little pockets

i have been admiring advent calendars for some time now.  until this year i didn't really have a reason to make one, but now that i have a niece i can begin to  cook up all kinds of ideas for little treats to have waiting for her each day in december.  i am late this year though, put off thinking - and therefore doing - too long.  but, that is ok - this time. gigi is only four months old so i think the tradition might be lost on her this year. i promise to get a head start next year.

this one is for a friend.  she asked me to make her one for her children.  i embroidered the numbers, one through twenty-four, on squares of felt.  she has some small clothes pins with spring action that she will use to clip to a string of lights to hang in their family room.  here, i am using some old french pins i found earlier this year. the pockets are not big, and a couple are down right tiny, but big enough for a  dollar coin, or some lip gloss. 

the colors are not traditional christmas colors.  i used plum, turquoise, brown, orange, olive and magenta.  and, i used the same colors of embroidery floss but tried to not make any two pockets the same combination of color.  for the back i used an ivory felt.  i  machine stitched the fronts to the backs in order to allow a stronger seam; those dollar coins and get pretty heavy if you put enough in there...

wondering what others are doing this year?

    cathy at pink chalk studio
    myra at my little mochi
    blair at wise craft..
    julie at julie ree
    amy at life in the lyons' den
    simmy at echoes of a dream
    liesl at disdressed
    claire at kiddley

there a lots more out there but a storm is moving in and the lights are flickering so i will go... better to be safe than lose my link to the outside world....

Comments

[futuregirl]

I love the idea of felt pockets. I also think I need a pair of pinking shears, now that I see how cool it looks when you used them.

Growing up, my mother had a wonderfully heavy pair that could pink off someone's head. I suspect that I'll be disappointed by the quality of today's pinking shears in comparison. Especially if I opt for the bucket-o-scissors that are full of different edgers, which I secretly really really want.

[ratichoo]

I've just discovered you through flickr and the soft trees group, I guess many people will come soon, as everything you make is sooo pretty!
I will come visit regularly now!

[tongue in cheek]

Clever and well made!! I wish I could open one!!

[Michelle]

If I get a few minutes here I'm going to post my advent calendar from 1976.

[autum]

I love your take on the advent calendar, especially stringing the pockets from the lights.

[kathy]

Beautiful colors. The exquisiteness of your embroidery is always a treat to see. Now back to my own...

[kristin]

this is SO great!! and thanks for all the links! :)

i'm curious about the pinking shears too...do they even make them like they used to?

[Tiel S-K]

They are wonderful. And I love all that stitching. I made some for the very first time this year, and we are having such fun...colouring in;glitter-glue; popcorn; making necklaces; bouncy balls; stickers; jokes...oh the list goes on.

Enjoy!

[bethany]

I have new nieces too..
What a good excuse to make lots of goodness!