Initially Yours

I recently shared my love of monograms with you and some of the finds I made at Etsy and Artfire.  I decided this year's Christmas ornament would be the first letter of each person's name.  For those outside the family, I would  make one ornament for the entire family using the first letter of their last name. My family tree will include the letters M- Molly, C- Callie, L - Levi, S- Sam, N - Natalia, K - Ken, C - Cindi, A - Arlene, J - John, A- Ammi,  E - Ethan, A - Aaron, T - Tami, T - Tory, E, Emily, and  T - Tanner.  I know it's a lot of letters, but they go very quickly.

My materials were easy to come by as well.  Our $ Tree had these gigantic stockings made of felt so I picked up 2 of those.  I free-handed each letter onto the felt using a Sharpie.  I used my sharp sewing scissors to cut out a double thickness of each letter.  I sewed random buttons and other bits of bling onto the "front" of a single thickness of the letter using embroidery floss or thread.  I followed that up with a blanket stitch all the way around to attach both pieces of each letter to each other.  I finished each letter with a piece of narrow ribbon at the top for hanging.

Total time (for 1 letter) from beginning to end: approx. 45 minutes.  I completed several while watching Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas and White Christmas, 2 Christmas classics.  You could easily get some of these made for your tree or to give a Christmas gift that personal touch in just a few hours.  If you have any to spare!  I'd love to see what you come up with if you do give this a try.

Merry Christmas!

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Just a few words about what I've been up to lately.  It seems like forever since I've written anything, but I have been very busy.  Unfortunately, I don't have the pictures to prove it!  This is a busy tme of year for most of us so I'm just going to give you a list of what I've been doing and you can let me know if you feel like the days are going faster than you can turn the pages in your planner.

• Finally made a profit at a craft fair...not quite sure how we did so well except to say that GOD owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
• Quit my job for reasons too stupid (on their part) to go into, but again, God has it in control.
• Spent some much-needed couples time with my hubby.
• Got the Christmas tree (THANKS Garry and Starla!) and it's all glittery and lighted and sparkly.
• Planning the gifts I need to make and I think I can actually get it done!
• Enjoying the colder weather and snuggling under the covers a little earlier at night and a little longer in the morning.,
• Going to choir practice on Sunday evenings feels so right.
• The ladies Christmas party at church is this week and I get to bake cookies.  YUM.

For now....enjoy this Christmas season with those you cherish.  Pray for your spiritual leaders.  Try to bless those less fortunate.  Remember there would be no Christmas without CHRIST.