Made with love

When Julie and I were little, one of our favorite Christmas decorations was the advent calendar.  We alternated years on who was evens and who was odds because the best ornament to put on the tree was Santa on the 24th.

My mom's calendar...the one we grew up with.

Somehow when we split up my mom's stuff, Julie got the calendar (hmmmm.....still not sure how that happened).  I have been wanting to make one of my own for a while now, and I started the project last Christmas when Randy's mom was here.  We went and bought the fabric, but our visit went too quickly, so Carmen took the fabric home with her and sewed the pockets for me.

I put the advent calendar on my summer "to do" list.  The end of August quickly approached, and I realized I hadn't started working on it yet.

I started on the numbers...

First the ones... 

Then the twos... 

This took longer than it looks... 

 Sandy helped by sewing on the tree for me.

Then October rolled around, and I realized I hadn't started on the ornaments yet.  I had already cut them all out, but sewing the sequins and beads on has taken quite awhile...

My first ornament 

A Bronco gingerbread man 

I've been told this one looks a little phallic...

(It's supposed to be a candlestick.) 

Halfway done with the ornaments! 

Julie came over one night to help with Santa's beard.  

It required a little yarnwork, and, really, when it comes to crafts, she is the pro.  

Santa
I think he looks a little cross-eyed.
If it continues to bug me, I may have to redo the eyes.

Two of my favorites from growing up 

(these are my version) 

Saved the hardest for last... 

Then I did the base of the tree and then the fun really started...

Sewing on each sequin and bead all around the tree.   

From base to tip on one side took me four hours 

with several parenting interruptions.

From tip of tree down the left side took two hours straight.

I thought I would finish, but I ran out of sequins.  

Hard to believe I'm making one more trip to Joann's Craft and Fabric. 

I'm getting really sick of that store.  

Finally finished!

It has been a lot of fun making this calendar.  At night, after Trey is down and Randy is watching tv, I have been plugging into my music working on the ornaments.  It makes me think about my mom and wonder what she was doing when she made ours.  What was she thinking about?  How old were we?  Did she bitch about the beadwork as much as I do?  

I can't wait to hang this on the wall on December 1st, and I can't wait to watch Trey hang each ornament. Lucky him - he won't have to share each year and will be able to put Santa on each and ever year.  

Happy Holidays everyone!