I meant to post here this week, but like many of you I’m sure everything just got super busy.  I hope you have a lovely christmas and a happy new year–though I’m sure to talk to you before then. Merry Christmas everyone!

There have been some lovely things coming out of the oven these days. I always tell myself I won’t make a thousand kinds of cookies this year, but then well: there are the ones I always make and the ones my mom used to make and the favorite ones from last year and the new recipe I found this year. I kind of like getting carried away, but the problem is that I tend to favor the extra complicated cookies at christmastime and I come away never wanting to see another cookie again. This year that hasn’t happened. yet.

fig pinwheels: these were a favorite from a few years back but they are less exciting to me now. The dough is super delicious, but the filling is too figgy. I think next year I’ll make it with dates and orange peel.

english toffee: always good.

hazelnut thumbprints: I made these last year and didn’t give any away because they were so good. This year I made a double batch (so I could share) and filled them all with apricot jam.

basler brunsli: I think these are Swiss cookies? They are chocolate and almond and rum and so grown up and wonderful. I’m going to share the recipe with you next week.

alfajores: this was a new one for me this year and blazzam! they are amazing. Two little flaky cookies, like barely sweetened pie crust with dulche de leche inside. awesome.

mexican hot chocolate cookies: these are new to me too and they are lame. The cookies are boring and not spicy at all. Oh well, there has to be one crummy recipe every year.

gingerbread and ganache sandwich men: I think gingerbread and chocolate are the best together, so I made these little sandwiches. How could they not be good?

All of the cookies I’ve made so far are packaged up and ready to go, but I’m working on another list: christmas cookies just for us. So far I have down these (which I make every year) and these (which are a perfect new twist on an old christmas favorite).

I’m trying to focus on the doing instead of the getting done these days. Yes, my list is long and wow, it is not long until christmas, but if I actually do what I am doing instead of thinking about the next thing, then the tasks suddenly become enjoyable. And oddly I find I have more time. Time to sit in the comfy chair and crochet a little pink hat, for a little cold head that needs it.

After much thought (and after getting your permission!) I will be accepting sponsors starting January 2011. A new and improved elsie marley blog will launch at that time too! I’m very excited about the new design (made by my super talented husband). It is still clean and simple, but there will be some new features and it will be easier to navigate.

So if you would like to become a sponsor and get a peek of the new blog, please email me for more information: elsiemarleyblog@gmail.com

This ottoman is obviously in rough shape. It used to be sort of wabi sabi, beat-up chic, but sometime ago it crossed a line and now it’s just plain beat up. I’ve been meaning to recover it properly, but as I have no idea how to do that it’s been shoved in the back of my closet.  After seeing this crochet covered ottoman (ravelry link) I pulled it out from it’s hiding spot and made a cover. That is obviously the before shot…

and here is the after. Not bad for no planning–just some yarn from my stash and a free pattern off ravelry.  I wanted the cover to be all puff stitches, but I only had super bulky yarn and the puffs were getting too out of control puffy. I used a hat pattern–a really ugly hat pattern–and made it fit. So really I made a hat for my ottoman. Ha! Here is the project page on ravelry if you want the specs.

After I made it, I saw this ottoman and now I want to find some crazy super chunky yarn (or maybe even roving?) and make another cover.  The making never ends.