Happy New Year

We are planning a quiet New Year this year. I think a lovely dinner, some champagne, and a family movie will be a great way to see in 2012!

For those of you planning something with a bit more Zing, there has been plenty of New Year's inspiration over at Pinterest.

Here are some of our favourite New Years projects (perhaps we will have more energy next year)!

New Year Cookies from Sweet Sugar Belle

Countdown Party Theme from Hostess with the Mostess

Free Printable from The 36th Avenue

New Years Banner from A Field Journal

New Years Resolution Poster from Idea Obscura

What are your plans for the New Year?

Tim Tam Cake

It was Mr Sugar's birthday on Boxing Day, and Sarah made him a Tim Tam Cake. He loves chocolate and Tim Tam's are one of his favourite biscuits. For those of you unfamiliar with the delicious Arnotts Biscuit, a Tim Tam is composed of two layers of chocolate malted biscuit, separated by a light chocolate cream filling, and coated in a thin layer of textured chocolate. Yumm....

Sarah found a fabulous recipe for Tim Tam Cake over at Raspberri Cupcakes.  The cake looks like a giant Tim Tam and consists of two layers of light chocolate sponge, sandwiched together with a chocolate buttercream, and covered with chocolate ganache. It was cake that ticked all the boxes! 

Needless to say, the cake didn't last long, and it was the perfect birthday treat!






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2011 in Review: A Heartfelt Thank You

We wanted to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has stopped by during the year, who has left us a lovely comment, who has linked to us, and who has sent us photos of projects they have made after being inspired by our tutorials. It all really means so much to us. Our readers are the best:)

Covered Noodle Box

We especially wanted to thank the following fantastic bloggers who were our top 10 referrers for 2011. We would be thrilled if you dropped over to visit them - they all have amazing blogs and will provide you with loads of inspiration.

1. Pink Penguin
2. Quiltsalot
3. Spun Sugar Quilts
4. Jenny of Elefantz
5. Red Pepper Quilts
6. Criar com Tecidos
7. Happy Cottage Quilter
8. Aunties Quaints Quilts
9. Bloom
10. Cha de Baunilha

Thanks so much for linking to us! We really do appreciate everyone who links to us on their blogs.

Moustache Glasses

We also wanted to thank our wonderful sponsors who have advertised with us and sponsored our giveaways during the year. We really value their support which helps to cover some of the costs associated with our blog, and provides us with materials for our projects.

Here is a list of our awesome sponsors for 2011. We would love it if you clicked on their advertising buttons in our side bar and checked out their stores. You will be amazed at the wonderful range of products they stock - and they would love your support.

Nuffnang
Ribbons Galore
Ladybug Quilts
Janellybelly Bags and Things
Mimmis
This and That From Japan
Kimono Reincarnate
Crafty Japan
Incomparable Buttons
Violette Field Threads
Whimsy Couture
Tittle and Tat
Bright Star Kids
The Haby Goddess
Juf Juul
Daisy Quilts
Marmalade Fabrics
Skye Reve Fabrics
Cute Tape
Accuquilt
Penguin Australia

Applique Pincushion

If you would like to advertise in January, now is the time to reserve your spot! We have a few spaces still available. Rates are really affordable at $30 per month/$75 for three months. Our readership has rapidly grown over the past few months - we had 107427 page views in November 2011 and have 4276 subscribers with google feedburner, and we are now on facebook and twitter. You can find out more details about our advertising here or you can email us at aspoonfullofsugargirls@gmail.com.

Thanks again lovely readers - you really inspire us to keep creating and baking. Best wishes for a fantastic and creative 2012!

Muslin Baby Wrap

2011 in Review: Top 10 Posts

It is hard to believe that there is only a few days of 2011 left before we welcome the new year. Sarah and I started this blog nearly 4 years ago and we are so proud of how it has developed over that time. I think 2011 has been our best year to date - we have really enjoyed sharing lots of tutorials, projects, recipes, and giveaways with you. We continue to be delighted with the wonderful comments and support that you give back to us.

