Once again, I’m sorry I didn’t get to to your comments… I read them but didn’t have a spare moment today to answer them. It seems my life is going full throttle right now…and I’m about ready to put on the brakes. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy doing things, and when I’m in the midst of things, I don’t think about it, but when I get to the close of the day, and I see how much I didn’t get done, sometimes it bugs me. Today was one of those days… want to follow along with me as I made gifts for our Staff Christmas party?
I’ve shown how to make these “Brownies in a Jar” before, and I’ll give the link to that post at the bottom, but I knew there wasn’t going to be ANY time for sewing today, so I decided I’d bring you along as I was “making a mess” in my kitchen… And BOY, did I ever make a mess…
I could have gone and bought something for my gifts, but I much prefer homemade ones… I looked in my closet and I had enough glass jars to make 11 gifts… exactly what I needed!
Here’s a quick overview of what was happening in my kitchen, but as I said, I’ll put the tutorial link at the bottom.
Nuts in first, then chocolate chips, brown sugar and white sugar…
I told you it was messy…
It’s pretty hard to be neat when you’re working with flour and cocoa.
I cut out my fabric tops from some Christmas fabrics…
I will be using some rubber bands, jute (string) and some decorations to tie on. Usually I hand draw little designs on the card stock with the directions, but today I had to go for quick and simple…
I took the fabric circles and placed them on top of the jars and held them in place with the rubber bands. Even them out so the gathers are nicely distributed.
I took the jute and tied it around the jars where the rubber band was… get it just below the screw on lid…
I printed out the directions of how to make the brownies and used a pair of decorative scissors to cut them out… then I punched a hole in them to run my jute through.
I picked a decoration and tied it onto the jute in a bow, adding just a drop or so of clear glue to hold my bow in place…
I got into my stash of Christmas bags and put one jar in each… I didn’t use tissue paper around them, but just on top…
I passed them out at the Staff Christmas party tonight and everyone seemed pleased… YAY!
Now, if you’d like to see the actual tutorial on how to make the Brownies in a Jar, step by step, you can click HERE…
I know this is supposed to be a doll and sewing blog, but sometimes it’s just not!!!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a wonderful gift idea, and so nicely presented, too. You even used fabric!! (Okay, you didn’t Sew fabric, but at least you Cut it, and Tied around it!! LOL)
Hope you’re able to get back into the sewing room for some real sewing soon!!
Hi Charlotte,
Thank you for liking my jars…I enjoyed them but I agree…I’m ready to get on my sewing room….
Blessings, Jeanne
I think most of us think this is a life blog with dolls and sewing, not a doll and sewing blog with bits of life thrown in. It’s also a “give me a nice break” or a “share a few minutes” blog with morning or afternoon tea or coffee. Isolation is not good for people, so here we have a chance to share for a few minutes.
I love holiday bags. They are fast and reusable wrapping and they are wonderful for children. I met my three year old niece yesterday, so I put a Minnie Mouse and her car present in the bottom of a gift bag with tissue paper covering the top, and it was easy for her to open and discover her gift. After that it was useful for carrying her several toys and keeping them together.
Who would not love brownies at exactly the moment you need them, and a charming Christmas kitchen decoration until then? Didn’t I see that green and gold material in a dress for Rebecca or as part of a group of 3 Victorian dresses on three dolls?
Hi Marilyn,
Well, for me, at least lately, it’s been a “life blog” with a little bit of sewing thrown in…not much though….Yikes! I’m so far behind…but I can’t do anything about it…
I am a nut for gift bags too…and even found a few on the 100 mile yard sale that were in perfect condition…I also like baking gift bags and boxes. Rebecca and I always stock up on them after Christmas for the next year…we have quite a stash upstairs!!
One of the girls last night just thought the brownie jars were for decoration…until someone told her…”no…you add these things and make them into delicious brownies!” She was thrilled at that idea…
And yes, you did see Rebecca modeling the green and gold dress in a group with Eden and Lily…good memory, Marilyn!!
Blessings, Jeanne
Thank you for the ‘reminder’ of this gift idea! I think I’m going to have my mom make these to give out at our ‘family gathering’ on Jan. 1st! She’s 93, and lives with us – so, that would give her something special to do to prepare for the day! 🙂
Hi Mary,
I hope you and your mom have fun making them! I’ve never given them to anyone who wasn’t just thrilled!!
Thank you Mary,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a perfect and yummy gift, especially if you have quite a few gifts to make. They all look festive and I’m sure everyone was thrilled to get one. The holiday bags are so cute and Christmacy too. You have such wonderful ideas, Jeanne.
Our vacation rental house burned down out in California. We’re not sure where we’ll go this winter. The house was a beautiful home. The area we spent our time in had many fires. We are just sick about it but feel for those who actually live there year round losing their homes. California has certainly had a difficult year of fires.
Oh, so sorry to hear about the vacation house. I presume in S CA? Fires have been awful with the winds. Fire fighters from up here have gone down to help out.
Hi Paula,
I’m glad you enjoyed the “repeat” (sort of) blog post on these brownie jars. It’s always fun to be reminded of crafts and gifts, I think.
Oh, Paula, I am SO sorry to hear about your vacation home burning!!! I just don’t know what to say!!! It must have been awful to get that news and not even be there to take it in…
I am so sorry!!!
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh yes, Jeanne, I remember when you showed us how to make these last year! Darling then, darling now, and oh so yummy too! They are just the thing for a “personal touch” type of present!
