~WRAPPING IT UP - SWEET CHRISTMAS CONFECTIONS~

~CHOCOLATE ALMOND BRITTLE~

Christmas will be here before we all know it and so just like every year I've been busy in my kitchen creating yummy holiday treats.  Now that my three "S's" are done (Shopping, Selling and Shipping) I can finally get my head back into a wee bit of Christmas baking fun!!!

~IT'S IN THE BAG~

I've shared with you in the past how we've gifted either homemade ALMOND BRITTLE or SUGARED PECANS to our co-workers, neighbors and friends for many years.  It's become a little tradition and we love remembering the special people in our lives in such a SWEET way.

~ALL JARED UP!~

Finding containers to hold our goodies is a yearlong process (think thrift stores!) and this year proved to be no different.  Year after year I hunt down glass jars to hold the most delicious and easy to prepare confections possible and when I can snag jars for .25 or .50 I'm sooo happy!  If you'd like to read my Almond Brittle post from last year you can go HERE.   Sugared Pecans (from 2009) you can go HERE.

 

~SWEET LITTLE TAG~

Incredibly I found just enough jars this year to make twenty separate gifts.  I opted to do Almond Brittle again this year because it's our personal favorite and unlike the Sugared Pecans they have CHOCOLATE.  Who doesn't like CHOCOLATE????

 
Instead of wrapping the jars up with cello wrap I decided to place them into decorated bags!

I'm lovin' how they came out!

 ~ORIGINAL SHEET MUSIC~

A few days ago I was in BIG LOTS (do you have those where you live?) and I found gift sacks in natural paper for 5 for $2.  I opted to decorate them up with a ruffle of doily shelf paper (edging) and then attached a sweet customized tag.  The edging was hand pleated and stitched like a fabric ruffle and then hot-glued to the bag.  

 ~PAPER SHELF EDGING~

The graphic was originally the cover of some antique/vintage sheet music and I just changed it up a bit!  Reworking the graphic took a little time, but it was fun!  Just added more of the paper edging to the bottom of the tag before tying it onto the bag's handle.

A little white tissue inside and DONE for 2012!

~SWEET and SIMPLE~

Here it is again!  I've had the edging for years and I'm sad to say I'm clueless as to where it came from!  If I can hunt it down I'll let you know! 

Blessings as the Joy of the Season continues!

Love to you...

~LOVE THAT NEVER ENDS~

LOVE.NEVER.FAILS.

In Paul's letter to the Church at Corinth (1st Corinthins 13) God's love, says the Apostle, will never fall to the ground, wither and decay.  By it's nature it will never die but will live on through eternity...

Today, more than ever, I'm holding this promise close to my own heart, for like many of you I'm horrified and saddened by the violence and killings at Sandy Hook Elementary. 

After two days I'm still at a loss for words.

The only thing I'm honestly feeling today is a profound since of calm and peace as I see the good people of America unite.  Despite what we sometimes bear witness to, I believe the goodness that lives inside us will prevail and in the end God will bring something good out of what was intended for evil.

"LOVE WILL LAST FOREVER" (NLT).

"LOVE NEVER DIES" (MSG).

"LOVE NEVER ENDS" (RSV).

"LOVE IS ETERNAL" (TEV).

"LOVE NEVER FAILS" (NKJV).

Blessings as you seek to both heal and minister in your own beautiful way.

Love to you...

~~MY COTTAGE WHITE CHRISTMAS HOME~~

Busy morning for me as I work on finishing up special projects for last minute Christmas orders.  I'm always amazed and grateful for the business that comes my way year after year...  These are truly tough days in our economy and so I thank you all so very much for the biz.  You bless me.

 Yesterday I snapped a few more pics of my La Chaumière de Briarwood dressed in her Christmas best.  I've had so much fun decorating this year with our new wood floors and the opened-up-wall.  

 After owning it for a couple of years I finally decided to use the vintage tinsel I found at one of the estate sales I camped out at for days and days.  I love how it looks on our mini Christmas Tree.

 

We use this vintage vanity stool (with the tufted cushion removed) for extra seating when need be.  My Miss K routinely sits on it and it's become her chair!

I have a thing for chairs.  

I do.

They just find me and I'm happy to give them a new home.

This is the first time in years we've had a mirror over our fireplace.  I love the simple white floral wreath hanging in front of it so much that I decided to skip hanging my OVER-DONE Christmas Wreath up this year.  I also toned down ALL our Christmas Greens again this year...painting them out with my favorite soft white paint.  Last year I spray painted our big Tree.  This year I dry brushed tons more of her branches and now she's even whiter than before.  Love it!

 Our mantel's greenery was also brush painted.  I love Magnolias and I've had these for fifteen years.  This year they also received a wee bit of paint.

My Mr. AGPMan ended up making 22 large Christmas Tree Baskets and 14 small ones and they all $old but one.  Next year I plan on offering them on my website.  With all the problems with my hands this year I didn't do too much painting... :(  Sure miss it!  Next year will be BETTAH!

  Breakfast room is white, white and more white. 

A little outside view!

So there you have it for now...

Tomorrow I'll be finishing up the Christmas Goodies for our neighbors and friends.  Can't wait to show you the simple and INEXPENSIVE wrappings this year for our traditional Almond Brittle gift-giving!

Blessings today!

Love to you...