Hansel and Gretel

Firstly we need to congratulate Tracy from pinkpurl, Maria Wadensten and Ruth from twohiphippos. You can all expect the new Owl and the Pussycat patterns to be with you soon! Thanks everyone for all the sweet comments. I swear we do these give-aways for a major ego boost! lol!

We had a gorgeous night last night when Melly came to have a girlie sleepover at my house. We were together to create our much anticipated gingerbread houses. Miss flossy 14, has asked me for the last three years to make gingerbread houses for Christmas. Every year I say "yes, that would be great". Alas, we have run out of time every year and not made any. When she asked me this year I had a sobering thought that it may be the last year she asks me. She is my youngest and I know how quickly these Mother daughter activities can be replaced by hectic teenage social calenders!

I was determined that this was the year for the fantastic, magical winter wonderland village of gingerbread houses that I have always dreamed of. Last year I drove Melly mad with my hyperactive rantings of my proposed village complete with trains and churches and cottages and mansions and people and and and............. She was not very enthused by the idea and in a calm voice suggested starting with just one cottage. My enthusiasm could not be dampened and I decided to make a quadruple batch of gingerbread dough. After making five houses worth of gingerbread two days ago, I have had enough!!!! Who would have known they could be sooo much work???????

I like to try my hand at every possible creative pursuit- but this is ridiculous! I'm glad that you cant see the inside of my fridge where I have stealthily hidden the remaining half of my gingerbread dough to continue later- unless it spoils and I will have to throw it out. (this would be a dreadful catastrophe of course!) Anyway, I must say that we had a ball decorating the rotters after we managed to stick them all together. There will be five very spoilt and blessed people in our lives who will be the recipients of these cottages that took me ten times as long and five times the cost of buying them a gift from the stores! But as for mother daughter time, it was priceless. Two sister mothers and their two daughters. What could be nicer?

Till next time - Rosie xxx

Comments

[Annelies]

These " Hans en Grietje"- houses look very beautiful !!

[sharon]

How gorgeous!! It would be hard to part with them knowing that they may be eaten... Hopefully the recipients realize how much time, effort and LOVE went into them!! I am inspired to make them with my two daughters next year...

[Kris]

We have done this in the past and it is all worth it! Kids are so appreciative of gingerbread houses. Even kids who don't like gingerbread! Yours are lovely.

(So, you're not opening a bakery any time soon? You're right! everyone should stick with their passion if at all possible!!!)

[suzie sews]

Oh OH I love this village...my good things come to those who wait...when your plans turn out this good...what can I say...

[jenn]

those houses are just amazing! I tried to make one with my son this year but most of the candy was eaten before it could make it on to the house! it was fun anyway!

[tina mcintosh]

Time is the most precious gift we can give our children! What a special treat for you all.
Tina

[Angela]

The cost? Possibly too much. The memory? Priceless! Love those houses. Now, I've got a Lolly dolly who needs some clothing...

[Penny from Patchwork Angel]

The houses are just devine I have always wanted to make one! Your's are so lovely! Penny

[Jenny]

How beautiful!!! Just wouldn't want to break them up to eat!! You've done a wonderful job. Makes me wish I had a sister to share moments like that with.

[Stephanie]

WOW, they came out beautiful! I love the candy cane heart shaped one!

[Leisa]

Hello Dear Rosie, I am just so glad you had such a precious evening with the ones you love. Your gingerbread houses look fantastic. I just love them. Blessings to you all for a wonderful Christmas.

[Kathy]

gingerbread dough will keep in the frig for quite awhile, but it can also be frozen. My great Aunt's recipe is too large to bake all at once and we often bake it in batches. Merry Christmas.

[sue]

Another talent you have discovered. I am sure it was lots of fun too decorating them all, and they turned out all so beautifully too. I am sure there will be a few tummy aches after eating them all.

[CharlieP]

WOW!....just WOW. Those are fantastic. They look absolutely perfect and so beautifully decorated. Mmmmmmmm...tasty :)
Bags, toys, quilts, gingerbread houses - is there anything you can't make?!?

[Tracy]

OMG!!! I can't believe I WON! Thank you so much--am soooo looking forward to the pattern and using it! :o) The gingerbread village is beautiful--such fun. I'm made gingerbread cookies, but never a gingerbread house before. You girls are crafting wonder in many ways--everything your hands touch turns to lovliness! Happy weekend to you all ((HUGS))

[Kathy Rockey]

My 20 year old daughter has hosted "parties" with her freends, guys and girls, to make these for many years. She took a cue from the preschool, makes the houses with graham crackers. 4 long ones for the sides and roof, 2 short ones for the ends. She "glues" them together with the frosting the night before on a paper plate. Everybody brings a bag of candy, she puts the royal icing in ziplocs for everybody, they have a blast. They get mostly covered with candy and frosting so who cares if there's no real "gingerbread" in the house.

[lissa]

What a lovely thing for us girlies to do together.. and of course, an edible outcome is always so much sweeter :O) You'll look back on this time together later on in life and think how wonderful it was to do this together..

Merry Christmas to you and yours..

Lissa

[Leanne]

Your gingerbread houses look wonderful what a great time you all must have had. A church near us does this as a fund raiser evening(they get a bakery to bake the ginger bread.

[Lindi]

What beautiful gingerbread houses. Made even better by the memories you will all share of their making.
Left over gingerbread? ...hmmm... gingerbread people? or decorated gingerbread stars, hearts and trees?

[Connie W]

Gingerbread village is wonderful. What an accomplishment!

[Maddy]

I have often looked at the kits in Target and wondered "are they tricky to fix in place?" and I get the feeling from your comments that they were. I must say they look wonderful and I can just imagine the wonderful smells of gingerbread that now fill your home.

[shell]

Wow, they really are pretty special! I can't believe you made the gingerbread from scratch! We made one last year but just bought a kit from target with a few extra lollies. I feel like such a dud now, haha! Great work!

[Michelle Johnson]

The houses look absolutely gorgeous! My girls each made one yesterday. They didn't look near as good as yours but, still very fun. We left for the afternoon only to come home and see that one of our cats had done a little gingerbread house remodeling. The houses were demolished, down to the little snowman my daughter had put outside the house. It was actually pretty funny! I agree about doing these activities... if you wait too long it may be too late. We have to enjoy the time we have with our kids now. Thanks for sharing.
-Michelle

[Leanne May]

How great do the houses look?? Fantastic job all you girls did. Makes me think of trying my hand one day....just like everyone else who sees them!!
Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas....and lets all hope for a great New Year. Talk soon...xx

[trashalou]

Omigod! You have used freckles! And jelly rings! *sigh*