Christmas Banner Idea

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Juliet Tiu

This is one of my favorite projects to come home with Abby. She was a mere four-years old when she made this, and I hang this up every year.

Preschool Christmas Project

Supplies:

canvas or burlap material (approx. 15″ x 19″), red and green tempera paint, sponge brushes (optional), permanent marker, dowel rod (3/16″ x 18″), hot glue gun or craft glue, 1/4″ ribbon (20″ to 21″)

Take your child’s hand and paint it green or dip in green paint that has been poured onto a paper plate. Stamp six handprints in a pyramid form, reloading paint on the hand as needed. Then have your child dip or paint one finger with red paint and “dot” the top of the third finger of each handprint. Let dry. Draw a little tree base and add your artist’s name and year, too.

After your banner is dry, place the dowel rod at the top of the banner and fold over the top 1/2″ inch (or whatever is appropriate) so that the dowel rod is within a “casing”. Using a hot glue gun or craft glue, glue down the canvas to secure the casing. If using craft glue, you may want to use clips or clamps to hold down the canvas as it’s drying. Tie your ribbon to the dowel rod on both ends, hang and enjoy!

Christmas Thoughts

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Juliet Tiu

Front Porch with Christmas Lights

Thank you everyone for the kind words, thoughts and prayers as my family is dealing with the loss of my aunt. Another relative is very ill, so my parents and brother flew out earlier this week to California to be with our family. It’s been a stressful and teary two weeks, but I still want to make this a special Christmas for my kids, my family. I’m usually so happy and excited to get our home ready for the holidays, for guests, to celebrate… but I’m “blah” right now. Even Christmas songs on the radio aren’t getting me in the mood as they usually do. I mean, I’m still doing stuff. Just with a bit of a heavy heart – I set out to decorate our home (Father-in-law strung the lights outside), started addressing the Christmas cards, got some cookie dough in the refrigerator.

Christmas Tree at Night

I think in a little time I’ll find the Christmas spirit…

Kids under the Christmas Tree

Giving Thanks

Posted on November 26, 2009 by Juliet Tiu

Thanksgiving Kids 2009

Lots to be thankful for this year… my husband, my children… but this second half has been a hard one for my side of the family which makes Thanksgiving more bittersweet. There are both physical and emotional problems that some are enduring, but this week my family lost our oldest aunt, my dad’s oldest sister, Tess. I haven’t seen her for three years since she moved from Chicago to the Philippines, but she has been a big part of my growing years. I thought about her often after her move, and now, I believe she is in a better place without physical pain, without worries.

My dad’s three other sisters are in the Philippines now, making arrangements, while a few families are here in Chicago making the most of this Thanksgiving by coming together for dinner at our home. We give thanks for those here and abroad who have touched our lives in so many ways…

Thanksgiving pumpkin cupcakes

Holiday Party Planning for a Cookie Exchange

Posted on November 21, 2009 by Juliet Tiu

I honestly try to enjoy Fall for what it is – the transitioning into winter, the falling leaves, late gardening, the colors, pumpkins, costumes, giving thanks. I LOVE Fall, which is probably also why I make myself feel guilty for even slightly thinking about Christmas and winter. This is the time of year I get myself mentally, physically and emotionally charged up for the barrage of Christmas and holiday events including the ones we host here at the Tiu homestead.

Cream Cheese Mango pinwheels

For the last nine years (minus the one when we were building the house) we’ve invited close friends mainly from high school and college to a cookie exchange. It started out innocently, as most things do: Six households probably no more than 12 people. Last year we hosted about 60 people including children, 20 households. It marks the Christmas season for us as we open our home to friends, and it’s the most incredible display of cookie baking, not to mention cameraderie and even a little friendly competition. Each home brought 6 dozen cookies to share and went home with just about the same amount. This Facebook album link is a doorway to our cookie madness that we love so dearly.

One more thing I’d like to share as a free download.Â It’s my trusty party planning spreadsheet. You type in the date of your party and the spreadsheet fills with start and end dates for different tasks. There’s also a worksheet that will calculate food quantities. It’s in MSExcel for Windows, and you can use it for other types of parties. I’ve used it for bridal showers, dinner parties, brunches, simple gatherings. But, this one is written with our holiday cookie exchange in mind.

Crafting Last Week

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Juliet Tiu

It was a great turnout at the Craft Social last Friday night! Special thanks to the Craft Social team! Lots of great women came by and doodled with me: Katie, Lindy, Jen, Susan, Karen, Sarah, Susie, Simone, Krissy… wish I had a sign-in sheet so I could remember everyone’s name. Well, there were at least 26 people at the table because I came home with only four handouts. These crafty colleagues were so fun to talk and brainstorm with. My head was spinning when I got home. Good thing I had yoga on Saturday morning. It helped calm me down. I think the future might hold some special projects – I’m checking into the possibilities and will report on them.

On another front, from my sewing table:

Baby Blanket with ribbon tabs

This baby blanket was shipped to my long time friend, Jen, and her husband. They had a new addition to the family, and I was finally able to sit down and sew this. It was my first time working with the cuddly, soft, “bumpy” fabric. Not too bad, but I did have a little trouble with it bunching every so often. The ribbon tabs are a fun add-on for babies, and not that difficult to do. I think choosing the ribbons was harder. At the time of this picture, I hadn’t finished the topstitching around the border, but you get the idea. Abby felt like trying it out for a minute before I washed it the final time.

Testing the baby blanket