Whoa!  Two posts in one week.  I can’t remember the last time that happened — it’s been several years at least.  It’s Christmas though, and I like to keep a record of things we make and do, so I’m back again to record my biggest project for this Christmas.

I decided to make an Advent Calendar for FinallyAGirl this year. She’s definitely too young to get the concept of one-ornament-a-day, but I thought she might have fun playing with the ornaments this year, and the calendar will be ready when she knows what’s going on.

I started working on the ornaments during the last week of October.  I knew it would take awhile, but hoped that if I could finish one ornament a day, I’d be done with them by Thanksgiving.  Haha.  I couldn’t keep up.  I finally finished them the first week in December.  Pinterest was my best friend during the process — there’s tons of felt inspiration out there.

Of course, there had to be a little ornament to celebrate her best buddy, Winston.  The little gingerbread man is holding a string of beads that spell her name and the star doesn’t have a hanger because it has velcro on the back to stick it on the tree on the 24th of December.

When I saw felt puffins on Pinterest, I knew I had to include them.  And the same with the little llama (Llama Llama Red Pajama!). (And that orange bell is my very least favorite — it really MUST go.)

It really doesn’t matter what order the ornaments are put into the calendar, although the star really should be last.  And I prefer the little baby Jesus ornament to be saved for the 23rd too  — after all, you’re counting down to celebrate his birth.

After the ornaments were finished, I constructed the actual calendar and I was pretty much just winging it.  I wanted the pockets to be big enough to hold each ornament and maybe a little treat if her Mummy decides she’d like to do that each year.  The numbers were embroidered with my embroidery machine — I love love LOVE that Clarence font.  It’s so beautifully digitized and every time I use it I spend way too much time running my fingers over the letters and numbers because they feel so cool.  Clarence alone is a great reason to buy a Viking machine LOL.  (Note to self for next time I make one of these: the numbers are in a file called TheGirlsAdventCalendarNumbers.  I had to add this note because, two years later,  I’ve spent all day searching for the files and finally found them!)

I used a moda linen fabric for the background and attached the tree, the trunk and the star halo with a thin applique stitch on my machine and then I quilted the whole thing.  The very last step was to randomly attach 23 buttons to the tree — fortunately, I can sew buttons on with my machine.

I finished this little project around the 10th of December.  I didn’t worry that it was late, because, as I mentioned FinallyAGirl is too young to know what’s going on.  But, she loves to be busy and she sure gets the concept of playing around with something fun.  The calendar looks huge, but luckily, she won’t be this small forever.

This was a really fun project and I’m hoping to make more in the future. It was a ton of work though, so I need a little break LOL. Now, back to the wrapping, cleaning and baking and the last minute crunch. I hope it’s all going well for you!

XOXO,
Anna

Well hello — how’s it going out there? Do all you Christmas friends have everything under control??? I’m completely out of it over here. No decorating. No shopping. Nothing. Well, except for a little Christmas sewing — I might be baking or wrapping at midnight on the 24th, but I don’t plan to be sewing LOL.

So, in complete denial about the pending big event, I’ll show you a little doll carrier I made our little cherub several weeks ago. Well, it was probably longer than that — it was when Little Sister was born, and I wanted Big Sister to have a baby carrier so she could carry her babies around just like mommy.

This was such a fun little project and from what I could tell, FinallyAGirl really liked it.  The pattern is from Evelune on Etsy and the instructions were really clear and easy to understand.  I used the Home Sweet Home fabrics that I have available in my etsy shop and I added a sweet little monogram to the front pocket.

I love that the straps criss-cross in the back — it’s such a neat design — it keeps them from getting tangled.

FinallyAGirl spent some time checking all the features out.  Or maybe she was just checking the baby’s diaper — haha.  She definitely takes good care of her baby.  Her baby gets her own little blankie when they go to bed at night.  When they’re here visiting, it’s the little goldilocks quilt that I made for the doll crib.  I love seeing her play with the things I’ve made!

The only extras besides pattern and fabric that you need for this little carrier are snaps and those parachute buckles on the sides.  I had a really hard time finding white buckles locally, so I ended up ordering them on amazon.  While I was making this carrier, I went ahead and cut out one for FinallyAnotherGirl.  Before we know it, she’ll be needing one too.  I didn’t get it quite finished, but I have a little time left LOL.

Anyway, in case you need a quick, fun project for a little girl for Christmas, this is a great choice! Now, I must run back to the advent calendar I’m working on for the cherub. I’m ALMOST finished with it — hoping to wrap it up this weekend — it’s sort of late haha. Good thing she’s too little to know the difference.
Happy Merry Making!
XOXO,
Anna