In case you missed them, our top 10 posts of 2011 in order to popularity are:

1.  Tutorial: Gathered Round Basket

2. Winter Warmers

3. Fabric Gift Pouch

4. Pattern Weights

5. Homemade Christmas Ornaments

6. Homemade Japanese Washi Tape

7. Tutorial: For the Closet or Wardrobe

8. Mini Gift Bag

9. Red and Aqua Take 4

10. Red and Aqua

It was fun to check on google analytics to see which posts were most popular in terms of traffic this year. 

If you have any suggestions for what you would like to see here in 2012, please leave us a note in the comments. 

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Summer Reading List

Thanks so much to everyone for leaving your recommendations for best reads of 2011. I have compiled everyone's suggestions into a list that I will take with me to the library - I can see I will have to make plenty of time for reading over the summer break!

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I have compiled the list below for others looking for good reads this summer!

Fiction – General and Contemporary

The Help, Kathryn Stockett

Keeping Faith, Jodi Picoult

Prodigal Summer, Barbara Kingsolver

Winter Garden, Kristin Hannah

My Sisters Keeper, Jodi Picoult

Isabel Allende

Last Night in Twisted River, John Irving

Room, Emma Donoghue

I married you for Happiness, Lily Tuck

Partitions, Amit Majmudar 

The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachman

The history of love by Nicole Krauss

Left neglected, Lisa Genova

Still Alice, Lisa Genova

Little Bee, Chris Cleave

Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese

Liz Bryski

Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen

The Dressmaker, Posie Grapham-Evans

The Life of Pi, Yann Martel

The Year of the Flood, Margaret Atwood

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, M Shaffer and A Barrows

Alphabet Sisters, Monica McInerney

Historical

Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay

Madonna’s of Leningrad, Debra Dean

The Sweetest Thing, Elizabeth Musser

The Swan House, Elizabeth Musser

Shanghai Girls, Lisa See

Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel

Romance

Her Mother's Hope, Francine Rivers

 Her Daughter's Dream, Francine Rivers

Fantasy

The Crystal Realm – Krytors Return, C J Ballantyne

The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern

Crime/Mystery/Thriller

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest, Stieg Larsson

Bel Canto, Ann Patchett

American Assassin, Vince Flynn

Sister, Rosamunde Lupton

State of Wonder, Ann Patchett

State Fair, Earlene Fowler

Gothic

The Distant Hours, Kate Morton

The Forgotten garden, Kat Morton

Young Adult

The Book Thief, Markus Zusak

The Hunger Games,  Suzanne Collins

The Declaration, Gemma Malley

Twilight, Stephanie Meyer

The World as We Know it, Jospeh Monninger

The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan

When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead

The Pipers Son, Melina Marchetta

Biography

Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson

The Invisible Wall. Harry Bernstein

The Happiest Refugee, Ahn Doh

Be Home Before Dark, Roland Rocchiccioli

Non Fiction

America Aflame, How the Civil War Created a Nation by David Goldfield
The greater journey by David Mccullough
Emperor of all Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
House of prayer no. 2 by Mark Richard

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Summer Reading

I used to be a voracious reader and it was not uncommon for me to read 3-5 books each week. I was on a first name basis with all the staff at my local library. Since starting this blog, I have found that I now read at my computer - lots of blogs and e-magazines;  and my love of absorbing myself in a good book has been all but forgotten.

I am now on 6 weeks leave from work and plan to read a lot over the summer break. I have a stack of books from the library to get me started and some book vouchers that I received for Christmas ready to spend. I would love some book suggestions for my summer reading so that I have some new authors to look for.

 I have only read a handful of books this year - the most memorable were
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Room by Emma Donoghue;
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. 

What were your best reads of 2011? I will compile everyone's suggestions into a list in case you are looking for some recommendations for your summer reading (or winter reading for those of you in the northern hemisphere!).

Happy Reading!

'Twas the Night before Christmas....

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The carols are playing, the presents are wrapped, the food is prepared, and the table is set. We are all eagerly anticipating Christmas tomorrow. After a busy week - we are looking forward to a week at home with family to celebrate another wonderful Christmas.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families, peace, joy and happiness this Christmas. We really appreciate you visiting A Spoonful of Sugar during the year, giving us so much support and leaving such wonderful comments and emails. Thank you for following our sewing, baking, quilting, and crafting journey. We look forward to sharing more with you in 2012 - we have loads of projects, tutorials, and ideas planned.

