Stockings. Again.

Before I get into the stocking drama, I just wanted to say that I did settle on where to put my Christmas planning center and it's coming along nicely!  I will have before and after pictures hopefully soon.

I have pretty much resigned myself to the fact that the Great Stocking Project is not going to be completed anytime soon.  ("Anytime soon" meaning possibly never.)  So I decided that it was time for me to look into other options.

As if they sensed I needed stocking rescue, Personal Creations sent me a lovely catalog in the mail this week.  I've never even heard of their website before and suddenly they came into my life, saving me from the frustration of one million tiny felt pieces.  I opened the catalog and on page five I saw this:

Snowcap Stockings by Personal Creations

These are really similar in design to the stockings I was going to make.  And in addition to the designs in this picture, they also have a Mrs. Claus and a penguin.  I think I'll get a Mr. and Mrs. Claus for me and my husband and the snowman and reindeer for my girls.  The best part of this whole scenario?  They're $15 each-- including personalization.  That's a real bargain, my friends.

They have a lot of really cute stocking options.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Argyle Stockings-- These remind me so much of the stocking that I had hanging at my Grandma's house.  It even had my name knit into the top, and when I was little that was the coolest thing I'd ever seen.  Nostalgia alone makes me want a set of these.

Rudolph Stockings-- Okay, raise your hand if you've watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer every year since you were a child.  How cool is it that you can get your own set of stockings with all the characters from that beloved TV special?  By the way, if you've never read the story of how the puppets of Santa and Rudolph were rediscovered a few years ago and restored, go to Time and Space Toys.com and check it out.  It's a pretty amazing story.

Snowflake Stockings-- These are a very pretty twist on the traditional red and white Christmas stocking.  I love them.  I wish I had more than one mantel-- I'd get a set of each of these! 

For the record, I'm not getting anything from Personal Creations for recommending them-- I just really loved their catalog!  If you get a chance, check out their website.  They have lots of cool stuff!

Read More

Totally Amazing Craft Projects

I am constantly amazed at the talent and creativity expressed in the world of blogging.  There are some seriously amazing bloggers out there, and they have some great ideas.  Especially when it comes to homemade gifts.

If you're like me, then "homemade Christmas gift" probably brings to mind things like macrame toilet paper cozies or Santas made out of newspaper.  (Anybody else's Grandma ever have a newspaper Santa Claus?)  But I'm here to tell you that I've seen some homemade Christmas gifts out there that put the stuff in the stores to shame.

First, check out this play kitchen by Out of the Crayon Box.  Seriously, go look at the pictures.  It will blow your mind.  She gives step by step instructions on how to turn a yard-sale night table into a play kitchen with burners and a sink.  There's even a Flickr group with photos of kitchens that other folks have made using her tutorials.  Amazing!  And once you've made your play kitchen, make some felt food to go with them. There's some more felt food here, too with instructions on how to make them.  (Big thanks to Mississippi Mama for the link!)

If you're handy with a sewing machine and have little girls in your life, check out this adorable smocket at The Mayfly.  She even includes the pattern on her site that you can download for free!

If you've seen any amazing craft projects online, please link them in the comments!

Read More

The Great Stocking Project

Last year we had a new addition to our family (and the last one, amen), so when Christmas rolled around I decided to look for some new, coordinating stockings.  Trouble was, I just couldn't find any that I really liked.  Then, browsing through Hobby Lobby's after Christmas sale, I found some that I absolutely loved.  And they were even half off!  Destiny, right?  Ah, but here's the catch-- they're kits.  I bought them anyway, promising myself that they wouldn't end up in the Big Box of Unfinished Projects in the closet (shhh!).  After all, if I gave myself a whole year, surely I could put four stockings together-- right?

Not so much.  I opened one, looked at the directions, and started to panic.  It looked like an awful lot of work.  Times four.  So I quietly put them next to the Big Box of Unfinished Projects (shhh!) and shut the door.

But then Christmas fever started to set in this summer, and (as Maria Lucas would say) I am determined to start afresh.  I thought it might motivate me to work on them if I posted my progress here for accountability.  Also possibly for sympathy.

The stockings are made up of lots of felt pieces that are all individually hand-stitched onto the base of the stocking.  They also have some beads and sequins that have to be applied by hand.

Here's the first one:

And here's how far I've gotten:

I've cut it out.  For the record, I haven't cut out all the applique pieces yet.

Pray for me.

Read More