Like you, I am in the thick of things——so much to do, so little time! Yes, Marilyn, bags are the best and easiest for wrapping! Great for keeping things all together, and they look so festive too! Wrapping is not my friend!
I do feel for the people living in California, doubly sad since this is so close to the holidays.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your rental house, Paula.
Hi Linda,
I feel like I’m going about 100 miles an hour right now…the International Thanksgiving dinner, 2 Thanksgiving dinners at our house, my sisters coming in, the battles with getting momma moved, all the stuff that goes with that, the staff Christmas party, and now I have the Married Couples Christmas party on the 17th!! I’ve got to work on it, but I need (and want) to sew, I’m still checking on momma as,often as I can, to make sure things are going okay..
I’m glad you reminded me about the favorite Christmas doll dresses, Linda…I had a note written about it, but then we moved momma…and I’m sure that note is long gone somewhere.
I’ll try and make an announcement tomorrow.
My goodness. As I look back over my comment to uou, it sounds like I’m doing an awful lot of whining!!!
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, What fun! I love how you do things so easily.
I agree with Marilyn. I see this as a life blog. I don’t sew and I love checking in to see what you are up to.
Paula, I am sorry to hear about your house. I hope you can start a new family tradition.
Hi Dorothy,
My blog has been more about everything lately than about dolls…I’m hoping to change that soon…but I’m glad you are enjoying what I’m “up to!”
Thanks so much!
Blessings, Jeanne
So wonderful of you to make all of those party gifts. I’m sure they will be greatly appreciated.
I’m going to warn you again. Take some time for yourself. Everyone needs that. If every little thing isn’t completed, so be it. I keep bugging you about decorating. Still not done here and may not be at all because of more pressing things. Like yesterday. Beautiful sunny day here in northern CA so instead of trying to sort boxes and move things to other locations, we took a drive to the coast. So pretty and crisp and enjoyable to see those fishermen bringing in crab. We had fresh crab sandwiches for lunch. Delicious. Needless to say, this place is still a mess this morning, but the fun of a special break lingers.
Hi Joy,
I think I am going to listen to you…I “need” to sew, but my morning has been so busy, I think I “want” to take a nap…if I can. I usually can’t sleep in the daytime, but I’m very tired.
I didn’t tell you, but I was so busy at Thanksgiving, as soon as it was over, I caught a cold. I know I was just run down…then I was dealing with it when we doing all that with momma…I can’t get sick again so I need some “me” time… (Joy said so!!!) :o)
I love that you took a drive to the cc oast…it sounded wonderful…and I’m sure..much needed!!!
Someone was showing a picture on their phone last night, of their home in CA, and the fires were only 2 miles away. After they all looked at her picture, I showed the one you sent me of that family with their stockings hung on the fireplace. They were stunned!!!
I hope your safe, Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
I like homemade gifts the best! It makes it more special when we’re all pressed for time to know someone used their precious time to make something for me. Of course, that doesn’t mean there isn’t time involved in buying gifts, but The homemade ones feel more personal to me.
It’s cold here in South Texas—finally. I’ve got a big pot of chili cooking on the stove, and it smells so good!
I’m sorry Paula lost a home in the fires. It’s been a pretty hard year for many. I still have someone staying with me whose house flooded during hurricane Harvey. She’s hoping to be back in her home before Christmas so she’s in the final stretch. It makes me realize how blessed I am.
Hi Carolyn,
I was sad to learn of Paula’s home burning down too. What awful news to have to bear.
I am like you…blessed beyond measure!
I’ve always been more fond of homemade gifts…and love to give AND receive them.
Thank you Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Joy, the vacation home that burned down was in the Thomas Fire around Ventura. We’ve rented this house for about 3 years in the winter months. We don’t know yet if the owners lost their house next door but we sure feel bad for everyone out there. We can always vacation elsewhere but these homeowners have to face this disaster upclose.
Thank you for your kind comments.
Hi Paula,
When you said vacation rental home, I thought it was YOUR home that you rented out to others. BUT it was someone else’s home…how awful for them. The chances are probably pretty good that if the rental house burned down and their house was next door, theirs probably did too…Oh how sad for everyone dealing with this. Poor Californian’s!!
Thank you Paula,
Well keep you in our prayers,that you find another winter home…
Blessings, Jeanne
Having won one of your “Brownies in a Jar” I can tell you they are the best!
So moist , rich and so chocolatey ! I’ve made them since too,…what a treat! You are the brownie Queen!
I made a candy recipe this week that I saw on Facebook and was kind of worried because it took lots of pricey ingredients (in case they weren’t good)…but they are soooo good. If you want the recipe I’ll post it tomorrow. It’s like a chocolate covered peanut cluster but many times better and so easy. You heat the ingredients in a slow cooker?
I tried just a half recipe but I’ll make a whole one next time!
Hi Kathie,
Thanks for the compliments on my brownies…it took me a long time to get them tweaked enough to fit in the jars but still be tasty!!
Yes!!! We want the candy recipe! !! Please post it!!! If it’s that good everyone I know might be getting it!! :o)
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Kathie,
Thanks for the compliments on my brownies…it took me a long time to get them tweaked enough to fit in the jars but still be tasty!!
Yes!!! We want the candy recipe! !! Please post it!!! If it’s that good everyone I know might be getting it!! :o)
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne