One Cannot live on Fabric Alone!

I had to take a few days off this week, one day to clean (yuck) and one day to bake (yum).
To bad we can't get through the Christmas holiday with just Fruit cake. Do you know there are people who don't like Fruit Cake? (Not from my loins I tell you.)

So today was Short bread day.
I have several recipes, some from my Aunt and mother. both long gone, and some from my sisters. I seem to make a different one each year. I really have no preference whether it's light and flaky
and "melting your mouth" or dark and firm. But then I think I eat more on the day I make them than for the rest of the holiday.....usually in the form of dough. sigh....it's the best.

(I had a girl friend from my preteen days who I used to bake with, under the supervision of her mother and less frequently, mine. One time we did actually eat the whole bowl of raw dough. It was good........we were sick.)

So here is this years efforts. Hopefully they will last till the big day. Did I say I was dieting? the pre-Christmas last ditch effort to shed the Thanksgiving deposits?

This tray was an easy  one.
2C butter, 1C white sugar, vanilla and the 4 C flour.

(I only ate the broken ones)

And then for hubby the Scots shortbread from a mold. (Lee Valley)

I have to say it is easier. Mix the dough (this one used icing sugar) pack it in the mold and bake.
It still took all morning.
But the house smells great.
(Guess I need to brush my teeth.)

Fibre Arts Group Challenge

Well, we are a CREATIVE group.
The 10 of us exchanged a designated amount of materials and "stuff" to use as embellishments etc.
We had no idea whose material we had; a mystery!
We had a month.
Last night we returned them to their owner.
The results were delightful The materials ranged from cotton, corduroy, tulle, screening, zippers, elastic, buttons, sequins and beads, yarn, aluminum yogurt tops, beer caps.......it went on.

We tried to guess who had donated each bundle and did poorly at that, but OH MY, what wonderful results. We laughted and took snaps, we ate, drank cider and had a lovely pre-christmas christmas party..........complete with presents.

And here they are. (opps I'm missing a couple)

Fantasy trees

While I mull over which fantasy trees I want to use, I keep busy working DJ and the other little trees. Those guys are probably going to be scattered across the background so I started finishing the edges with a false french finish. It doesn't need to be stitched down until I place them, so ironing the edge into place is all they need. A few every day will have these finished in a short while.

Spent some time removing the paper first.

Nice little 5 inch finished blocks.

Found my Fantasy Tree - Now I'm Inspired!

I know that if I wait long enough, ignor something on my wall long enough, the answer will come to me. This exercise started out as just that, an exercise, but somehow I can't leave it there. I have to WANT to do it.
To day I found my 25th tree. I found the one I will feature.
Sorry little silver tree, but I'll use you as part of the label.

THIS is my tree!
Recognize it!    NO?
TSK!

Think LOTR!
So that image takes me to this.

My geometry needs a little work.
And there is always THIS interpretation.. a little less formal.

And then of course there's this approach ( I don't usually put ALL of my thoughts on this board, but this is what I go through,, ALL THE TIME). Now, is this more or less formal? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

What I really liked about this tree was I could see the top arch being a row of silver prairie points (my new best friend?)
And then of course there's the Tree of Amalion.

Trying Different Layouts - Paper Pieced Trees

I don't think I'm going to mount these on a black background even though that might seem the natural thing to do.  I hauled out a piece of dark green. This may be about GREY but it does need some help.

The first image is almost a duplicate of my work wall layout. Each tree is beside or above its' twin with the silver tree in the centre.

The second is a gradation I wanted to play with using the backgrounds as a guide, lightest to darkest.

While this is a natural layout for 25, I'm not sure it's what I want.
Neither do much for me at all.
Maybe the silver tree should be bigger??!!