Delish Magazine

delish
magazine
*
delishmag.com
*Live like you mean it.
Cherish
7
No.
issue
WINTER 2011
SEASON’S GREETINGS, DEAR READERS!
y
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I’m sure you, like me, can barely believe that we’re nearing Christmas time
again! Surely I can’t be the only one experiencing the acceleration of time
as I get older? Wow, that’s a scary phenomenon.
Getting older is on my mind a lot these days as I approach a milestone
birthday. On December 21st I turn 40 years old. Now, I don’t share that to
get birthday wishes but to elicit sympathy! I’m turning 40 years old! How did
that happen?! I’m sure that is also a sentiment that many of our Delish readers
can identify with.
yyy
This year I have more Christmas spirit than I have had in a very long
time. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we want to make
it special for our son, who is just over two years old now, and who
is starting to get more involved in such occasions. His enthusiasm
over the Christmas lights is infectious. Over the days leading up to
the big night, we want to delight him even more, and in turn delight
in him.
Cynthia and I have had many busy creative nights, putting together
our Annual (I can use that title now that this is our second year
running!) Gift Guide, and we think it’s a great one. I’ve also written a smaller article about making your own handmade gifts this
year, and would encourage you to take my suggestions merely as a
starting point, if you have the time to get started on handcrafting
now.
delish*
magazine
*Live like you mean it.
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w PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATHY EMPEY
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Editor’s Letter
Cherish
IN EVERY ISSUE
10 Delish Loves
Lovely things that make us squeal a little.
to Etsy
11 Heavens
Haute Handmade.
of Mouse
12 Word
What's on our current must-click lists.
Me at Christmas, about age 12 or 13. (I can’t
believe I am sharing this!)
I came by the idea of a homemade Christmas present quite early. I
am not sure how old I was, but I remember one of the very first did-it-myself gifts I gave to my parents.
I don’t remember it well but somewhere a picture exists, of me with a bow tied around my neck and a
hand drawn card in my hands — I gave the gift of… myself. It was the ultimate eco-friendly, low budget
and thoughtful gift and it was, just like we say, made with love.
The stories in this issue with the theme of Cherish are all about family heirlooms – in the form of memories, traditions, ornaments and recipes, all cherished, shared and handed down from generation to generation. May you have and make your own this holiday season.
Live like you mean it,
Tamara
winter 2010
delishmag.com
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delish*
WINTER 2011
14
FEATURES
Christmas Handed Down
Written by: Lori O’Hara
Memories and history mingle in a story of how the
magic of something handmade captures the spirit of
Christmas for a busy working mom.
14
MAKE
DIY Project:
Buttoned Up Wreath
Holiday Ornament
TASTE
The Taste of Christmas
26
Written by: Cynthia Merriman
I have two prominent Christmas memories
from my childhood — my Grandpa’s excitable
antics, and these wonderful whipped
shortbread cookies.
Relish The Holidays
18
Written by: Amanda Jennings
This easy-to-make and versatile relish is
delicious on anything and everything.
GIFT GUIDE
Written by: Tamara Komuniecki
and Cynthia Merriman
’Tis the season…to start worrying about finding the
perfect gift for all of those people on your list. But
hang on! Take a good look at our finds before you
brave the mall.
Made With Love By… You!
Written by: Tamara Komuniecki
Whether it's something big or something small, a
specially handmade gift conveys the spirit of the
holidays like no other.
34
26
live
Written by: Cynthia Frenette
The best decorations are those with some
history and meaning – with this DIY project,
Gran’s buttons take center stage.
Something for Everyone —
THE 2011 DELISh
36
page
25
page
20
23
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36
page
10
coming up in SPRing delish
BEHIND THE BLOG We’ve not had confirmation yet, but we’ve inquired at the
headquarters of one of the most amazing sites that exists on the internet… if they
say yes to letting us take a peek at what goes on behind the scenes, it could get
very pinteresting…
*
GENERATION MAKE Ashley English leads the good life with her husband and son
on her farm — she keeps bees, cares for cows, raises chickens and writes books.
We’ve got an interview with her and a chance to win a collection of her four titles.
delish*
magazine
Our most popular posts include:
WHAT’S NEW
ON THE BLOG...
Wordy Wednesday Teeny Tiny MochiMochi: More Than 40 Itty Bitty
Minis to Knit, Wear, and Give and Good Bite Weeknight Meals: Delicious
Made Easy.
Where in the World Is… featured Ann Jones, who recently moved
from Provo, Utah to Doha, Qatar. This peek into her life in Qatar is incredibly interesting and her great pictures help to tell the story.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CO-FOUNDER
Tamara Komuniecki
DESIGN DIRECTOR/CO-FOUNDER
Cynthia Merriman
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Cynthia Frenette
Amanda Jennings
Tamara Komuniecki
Cynthia Merriman
Lori O'Hara
PHOTOGRAPHY
Tracey Ayton
WEB DESIGN
S.Joy Studios
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E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: delishmag.com
Twitter: @DelishMag
Facebook: facebook.com/delishmag
Cherish your yesterdays, dream about tomorrow but live for today.
~ unknown
w PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATHY EMPEY
delish is...
Tamara
We'd like to introduce you to the
newest members of Team Delish, and
officially welcome them to the family.
