Some Christmas decorating
For the first year ever, we didn't get a real Christmas tree. I bought this aluminum one on eBay after Christmas last year. I love real trees, but I also like to change things up. And I think if you're going to have a fake tree, it shouldn't even pretend to look like a real tree. So we have this. I made a tree skirt for it out of the Fireworks fabric. (Hey, shipping at JCaroline is only $5 on all domestic orders through Dec. 20, I just discovered.)
And what is that creepy looking garden gnome doing under the tree, you ask? You may remember this post, where I explained that he is Alex's childhood Christmas friend. And that Alex believes he's an elf. So the, um, elf has to stay, he and his little present, which Alex allowed me to rewrap this year. I'd always wondered what was in that box. 
I made some vase slip covers, too. You can read my easy tutorial at Modish this week or find it in my archives if you want to make some.
And I had some fabric scraps left so I was going to make a whole bunch of these stuffed ornaments and do a garland or something. Except I lost interest after making just one. And I was so lazy I couldn't even stitch the opening shut after I stuffed it. I used a glue gun. Maybe next time I will try to do a whole sewing project with a glue gun. Yes.
44 comments:
love the creepy little gnome...and I think glue guns rock. As usual, your creations are charming!
oh wow! i'm loving that tree!! i may need one of those...
you are unbelievably lazy. god! how do you manage to keep up the blog?! no, really, it's not that hard to seaw, and i just don't get why i start thing if you're not up to end them, right?
well, hugs and kisses
Well, I guess I don't have to scold you for being so lazy... that's already been done. And besides, I'm too busy LOLing at your last paragraph. Literally. I actually laughed out loud when I read it! :-)
BTW, your skirt turned out very pretty... just right for that very UNreal tree.
REAL hugs and kisses,
Mum
I'm sure that's a real Christmas tree. I'm sure that it says "Christmas Tree" on the box it came in and if the label says it, it's true. Trust me on that one.
Your home is a whimsical winter wonderland, I am jealous, right now mine is a disaster with bits of cat fur here and there.
bring on the glue gun!!!
Andi :-)
Stacey, maybe you could gather up all the bits of cat fur and use them to stuff a small ornament, thus killing two birds with one stone.
FunkyKim, you're right! I DO have a real Christmas tree!
i thank you for posting the ornament...nice to know that even 'professional' crafters get bored of projects! makes me feel better about the pile of half-knit scarves in my basket... hmmm...maybe I should use a glue gun...
You could glue all the half-finished pieces together. Might be a little stiff at the seams, though.
When my daughter was in second grade (1996!) she was Madeline for Halloween. I bought the felt to make her blue coat, but couldn't figure out how to get double and triple layers through the sewing machine. I hot-glued the entire coat - body, sleeves, and big Peter Pan-type collar. Hmm, I wonder if we still have that...
PS I love your blog.
Excellent, Patty!
OK...I predict that you will do what i did. First it starts with a new fake tree. Then it's another colored feathery tree. Soon, there's a tree in every room for all of your desires! I've got rustic, modern, traditional, kids, tin, etc etc. It's crazy,but oh so fun.
And the gnome...definitely a keeper.
Hm. Lazy? I don't THINK so!
Lost interest, I can see, but lazy does not really suit you.
i love the vase slipcovers-what fun and bright colors! i bet the holidays at your house look absolutely lovely!
My best friend and I were at a quilting retreat last year when her college-aged daugher called and said, "Mom, I need to sew a dress for a party. Where's your glue gun?" That still makes me laugh when I think about it. And the gnome, he's gotta stay. Oh, and I also want one of those trees!
That's exactly what I think, too. I've also always had a real tree, but I put in an order for a white tree just the other day. Hope it looks as good as yours once its decorated :-)
Wow, that is not just your standard issue garden gnome. It is especially creepy. But it makes me think that those must have been some awesome parents to somehow connect it with their son's Christmas.
As for the ornament--I feel you on that one. I made a camera case for my camera and wasn't very excited about how it turned out, so I didn't even bother closing the opening since it is the lining layer, way down in the bottom of the case. Will anyone ever know but me? I don't think so. Well, except for you all.
Your not alone with the Gnomes! My husband, when he was little and escaping his home country, had one toy... a lawn gnome. The gnome is now lost and gone, but I got one for our wedding and he guarded the cake!
where did you find your striped ornaments? i LOVE them!
