'Tis the Season

I'm still around! Just haven't been able to post much lately because so much of what I have been up to is Christmas gift related (check back here after Christmas for details)! However, I did finish up a project today that I can share with you.

Our family has some Christmas tree ornaments that we consider to be very special. I wanted to make some special pouches for them for during the off-season when they're in storage. First I found some red fleece (on sale, of course!)—it's that super cozy stuff that they make scarves and coats out of.

I cut from the left salvage edge to the right at a height of four inches. Then I cut my strips down into eight inch pieces. I finished the short edges with a zigzag stitch.

Here I have stitched the short edges on my eight inch pieces.

Once that was done, I folded the piece into thirds with a slight overlap of the two short edges and stitched the raw edges together.

The ornament will easily slide between both flaps with just the ribbon hanging out.

And... VOILA! Soft ornament pouches to keep our special ornaments from scratching each other!

Other projects I have been busy with:

• Helped my kid's Girl Scout Daisy troop make ornaments for a Christmas tree at the airport and Christmas cards for their teachers
• Assembled a firewood rack for a load of firewood we had delivered (we are REALLY enjoying our fireplace!)
• Resized the frame for the print above the fireplace mantle
• Sewed some Christmas presents

Another project I'm in the midst of is helping the kids in my daughter's class with some Christmas ornaments to give as gifts to their parents. The project involves painting the kid's hand and have them grasp a ball ornament. Once the paint is dry, the kids then decorate each painted finger as a snowman.

This is the inspiration image I found on the internet for the ornaments our kids are working on for their parents.

On Friday we got everybody's handprint painted on a ball. This week the kids will finish painting the faces and scarves and take the ornaments home to their folks. I'm super excited about this project—I hope the kids will be too when they see the end result! I'm especially excited that I get one!

So are you ready for Christmas at your house? We're getting there! I can't believe it's only a week away! Best wishes to you and yours...