SewCalGal is hosting a virtual Christmas party today, so I think I'll join in! The party is a fund-raiser for Operation Homefront - go to
her blog to check it out.
We're ready for our party - all the rabbits and bears have on their holiday finery!
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is our Cathedral Mouse tree.
A church in our area makes Cathedral Mice ornaments, with a different
theme each year. They've been doing this since the 1960s, so they've
thought of a lot of themes! This year's mouse was a Fitness Mouse - a girl with an iPod and earbuds, and a boy with little barbells in his hands. Mouse Pickup Day is always the first
Saturday of December, so that's when the Christmas season starts for
me. There's also a bake sale and craft sale there, too, so it's a fun
errand.
We have a small tree with just the mice on it - you can see the golfer, a Milwaukee Brewer, a jester, Santa, a railroad guy, and lots of others in this picture. This tree creates quite an opportunity for our cat - she loves to bat at these and knock them off the tree. Then if the dog picks it up to play with, the dog gets in trouble - it's a win-win for the cat!
The elves have been busy in Santa's workshop, too. I've finished a
few cosmetic bags for our guild gift exchange this Thursday. This is a
bag with a vinyl inset so that you can see what's in the bag. I just
love them, and I've even conquered my fear of zippers with these. The
pattern is "What's in Your Bag?" from
Stitchin' Sisters.
A couple new ornaments are prepped for stitching. When I was decorating our big tree, I pulled out an ornament I made in 2010. I really like these ornaments, so I thought I would make a couple more to tie onto gifts this year. These are a pattern from Primitive Gatherings.
And speaking of Primitive Gatherings, I finished the free pincushion from their Christmas Open House. This is a Christmas gift for myself. It was fun to make.
Thanks for dropping by my Christmas party!
My cats won't leave the ornaments alone on our Christmas tree either.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! Loved seeing your Christmas decorations and the projects you have been working on! Well done!
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas mouse ornaments are a wonderful collection! Also loved the church-pew bench with the bears and friends. Christmas decorations and cats just seem to go together, don't you think?!
ReplyDeleteI love the mouse tree! What a clever idea!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
I bought the pincushion pattern, too, Kathy, but you're waay ahead of me! I love your cosmetic bags, too. They're also on my list. So much to do...so little time!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great week.
xoxo from FL,
Donna
Those mice are adorable. Your bags are super cute!
ReplyDeleteA delightful post.
Happy Holidays!
The mice theme that the church does over the years is such a good idea. They must have some loyal followers, like you, that look forward to what is new each year.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to make yourself something once in awhile. I just finished a quilt for myself (and our family) and it felt so good. Merry Christmas to you!
ReplyDeleteThe mice ornaments are a fun idea I've never seen before. Oh my do I love the "Pin" cushion, I wish now I had bought something to get the free stuff. I'm off to check out the clear zipper bags.
ReplyDelete