A strange phenomenon has occurred around these parts lately.  

Ever since the giant Mario Mushroom blanket has been finished (aka "The Blanket of Torture") there has been a flurry of creative craftiness going on.  

I think the burden of my blanket commitment has lifted, and hence I've gone a bit crazy.

Makings include this cute crochet cupcake made for a certain someone, and another moustache mug cozy.

I'm also attempting to make a crochet paisley, and horror of all horrors, have started on another granny square blanket with block colours!!

And guess what my other son has ordered for his birthday next year?  A Space Invader granny square blanket, in grey and black!!

I'm totally keen (and maybe a wee bit crazy!).

For more crafty makings, go here. 

Joining in with Our Creative Spaces.

So much to love in this week leading up to Christmas!  Here are a few of the things I'm loving at the moment...

This adorable video about Christmas - seen through the eyes of a child...

Making jewelery (and fixing up some my daughter broke) to hang on my new jewelery tree... 

Watching Poppa teach his grandaughter the art of feeding our pet eels... 

Christmas lights...

Having Traveling Teddy with us for Christmas (this little guy belongs to a little 6 year old girl called Erika who lives in Ohio).  So far he's traveled to Luxembourg, Japan, UK, France, Australia and now New Zealand! Anyone want him next?

This paisley skirt... 

My Dad's way of making sure his surfboard doesn't get stood on (it was all part of his end of year 'road worker' surf club costume)... 

Christmas plums in a brown paper bag... 

and I'm looking forward to making a very special birthday cake tomorrow! 

If you look through my list of recipes you might just notice that I have a bit of a sweet tooth (a 'bit' being a major understatement).   For some very strange reason, lately I have been craving Semolina balls - the kind that our Indian neighbour sometimes used to pop over to our house with (hi Ramiza!). They're not too sweet - and very tasty.

Do you think I could find a recipe on-line that I had the ingredients for?  Nope - so I wrote my own recipe. 

I even put on my paisley shawl from Israel to get into the "Indian recipe" mood. 

Presenting: "Kristy's super simple European version of Indian Sweet Semolina Balls". 

Ingredients

2 cups semolina (finely ground)

1 cup shredded coconut 

1 cup icing sugar

2-3 tablespoons powdered milk

70 grams sliced almonds (traditionally cashews are used)

175mls melted butter 

Vanilla essence

To a large bowl, add the dry ingredients, making sure to sift the icing sugar.  To the dry ingredients add the melted butter and a few drops of vanilla essence.

Mix together well, then using a tablespoonful of mixture, roll the mixture into firm balls with your hands (you might need to really squeeze the mixture together) and place on a plate or tray in the refrigerator to cool.  Makes approximately 30 balls.  Store in refrigerator in air tight container.

I love these - although some of you may not (they aren't as sweet as chocolate truffles or coconut ice).  You can get creative by adding additional ingredients to 'liven' them up a bit. 

Enjoy!!

p.s. whenever I photograph my baking, there is often a little someone quietly waiting to the side for a sample. Cute!

For more delicious recipes visit here.

The softie making bug has slowly crept back after being asked to make a few softies lately for friends.

Check out Gerry & Hugo the robot softies as well as Spencer and Sadie the bunny softies (available here).

I heart robots!

Look at what Alessandra from Just be Happy made after being inspired by my robot softies here!

It's pretty crazy around here - for some reason we decided that it would be a wonderful idea to finish renovating our dining room in time for our family Christmas (on Boxing Day).  It hasn't really been 'we' doing all the hard work... mainly 'he'.  And while he has been painting, building, sanding, replacing broken and lost bits and pieces, I have been cleaning, cooking and trying to distract two little girls from a particular part of our property where two cute little bunnies are hidden in the bushes waiting for Christmas morning (in a cage of course)... as well as sneaking in a couple of sewing projects on the side when I can  while trying to look SUPER busy with other stuff *ahem*.

I have nearly finished making five of these little Christmas tree softies, thanks to this tutorial at LucyKate Crafts.  They are so cute.

Here's hoping all of your Christmas plans are coming together smoothly, that you aren't forgetting the real reason that we celebrate Christmas... it's not really at all about Christmas trees, presents and food, but love coming down to earth to give us hope and peace...

♥ Jesus ♥

Today I had one of my close and special friends over to visit (along with her very cute boys).

Anya and I don't get to catch up as much as we would like (due to a rather large chunk of ocean separating us) - so it has been extra special to spend time together while she is over visiting her family for Christmas!

The kids hit it off rather well (we already have a couple of arranged marriages sorted between them all) and Anya suggested we sneak off to my special hiding place for a cup of tea while the kids all played together.

I suppose since Master 10 and Miss 5 helped take the photo's it isn't much of a secret anymore!

These pics of the animals we saw during our big trip last Monday...

Listening to Switchfoot's latest album, "Hello Hurricane"...

Letting the girls decorate the Christmas tree with their toys before getting out the 'proper' decorations...

Letting the kids help me decorate the Christmas tree (despite secretly wishing I could do it all by myself)...

This paisley Christmassy fabric I found!!!

In July last year I did a post about my dream to have fully house-trained sons (see here)... well, you could imagine my heart swell when Master 8 recently asked me if he could get the washing in off the line all by himself!

I went out the check on him a bit later (armed with my trusty camera) and was even more excited to see him wearing my ever so manly 'paisley peg apron' (which was even modelled by another man when it was made - just letting you know so you realise those aren't my hairy arms in the photo).

Guys hanging out washing, men sewing, boys cooking in the kitchen, men who like to knit and even guys who crochet... I like!

These 3 little guys - Murial, Blake and Peggy to be exact, are now available here!

My favourite would have to be Blake.

Please note for international customers, yes I do post internationally. This website (http://www.xe.com/) is the quickest way to do currency conversions. Some softies are under 20 USD including postage! A great way to start getting organised for Christmas (dare I say it!).

I am LOOOOOVING home made fudge. The bought stuff just isn't the same as homemade (unless you buy fudge from The Fudge Farm!). I had a special little helper to 'help' cut the fudge and 'help' taste it too. Would you believe the whole tray went in one afternoon!

I am loving our beautiful new chicken Helga. She is a Rhode Island Red and has the most delicious eggs and beautiful coloured feathers. Helga was given to us by our lovely friend Lisa. Thank you Lisa!!!

I am loving this canvas hubby secretly made for my craft shelf... isn't he sweet.

I am loving the fact that 4 more softies are nearly finished and ready to go here!

And last but not least, I am absolutely LOVING my Christ the Lord books by Anne Rice. She is an amazing writer and this Trilogy has kept me reading very late into the night. I must say that the cover images in my opinion make the books looks very dull (and religious) - but they are some of the best books I have read in a long while. I actually have only one chapter to go (in book 2 of the trilogy) and have been putting off reading it for 2 whole days - I just don't want the book to end (especially since book 3 doesn't come out for a while)!

Review of Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana coming soon on Flannelgraph.

What things are you loving at the moment?