The preacher and I have been married for almost 13 years, and we've had kids for 8 of those years....and never have we put up stockings for Christmas. We're not Santa people; in fact, we support the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and Santa Claus about as much as we enjoy dressing up and stocking up on candy. I know, we are a wild bunch.
This year, however, I made stockings for the whole family. Just for the fun of it. The coziness of it. The practicality of having a place to stuff chaptick, gadgets, mints, or a new set of pencils. We're all filling them for each other, though I don't think any of us require a plate of cookies as motivation. It couldn't hurt, though. {smile}
The rough sketch:
And, because the total investment made was less than $10 and an evening at home, I could afford to reinvent a tradition for our own family.
The mess:
If you've been in my home, you know I like things neutral. I get a wild hair at times to get colorful, but ultimately, I can't think of anything more comforting than the palette found in a wintry woodland, where all is still, but very much stirring and alive. (Maybe someday that can be said of my home. We are stirring and alive, but....)
I love Anthropologie style on a dollar store budget.
The downside to freehand cutting:
Sewn in felt, and decorated with fabric glue. Per individual requests, and tagged with a wooden ornament I plan to burnish with initials...
For the Preacher:
For Number 1:
For Number 2:
For Number 3:
For Number 4:
And, last but not least:
Guess who that one's for? Gotta look out for the only femina in the house.