second... we needed them for the gumdrop tree!  Grandma had an old fashioned glass candy dish, unique in style and with a glass cover (of course) to hold the gumdrops.  The gumdrop tree was clear & plastic.  We put the gumdrops on the ends to look like ornaments!  Extras were placed on the bottom section to be replace the gumdrops that we are!  Such good memories!!!  Did any of you have a gumdrop tree growing up?

I also have a fun Gumdrop Fudge recipe for you!  I thought this would be a pretty addition to your cookie & candy plates this Holiday Season!!  Here is the link to the recipe!  Enjoy!  http://www.shugarysweets.com/2013/12/gumdrop-fudge

Let's continue hopping, shall we....  Today on our hop features Debbie, from Wooden Spool Designs.  I'll be seeing Debbie tomorrow, as I fly out to teach with her and a few others at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe in Oregon!  Should be fun!  I'm excited to see what she stitched up for the hop!  Let's head over there and see!!!

http://woodenspooldesigns.blogspot.com/?m=1

See you tomorrow from Oregon!!!!!  Stacy 

Day 5 of our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Hello!  Welcome to Day 5 of our Home for the Holidays Blog Hop!  I am loving all the projects on this year's hop!  Great job everyone!!!  This could be our most exciting blog hop yet!!!  Whoo Hoo!!!

Remember, if you miss a day, you can always go back to view it on the blog and click the designer links!  Here is a pic of yesterday's project from Tracy, Plum Cute Designs!  I love how she added the ruffle at the bottom!  Adorable!

Today I'm sharing some fun Christmas tree facts from the University of Illinois Extention!!   I should have know Thomas Edison's assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas tree!   

Great Moments in Christmas Tree History

• The use of evergreen trees to celebrate the winter season occurred before the birth of Christ.
• The first decorated Christmas tree was in Riga, Latvia in 1510.
• The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.
• Besides evergreens, other types of trees such as cherry and hawthorns were used as Christmas trees in the past.
• Using small candles to light a Christmas tree dates back to the middle of the 17th century.
• Thomas Edison's assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees in 1882. Christmas tree lights were first mass-produced in 1890.
• In 1900, large stores started to erect big illuminated Christmas trees.
• The tradition of an official Chicago Christmas tree was initiated in 1913 when one was first lit by Mayor Carter H. Harrison in Grant Park.
• The official Christmas tree tradition at Rockefeller Center began in 1933. Since 2004 the tree has been topped with a 550-pound Swarovski Crystal star. And since 2007, the tree has been lit with 30,000 energy-efficient LED's which are powered by solar panels. 
• Every year since 1947, the people of Oslo, Norway have given a Christmas tree to the city of Westminster, England. The gift is an expression of good will and gratitude for Britain's help to Norway during World War II.
• Since 1971, the Province of Nova Scotia has presented the Boston Christmas tree to the people of Boston, in gratitude for the relief supplies received from the citizens of Boston after a ship exploded in 1917 following a collision in the Halifax, Nova Scotia Harbor. Part of the city was leveled, killing and injuring thousands.

Today we have Gail, from Gail Pan Designs!  She may have posted already since she's across the way in Australia!  She's a handwork lover- so I'm thinking a sweet stitchery design in a quilt awaits you!  You'll have to check it out and see if my guess was right!!!!  Here is recipe card and link to her blog!  Enjoy!  

http://gailpandesigns.typepad.com/

See you tomorrow!!!  Stacy