I love baking. (Almost) every Wednesday I bake cookies or some other treat. So, a few weeks ago, instead of making just my regular batch of cookies, I made three. One batch of three different kinds of cookies. And you know what? It really didn’t take me much longer than making my regular batch. Here are the three types I made:

{cookie jar gingersnaps}

{chocolate chip cookies}

{chocolate dipped peanut butter cookies}

Click on any picture above to go to the recipe. (Yup, see that new tab at the top of the page? I’ll be posting a lot more recipes up there.)

Now here’s how to do the baking in bulk, and in advance. Did you know that you can make your cookie dough and freeze it for a few months? Sure can. I probably wouldn’t make it in July for Christmas (mostly because I know they would never last that long in the freezer at my house), but you could definitely do it at the end of October or early November. Just make the dough, shape it into balls, and set them on a pan covered with waxed paper. It doesn’t matter if they’re spaced out like they would be for baking, just put them as close together as you can, and pop the pan into the freezer for about 15 minutes.

Once they’re chilled just enough to keep their shape (but not long enough to get that freezer-burned taste) take them out, toss them into a Ziploc freezer bag, write the date on it and throw that into the freezer.

When you’re ready to bake them, take them out of the freezer and place on your baking sheet (this time, appropriately spaced for baking), let them thaw for a few minutes, and bake as directed in the recipe. You’ll then have rows and rows of deliciousness ready and waiting.

At this point, you could throw them on a plate and hand out to whomever you want. But that just wouldn’t be festive enough for me (although I have been guilty of that in the past). Why not make a stack of alternating cookies,

and wrap them up like a giant piece of candy?

If you want to make an extra yummy treat to share, throw in some homemade caramels

and you’ve really got something special that anyone would enjoy (just ask my neighbors who got this package of goodies the day after I baked cookies).

Coming up soon I’ll have more ideas about sharing treats around the holidays that are much more in the spirit of Christmas than leaving a plate on someone’s doorstep. (Although, there’s nothing terribly bad about that, as long as you leave a card so they know who’s kitchen they came from, and they’re not left in a snowstorm to be blown away and found in the garden in springtime.)

What are some of your favorite things to bake around the holidays?

{pretend the pics of my girls aren’t in this group… they come with the story later, but I’m having issues getting them out of the collage…}

I’ve been making flowers. Lots of flowers. For hair clips, pins and headbands.

And dresses! Tons of dresses for little girls. Sundresses, pillowcase dresses and upcycled t-shirt dresses. I’m having a lot of fun cutting up fun patterns and rearranging them into comfortable happy dresses.

I’ve made over 30 crayon rolls (not pictured, but I’ll get some pics of them soon), 16 wallets, and a handful of purses. On the list today it was supposed to be more purses, Chloes and Stacys, but I ran out of white thread. Oops. And zippers. So I made more dresses. (dark ones that I could use black and brown thread on.)

So, that’s why I’ve been a little slow on Christmas in July. But I’ve got a few things almost ready for our festivities, one coming up tomorrow. Thanks for your patience! {does that look funny to you too? patience. I know that’s right, but for some reason it just looks wrong to me today.}

And I decided this weekend that I’m not going to stop our festivities just because July will be over before I’m done. If we can do Christmas in July, there’s absolutely no reason we can’t do Christmas in July in August too.

On a completely unrelated note, we had a lovely Pioneer Day weekend. (That’s a Utah holiday celebrating the arrival of the original settlers in the Salt Lake Valley, in case you’re unaware.) We went to a parade where I may or may not have gotten in a fight with a lovely woman sitting next to us that nearly came to blows (don’t worry, I totally would have kicked her trash…), had a fun family dinner at Buca di Beppo where my Kelsey-bug kept making her cousin Liam cry – just by looking at him,

{really? is she that scary?}

{i made this dress too. the straps need to be adjusted, but i still love it}

and finished it up on Sunday with a family barbecue at my parent’s house with fireworks and glow-in-the-dark jewelry. Super fun.

