It's all About the Wrapping

There was a time when the wrapping of Christmas gifts was something that was done at flash point speed on Christmas Eve.  Safely secured behind closed doors, I would randomly chop through huge rolls of paper - hurriedly wrap it a couple of times around the item in question and then firmly secure it with lengths of masking tape!  

At the height of my "speed" gift wrapping phase I could wrap 8 gifts (and attach gift cards) all during the commercial breaks of the Christmas Eve Carols by Candlelight on Channel 9!   These were manic times.

To this day - Adam, Matthew and Kendall had no idea what I was up to or the production line process that was happening in the bedroom.   It was a massive undertaking.  

However the joy in their eyes on Christmas morning when they woke and gazed upon the piles of colourfully wrapped gifts under the tree -  is something I will never forget.   The fact that the gifts were wrapped in cheap, flimsy paper (literally) held securely with layers of masking tape was of no consequence to them.   It was the promise of what lay beneath!

These days my Christmas gift wrapping is a lot more civilised.

I delight in deciding the particular theme I am going to use and spend hours carefully folding and turning little rounds of paper to make cute little music rosettes.

Or gently crocheting gorgeous little twinkle stars to make individual gift cards 

to adorn my (custom designed) gift wrapped gifts.  

Even some sheets of pretty card stock and a dab of glitter glue can be turned into unique gift embellishments.

With a perfume candle wafting away and Michael Buble gently crooning in the background - this whole gift wrapping process has turned into something............

Blissful ..... and calming ...... almost therapeutic

 Ah yes......  as I dunk another biscotti into my nespresso. 

Hmm......

But something is missing?

Something just doesn't feel quite right?

Does anyone need a speed wrapper out there?

Best Biscotti Ever!

Now that's a bold statement!

Honestly - this has to be one of the best Almond Biscotti recipes I have EVER tried and I can't believe how simple it is. 

This is the fourth batch I have made in the past 2 weeks.  We just can't seem to get enough of it around this place.  Crisp and crunchy with just a slight hint of lemon.  Perfect for dunking into an espresso or even by itself.    

A perfect Christmas gift - glass jar/ribbon around the top - how easy it that!

Here's the recipe - full credit to Delicious magazine (May 2004).  I can't believe it's taken me this long to find you!

Almond Biscotti (Makes about 40)


Ingredients :


1 cup (220g) caster sugar
2 eggs
Finely grated rind of 1 lemon
2 cups (300g) plain flour, sifted
1/2 tsp baking power
150g whole almonds (leave the skins on)


Method :
Preheat oven to 170 degrees (Celsius).  Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
Place sugar, eggs and grated lemon rind in a large bowl.  Beat with electric beaters until pale and thick.
Fold in sifted flour, baking power and almonds, then use your hands to lightly knead dough on a floured work surface until the dough is smooth.  (It is a little sticky - so just dip your hands into some extra plain flour so that the mixture doesn't stick to your fingers too much.)


Divide the mixture in half.   Form 2 long logs about 25cm long x 5 cm wide and place on prepared baking tray, leaving space between logs.  Bake for 20-25 minutes until the dough is firm to the touch and slightly golden.  Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely (about an hour).


Preheat the oven to 140 degrees (Celsius).


Once dough is cool, use a small serrated knife to cut each log on the diagonal in 0.5cm slices. 
Lay slices flat on the baking tray and return to oven for 15-20 minutes, turning once, until completely dried out.


Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.  Store in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks.  (OR 1-2 days in our case!)

Yum-O - give it a try.    I  guarantee you won't be disappointed.

I'm off now to try out this latest batch

All the interests of Quality Control of course! 

A Tale of Three Cushions

Last day of term - yah!!   I can't believe how neglectful I have been of this little blog.  The last 4 weeks of the school year have been so incredibly hectic - I have barely had time to even keep track with what my favourite bloggers have been up to let alone find time to actually blog.  

Can't wait to get stuck into all the projects I have planned for the summer holidays.  Hopefully I will also be able to find some time for a bit of R&R. and lots of  blogland "catch up."

In the midst of all the end of year craziness however, I did find time to whip up a little trio of cushions to give as Christmas gifts to three of my very favourite work colleagues.   I had such fun sorting through my ever growing fabric stash and deciding which fabrics would suit who?  In the end, the fabrics spoke to me and the choice became very easy.

So, let me introduce you to "Michelle"

Now a couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to receive a fabric grab bag from the girls at Fabric Traders.Co in response to a blog I posted about their fabulous new on line fabric store.  You can read about it HERE.

Amongst the gorgeous fabrics in the grab bag was this lovely autumn toned floral print which Michelle immediately fell in love with when I did my little "show and tell" at work, after the parcel arrived.   I knew immediately what I was going to do with it......

I had just enough for a 16" x 16" front and then backed it with a left over piece of painter's drop cloth (from my dining room chairs project) and added a contrast binding.  Aren't these just the most perfect buttons?   I couldn't have got a more perfect match.  I actually picked them up at Beach Vintage when Kendall and I flew down to see DOLLY at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre a couple of weeks ago.
So this truly is a Fabric Traders/Beach Vintage inspired cushion!   Thanks heaps Simone and Jodie.

Next we have "Linda"

There was just something about this pretty blue and yellow fabric that just shouted "Linda" the minute I saw it.  Sweet and gentle - just like her.    Fortunately she loved it just as much as I hoped she would.

Again, I had just enough fabric to make a 16" x 16" cushion and trimmed it with a piece of matching stripe (which for some reason strangely reminds me of Bananas in Pyjamas??)  The floral and stripe were both Spotlight finds.

I then sorted through my button tin and found these rather interesting blue buttons.  I love the fact that they are mismatched.   For a person who lives and breathes symmetry, they were a bit of an odd choice but I'm really happy with the way they look.

And finally, we have Julie

This was such a tough one.  I adore this gorgeous blue and white fabric (again, from Fabric  Traders. Com) and only had just enough to make one only cushion.  I was SO tempted to keep it for myself.   Hopefully Julie will get just as much pleasure from it as I did in making it for her.

I think the gorgeous little bobble trim and crisp white buttons really sets it off.  It was SO hard to let this one go - but I know it is going to good home.  Merry Christmas Julie!

Oh, and by the way........

Fabric Traders.Com are having a little sale at the moment - 17% off for the next 3 days.



 I can hear all those beautiful fabrics calling my name.  Yes, you can hear them too!!