KOMUNIECKI / Editor-in-Chief
A journalist since 1994, Tamara Komuniecki has taken
on every kind of story imagineable. Her experiences as
a broadcast and print/web journalist include attaching
herself to Siberian Huskies while on cross-country skis,
covering murders, wars, fires and floods, commandeering a jet, learning to surf, and writing about anti-cellulite running shoes. Media aside, she has also worked as
a figure model, a clown at the zoo, a 911 operator, and
a production assistant for U2. She considers herself a
happy, if imperfect, homemaker and bakes, cooks and
quilts with great passion. Her interests include design and architecture, sewing, and her family. Tamara’s
personal motto is “Only boring people get bored”, and so she leads her three best guys (husband
Konrad, son Finn, and pooch Duane) on all the adventures they can handle.
Cynthia
contributors
CYNTHIA FRENETTE
Cynthia Frenette is a graphic designer, artist, fabric designer, quilter, knitter,
painter, and blogger, living in Mission, BC Canada, with her fabulous husband
Norm and her dog and cat. When she’s not designing, illustrating and running
Green Couch Designs, her own graphic and web design company with her
husband, she can be found in her art studio painting, sewing, quilting, and
creating. She’s also a co-founder and leader of the Fraser Valley Modern Quilt
Guild, and loves creating her own modern quilt designs. There’s no craft she
won’t try at least once! You can find her at her blog cynthiaf.ca and her work
website greencouchdesigns.com.
amanda jennings
Amanda Jennings is a New England native living in sunny Northern California
with her husband, Mr. McPorkchop. She co-owns a cross stitch and sewing
pattern company with her best friend Ashleigh called The Frosted Pumpkin
Stitchery. She loves to sew, knit, cross stitch and can. Currently she’s working on her first winter garden and is sewing a scrappy quilt from her favorite
fabrics of all time. Her blog can be found at msmcporkchopquilts.com.
MERRIMAN / DESIGN DIRECTOR
A lover of all things pretty, Cynthia Merriman is a graphic
designer and owner of My Girl Friday Design Company.
She has been designing for web and print projects for
more than ten years, taking inspiration from the oodles
of vintage and retro goodies she loves to surround herself
with. When she can squeeze it in, she enjoys baking, reading the occasional novel or sewing an item for a loved
one. Mum to three little ones and wife to a wonderful
husband, she includes two Rhodesian Ridgebacks and
a cat named Zero in the menagerie. She is currently
shopping for ‘the’ perfect superpower that will help her combine the pleasures of motherhood and the
pressures of owning a flourishing business. For now, however, all she can hope for is that the kids play
nicely while Momma gets some work done.
Thank you
meet our
other fabulous
contributors HERE...
Ts
delish loves
heavens to etsy
Lovely things that make us squeal a little
Haute Handmade
quirkyessentials
PICKS
If I had to choose between something old and something new, I wouldn’t always go the vintage route… but
digging through this shop’s inventory, there’s actually
not much I’d say no to! Favorites (though it’s hard to
choose) have got to be a lovely Ironstone Pitcher and
the set of Industrial Storage Drawers.
2
w etsy.com/shop/quirkyessentials
1
1. This isn’t a brand new item, but the Trunki is coming soon to our household, and I am hoping it will
offer a big solution to a potential problem. We’ve
been planning a trip to Europe, which is six months
away but already causing me sleepless nights. This
suitcase should help to keep our two-year-old’s
attention in the airport and on the plane, when it’s
filled with a bunch of goodies. We’ll give it to him
a week before we leave and get him excited about
filling it up.
w from $23.99 at amazon.com
2. I’m so excited about this that I meet the mailman
at the door every day to see if he’s brought it yet!
I’ve just ordered two rolls of Orla Kiely Multi Stem
wallpaper for my office, and my handyman husband has promised to put it up during the Christmas break. I’m such a fan of this designer and her
iconic stems that I have her wallet and mug, but this
will top it all. (Stay tuned to our blog to follow my
office update!)
w orlakiely.com
Ts
PICKS
junedesigns
When on the hunt for right-hand ring ideas for my family (at their behest, for my — gasp — quickly approaching 40th birthday), I found these delicate lovelies. A
single extra skinny ring or a stack of them, are exquisitely simple.
w etsy.com/shop/JuneDesigns
Cs
PICKS
3
4
NestPrettyThingsShop
Three darling little roses on a delicate gold chain… they
look like piped flowers adorning the top of a cake. Pick
your colors — my favorite is the apple green, sea foam
and chartreuse combo. Or why not put a bird on it? A
gorgeous soaring swallow adorning an adjustable chain
makes this bracelet the perfect fit.
w etsy.com/shop/NestPrettyThingsShop
3. Dress up your kitchen and be functional at the
same time! Our very own Cynthia Frenette’s wonderful fabric design, Cuppa Tea Towel is her beautiful spin on the old calendar tea towels that have
graced many a stylish home over the years. And it’s
got a whole tongue-in-cheek cute thing going on,
as in, a tea tea towel! Order it, use it, love it.
w spoonflower.com
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winter 2011
delishmag.com
4. To make my kitchen even more kitschy-chic, I’ve
got my eyes on this adorable Blueberry Pie Apron
by the ever-so-stylish Anna-Maria Horner. (We’re
BIG fans of Anna Maria over here — remember when
we featured her as our Woman of the Cloth?). Turn
on some classic Doris Day, mix up something special for the ones you love and look great doing it!