{i wish you could hear the laugh that accompanied this picture. yes, lottie is laughing, not crying.}

I hope your weekend was just as fun! Come back tomorrow for more Christmas in July, and visit me August 6-7 at my Harvest Days booth!

Wait, did I say that? Most rewarding? These are just neighbor gifts, right? Let’s see… what have I received (or gifted) with neighbors? Ornaments. Wall hangings (some absolutely adorable… others not). Treat plates. Ice scrapers (it was actually a cool scraper. Too bad my sister took it for her car).

Let’s face it, not a lot of meaning in those gifts. But what if you could give a seemingly mundane gift that really packs a lot of meaning? Have you seen lists like this lately?

The Road Home’s Most Urgent In-Kind Needs

The following items are of the greatest need:

• Socks (for all ages)
• Blankets (all sizes)
• Underwear (new, for all ages)
• Sunscreen
• Playpens
• Strollers
• Bath Towels
• Swimsuits (children)
• Pillows

This is the list that is on one of my local shelters’ website right now. Sure, swimsuits may not be on there in December, but there’s always a list of needed items. Not just to feed people, but, as stated on their website:

So how about this – instead of finding just the right balance between cost and not-too-lame for however many neighbors you would exchange a gift with,  you pledge with your neighbors to donate some of these items? Distribute the list, along with facts about the charity, maybe some times they need service hours, and watch the meaningful gifts roll in.You’d be surprised how meaningful a package of toilet paper can be.

If you’re not sure of your local charities, it’s not hard to find one. Google “local charity” with your state name, and pages upon pages will show up. Even easier? Call your local radio station and ask them what charities they do drives for around the holidays (or just listen and you should hear those charities named over and over).

When you’re ready to collect, maybe make an evening, or Saturday afternoon, to collect donations and travel to the charity to deliver the items. This will allow your children to see the needs of others and how they can help fill those needs. Do it as a neighborhood, and it will bring you closer to your neighbors than a plate of cookies ever could.

Did you know there are rules about giving and receiving gifts? Well, of course there are. And of course, the late Emily Post had something to say about it. Here is a great article about gifts for service professionals in your life.  Now, before you read this article and scan the list, just remember that there are very well-to-do people out there who use all of these services. I, for one, am not one of those people. But some of the notes here are interesting

Here are a few points I especially want to highlight:

• If your budget does not allow for tips, consider homemade gifts; and if you’re not good with crafts or in the kitchen, remember that words are always a great way to express your thanks for a year of good service.
• Any gift or tip should always be accompanied by a short handwritten note of appreciation. (Two or three sentences will be enough.)
• Common sense, specific circumstances and holiday spirit should always be your guide.

(image via Good Housekeeping)

So, there are some guidelines for individuals who serve us throughout the year. What about guidelines for those other people on our list? Here’s another article from the Emily Post Institute on the subject.

Things to think about:

1. Reciprocity. Do you give a gift just because a gift is received? This kind of thinking often leads to gifts that aren’t heartfelt. Personally, I’d prefer a nice “Thank you” over a gift with no thought behind it.
2. Monetary value. Do you feel like you have to spend the same on everyone? What if you make (or buy) something that you know a friend will love, and make something else for another friend he or she will equally love, but it cost a lot less than the first gift? Do you rush to add to the gift, maybe diminishing the true value in the process? Remember what Ms. Post said, “holiday spirit should always be your guide.” In gift giving, it isn’t the dollar amount that is important. It is how the gift will be received.
3. The unexpected. While you don’t have to give a gift just because someone gave you one, inevitably at some point during the season, you may realize you have forgotten someone you would like to have a gift for. Do you have a gift closet? Think of a few gifts you can have ready that will have meaning for many. Chocolate springs to mind… or maybe that’s just because I have a headache.

Okay, I think that’s enough on the rules. Any thoughts on the rules of gift giving? Or receiving?

Next up: actual gift ideas.

