home sweet home

(image via lilyloveslola)

I love the idea and the practice of making things, whether its a gift or something to brighten my own home up with. The sense of accomplishment that comes with it is just as rewarding as the finish product.
Me and my boyfriend, Alex, decided a homemade Christmas was the way forward, but as always it didn't turn out quite like we had planned. Yes, there were a few home made gifts given (our cranberry and orange vodka went down a treat) but in the end, with endless hours and work and looming uni deadlines, the shops became our saviours..yet again. My aim this year is to start now and build up a collection of presents in time for Christmas 2012. I got excited before this Christmas had already started at the prospect of our fancy, homemade Christmas the following year!

This month is about starting to collect bits and bobs that can be useful and to start planning what can be done now and what needs to be done later in the year. It's exciting to start thinking about Christmas again- it may have only been 2 weeks ago but I get the post Christmas blues so easily!

I'm also ready to pick up old hobbies and start new ones. I used to do cross-stitch and loved it, so I'm going to seize the opportunity to put this old skill back into use. Presents, cards and homely touches all with a needle and some silks. Throughout the year I will be able to keep people posted on what's being made (unless, of course, it gives the present away). But for now, invesitigations and some afternoon baking must begin!

Cranberry and Orange Vodka

Ingredients

250g fresh or frozen cranberries

Pared zest of 2 oranges

175-200g caster sugar, to taste

1 litre unbranded vodka

Method

1. Put the cranberries into a shallow dish and stab them with a fork, but don’t reduce to a mush. Put them into 2 sterilised, wide-necked jars with lids, with the strips of orange zest and the sugar. Pour over the vodka, seal and leave somewhere dark for 2 weeks, shaking the jar now and then (about once a week), until the sugar has dissolved.

Ours was left in the our boiler cupboard for 8 weeks.

2. Strain the liquid through a muslin- lined sieve into a jug, decant into sterilised bottles, seal and label.