This past weekend kicked off the official holiday crafting season and I've been a little wild with the crafting. When I say wild I mean I can't stop. Ever. I've been doing things this year a little different. Still doing my same 'ol Christmas thang but continuing to venture out to broaden my horizons. If you follow me on pinterest you'd know that I've been pinning a lot of beachy Christmas ideas and a lot of burlap. If we are friends on facebook, you've seen a few of my creations as well. Since I finally got my little sewing machine (Sheila) back to this heavenly island, I've been putting her to so much use. Yes I named my sewing machine Sheila and yes I'm proud of her/it. Many of you don't know this but I pretty much prefer to teach myself how to do everything. In 7th grade I took a "Teen Living" class where I learned how to bake/cook and sew. About a year ago I picked the sewing back up and kind of retaught myself how to use it. I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm pretty sure my stuff wouldn't look as good if I was doing it wrong, right? I probably sound so ignorant to the sewing world, which I absolutely adore. Anyway I teach myself how to do things and I think the creating process and problem solving to get my desired outcome (along with the smiles that I get when my gifts are received) drive me to do the things that I do. Oh and the Christmas spirit. That spirit just takes me over. It all starts on that one little Friday. You know, that little last Friday of the month of November. The one where stores sell everything for amazing prices? Everyone hates on Black Friday shoppers. Everyone thinks they are crazy. I happen to be one of those crazy shoppers who pull all nighters or wake up at the butt crack of dawn. I feel on this particular Friday, if stores are willing to let me pay what my cheapo self really wants to pay for items, why wouldn't I take them up on this offer?! My bread and butter is a good Michael's store at 5 am. This Christmas elf can bring so much joy to so many people when she can buy like 300 bucks of supplies for 60 bucks. Unfortunately there isn't a Michael's on the island and I went to Ben Franklin's Crafts. I am thankful to have a craft store so similar to my usual craft store but Hawaii craft stores (just like every other store) is usually twice as much on prices if not three times as much due to it being imported. Let's just say this Christmas elf is getting more inventive and less into buying this years decorations. We're going all fabrics and lights this year. None of those hot glued creations with glamorous decorations, fancy picture tiles, big 'ol wreaths at every door, or painted and lit wine bottles. I will not post what ornaments look like this year family but I will say they are similar yet different to the usual. I do get to decorate my own home in my own rustic and burlap obsessed style. Here's the latest in my workshop.
I saw this crappy little stocking for a buck at a thrift store here and decided that I should make our stockings this year and use this one as a template.
I went out and bought a yard of white and red felt and traced out my stockings.
Stitched 'em right up.
Then I got all crazy and tried to embroider them with burlap.
After that, I was like well... what the heck am I gonna hang all of our stockings on? Then the pallet addiction took over again.
I got really into the stenciling, the xacto knife, and the spray paint. Oh and the burlap, hand painting acrylics, bows, and silver paint.
I made Brady his very own miniature fedora for his stocking, a flower for our room mate Justin and myself, and a cute little bone for Demo. They look like they are shaped weird when the stockings are empty but I don't even care!
Sunday morning rolled around and I was looking at this beautiful stack of folded burlap dreaming about a table runner. Shortly after, I made it happen.
I measured out on our table how thick I wanted it and pinned accordingly giving enough burlap for the seam allowance. Brady really loved the look of the zigzag stitch so I obliged and gave the man what he wanted.
Check out Sheils hard at work.
Next, I measured a smaller strip of standard burlap color.
Sewed the seams and pinned it on for sewing...
I decided to wing it with ruffles.
Here's the finished product. Seriously impressed with myself!
I've spent enough time blogging. I need to go get this Christmas crafting out of my system. I've got the cutest idea in my head, complements of my pinterest board. Mahalo for checking in and seeing the latest in my shop. Your Christmas cards should be in your mailbox at the beginning of this coming week family!
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah.
Erin