Target last year, I think.
Oh, yeah, that creepy guy again!
Now I can accept as your annual item.
I decorated some funny guys on the school front desk which my mom made. I'll post them on my blog later.
I LOVE the ornament that you made! Hey - glue guns, sewing - same thing! ;)
Hi There,
I have been visiting your blog for awhile now, I have commented sometimes and lurked at others and just wanted to let you know about my new store(s) on etsy and madeit.
I am having a giveaway on my blog to celebrate.
Please pop on over and have a look, and enter to win a fabulous prize.
www.jogirlsjourney.blogspot.com
Cheers
Jogirl
You have so given me an idea with that stuffed ornament. If I don't lose interest, I'll make one up and share it with you!
I'm with the commenters on lazy. I think short attention span is more accurate. ;)
What's the point of the skirt on a *fake* tree, Jess? Don't you watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" every year? The skirt/blanket/fabric thingamabob only strengthens the wimpy little real tree...
Love that tree! The first Christmas I lived alone I searched high and low for a tree like that (this was pre-eBay) because I thought it would look great strung with pink bulbs to match my pink couch. I never found one...
Caroline, I can't wait to see! Unless you lose interest. Or lose it under your couch, although that's less likely nowadays, I guess. Good job.
what a funky fun tree!
love it.
Jess, I had no idea you had an aluminum tree! Every year I go crazy with envy spying those in the antique store windows wishing I had one like my grandparents had when we were kids. It was a full-size tree with this rotating color wheel thing that sat on the floor beside it shining up at the tree. Fond memories.
Can't wait to see yours!
Oh yeah. Now THAT's Christmas. Aluminum tree, garden gnome, half-baked ornament craft project...
Good times. Fond memories.
*sniff* Reminds me of my childhood...
Now that is so cute!
I too have a silver tree, and it's in need of a cute skirt (rather than the white sheet I always wrap around the base). Do you have any instructions for how you made yours (for a very newbie sewer)? Thanks, Jessica!
I made my daughter's halloween costume one year completely by glue gun on all the hems and seams. I did actually sew on the snaps. But fun-fur is nearly impossible to sew. What a pain.
http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/289/5541/1024/collage-1.jpg
Devon, this is what I did. I laid out a big piece of fabric on a flat surface. I tied a string to a disappearing fabric marker and held down the loose end of the string with one hand in the center of the fabric while tracing a big circle with the marker in the other hand. (At one point you will have to switch hands or turn into a pretzel.) It's a giant improvised compass. Then I cut out the circle and added one slit from the outer edge up to the middle of the circle.
Then you need to decide how nice you want your skirt to be. You could:
1) Cut another piece just like this from some other fabric to use as lining on the back. Pin them together with right sides together and sew along all the edges except for one side of the slit, turn it right side out, press the seams flat, turn in the raw edges on your opening, press those flat, and top stitch around the whole thing. (It could be reversible this way, which is cool.)
2) Do what I did and just hem your single piece of fabric in a somewhat crude but functional way. Mine is canvas, so it was sturdy and I didn't want to buy any more fabric. I zigzagged around all the raw edges to keep them from unraveling later. Then I carefully turned under a half inch hem, sewing slowly as I went and using a seam ripper to ease the fabric under the presser foot evenly. Kind of slow, but not too hard. Then press the edges to make them lie flat.
So, what was in that little box? You should put something (that won't spoil) in the box, so future generations can shake it and wonder what is in there. Eventually, some other wife who hates having a garden gnome as Christmas decor will re-wrap the box and find a little treat!
A glue gun you say? I love it ... my shortcut would have been a stapler!
I think your tree is really pretty.
Thanks for the instructions, Jessica! I think I see a weekend project in my future!!
aw. i think the aluminum christmas tree is charming! i don't usually decorate as we usually go out of state, but if i do, i'd LOVE to have a pink vintage fiber optic tree :)
Wow- thanks for idea!! -I bought this dreamy wrapping paper from papaya -one of my all time cool card favs -and I will be putting in on a cool pitcher I have!
Did you see the orange snowflake ornaments on cb2?
http://www.cb2.com/christmas/accessories/1
Absolutely. We bought one. :)
What was in it?! What was in the box?!
I'll never tell.
Post a Comment