w $32 at annamariahorner.com
Cs
PICKS
SunnyDayVintage
With so many wonderful retro items, it’s impossible for
me to pick just a couple — but if you’re going to make
me choose, then this fabulous Vintage American Family Scale tops the (ha!) scale. Then you can make your
kitchen even happier with this vintage set of rainbow
paring knives.
w etsy.com/shop/SunnyDayVintage
word of mouse
What’s on our current must-click lists
Dana Made It
I visit this blog almost daily, just to see what her latest tutorial is. I’ve got fabric piling up to try my hand at her boy’s
pants and crib/toddler bed sheet patterns, and have sent
links to my mom (the expert sewist!) for the 90 Minute Shirt (she’s already made a few for her grandson,
my little guy). Next up, I’m buying the pattern for
the Rollie Pollie bean bag chair and mom and I will
make it together. This blog’s creator (the Dana) has
also authored a book, Fabrics A to Z: The EssenPICKS
tial Guide to Choosing and Using Fabric for Sewing,
($14.98 at amazon.com).
dana-made-it.com
Ts
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Lifehacker
It might not tackle life’s most existential questions, like “Why
are we here?” and “How can I get my husband to put the cap
back on the toothpaste?” but visit this web site with one of
life’s big dilemmas in mind, and you might just get an answer.
Subjects and solutions range from the biggies like health and
finances (What Is a Health Savings Account and Should I Use
One?) to travel (How I Pulled Off a 10-Day London Vacation
for $700) to the more domestic of dilemmas (Line a Cast Iron
Pan with Coffee Filters to Keep it from Rusting). But you’re
on your own with the toothpaste cap, honey.
w lifehacker.com
Crafty Storage
An entire web site dedicated to the art of storage for your
arts and crafts goodies? Did the creators peek into my office and write based on my needs? No, it just seems like that,
and it will likely hit home for you, too. From rubber stamps
to scrapbooking paper, from an insane collection of Martha
Stewart punches to felt markers galore, each post has great
storage ideas from around the web, along with photos of
neat and tidy spaces with storage solutions. You might actually ask out loud,“Why didn’t I think of that?”.
w craftystorage.blogspot.com
Cs
PICKS
Home Remedies
It’s not the prettiest web site, but it doesn’t have
to be… come to think of it, you might not want to look
at pictures here, either. This is a huge resource of home remedies for almost all that ails you. If you’re the sort who would
rather try to heal yourself than make another mortgage payment for your family doctor, then this is a great place to turn
first. Now, I’m not recommending self-treating anything acute
or chronic, but dealing with cracked heels and acne scars by
yourself? That’s something I am happy to recommend.
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w home-remedies-for-you.com
FEATURE
Christmas
Handed
Down
w WRITTEN BY lori o'hara
“Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?”
So goes the forever question. In my household, it was
always, always, Christmas Eve. As for “why?” it comes
down, fundamentally, to the light.
There is magic in light – in its movement and its shadows, in its sparkle and its contrast. And you simply
cannot have the breath-catching wonder of Christmas
lights without darkness, and Christmas Eve is when
darkness happens.
Imagine two children, vibrating with the excitement
of the season, counting the minutes to Christmas with
Swiss-watch precision, careening off walls and generally being the happy, loud nuisance that children are
while awaiting the visit from Santa. There was one moment when those two pint-sized holiday nuclear reactors would be still as statues and silent as snow – the
night the tree was decorated. While the floor was still
bare of presents, two little bodies would wriggle under
the tree and stare up through the branches, transfixed.
Drifting in the heady smell of fresh pine, my little brother and I would stare up through the branches, lit with
the rainbow glow of the strings of lights, and follow
I could barely separate one
small, round Christmas miracle from the next. I could
not tell you, now, which one
I chose second, only that a
half-dozen of them are now
delicately wrapped in tissue
paper in a box of my very
own.
the iridescent reflections bouncing off our
dozens of ornaments. My infatuation with a
beautifully decorated Christmas tree started
early.
Coming as I do from a small family, there is
strong orientation towards those few things
precious enough to be handed down from
one generation to the next. My home was
not the place for the large, noisy gatherings
of flocks of aunts and uncles and herds of
cousins. I watched those gatherings with
confused longing. Compelled by the energy and laughter, I was nevertheless easily overwhelmed by noise and chaos when
I happened to step close to friends’ holiday
parties of great size. Better for me were the
smaller, quieter celebrations. And even as
a very small child, still moments of wonder
where I could gaze immobile at lights and
faceted surfaces were among my most treasured holiday experiences.
No place were these moments more powerful than at the home of my great-grandparents. A property that later became my
own home, their cabin home nestled in the
Northern California redwoods was a dark,
green, shaded place of Christmas magic.
And hanging from their tree was a universe
of delicate perfection – hand-made Christmas ornaments.
