:: Christmas come and gone... (Handmade - part 1)

Hannah's doll bunk bed

 

Wow.  I can't believe January's half-way over, and I'm just getting ready to show you a few of our projects.  So as not to overwhelm you with pictures, I will try to divide them into a series over the next few days.

So.. where was I?  Oh yes.. Christmas...  Josh made these 3 adorable doll bunk beds for the girls.  We found the free plans on Ana White's amazing website.  (more on that later)  They fit their 15" Bitty Baby dolls, as well as Ellie's 18" American Girl doll.

They were inexpensive to make, just some cheap pine, and a few coats of paint we already had leftover. 

Audrey's doll bunk bed

 

 

Ellie's doll bunk bed

I made mattresses using some fabric I had on hand, using this pattern.  They were quite easy.  In all, I think each bunk bed cost about $10 to make.  And the girls loved finding them at the end of their scavenger hunt Christmas morning.

 

Side note:  Ana White has HUNDREDS of free plans on her website!!  And she just came out with this book, The Handbuilt Home.  I rented it from our local library and IT. IS. AMAZING.  I think I would love every piece she has in it!  (no, I'm not paid to say any of this) 

 

 

I also finished a duvet cover I was attempting to make. 

 

 

 I found a screaming deal on a comforter awhile back. We loved it when it came in the mail, but unfortunately for me, when I began looking to buy a cover, I realized why it was such a good deal. It was not normal dimensions for any standard size covers... Long story short, I made one. Let's just say it wouldn't win any ribbons at the fair, but at least it works. =)

 

So there's a few.  More tomorrow...

 

:: Picnic Rollup Christmas Quilt

 

Last year when I made this christmas quilt for my Mom, I also made one for me. Same fabric line (I threw in a little pink fabric), but different pattern.  I thought this pattern looked like wrapped presents.

 

I quilted it in a stippling pattern all over the main part, and then tried my hand at a simple free-motion design in the red borders.  It was thrilling... like drawing on fabric.  Only the pencil (needle) doesn't move - the paper (fabric) does.  =)  I love the way it turned out.  And I think the quilting process may be my new favorite part of making a quilt.

 

 

 

 

Wouldn't you just love to have a christmas quilt for every room, bed, and couch of the house?  I know I sure would.

 

 

Fabric: 12 Days of Christmas (Kate Spain), and a few others

Pattern:  Picnic Rollup (C. Roskelley)

:: Christmas Traditions

 

It just feels like Christmas is in the air!

We got our decorations up, including the new sign I made for our front porch.

 

 

We have a yearly pre-Christmas tradition. 

Each member of our family picks out an ornament to buy.  Either something they love, something from the year, or just one they found that day that suits their fancy.  Then once the kids are grown, they will each have a collection of ornaments to take with them for their own tree.  We have done this since our very first Christmas, and the kids L.O.V.E. it.

 

I remember as newlyweds, Josh and I had a hard time decorating our first tree - I even wired pinecones to the branches to fill them up!

 

As the family has gotten bigger, our tastes have become less expensive.  =)  St. Nicks is no longer in the budget.  So this year we headed off to Target.  (do your kids love climbing through "the hole" as much as mine do?)

 

 

I really do try to let them pick out whatever they want, and not sway their opinion.  However, I did have one stipulation this year:  it had to be non-breakable.  (that in itself is a memory of where our family is at this year).  Amazingly, Target had tons of felt ornaments, they are adorable, and were only $3 each!

 

 

 Ellie and Audrey both picked Owls, before I could snatch one up for myself.  =)  Good choice, girls.

 

Mine was the snowman.  Every year I seem to end up with a snowman... or a red glittery ball.  =)

 

As soon as Hannah found this reindeer it never left her clutches.  We didn't even have to ask which one she wanted.  I love that she picked it, because it'll be one of those incredibly sentimental (and incredibly ugly) ornaments someday, when all the yarn is saging and hanging off.  =)  But she will love it.

In typical Josh/Jack fashion, they picked the same ornament.  Just different colors. 

 

 

So that's one of our traditions.  What's a favorite family tradition of yours?

 

-Julia

 

:: Advent Calendar

The excitement level is high over here.

Not that it needed any helping, with Christmas just 25 days away, but I finished this advent calendar in the nick of time, and now we have something to help us count down the days. 

My sister-in-law was describing an advent calendar her grandmother made for them growing up, and she found the (almost exact) pattern here.  It was just what we were looking for, and we both made one this year.  I love that it's not candy every day till Christmas.  

 

The pockets are all stuffed with tiny wooden ornaments, ready to be hung on the silver bells. (I found the bells in a pack at walmart - gold and silver mixed - I chose to use the silver ones)

 

 

First ornament hung.  23 more to go!

:: Christmas Quilt

 

As long as I can remember, my Dad's birthday (November 8th) has marked the date that us kids were allowed to start listening to Christmas music.  He loved it so much, and seamlessly passed that love down to each one of his 9 children!  The past 2 days, my own little munchies have been listening to it non-stop.  And I admit, the music and recent cold weather have made me want to enjoy every minute of this coming Christmas season.

 

 

Last year I made this quilt for my Mom for her December birthday.  It was one of those quilts you love (and hate) to give away.  I especially adore the red ric-rac trim around the edges.  Ric rac makes my heart beat faster.  Especially when it's red.  =) 

 

I free-motion quilted it, using stippling with loops thrown in here and there.

 

 Pattern:  Wild Thing

Fabric:  12 Days of Christmas, by Kate Spain

 

Someday, I think I'm gonna have to make one for me.  =)