It was pretty neat and even had switches that you could use to run some of the trains.

Love,

Tiff

We went with red and white lights and hung a variety of ornaments. I realized I could do multiple (smaller) tree themes: trains/cars/planes, shoes, birds, carousel horses, Star Wars, or Rudolph. I like them all together though, at least for this year. I bought several silver bells at the dollar store and hung them on the tips of the boughs.

Brendan set up the LGB train from his childhood.

It looks so cute going around the tree.

The tree skirt is one that I made this year in about a week. I realized before we bought the tree that we didn’t have a skirt. The options in the stores were either ugly or cost a fortune. Using just fabric in my stash and a quilt pattern in one of my magazines, I made a lap quilt. I then cut the top into a circle, quilted it, cut out a slit and center hole for the trunk, and bound the edges using purchased bias binding.

I also love how the train track fits perfectly around the edge. That was a happy coincidence.

I love my beautiful Christmas tree. It smells so lovely and I adore gazing at its beauty.

Love,

Tiff

We went to Richardson farm and chose a Canaan fir tree.

lol, we didn't get one of these

You are taken through the farm on a flatbed trailer behind a John Deere tractor and dropped off in the section where your choice of tree can be found.

Once you find your chosen one

you cut it down

and the tractor picks up you and your tree.

We loaded it in the truck after getting some hot cocoa

and took it over to Mom and Dad Sullivan’s to saw off a few of the lower branches and straighten the trunk cut.

It’s going to be lovely in our front window. Thank you Brendan!

Love,

Tiff

I bought candy and baked the gingerbread on Friday.

Lee came over on Saturday and together we made royal icing and decorated our house.

Love,

Tiff

I love them! The gingerbread house one is mine and Brendan has the cute dog. They are so cute and perfect for small gifts.

The gingerbread and red fabric came from Wal-Mart and the polkadot print and dog came from Material Girl in Crystal Lake, one of my local quilt shops.

Love,

Tiff

I also did garland and ribbon with red lights on our balcony railing.

I like it, but I hope to get more garland after Christmas when it’s all on sale so I can really decorate next year.

Love,

Tiff

I mainly used miniature cookie cutters. I like the bite-sized cookies best.

candy canes and stars

bows!

stockings

bells

holly leaves (these may be my favorites)

mini trees and cardinals

The cookie cutters came from Michael’s, Wal-Mart, and Hobby Lobby.

ALMOST too pretty to eat!

Love,

Tiff

How are you counting down this year?

Love,

Tiff

I’m just using fabric I already have in my stash to make these pretty lined drawstring bags using this tutorial.

My new sewing feet have been very helpful. I wasn’t able to use my seam guide for the drawstring channel seams because the placement for the guide is too far to the left on my machine (see the little screw hole?).

But my walking foot with quilting bar was perfect for the job! I used the quilting bar to align with the top edge of the bag for the first seam, and then aligned the bar with the finished first seam for the second one! I know I’m a dork to be excited about the precision tools at my disposal.

Of course I’ll still end up using wrapping paper, but I don’t think I’ll use as much. Plus it’s fun to use my pretty fabric and know that I’ll get to see it year after year. Or it dresses up a present I give to someone and maybe they’ll pass it on, and who knows where my creation will end up. Also, I think Brendan will actually enjoy wrapping my presents this year since he can just toss them in a bag.

Love,

Tiff

I used red berries, a chipper Cardinal, and some printed ribbon with floral wire and my trusty glue-gun. Cinnamon scented pinecones were daubed with vanilla paint to look like snow.  I purchased everything from Michael’s. I can’t wait to do something to my stair rails, too.

Happy decorating!

Love,

Tiff