The ornaments have a tragic origin. My
great-great-aunt Pauline, bereft over the
loss of her husband, desperately sought preoccupation and distraction. Seeking solace
in miniature worlds of Christmas beauty, she
ransacked her jewelry boxes and sewing kits
for any item of shimmer or sparkle. Foam ornaments covered in fine silk thread became
blank canvases for a thousand bead-loaded
pins and velvet ribbon. Glass jewels became
focal pieces destined to be surrounded by
concentric circles of pearl-tipped straight
pins. The loops in gold bric-a-brac became
Nearly half a century after
their creation, they wait patiently eleven months of the
year, knowing that I will inhale deeply when I lift the lid
and marvel at them again. I
will imagine the four generations of women before me
who made, then held and
treasured them. I will wonder at their intricacy and
bemoan my busy life that
impedes my own ability to
craft anything so fine, so detailed. And then I will hang
them, one by one, onto the
branches of our tree. I am
too large now to fit under
it – presents or no – in order
to gaze upward through the
boughs into a world of rainbow light and green shadows. I remember the girl who
did, almost as someone different from me – almost as if
the memory is not mine but
the telling of a story from
someone dear. But if I close
my eyes and let the heady
smell of pine surround me,
the memory springs to sharp
relief and I am that girl again.
Small, vibrating with excitement, and easily captivated
by the reflection of light off
a faceted, jewel-covered
Christmas ornament.
Four generations of ladies — from left: Great-Grandma Palma, Grandma Phyllys, Mom
Pat and little Lori in the frilly knickers.
nests for bead-capped sequins. And each crystal-laden globe required a crowned head and pendant bottom – royalty was never so
well dressed as these holiday treasures. But my favorite – the one I
searched for first every year – was a small ornament of floating stars
that made me picture micro-galaxies hanging from the tree. That one
was “my” ornament, I made sure all the family was clear on that.
As a girl having little experience with generational tradition, it never
occurred to me that one day those beautiful things might actually be
mine. But then, it also never occurred to me at that young age that
the members of my family were transient things on this earth. While
my grandmother instilled in us a strong sense of history – telling stories of women in covered wagons and treks across the country to
California’s central valley – the characters in those tales seemed more
like myths than relatives. In my immature head, my family sprang to
life organically after an imaginary set of pioneers parked themselves
near an olive grove. Perhaps cabbage leaves were involved, I was
unclear on the process.
But in 1976, when my great-grandma Palma – Pauline’s sister – died
from a stroke, most of those ornaments became my grandmother’s,
moving from the magic cabin in the woods to her urban apartment.
Despite hanging then from hooks on mirrored shelves rather than the
branches of evergreen trees, the hand-made ornaments captured my
attention and spoke “Christmas” to me louder than any stop-animation special ever could.
My grandmother, knowing how much my mother and I loved those
ornaments, decided that we should have our share while she was
still around to enjoy sharing them with us. And so it was that one
year when my own son was just past toddler-age, my grandmother
presented the box of hand-made ornaments and declared that it would circle the
room and my mother, brother and I would each pick one on our turn until the box
was empty.
My first selection was the small starred ornament. For thirty years that piece had
been my single favorite holiday decoration of all time. I held it in my hand as the box
moved to my brother and back to my mom. When it was my turn again I was stuck.
Still in awe that the Christmas ornament I had loved more than any other was now
mine, I was paralyzed by choice. Staring at the sea of red, gold, pink, green and blue
Lori O’Hara is a humor writer
who is still questing for the
perfect mocha. You can read
more of her writing at In
Pursuit of It All or follow her
on Twitter at @InPursuit_Of.
�
FEATURE
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� SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE �
THE 2011 DELISH GIFT GUIDE
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� UNDER $1 � 1. Swoosh! The Fruit Ninja has sliced his way onto over ten million devices and is the perfect cheap,
easy and fun gift. w $.99 at fruitninja.com � UNDER $10 � 2. What do you give someone who has everything?
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How about the gift of levitation, with this great Magnetic Levitator.
$8.83 at amazon.com 3. If he thinks a sachet sounds girly, wait until he smells these fresh Juniper Ridge Sachets from Canoe – he’ll be a convert at the first
sniff.
$10 at canoeonline.net � $11 to $25 � 4. Stellar Shave Cream says what it does and does what it says
— which is to say, offers a stellar shave.
$21 at canoeonline.net 5. From the maker of the iconic thermos comes
the Stanley Flask, a more discreet way to enjoy a libation.
$25 at sundancecatalog.com � $26 to $50 � 6. If
Christmas 2010 was all about the Buckyball, 2012 is the year of the Buckycube, their latest offering.
$34.95 at
getbuckyballs.com 7. “Roughing it” doesn’t have to mean going without espresso, with the brew-me-a-double-shotanywhere Mini Espresso Maker.
$39 at restorationhardware.com � $51 to $100 � 8. Handcrafted in Austria of
wool and leather, the Dapper iPhone Pouch will protect his phone in style.
$75 at curiosityshoppeonline.com
9. Not only is Jonathan Adler’s Brass Muse Bottle Opener a witty design, the actual shape fits comfortably in the
hand as well.
$98 at jonathanadler.com � $100+ � 10. Help him channel his creative side and wear the results
— his own original belt buckle — with this Metalcast Belt Kit, cast in solid bronze.
$120 at metalcastkits.com 11.
Wood & Faulk’s Northwesterner 20" bag is rugged and stylish — big enough to use as a carry-on, yet perfect for
back and forth from the office to gym to home.
$209 at woodandfaulk.com.
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w WRITTEN BY Tamara Komuniecki
and cynthia merriman
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� UNDER $1 � 1. The Pocketbooth app will put a photo booth on her iPhone or iPad, for picture-perfect fun!
w $.99 at projectbox.com � UNDER $10 � 2. The tea drinker in your life will appreciate the cute design as well
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as the usefulness of the Steep Up to the Plate Teabag Rest.
