When my kiddos were little I used to attend a MOPS group.  This was one awesome group!  They treated you like queens, had wonderful speakers, delicious treats and while our little ones were being cared for by great ladies and their helpers we enjoyed all those luxuries.  On top of those, they had crafts for us to do.  It was wonderful to be able to get out for the morning, have the kids well taken care of while the Mommie's visited, feasted, were uplifted and got to create something to bring home!  Ahhh, those were the days...

I've been trying to get some pictures up here for VintageGirl's Homemade Christmas, but alas, I am just not there yet.  Every year I tell myself around October that I want to get some Christmas "things" done.  But it just doesn't happen.  My kids have made things, but I am just pulled in too many directions and end up with not a lot to show for it. 

We have been cleaning like mad here (today my hubby vacuumed the ceiling for me--I kid you not!) and the kids asked me where the Thanksgiving decorations were.  Well, "Probably in the crawl space" was my reply.  I don't think we've had them out for the last two years, just couldn't find them. So we went "down" to the storage area and lo and behold, the kids found the box!  These are some of the crafts I made during my days at MOPS. 

 The pumpkins are made with fabric, wire, silk leaves, cinnamon sticks and raffia.  Oh, and newspaper.  I think we cut out big circles of fabric then we threaded the wire through, almost like sewing, and then pulled that to close up the "ball" --then we stuffed newspaper in it.  After you get the shape you want, you pull the wire tight and close it up.  Then you hot glue a stem and some leaves on top, add some raffia and cinnamon sticks and then wrap the leftover wire around a pencil to make "tendrils." 

 'Viola!  Cute Pumpkin decorations!

The little Pilgrims are made from upside-down mini terracotta pots.  The heads are wooden balls and then the clothing is all made from felt.  Somewhere I have those patterns...somewhere...maybe in the crawl space?  Oh, the hair is made from that doll hair stuff you can buy.  I think these are adorable!

When I was growing up we had little candles that were a pilgrim boy and girl and a big old Tom turkey that were on our table every Thanksgiving.  Mom had a wicker cornucopia too...

The Pilgrim lady is made of paper that looks like cornhusks.  She was pretty hard to make, and actually this craft was a bit more complex than what we usually did, so I think we had to get help on her.  We all did get to sorta help.  This was several years ago, so I don't remember too well.  But isn't she a sweetie? 

I hope you are enjoying this week with your family.  We really love this time of the year and I always learn something new about the Pilgrims. 

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,

Nancy