Debbie Mumm's 12 Days of Christmas: Create Warmth and Elegance with Gift, Decorating and Quilting Ideas

I bought this book two weeks before Christmas because I thoughtit would be relaxing to look at the color photos of all the beautiful projects that I would never have time to make. I spent several hours relaxing with this book and read many of the directions for holiday projects that someone less exhausted than myself could have made one or two of before the holidays.There was even a section on food projects such as Sand-Painting Brownies and Hot Chocolate Mix that looked delicious as well as speedy to do. And I would have done it if I had not found a new all time low in holiday cooking. (I ordered cookie dough from an Italian restuarant while I ate chicken marsala, and the nice chef delivered it to my husband at work and all I had to do was tie on an apron and slice and bake.)Anyway, I fell so in love with many of the projects in this book that if I only made one a month for this coming year--I'd have all my gifts done for next year. My favorites are: Partridge Pincushion.(To die for-with real feathers--and I know where there is a taxidermy shop over the state line.),birdhouse welcome home banner,wreath pillow, French hen tea cosy,flying geese placemats,French hen address book, calling bird Christmas cards, six geese a laying quilt,goose wall quilt,seven swans a swimming vest, Christmas cactus and currants pillow (this is stunning and if I ever make it, no one else is getting it.),lord of the manor apron and chef's hat( something a man in the kitchen would really like to get.), wreath door banner (this is really nice--not at all cutesy--but three wreaths from pieced triangles with red bows and bells and the squares in the middle are naturals for custom embroidery--maybe your dog or cat's face?) twelfth hour quilt, and much, much more including menus and recipes for Christmas dinner and Christmas brunch.This is my kind of Christmas book. Lovely original projects that would be fine to make any year. Lots of inspiration here to start early and surprise lucky friends and family with stunning gifts.