$6.95 at fishseddy.com 3. Whether she is a Heath
Ceramics aficionado, a lover of all things mid-century, or just a cloth shopping bag fan, the House Red Tote will get
lots of use (and you lots of love!).
$8.75 at heathceramics.com � $11 to $25 � 4. If she is an Orla fan, you’re
getting top points with this Orla Kiely mug — and if she’s not, she soon will be.
$16 at room6.com 5. With
the Embroidered Penguin Classics, the covers of classic titles have gotten an embroidery-inspired makeover,
and the result is a work of art on the outside befitting the one found inside.
$16 at anthropologie.com
� $26 to $50 � 6. Flightpathdesign’s Red bird leather belt buckle has a great, cool and stylish vibe going —
perfect for jeans, boots and a t-shirt or sweater.
$38 at etsy.com/shop/flightpathdesigns 7. A Glassybaby
candle holder is a guaranteed to be her favorite gift of the year, no questions asked.
$44 at glassybaby.com
� $51 to $100 � 8. Granted’s Three Toned Slippers are warm, cozy and soooo cute — add in hot chocolate and
a book and you’ve given all the ingredients for a perfect winter day.
$52 at grantedclothing.com 9. The Goucho
Leather Watch is a flattering bracelet-style timepiece that will complement almost any outfit.
$98 at sundancecatalog.com � $100+ � 10. The breathtaking Astrantia Major Studio Blooms Throw Pillow delivers a vibrant hit
of summer even at Christmas. (And folks, these are from Delish Mag’s GROW writer, Stevie Rose!)
$100.20 CDN
at etsy.com/shop/GardenTherapy 11. Casual meets bespoke and has an Italian wool and cashmere baby, with
the The Row’s Hayden Classics from Toms.
$140 at toms.com
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� UNDER $1 � 1. The neat Finger Focus app lets the user bring even a small portion (even the smallest detail)
of a photo into sharp focus while the rest remains soft. w $.99 at bbcddc.com � UNDER $10 � 2. Handy for
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checking out all sorts of things, the Rearview Spy Glasses won’t sit on a shelf collecting dust.
$3.95 at restorationhardware.com 3. Never let a good bottle (or bad, for that matter) go to waste again with the Wine Bottle Seal.
$10 at uncommongoods.com � $11 to $25 � 4. The Ceramic Camp Mug from Old Faithful is just like the great
old enamel model it looks like but with a modern revamp.
$11.95 at oldfaithfulshop.com 5. The super-useful
Chalkboard Door Hanger is great for messages of welcome, warning or anything in between.
$18 at restorationhardware.com � $26 to $50 � 6. The Book Judge Tote Bag features a timely and smile-worthy sentiment
for the modern day book lover.
$29 at zazzle.com 7. A green (as in enviro) gift for someone with a green thumb,
the GrowBottle Upcycled Hydrogardens make for a modern herb garden.
$35 at branchhome.com
� $51 to $100 � 8. The Penny Saved Billfold is a great place to keep money, and maybe attract more of it — after
all, the design features a slot for a lucky penny!
$58 at sundancecatalog.com 9. Warning: if you try your hand at
the addictive (and meditative) Balancing Blocks before you wrap them up, you might never give them away…
$85 at curiosityshoppe.com � $100+ � 10. Casseroles and one-pot cooking has come back to the table in style
with the beautifully balanced Marmitta Roaster.
$110 at aplusrstore.com 11. The Retired Wine Bottle Lazy Susan
has a lovely natural patina from years of use as a French or American Oak wine barrel, and will be as beautiful in a
household as it is useful.
$125 at uncommongoods.com
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� UNDER $1 � 1. Sesame Street’s iYip app will get huge giggles out of young and old users alike!w $.99 at iTunes
� UNDER $10 � 2. Artist Hector Serrano’s Animal Hands Temporary Tattoos would really be good for all ages, but
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they’re bound to make the little ones giddy.
$7.50 at unicahome.com 3. Grow a wee one’s Christmas tree trimming collection with West Elm’s Felt Gnome Ornaments.
$7 at westelm.com � $11 to $25 � 4. The Bippolo
Seed And Other Lost Stories by Seuss will make a nice new addition to even the fullest Dr. Seuss library.
$12.92
at indigo.chapters.com 5. Sock monkeys are so 2010… Sock Monkey Slippers, on the other hand, are the hottest
thing around!
$22 at uncommongoods.com � $26 to $50 � 6. Better these than Papa’s real tools – the toys
in this Organic Toolbox are safe for babies to chew, and are quiet for toddlers to use in imaginative play.
$34
at uncommongoods.com 7. Moms are sure to appreciate the Bambino Zip for their little one, as much for its cool
graphics as its can’t-wriggle-out-of-it functionality.
$34.95 at littlebambino.com � $51 to $100 � 8. The
PlanetBox will make even the pickiest little eater eager for lunch time.
$60 for the Planetbox Complete,
at planetbox.com 9. SpiritHoods are a warm hat and mittens, plus a cozy hug, all in one adorable package.
$79
at spirithoodskids � $100+ � 10. When a child starts showing interest in helping with cooking and baking, washing
dishes and more, it’s time for a Learning Tower, which combines height, stability and safety for the little helper.