So, with that in mind, let’s start our {Christmas in July} with a list of everyone we would like to have a gift for. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• family – that goes without saying, right? Who is on your family list?
  • spouse
  • children
  • parents
  • parents-in-law
  • siblings (and in-laws)
  • nieces/nephews
  • aunts/uncles
• friends – how many friends do you have that you exchange gifts with? If you weren’t spending a lot of money on a gift, yet could have a meaningful gift, would that list be longer?
• neighbors – sometimes I dread the obligatory “neighbor gift.” (Really? You want me to hang what on my wall?!?) What if these gifts could be more meaningful? I’ll share some ideas for that too.
• teachers – yours? your kids’?
• church members
• mail carrier – are you one who has given your mail carrier a present? I never was, however, he’s been bringing a lot of packages to our house this year… and he’s even started bringing them to the door with all our mail. He just might be on my list this year.
• co-workers – this one’s tricky… do you give only to those you have direct contact with? only the ones you like? everyone, just so nobody feels left out? Don’t worry… I’ll have some ideas to make everyone in the office happy.
• childrens’ friends – what do you do for all those little munchkins that run in and out of your house?
• charity/secret santa

So, now we have a start on the list. Is there anyone on your lists that I may have left off mine? Let me know, and I’ll update our list.

Stay tuned for more info on the “rules” of gift-giving.

Without further ado, our winners are:

Cam! Seriously, some people have all the luck… spending your summer “studying” in England, traveling throughout Europe, and now winning my fabulous prize!

Our other winner is not random. I picked this one all by myself…

Julie! Because not only did she know why my machines are named the way they are, but she used one of my favorite quotes in the movie. Sometimes, I do not know the meaning of propriety.

So, what did these lovely ladies win? Accessories! I’ve been having fun with yo-yos, getting ready for Christmas (more on that later). Julie and Cam, you can each choose a headband

Or maybe you’d like a single hair clip?

Or something to pin on your favorite jacket or purse to spice it up a bit?

In your favorite color, of course! (Cam, I chose, and you get pink.) Let me know what you prefer and I’ll get it sent right out to you.

My sister doesn’t understand these (although each green one pictured above was made by her. That’s right… I got my sister to craft with me while I sewed her track suit/costume for the show she’s in right now). I think they’re wonderful! If you had asked me about three years ago, I wouldn’t have understood either. That’s back when I wanted boys, because I wasn’t a girly girl. Then I had two adorable girl babies. You know, pink is like a fungus? It just grows on you. So do frilly fun girly things, if you let them.

And what do these have to do with Christmas? Well, it’s July, which means it’s time to get ready for Christmas! I’ve made a commitment this year for a handmade holiday. Most of my gifts will be handmade… and yo-yos play into that big time. Mom and I have a plan for her grandkids. Can’t wait!

So, to get ready for Christmas, I’m starting a little “Christmas in July” here at The Busy Bean. All month I will give you some gift ideas. There will be tutorials, recipes and ideas for all ages. If you don’t do handmade yourself, consider supporting the handmade community. I think you’ll find there is a lot of quality and individuality in the handmade community. I’ll be highlighting a few of my favorite handmade shops as well.

And of course, (shameless plug… after all, it is my blog) I am available for your custom bag, accessory or children’s clothing needs!

Hopefully Monday.

Thanks for understanding.

This is where Howard Bannister lives. Yup, I named my sewing machine Howard Bannister. He had to have a name so I could talk to him and ask him to help me out when I’m having a rough time.

Yes, poor Howard Bannister has to live in the closet. There’s just not room for everyone in this crowded space. He’s currently sitting on a little desk I rescued from the side of the road. I have big plans for refinishing that desk when we move the studio downstairs.

If you turn to your left, you will see this mess:

That’s my serging/ironing/cutting table. When I need to cut I have to move Eunice to the floor and put my mat up on the table. Yes, the serger is named Eunice. She didn’t have a name until last week. I had thought about Eunice, but it didn’t seem to fit. Then my sister-in-law (or was is my father-in-law?) suggested Eunice after hearing that my sewing machine was named Howard Bannister. Suddenly, it fit. I’ve been calling her Eunice for a week now, and the name is here to stay.

