Take a sentimental journey

 

Our tree is finally up! The boxes are not put away yet and that's not my tree skirt but I think we are picture worthy at this point!  Whew.  I've been anxious to show you my "garland."  I used 3 inch jute upholstery webbing. It is .79 at your local Walmart or Joann's.  I thought of it while standing in line waiting for some fabric to be cut.  I knew with all the creative minds in blog world someone must have done this already. So, I raced home to Google it.  Sure enough! A few blogs in past years had mentioned using it too. Great minds think alike! I used about 35 yards on my 9 foot tree, in case you are considering. I really like the way it looks with all of our homemade decorations.  Here are a few close ups...

You've seen so many of my handmade ornaments in past posts, let's show you some other artists on our tree. I love this little paint brush ornament above that my daughter made for us. She also made this next one, an altered cookie cutter. She was copying me and put her own twist on things. I love it!  As you can see, she already has an addiction to burlap. She is going to be trouble! 

I made an advent calendar for the kids several years ago out of a cookie sheet and small match boxes. Inside each one is a Bible verse to find and read. Typically, I give them chocolates or passes to stay up an extra 15 minutes. But, on the first night, the tradition is to give an ornament. We have always had Basset Hounds so this year they each received this guy -

Isn't he the cutest?  Speaking of cute...This next ornament is very sentimental. This is our sweet Ellie Mae when she was just a pup. She was our first Basset. She was our "test baby."  We got her a year or so before Jack was born. She passed away two years ago so this one is always bitter sweet to unpack.

Here's a fun one. We've saved the kids preschool ornaments. I need to laminate them I guess. I love these. Kara scribbled on paper and the teacher added some glitter and turned it into an ornament for us. It's priceless! Do you have any like this? We have several.  I would love to hear how you have preserved them over the years.

Here's another favorite. I helped Jack and his classmates make these last year at his fifth grade holiday party. It's a Rudolph from old Xmas bulbs. You know the outdoor/indoor lights that would give you a third degree burn if you touched them? lol  These were fun ornaments to make. He had a very creative teacher.

This next one has a great story.  I have a cousin, Laura, that I have not seen in nearly 30 years.  When our Grandmother died, she moved to France (a life long dream) to study art. I was only 15, she was in her mid to late 20's.  Last year, her mother passed away. The funeral was out of state. I could not make it. My brother did though, and they were able to catch up.  My brother discovered that Laura was a successful artist. She mentioned an Etsy shop which rang a bell for my brother and sister in law. They mentioned to Laura that they thought I also had one. I did at the time. I was doing vintage resale. Long story short, my brother took a business card.  He passed the info on to me, and I found Laura's shop Blue Terracotta.  I contacted her via Etsy, and we spoke for the first time in nearly 30 years by Etsy convo.  Gives me a little lump in my throat just thinking about it. Pretty amazing, huh? Laura has a degree in fine art and is married with two gorgeous kids. She is passionate about vintage fabrics and makes the most beautiful mosaics. I hope you will stop by her Etsy shop  or her blog.  I have several of her gorgeous fabric ornaments on my tree. It makes me smile to have a part of her with us and to be reconnected after all these years. I can only hope we get to see each other someday soon!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed some of my sentimental favorites from our mostly handmade tree.  I hope you like the "garland" too. It was a nice change this year from our standard gold and red beads. I like the texture it adds. It looks great with my mason jar lid ornaments. I have a bunch of those on the tree and the color of the shabby zinc lids with the jute...love it! If you need more handmade ornament ideas, checkout some of my older posts like this one. I'll share the back porch and some vignettes around the house this week.  Sports are over for us (both kids were on championship teams! whoo hoo!) so I will have more time to visit blogs and join parties. I can't wait to see all of your great ideas. Happy Holidays my friends!