$199.99 from littlepartners.com 11. If you’re looking for something to wow a little one with, the Dodo Rocking
Chair wins top honors.
$238 at unicahome.com
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� UNDER $1 � 1. A new way to spin tunes, the djay app makes it possible to perform live, record mixes, and more.
w $.99 at algoriddim.com � UNDER $10 � 2. Perfect for playing spy or sharing secrets, the Secret Message
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Writing Set makes a fun stocking stuffer.
$7.50 at unicahome.com 3. Need a beanie for a boarder? The Alki’i
Aviator Helmet is warm, stylish AND on sale.
$9.99 at amazon.com � $11 to $25 � 4. Better be prepared
with the silliness that Farts Around the World: A Spotter’s Guide will inspire in all who turn its pages!
$15.95 at
chroniclebooks.com 5. There’s something incredibly cute about this gift, The World’s Smallest Post Service
Kit, and we’re betting any teen or tween girl will think so too.
$22.95 at curiosityshoppe.com � $26 to $50 �
6. These Crocheted Headphones are a fine example of yarn bombing at its best and are an adorable example of
what happens when old school gets funky.
$38 at uncommongoods.com 7. For a kid who grew up with Lego
and Harry Potter, nothing will be cooler than The Knight Bus!
$39.95 at chapters.indigo.com � $51 to $100 �
8. If a youngster in your life is showing an interest in photography, skip the digital camera and give the gift of
unique photographic style with a Diana Camera.
$52 at uncommongoods.com 9. The Bin Bin Wastebasket‘s
delightful design is perfect for a young man or woman’s room
$60 at unicahome.com � $100+ � 10. The
Lomographic Action Sampler 35MM Camera takes four photos with one snap – perfect for outdoor action,
which also makes it perfect for a young sportsman or woman or anyone who just likes to have fun!
$149.99 at
amazon.com 11. For hours and hours of fun (and potential embarrassment), nothing is better than the i-Karaoke.
$223.44 at pbteen.com
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for the
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If you are ever at a loss for ideas of what to give your loved ones for the holidays,
get yourself onto a crafting or sewing blog, and go crazy. Here is a very small
sampling of DIY projects found online, that can be given as a simple, small gift, or
as a part of a bigger package.
give the gift of relaxation
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give the gift of a nice treat
Make: Mug
rug and cookies
Mug rugs are all the rage,
and they’re super-easy to
zip up. One of our favorites
is in a post on the awesome blog In Color Order,
by the lovely Jeni Baker!
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� UNDER $1 � 1. The Puppytime app may not exactly give a real-life sloppy kiss or wagging tail, but a picture of
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a sweet pooch delivered three times a day is still perfect for any puppy lover.
$.99 at itspuppytime.com
� UNDER $10 � 2. Satisfy even the most aggressive chewer with a long-lasting, delicious Himalayan Dog Chew
that originated from Nepal.
$10 at unicahome.com 3. A Flint & Lars cat toy that is nicely designed and made
of stylish fabric is a present for a kitty and its owner!
$10 at canoeonline.net � $11 to $25 � 4. Cats, cats and
more cats, and dogs, dogs and more dogs are featured in Chronicle Books’ Meow: I Love Cats and Woof: I Love
Dogs.
$14.95 at chronicle books.com (Cats)
$14.95 at chronicle books.com (Dogs) � $26 to $50 �
5. Simple design and cheery color for a special pet’s kibble, in the Cat Bowl and Dog Bowl from Bauer Pottery.
$25 at ancientindustries.com (Cat)
$30 at ancientindustries.com (Dog) 6. A sweet and hungry kitty sits
mewing atop the Mio Jar by Alessi.
$40 at lumens.com � $51 to $100 � 7. Every pooch deserves a comfy,
cozy and stylish place to lay his dog-tired bones, and the Winston Dog Bed is all three.
$76 at wellappointedhouse.com 8. For the cat who likes to get into small spaces (that’s every cat), The Cat Ball, by JennasRedRhino.
$79 at etsy.com/shop/JennasRedRhino � $100+ � 9. It’s difficult to say who will be happier with this gorgeous
Ceramic Bird Feeder — the birds who will nibble from it, or the lucky recipient who gets to hang it outside their
home.
$175+ at nest-living.com 10. The Sak Pet’s Basket will be a hit with the designer canine or feline crowd.
$250 at nova68.com
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You!
There's gold in them thar hills, my friends, and while I'm not talking about the
shiny stuff, I am talking about treasure. It's just of a different sort. The riches of
which I speak are... tutorials.
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y
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w WRITTEN BY Tamara Komuniecki
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FEATURE
3
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Buy: A fun mug and a bag
of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
w Tie Tea Mug
Make: Eco-Friendly
Soy Candles
Even though the candle making
tutorial on Ruffled is for wedding favors, this would make
the most lovely holiday gift.
A good way to keep costs
down would be to find the
double boiler for melting the
wax, and your candle containers
(jars, old glasses, etc.) at a secondhand shop.
Buy: A nice box of matches, a
bottle of bubble bath, a relaxing CD, and a bottle of wine.
w Triangle Matches
from dippylulu
give the gift of food
Make: oven hand mitts
If you are confident in picking a fabric
that you know the recipient will love,
use it, but if you’re not quite sure, you
can’t go wrong with French ticking
or linen. This simple project from The
Idea Room makes for a unique and very
useable gift.
