Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! With today's times and living on a fixed income, I had little or no money to buy Christmas this year. But I really wanted to do something. So with a head full of ideas and a heart full of the Christmas spirit, I got busy. I started just before Thanksgiving.
My granddaughters go to a Christian school and need to wear skirts,dresses, or skorts or culottes. I wrote down their measurements and got to work! I made three culottes for each girl with a matching reversible vest for two of the skirts. I searched all over the internet and found some patterns and crocheted matching hats for each. I did not stop there but went on to crochet and knit about five headbands and knit four washcloths for each child. Each washcloth was geared to each one. One was 'Thomas the train', another A,B,C's,then hearts,and still another 'sunbonnet sue'. I ended up crocheting several more hats for the girls. You might say I went hat crazy!
For the boys, ages 5 and 3, my daughters and I found some snap toys with plastic animals, dinasaurs, etc. from the D.A.V. for 3 bucks and found the neatest backpack at the One Dollar Store that zips down into a circle. So when you lay it out, the child can sit on it and play with the toys and then zip it back up and put over his shoulders to take home with him. We also bought two pillow inserts at the one dollar store and made those into two pillows with animal material I already had in my stash. My daughter personalized each pillow by gluing their initial on them.
Of course, the true reason is our Lord's birthday. But I truly wanted a Christmas spirit this year and the 'Holy Spirit' told me to make it about the celebration and preparation. Not so much what is in the presents under the tree. With this in mind, I played Christmas music as I worked on my treasures and when I cooked and baked.
My oldest daughter (their aunt) helped me in the wrapping of the presents. I wrapped and she decorated. We used ribbons,yarn, and even bias tape! I used old Christmas cards that I had punched holes in and crocheted around for their name tags. These can now be hung on the Christmas tree or used again next year for their own personal name tags. My daughter folded the washcloths into different shapes and put them on top of the presents.
I am happy to report even though they weren't able to come over till New Year's Day because the 3 yr. old was sick, they absolutely loved it. And I hope..no, I know this will be one of their fondest memories.
