The packages have been sent to family members so it's time to reveal the 2023 theme.
Gingerbread Man and girls..with a lot of old fashioned sweets. An Old Fashioned Christmas.
Last year as I was putting away my Christmas ornaments I noticed my gingerbread men were sort of "tired". They had been taken out, displayed and stored in their boxes for over fifty years. I decided not to store them in 2023 but to do some repair and freshening up.
circa 1970
When I was a young newlywed I wanted to start my own ornament collection for my tree as all young adults like to do when they've moved out of their parents home. Because I loved to sew and because money was tight I decided to make these little guys. I used a cookie cutter for a pattern and cut out from velvet and brown gingham fabric scraps. Then I appliquéd and embroidered the eyes, mouth and cheeks and apple buttons. A velvet necktie and rick rack around the edge dressed them for display. I still love to hang these old ornaments on my tree each year. They send my mind back to another happy Christmas time as so many ornaments do. My friend, Jan, just recently described it as "my life's history is presented on my tree. So true!
Usually my Christmas theme inspiration comes to me in October or November but this year in early January I knew what 2023 would be. Gingerbread. I decided to make more gingerbread men and share them with others:
Start with a set of gingerbread people - yes I have a few.. In my kitchen "more is more"
The originals are on the top and 7 new pairs of gingerbread fabric ornaments made from both old and new materials
white felt, "apple" appliqué , blue felt eyes, embroidery and vintage ribbon
As I decorated the tree I pulled out all the old ornaments that supported the theme of old fashion candy canes and ribbon candy, sweets like cupcakes and chocolate truffles. Then I added gingerbread houses and candy cane striped ribbon
Here's a look at my tree:
Candy cane paper, gingerbread bags and boxes
Old fashion Christmas tree
Topped with a gingerbread girl "Jellycat"
ribbon candy, candy cane ribbon, gingerbread garland - all sugar free!
Sweets on the tree from Christmas' past
Ribbon candy tree, Gingerbread nutcracker and a corner of my poinsettia quilt from 2006
And now for the cookies:
It's just fun making cookies: cut out cookies, decorated cookies, chocolate cookies and red cookies:
This year gingerbread men were a must. Then Ella requested peanut butter cookies with the iconic chocolate kiss on the top. Red velvet crinkles and sugar cookies made the cut this year. I first made a batch of each gluten free ( for my Denver family) and then an additional batch of each for others. Really the G-F choice does not compromise the taste at all and I encourage everyone to try it.
Red velvet crinkle batter
so pretty and delicious
Don't forget to let your cookie cutters go swimming in the flour before they cut
Red velvet crinkle cookies plus peanut butter kisses Here's the
recipe
And finally it would not be a complete Christmas without including my High Tide Farm animals
A big wag, hug, nestle, cackle, and meow from all of us
The newcomers
Charlotte
The 4 funny goats......plus 6 chickens
And my favorite girls:
Reina (16) and Gabriela(13) Visiting from Seattle
Kate(16) and Ella(20) - my Denver girls - on their trip to New Zealand
May this upcoming year be filled with love, adventures and joy in your lives
Happy New Year 💗
