Well, it's a little past the 1st by now, but I did manage to get our advent calendar made and set up before December rolled around. Just. I saw a calendar somewhat similar to this one on a blog somewhere a few years ago (sorry, can't remember where or whom!) and since then have been itching to make one, but this is the first year that we are in the one place for the entire 24 days (and my love of Christmas simply doesn't extend to dragging 24 stockings around the world ...can you just imagine the state of the chocolate coins by Christmas Eve?) I just freehanded a stocking template, cut out the fabric, as well as a (guesstimated) length of linen for the cuff, and went at it. They turned out quite well, but if I were to make them again, there's definitely an easier way to construct them...in hindsight I am beginning to wonder if I was just going out of my way to make things complicated! Oh, the other change I'd make - I'd make them a little more bullet proof...being ransacked daily by a pair of three year olds with a serious lust for their daily chocolate coin can be hard on a wee stocking!!!
Since it became rapidly apparent that I wasn't going to have time to embroider the dates on each stocking, I just popped a label on the ribbon. My favourite part of this whole thing (besides the glee every morning!) are the numbers that Cole and Imogen wrote. Love love love that!!!
And I know this is getting to that rambling stage, but here's a wee funny from the munchkins: For the first 2 days of the advent stockings, they each received a little chocolate santa. Day 3 arrives and they scurry off to see what's in that day's stocking. *ahhh mama!* Imogen calls out out in exasperation, *there's no special treat in here, it's just some coins!* Oh the horror!!! I'm happy to report that once they were shown how to remove the foil cover, a chocolate coin each was actually quite a good deal!
(and what the calendar looks like now, midway through the ransacking!)
Hello, just found your comment over at Retro Mummy & saw you have an Imogen!! Me too, she's a twin (such is my extra bond with Retro Mummy). Gorgeous taste in names & i rather LOVE your advent calendar. Happy silly season, love Posie
Posted by: PosiePatchwork | December 11, 2009 at 07:06 PM
Jo, that is a gorgeous advent calendar! I really love it!
Posted by: sheila | December 12, 2009 at 12:39 AM
It's gorgeous Jolie. Just beautiful... especially the unplanned, behind schedule numbers. I bet the kids love that they helped make it too.
And how funny that your girl was disappointed at the thought of money. I'm sure that one day, after hoping for money, you'll hear... " it's just some chocolate!".
Posted by: Nikki | December 12, 2009 at 08:27 PM