In my attempt to make my own Christmas in Sofia this year, I've been a busy bumble bee.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Final product: Ribbon + Orange + Cloves"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Final product" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6529886175/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6529886175_3d96ec20ec_b.jpg" alt="Final product" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

I made lemon squares. I've participated in not one but two secret santa gift exchanges. I've thrown on red lipstick for a couple of holiday parties. I've braved the mall (a few times). I've decorated my Christmas tree. I bought Christmas cards but, <em>ahem</em>, I have yet to actually write them. I've made the cookie dough for sugar cookies but I haven't found enough time to actually roll out the cookies but I will.

Here's one of my holiday projects in pictures. <!--more-->

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Oranges"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Oranges" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6529887795/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6529887795_979a446ac5_b.jpg" alt="Oranges" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

I had some ribbon left over from another project so I bought a kilo of oranges and a couple of bags of cloves to make these beautiful orange-clove balls. They smell like Christmas and are incredibly easy to make.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Tie on the ribboon"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Tie on the ribboon" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6529890845/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6529890845_0ebcbbe74f_b.jpg" alt="Tie on the ribboon" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Now I've never made them before but I've seen them so I figured I can do this.

Here goes. Take the orange and wrap ribbon around it. Finish it up with a bow on top.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Making the clove oranges"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Making the clove oranges" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6529893069/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6529893069_0f8edd2c0a_b.jpg" alt="Making the clove oranges" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Then I took a pen and pricked the orange with the pen before pushing each little clove in. I am not sure that the pen was actually necessary as some of the cloves went in easily to the skin of the orange but in some places the skin was a little thicker or harder and pre-piercing the orange was a good plan.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Cloves: the spice of Christmas"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Cloves" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6529886997/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6529886997_edaf79b7cd_b.jpg" alt="Cloves" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Basically sticking in all of the little cloves takes the most time. I watched the Daily Show with Jon Stewart while pushing in all of the cloves. The two activities were rather cathartic--especially given how crazy the Republican presidential nominees already are.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Oranges and cloves"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Oranges and cloves" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6529895487/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6529895487_f1f629dc15_b.jpg" alt="Oranges and cloves" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Ribbons and oranges"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Ribbons and oragnes" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6529889181/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6529889181_89a33aaeb6_b.jpg" alt="Ribbons and oragnes" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

I made two oranges with a really elaborate pattern and one with a less fancy pattern. Basically for the more elaborate orange it takes almost a whole bag of cloves. I figured as much and as such I bought three bags of cloves.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Orange and cloves the simple pattern"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Orange and cloves" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6529898761/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6529898761_c6e652c950_b.jpg" alt="Orange and cloves" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Only thing is that when I actually started making the oranges I could only find two of the three bags. I figured that I must have made a mistake until I wrapped these gifts up and when to put them in my school tote bag. There in the bottom of my school tote bag/shopping bag did I find the third bag of cloves. <em>Oh well</em>.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Apple shaped basket which is also a trivet"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Apple trivet turned into a basket" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6529894735/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6529894735_0c2ace5d58_b.jpg" alt="Apple trivet turned into a basket" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Yep, I made these three oranges as gifts for friends (well for my secret santa-ees). So I've given these away.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Apple trivet (which is also a basket)"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Apple trivet" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6529898059/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6529898059_2b261996d9_b.jpg" alt="Apple trivet" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Oh and did you see what a great handmade dual trivet &amp; basket I found for my secret santa-ee T.? I gave it to her Friday night at our school Christmas party. She loved it.