See all the pretty fabric? I love having my cottons rolled up on comic book protectors  (loved that suggestion I heard in a group I belong to). They make the perfect little bolts to slide on and off the shelf. And there’s a geek store close to my mom’s house where I can easily run in and pick some up. I feel at home there, having geek brothers. Don’t worry, they’re okay with that. Geek is now a noun and a verb at our house. The boys are geeks. When their friends come over, they geek. Playing their games is geeking. There are she-geeks and chili geeks and baby geeks. Every Wednesday they go to my brother’s house for Geek Night. Their scary movie fest in October is called Geek-o-ween. We love our geeks!

Alright. Tangent over. I just started collecting knits. I’ve learned it’s great fun to sew with knits. And super easy with Eunice! Now they are just thrown on the top shelf where I have to climb onto my chair and up on the table to get them. I really can’t wait to move my studio downstairs.

Now, on to the Phantom part of my post. Today, I was sewing up a little romper for Kelsey. I was in the closet with Howard Bannister (hee hee) and suddenly I hear Eunice going off! I’m sure she was upset that I was in the closet with Howard Bannister. But I was a little confused. So I turned around and…

saw my little Phantom. The Bug had crawled under the table and got Eunice’s foot. Just a phantom bug… not a real phantom.

Now, the giveaway? Remember a few weeks ago when I promised to do another one? Well here it is! Want to know what you might win? That’s too bad… this is a Phantom Giveaway! Just leave a comment with your favorite color, and I’ll pick a winner on  Saturday. I’ll show you what you’ve won when I tell you who won. Want another chance to win? If you know why my machines are named Howard Bannister and Eunice, you’ll get another shot. Just leave that in your comment too.

Good luck!

I only had my camera at one store, but fun was had at many. I actually went out to the car to get my camera specifically at this store. I fell in love with a quilt on the wall, and wanted to take a picture before I left. Of course, being the good girl I am, I asked an employee if I could take a picture. She said an enthusiastic “YES!” and struck this pose.

Did I mention that each shop had a theme of something to celebrate? Well, at Village Dry Goods in Brigham City they were celebrating Prom. All of the employees had beautiful prom dresses on. Do you see those gems on the top of her dress? Well, they kept falling out, so she grabbed some scotch tape and taped them on. Someone else told her that was tacky. She looked at them, pointed down at herself, and said, “With all of this, you think the tape is tacky?”

We had a lot of fun there. She grabbed another employee as she passed and said “Colleen, tap for them!” Well, the employee Colleen started tap dancing. I got all excited and said “Colleen, my name’s Colleen too!” She asked if I tapped, and unfortunately, I had to say “No, but I used to clog!” I started clogging while Colleen tapped, and what did it get me? A prize! Yup, I learned the essential rule of Shop Hop: Act like a fool, and you get free stuff. I got a pattern. I love love love my quilt shop (I actually went to my first class there last night), but I know for sure if I lived a lot farther North I would be shopping at Village Dry Goods more often.

Anyway, while I was there, I picked up the pattern to make this quilt.

And snapped a picture of this one to think about.

This is their Shop Hop quilt. Made from all of those block patterns I picked up. Beautiful.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the big prizes… If you complete the whole tour, you’re entered into a drawing for some awesome stuff. Two super cool sewing machines, an AccuQuilt Go cutter, EQ software, $100 shopping sprees… oh the list goes on. I’ll jump up and down and let you know if I won next week. Otherwise, there might be tears.

Cute, if you’re living in the 70’s. I am not. Actually, looking at the picture, I think it is kind of cute in its own way. Trust me, it was not that cute in person.

We found lots of fabric. Some I took home with me – corduroy, knits, cottons. Some I did not.

But the very best part was this goodness:

An entire box of old patterns. Some are so cute, and I couldn’t wait to try them.

I’ve already cut out that top green one and I have it all sewn except the sides and hem.

But, as with most things in life, with the good comes the bad. Some very bad.

Not so anxious to try those ones. Although the little blonde preparing for her career in the janitorial service industry is still pretty cute.