Buy: If you’re feeling really
generous (or can find one at
an outlet), this would be the
perfect handmade complement
to a Le Creuset dish. If that’s a bit
rich for your blood, try a few wooden
spoons and a cookbook along with the mitts.
w Le Creuset French Oven
DIY
LIVE: make
Buttoned Up Wreath
Holiday Ornament
w WRITTEN BY Cynthia Frenette
WHEN I
was thinking about the word
“Cherish”, the first thing that came to mind was
my Gran’s two button jars. I was lucky enough to
inherit them after she passed, in fact I couldn’t
believe nobody else wanted them!
I remember sitting at her dining room table
with my brothers when we were very young,
and after lunch we’d ask Nanny if we could
“Play buttons”. This involved each of us getting
one of her cute pink cereal bowls and dumping
piles of buttons out of the jar into them. We’d
sort them by color or by texture, or by what
they were made of, and pass them around between the three of us. I remember the sound
of them clinking in the bowls and loved just
holding them in my hands and touching them.
Since I have been so lucky to have them in my
possession, I have been wanting to use some
of them for something, so they aren’t just stuck
in a jar, but rather out where they can be seen
and admired. I came up with the idea of doing a cute little holiday wreath ornament covered in fabric flowers with button centers, kind of as a tribute to my gran who encouraged
me to learn to sew and who always loved whatever I made no matter what. I think she’d be
happy to see them being used and hung on the tree in an extra special place!
This project doesn’t require that you have a bunch of vintage buttons on hand, in fact, you
can always start your own new collection and use buttons that are special to you, or even
some new ones that you particularly love! You can make this wreath in any size — I made
mine to hang on the tree, but a larger one covered in loads of multi-colored flowers would
be spectacular to hang on the front door, or an extra small one would be super sweet to
top a special gift.
SUPPLIES
check-list
plain cardboard (size will depend on what size you want to make your wreath)
a saucer or plate (you'll trace around it for the outer dimension of your wreath)
pencil
Tacky Glue or regular white glue
Exacto knife
cutting mat or protected cutting surface
neutral fabric for the wreath “background”
fabric scraps for the flowers in your chosen colors
handsewing needle
thread
scissors
assorted buttons
ribbon for hanging and a bow
1
Place your saucer or plate (I used a teacup saucer) face
down on the cardboard and trace around it. This is the
outer dimension of your wreath. Using your Exacto knife,
cut out the circle you just traced – it doesn’t have to be
perfect, it will be covered with fabric so don’t worry if
the edges are a bit rough!
2
Draw an inner circle inside the large circle you just cut
out, this will be the inner dimension of the wreath, don’t
worry if it’s not a true circle or not centered, in fact, it
looks cuter if it’s a bit wonky.
3
Take your knife and cut out this inner circle so you have
your wreath “base”. Again, don’t worry about rough
edges!
Next, take your neutral-colored fabric and tear some
1” wide strips. Depending on how large your wreath is,
you may need more or less, but for mine, I used about
four 1” x 12” strips.
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Start wrapping the strip around and around the cardboard base, leaving the torn edge of the fabric exposed
for a bit of shabby chic texture! When you get to the
end of a strip, trim it if needed and glue the end to the
back, then attach a new strip and keep wrapping until
the entire base is covered.
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Your base should look something like this when it’s all
covered. See! No worries about the rough cardboard
edges, they are all covered up — easy peasy!
Now comes the fun part, making the flowers! I made two
basic flower types, but feel free to play with the general
pattern to make up your own special flowers as well!
4
Keeping the torn edge to the left (or outside edge), tack down
one end of fabric strip on the back of your wreath base with a
blob of glue. I like Tacky Glue as it really stays put, but you can use
any glue, even a glue gun if you want.
Gift idea
FOR A SEWER
Orange Little
Gems Scissors
$10.00 at
theworkroom.ca
5
Flip the wreath over
and wrap the fabric
strip up over the top
and over the front,
then back through
the center hole to
the back.
8
The first kind of flower is the
“Ruffly Flower”. Tear a strip of
fabric about 1” wide by roughly
9” long — this can vary too, if
you want a bigger, more ruffly
flower, you can use a longer
strip, if you want a small flower,
use a shorter strip. You can also
adjust the width of the strips to
be narrower or wider for smaller
or larger flowers.
Using a needle and thread (use a doubled thread to avoid
breakage!), run a basting stitch along the length of the strip
about 1/8” from the bottom edge, keeping the torn edge free,
as it will be the ruffly “petals” of your flower.
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9
Once you reach the end, don’t end off, but
rather gently pull the thread, gathering
the fabric into a flower shape. Tack it together in the center with a couple of small
stitches to hold it in its shape, tucking the
cut ends of the strip to the back and tack
in place.
10
It’ll look something like this. Tack the center closed with a few small stitches, and
secure the end of the thread, leaving it attached.
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Stitch a button in the center of the flower
and it’s done! You can try layering flowers
in different color combinations and sizes
to add some dimension and interest too.
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Once you get to the end, don’t end off, but
instead, gently pull the thread and gather
the yoyo into a tight center.
Flatten out the yoyo so it becomes more circular and
flower-shaped, sew a button to the center, and it’s done!
12
Try them making them in different
sizes and fabrics for your wreath.
15
Make a few of each type of flower, placing them temporarily on your wreath base to determine the layout.
