Christmas Decorations!

I know I'm not the only one, but I feel like decorating for Christmas is so much fun!  And, since the kids love it too, I actually have real help (not just airquotes "help") when we put up the decorations every year.  We have the nativities (thirteen, I think?  Or fourteen?) from all over the world (thank you, my traveling family and friend!), and the tree, and the garland I bought my first married Christmas to be a substitute tree.  We have the new advent calendar house I bought 75% off at Target last year.  But this year, we've added some new classics.

Olivia made this wreath in her first grade class.  Torn construction paper -- check!  Plenty of Elmer's glue -- check!  Paper plate base -- check!  Glitter -- check, check check!  Seriously, people, it's the wreath on my front door.  I love it that much.

We have the plaster of paris handprint Mimi made in preschool, molded in a coffee can lid (John loves that).  Mimi was supposed to give it to us as a Christmas present, but she just couldn't wait.  She could barely wait the two hours for John to get home.

And I've been busy, too.  Intrigued by this post from Leisy Miller, inspired by this calendar from Pottery Barn kids, and enabled by nine of my closest friends, I put together this.

It was so fun.  Each of us made a few pockets (well, a few pocket designs, but 12 of each one) and then we all swapped one night at sewing group.  They're so much cuter for not all being made by me.  I have to say, maybe the little ballerina is my favorite.  (Bonnie is our resident artist.)

I did add a large Baby Jesus (or "bee-bee EEEzuz", as Bella now says) pocket to the bottom, to be our token religious element.  :)  I do occasionally try to remember the reason for the season.

Also inspired by Pottery Barn Kids, and enabled by my good friend Sara over Thanksgiving, I sewed these.  (Sara, of course, designed all the appliques with her superior artistic abilities.  And, also of course, she completed her stockings three weeks ago.  But mine are up in time for the big day.)

They are probably my new favorite decoration.  I love them.  Love them, love them, love them.  Everybody got to pick their own design.  John got the train, complete with button wheels.

I got the partridge in the pear tree.  (It's my favorite!  Even if I don't really think partridges are red.)

His beady eyes had to be done and redone several times.  He either looked sneaky or unintelligent.  I had never realized eye placement was so important.

Olivia picked the snowman, and loves his blue snowflake background.

I love his crazy patchwork scarf.

Mimi picked Rudolph.  She actually wanted the Pottery Barn ballerina, but with three girls, I had to put my foot down.  Only Christmas elements--no girly stuff!

His perky little tail is my favorite element.

Bella got the gingerbread man.  I tried to draw a gingerbread man that looked pleasantly plump, but not too chubby.  Never could do it.  Sara wasn't even going to make a gingerbread stocking, and she still had to save my bacon.  Isn't his shape perfect?

I wasn't going to do the running stitch detail because it was hurting my fingers embroidering through all the quilted layers, but I think it was worth it when I look at it now.

If you consider making either a felt tree advent calendar or a set of appliqued stockings, I have a few tips to make your life easier.  I always like to learn the hard way, but maybe some of you are smarter.