More Fun with Rubber Stamps and Paper Napkins

December 13, 2011 by mymateriallife

I couldn’t resist trying this again for Christmas.  This time with cocktail size napkins from Italy and dinner and/or guest towel size napkins from Slovakia that I found at Ikea.  After our anniversary party (the first time I tried stamping on napkins), one of our guests asked if you could get water on the napkins.  That’s a very reasonable question, isn’t it?  The answer is yes – for the most part.  The metallic ink I used for the anniversary napkins […]

Categories: Christmas, Paper • Tags: diy printed paper napkins, rubber stamps

Wondrous White Wool Felt

December 10, 2011 by mymateriallife

Could there be a more versatile material to use for seasonal decorations?  If so, I don’t know what it is.  What I love about white wool felt is that while it clearly says Winter, it doesn’t necessarily say Christmas, so you can use it to make your home more festive when you’ll really need a lift, like in the cold, dark days of January. I found a garland like this for sale somewhere on the internet a few years ago […]

Categories: Christmas, Other Textiles, Reading Material, Sewing • Tags: felt decorations, handmade living, lotta jansdotter, parkhaus, white wool felt

Not Your Preschooler’s Tissue Paper Candle Holders

November 27, 2011 by mymateriallife

To me, there is no more charming and magical decorative holiday accessory than the preschool tissue paper candle holder. I’m so happy to have two of them in our house, one from Samantha’s nursery school days and one from kindergarten. The tissue paper candle holders pictured above are a more grown-up version. Some (most probably) of the charm and magic has been replaced with a bit of sophistication. I took these as a hostess gift to Thanksgiving in Lake Tahoe […]

Categories: Christmas, Paper • Tags: tissue paper candle holders

Toilet Paper Roll Knitting Nancy Idea #2: Lid Handle

November 16, 2011 by mymateriallife

I paid a visit to Ikea last week and found this sisal twine that I thought would be fun to try in the knitting nancy.  The sample that I knit above just seemed to scream “handle”, so that’s what it became.  I’m pretty excited about this idea.  It’s so easy, so useful, and it looks good too.  Then there are all the material possibilities:  real or faux leather or suede cord, twine, mason line – you name it.  Now I […]

Categories: Christmas, Knitting • Tags: french knitting, knit handle, spool knitting, toilet paper roll knitting nancy

Toilet Paper Roll Knitting Nancy Idea #1: Festive Garlands

November 13, 2011 by mymateriallife

Because the Attack of the Knitting Nancys post I published last summer continues to generate so much interest, I feel compelled to offer some practical uses for the toilet paper roll knitting nancy.  I’d been getting ideas and collecting a few different materials and then last week when I went into Anthropologie I saw this big upside down Christmas tree suspended from the ceiling of the store that I couldn’t really appreciate until I got a closer look and discovered […]

Categories: Christmas, Kid Stuff, Knitting • Tags: french knitting, knit garlands, spool knitting, toilet paper roll knitting nancy

New Year’s Dreaming

January 6, 2011 by mymateriallife

I treated myself to an Irish design magazine from Barnes and Noble yesterday, the November/December issue of Image Interiors.  That’s where these photos came from.  I nearly fainted when I saw that first photo of the 1 Place Vendome dining room in Paris designed by Michele Bonan.  I think it’s what convinced me to buy the magazine.  I just love the mix of color, pattern, and dressmaker details. It’s no wonder it’s French and Dior-inspired, is it?  What about that […]

Categories: Christmas, Places, Reading Material • Tags: image interiors

London Ritz Mulled Wine

January 1, 2011 by mymateriallife

The New Year is beginning with a cold and grey day which should make for a perfect “mulled wine night” by which to contemplate the holiday season that is now drawing to a close – made all too apparent by our brittle Christmas tree.  I clipped this recipe from the San Francisco Chronicle a while back and finally made it for the first time in December 2009 when we had a few neighbors in for dessert (best if your guests […]

Categories: Beverages, Christmas • Tags: london ritz book of christmas, mulled wine

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” Snow Globes

December 30, 2010 by mymateriallife

Another hymn-inspired Christmas craft project.  I found these sweet little glass angels at the toy store last month and knew exactly what to do with them.  They are the perfect size for those tiny little jam jars you might get from a hotel, a gift basket, or Cost Plus World Market.  I explain how to make your own snow globes here.  What I haven’t told you yet is how to store them, so you can reuse them in future years. […]

Categories: Christmas, Miniatures • Tags: christmas, homemade snow globes, snow globes

“I Heard the Bells” Stocking

December 29, 2010 by mymateriallife

Well I did manage to get in a little bit of sewing this Christmas as you can see in the stocking above.  I must say I’m delighted with the bell design; I thank divine inspiration for it as I planned to create something else entirely.  When I realized my original plan wasn’t going to work, my hands and brain seemed to know exactly what to do and I just started cutting, placing and stitching.  Finally!  I’ve been wanting to make […]

Categories: Christmas, Sewing • Tags: christmas stocking, edinburgh imports, henry wadsworth longfellow, i heard the bells on christmas day