When you’re happy with your design, glue the flowers
in place.
The second type of flower is a YoYo Flower!
Remember those kooky yoyo quilts from the
70s? Yup, I want to make the yoyo popular
again so this fun flower hopefully will help it
regain its cool factor.
Start by cutting a circle of fabric, any size,
but the ones I did are about 3”. They don’t
have to be perfect circles, just basically circular in shape. Run a basting stitch around
the edge about 1/8” from the outer edge.
winter 2011
delishmag.com
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In any empty spots, you can glue a few loose buttons on to add some texture and button-y fun! (I
intentionally left some spots flower-free so I could
stick in some more favorite buttons.)
Set aside to dry.
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Once the glue is dry, flip your wreath over. Cut a length
of ribbon making a loop to hang your wreath with, and
glue both ends side by side onto the back top center of
your wreath. Use a good dollop of glue to ensure they
stay attached! Let dry.
Add a small ribbon bow on the
front to finish it off. And it’s all
ready to hang up!
Have fun making your wreath and
use some of your favorite supplies
like buttons, plus special fabrics,
ribbons, and any other embellishments you might want to add and
make a special ornament you can
cherish and remember for years
to come.
... For more crafty ideas, plus lots of art,
and funky fabric designs, read more from
Cynthia at CYNTHIAF.CA
LIVE: TASTE
Christmas
The Taste of
w WRITTEN BY CYNTHIA MERRIMAn
My Grandpa had a special fascination with the
holidays — I think he was
a bigger kid than all of
us combined. He could
hardly contain himself
and would practically
stay up all night, waiting for Christmas morning, and wake the house
REALLY early. Early, as
in anywhere from 3:00
to 5:00am. He’d run
into our rooms shouting, “Wake up! Wake up!
Me
Santa’s been! Santa’s
been!”. Over the years, we got used to it and the later
wake-ups were huge disappointments, making it feel
like Christmas was half over. After the gift opening and
stockings we would all end up having a nap, aside from
my Grandma and mom, who would then take their positions in the kitchen and start preparing the holiday
dinner.
prepared by my Grandma just for our arrival. These delicate little shortbreads were a favorite of my Grandpa's
and mine, and were always the first to go on the plates
of treats.
While I can’t wake you up on Christmas morning the
same way my Grandpa did, I can share with you my
Grandma’s fabulous recipe so you can make your own
memories. They’re simple, they’re awesome, they’re
Christmas.
And with the holiday dinner, came the onslaught of
goodies — homemade Nanaimo bars, sugar cookies,
fruit cake, whipped shortbread and more — all lovingly
Whipped Shortbread Cookies
borrowed with permission from Joanne Sallows
1 cup butter
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup flour
Red/green maraschino cherries, cut in half
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. With mixer, beat butter until creamy and gradually
add the rest of the ingredients. Continue to beat for 10
minutes.
3. Drop from teaspoon onto cookie sheet. Top with
maraschino cherry pieces. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Watch carefully — don’t want them too brown. Serve
with a cold glass of milk for an extra yummy treat for
Santa.
Makes about 2 dozen.
Me and my mom
LIVE: TASTE
My favorite part of the winter was my grandfather Buono
making cranberry orange relish.
Its bright color and crisp taste
seemed to brighten up the long
New England winter. I find myself
wanting to capture that feeling
year round, especially when we
have leftover turkey. My solution
was to buy cranberries when they
were on sale during the holidays,
freeze them and can them into this
relish. It goes well with everything
from traditional turkey to English
muffins with cream cheese.
Cranberry
Cranberry Orange
Orange Relish
Relish
Adapted from Carmine Buono’s recipe & Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving.
4 cups granulated sugar
4 cups water
8 cups fresh cranberries (about 2 lbs)
Grated zest of 1 large orange
Juice of 1 large orange
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
4 (16 oz) pint or 8 (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars
with lids and bands
1/2 cup walnuts (optional)
RELISH
RELISH
THE
THE
HOLIDA
HOLIDAYS
YS
w WRITTEN BY Amanda Jennings
1. Wash jars, lids and bands in hot soapy water. Place
the clean jars onto a canning rack and into a water bath
canner filled 2 inches above the jars with water. Set on
the stove top to boil. Place lids and bands into a small
sauce pan on the stove and simmer, not boil.
2. Combine the sugar and water in a large stainless
steel saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring
to dissolve sugar. Boil for 5 minutes. Add cranberries
and allow the mixture to return to boiling. Reduce heat
and boil gently, stirring often, until all berries burst.
Add vanilla bean paste, orange zest and orange juice.
Remove pan from the heat, if using walnuts, stir them
into the relish now.
3. Spoon into the relish into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch
headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace,
if necessary, by adding hot cranberry sauce. Accurate
measuring ensures strong and safe seals. Wipe rim.
Place lid and band onto the jar, tightening the band
lightly.
4. Process the jars in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Do
not disturb for 24 hours and make sure all the jars have
sealed. If jars have not sealed, place in the fridge or
freezer, as they are not shelf safe.
5. Enjoy your little bit of cranberry goodness on everything!
MORE of AMANDA
web: msmcporkchopquilts.com
Gift idea
FOR A FOODIE
Mini Beechwood
Condiment Spoons
$11.99/set of 4 at
amazon.com
winter 2011
delishmag.com
31
'til next time...
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spring
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