Oct. 29, 2009 - Project: Christmas

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2 hours a week for 12 weeks -

Preparing for a relational, homemade Christmas -

Remembering Jesus!

I’m still revising my list on the run.  I've tweaked my plans this week so that they are in keeping with what I can in all reality achieve.  That is the purpose in starting so early - not only do you do your projects in small steps but you have plenty of time to tweak and change plans rather than rush around still aiming for the impossible as you run out of time.

Reviving my Christmas Tree:

I found some decorations to make for my tree from Martha Stewarts website.  I will have to tweak some of these ideas as I have a naive country decorated tree though some of these ideas will give the lift that my tree needs.

Ribbon around the tree – though I’m tempted to make the frosted fruit I know I won’t have time so I’ll just use the idea here of a ribbon threaded around the tree – I think I’ll look for a wide red ribbon with gold edges to match the rest of my tree.

Wooden shapes – vintage gold in colour.   This tree is all too frosty for an Australian Christmas tree but I’m inspired!    I have a lot of wooden shapes so I may just repaint a few to give a bit of a lift. Here are some instructions for painting wooden ornaments.

Beads – won’t the girls just love making these with me!

Button Wreathes – these are just perfect

Ornament hooks – this article reminded me that I need to make more hooks this year. This will be Daniel’s job – to make a collection of hooks ready for our tree decorating day.

I’ll also need to redo the cinnamon stick bundles and raffia bows that have crumbled over the last few years.

So now I need to make another Spotlight order.  It took me weeks to get around to making that first order!!

Other Ideas I came across:

I like this tree skirt but not sure I’m going to have time to make it.  Usually I have a strip of hessian crumpled up under my tree.

This idea reminded me to find the basket we usually have on the table with cards.  We like to share the letter together, then share our memories of these people with our kids (they don’t know the same people we do since we’ve lived here all their life) and we pray for our friends. 

I love this idea for packaging homemade cookies

My kids love garlands stretched all over the place – I don’t particularly like paper chains so here is a good idea – paper star garland.  A great math lesson to boot!

Now here’s something I didn’t’ know!

Still on my List to do

• Make another Spotlight order
• Checkout beads online and order some for our bead ornaments (girls also need a few beading bits and pieces for the beading they do)
  
• Get my newsletter address list made – might enlist Jessica’s help here
• Have decided no handmade gifts this year except for the two I’ve already started on and the baking I’ll do in December.  Off to the shops to find something else. 
• I still want to make gift tags but have a Creative Memories workshop this weekend so I’ll work on them then.
• I have two gifts still to organize for my family.  One I know what I’m doing – the other I am still searching for that just right gift.
• Though I am working on my Nativity scene quilt (which won't get finished this year) I have decided to work on a quick and easy project - 3 wise men applicqued in felt - for my Christmas project this year. 
  

Oct. 31, 2009 - hello