Merry Moda Blog Hop!

Or it could also be called the "Moda Jingleblog Hop"? Nah, that might turn into "Jingleblop" which just doesn't have the festive ring to it that Head Elf Lissa was probably hoping for when she came up with this sweet idea. Hmm, how about "Moda Claus Is Coming to Town"? Anyway, no matter what you're calling it, i hope you're having fun visiting everyone and collecting all the block patterns and yummy recipes that have been shared. The blocks would make a really cute sampler quilt (i can say that now that i actually know what one is), or pick a few and make a wall hanging, table runner, pot holders, pillows...the list goes on.

The block i designed for you is called Parfait and you can download it here along with a recipe that was given to me many years ago from a very dear friend. She called the recipe The Perfect Cupcake and it definitely lives up to its name — especially if you pile on the ganache frosting. But if you do that, you might want to change the name to The Disappearing Cupcake. Hope you enjoy them both! Here is what the quilt block looks like in

some prints from Terrain.

sorry for the poor-quality after-midnight-up-too-late photo

I would like to thank Super Elf Lisa Christensen of Three Kids Designs for her help in writing up my block design instructions. As much as i try to take this step, she always makes it look so much easier than i can imagine — and in fewer steps, too! I would also like to thank you for making my world so much happier and brighter by sharing your amazing handmade creations with me. It is a joy and blessing that lasts all year long.

And since not many opportunities come along where you can segue into a chat about parfaits, i just have to share this with you now. I was on Etsy recently and came across a shop called SouZou Creations. You have to see it to believe it! I am dying over some of their jewelry. Sofia gave me permission to show off this adorable parfait ring:

how cute is that?

And these strawberry jam filled cookie earrings:

love!

Ok, moving right along...

Around here, we're starting to have a merry little Christmas. It started with this merry little tree that we put up last weekend.

It has filled our living room with the sweet smell of pine, and brightened the evenings with its soft twinkling lights. I probably don't even need to tell you how happy Franny and Lou were that we brought a tree into our home...just for them of course. And then once we started decorating it, they were so excited to have a whole tree covered in new cat toys! One of my favorites happens to be one of their favorites too: the fuzzy puffball snowman head.

I should have guessed.

But luckily, we were smart enough to put our very special ornaments close to the top and out of paws'-reach. This is one of our most treasured. It was hand-painted by our dear friend Melissa. Not sure if you can see it, but there is a clothesline circling the ball and on one side are Santa's coat, pants and mittens...

art is ©Melissa McNamara

...and on the other side are his socks and undies!

Speaking of Santa...when my sister and i were kids, my Mom and Dad...er...i mean Santa really got creative with the whole stocking tradition. They would find zany things that looked like they might be from other countries — like a book written in Japanese, or tiny ceramic painted clogs from Denmark, or candy from Germany — and my sister and i delighted in imagining how Santa must surely have picked these things up and tossed them into his giant sack as he travelled the globe in his sleigh. It was a magical adventure to sort through the trinket-ie treasures and a memory i will keep forever.

**Update: My Dad just emailed me to say, "What about how Santa would knock over the firescreen and then leave his footprints in fireplace ashes all over the rug?" I guess that must have been his favorite part! See? Memories for everyone. Thanks for reminding me about that, Dad. Love you.**

So in honor of this tradition, i'd like to give away some fun surprise stocking stuffers! I don't think you'll want to miss out on this...cough, cough Good Fortune...cough Terrain. Please just leave a comment below and I'll pick a few winners over the weekend. (Some of you were so quick and left comments before i revised this part! So if you renamed the blog hop, or told me your favorite holiday tradition, don't worry...you'll still be entered in the giveaway!) 

Please remember to visit these designers who are also posting today:

Thimbleblossoms

Kathy Schmitz Studios

Laundry Basket Quilts

Primitive Gatherings

And if you've missed anyone along the way, you can go back this post for a complete list of designers to visit. Thank you for stopping by!

xo,

kate