Hope your Christmas is Merry and Bright and filled, with family, friends, and laughter. Believe in the Magic...

Gingerbread House

One of our Christmas traditions is to make and decorate a Gingerbread house each year. When we lived in Texas, Sarah and I went along to the elementary school each Christmas and assisted my son's class in making gingerbread houses out of Graham Crackers. So much fun and something the kids really loved to do. The houses don't have to be perfect - as long as they are covered in lots of sweet treats.

This year as time is in short supply, we purchased a kit from Ikea. The gingerbread smells delicious. Sarah assembled and decorated the house this morning before she went to work. It has now been wrapped in cellophane and will form part of our table setting.

Next year we hope to have more time to make our house from scratch. I have been inspired by all the wonderful creations I have been seeing over on Pinterest. There are small gingerbread houses for propping on mugs, classic gingerbread houses with beautiful piped details, gingerbread boxes for something different, and even a house made of sugar cubes.

Here are some of our favourites:

Not Martha

Tania McCartney

Martha Stewart

King Arthur Flour

Ladies Home Journal

King Arthur Flour

   

Martha Stewart

You can check out more ideas on our Pinterest page.

Are you making a gingerbread house this year?

Winner: Fabric By Fabric One Yard Wonders

Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway, sponsored by Storey Publishing, for the opportunity to win a copy of Fabric by Fabric One Yard Wonders.


Congratulations to Shannon from The Toolson Family who is our winner. I have sent you an email.

Check out the other stops on the blog tour to see more lovely projects from the book and for other opportunities to enter. The book is also available from The Book Depository (free worldwide shipping ) for $31.49AUD.

12/12/2011 Becka's Project Journal

12/13/2011 Craft Buds

12/14/2011 Patch Work Duck Designs

12/15/2011 A Spoonful of Sugar

12/15/2011 Nifty Kidstuff

12/15/2011 Becka's Project Journal

12/16/2011 Nom Nom Nom Nom

12/16/2011 Quaint and Quirky

12/17/2011 ikatbag

12/17/2011 Two Brown Birds

12/18/2011 Sharon Sews

12/19/2011 LBG Studio

12/19/2011 Carolina Fair Designs

12/19/2011 Under Construction

12/20/2011 Little Blue Cottage

12/21/2011 Craftzine

12/21/2011 Neuroses Galore

12/21/2011 Emily Steffen

12/22/2011 Jenna Lou Loves You

12/23/2011 Spincushion

12/27/2011 One Inch World

12/28/2011 Sew Sew Etc.

January ‘12 Lu Lu Carter

January ’12 Fiberosity

January ’12 Zuhause

January ’12 Obsessively Stitching

Christmas Table: Christmas Place Cards

Our Christmas Table  is slowly coming together after I completed the Place Cards yesterday. Photo Christmas Place Cards are a fun idea.

I sneakily found some toddler photos of all the guests (mostly from my own albums) and a few from my Mum's photo collection. I scanned all the photos and then cropped the faces so that the images were approx 1 3/4 inches square. I converted them all to black and white, and printed them out on a sheet of photo paper.

Using a 1 1/2 inch circle punch, I cut out all the faces. I mounted them on  1 3/4 inch circle of white card stock; and then mounted them on red and aqua tags. ( free svg file )

Using some patterned scrap booking paper and white card, and brads, they were quick to assemble. Blue for girls and Red for boys.

Wasn't I cute?

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Christmas Table

With only a week to go until Christmas, my thoughts are turning towards finalising the menu and working out my Christmas Table Setting. We will have 12 people to celebrate with this Christmas, representing three generations.

Here is what our table looked like last year with our Red, White, and Polka Dot theme:

I am working this week and time is in short supply, so I am looking for simple but elegant ideas to go with our theme of Red, Aqua, and White. I have put together an inspiration board over at Pinterest for my Christmas Table.

Here are some of my favourite ideas:

Better Homes and Gardens

Hostess with the Mostess

Good Housekeeping

Martha Stewart

Garn Studio

Dreamy Whites

How are you going with your Christmas plans? If you have any Table Setting ideas you would like to share, please leave a link in the comments.

You can follow us on Pinterest over here.