Gratitude Friday.... How many days till Christmas?

I recently did one of those 100 things about me lists, and if I remember correctly one of the items was that I loved to decorate for Christmas. It's December  8 and the extent of my decorating includes these soft trees and these pillows.

It's not that I don't want to decorate, I do. I seem to be the only one here at Scrooge-ville who does. I've hinted, asked, reminded, suggested...everything short of begging and threatening my family members to help me out, to get the stuff down from the attic, a task I am unable to do. It ain't happenin' No one but me feels any sense of shame that our home reflects no holiday joy in the form of tacky icicle lights. No one else is sad that we don't have any stockings hung by the chimney with care.  No Christmas tree, no Christmas tree, with artificial white branches. Oh wait, that isn't true. The sad little artificial white Christmas tree is standing in the living room, naked. Poor naked tree...

About the pillows, they took no time to make and cost less than 5 dollars each. They started life as placemats, purchased at WalMart for $2.88 a piece.

For the snow pillow I cut a slit in the back layer of fabric for inserting the stuffing. I stuffed it to a point where it was close to square (13 inches I think) then folded the top portion to the back. I did some blanket stitching across the top and stitched the folded sides down. (those very neat looking blanket stitches were on the placemat, mine are the wonky looking ones) To finish it off I added a button to the back (decoration only). Easy!

For the snowflake pillow, I cut one long end off to make it close to square. I had to add some fabric behind the snowflake cut-outs. I just used some Stitch Witchery to fuse the aqua fabric to the back side of the snowflake. Machine stitched the end closed leaving a small place for stuffing and turning. After it was stuffed I closed the opening with a blind stitch. Now one little corner of my home is beginning to look a little like Christmas, it's a start.

For the Gratitude list~

• Friends and a daughter who help me paint.
• PAINT, oh glorious MS Vintage Kitchen, how I love thee. I know, it's wrong to love a color so, but I do.
• Crafting with my girl. We're working on one of these. Alyssa's good with a blanket stitch, despite the fact I taught her. She's also working on a beaded tree inspired by this beautiful tree.
• Christmas music.

OK, as I'm typing this that crafty girl of mine has drug that naked tree across the living room and is shaping its unnatural white branches. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Comments

[Teresa]

LOVE the pillows and kicking myself that I didnt "see" pillows when I saw the same placemats. Grrrr. Guess Ill be picking up some tomorrow. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Patricia]

I looked at those placemats 100 times, and pillows never came to mind. I'm going to have to start thinking more creatively when shopping.
Have you seen Heather Baileys Yoyo garland?
Sounds like you're having fun!

[Norma]

Two previous posts...my thoughts exactly. Going to WalMart tomorrow. Nothings going to stop me!! Thanks for the great idea.Norma.

[lla]

I love the placemat pillows - I had no idea that placemats come as double layered things, so you've taught me something (once again.)
You make this sound so easy-peasy that I am tempted...

I must confess, though, I am such a goober! I kept reading the "Snow" pillow as "Mous" - and I was thinking "Mous? What is Mous?" I swear, sometimes I am so dyslexic...

That red/white/and aqua combination might just have to become my new favorite...

Yea Alyssa for being such a love and a help. Can't wait to see how your projects turn out!

xoxoxoxox

[capello]

oooo.... pretty pillows!

[Bettsi]

Good girl, Alyssa! I'm sure Mom won't mind if you climb up into the attic and bring down the boxes! Have fun, both of you! I look forward to seeing all the pretty felties.

[Lori V]

What a great idea with the placemats, seeing a Wal-mart run tomorrow.

[Sarah]

Hmmm, the link that should be a beaded tree only takes me to the felt circles again. Boo. Great idea for the placemats, I often have a hard time thinking outside the box.

[lla]

Oh, Oh, OH! I just followed the link to the blanket-stitched garland, and it is wonderful!!!!! I totally can not wait to see how the one you and Alyssa are working on turns out...

[Vicki]

Cute idea with the pillows. I think I am going to need to keep an eye out for Christmasy Placemats.

[Mindy]

Great pillows!

And thank goodness for daughters. I miss mine being here to help me.

[beki]

So cute! I keep meaning to take a look at the placemat selection for this very reason. I made some great placemat pillows last year - they're in the mosaic on my header. I gave them all away as gifts, so I don't have any for myself.
Good luck decorating the naked tree ;-)

[Di]

We have the same problem at our house Autum. I keep trying to involve both kids in the decorating and neither seem particularly interested. School's out over here so they are more interested in catching up with friends, reading, sleeping..you know..the teenager thing. I think I'll just do it myself tonight. p.s. your pillow's are gorgeous!

[jessica]

fabulous pillows. how clever you are. i will look for placemats with an opening. thank you.

[Céline]

Your pillows are lovely !!! This year, no ornaments for us because of works in the house :( I am looking forward to see the crafts made with your daughter. My daughter is young but she likes to sew and the garland is a good idea for her ;)

[Amy]

Oh my goodness, LOVE the pillows. I have the same exact problem motivating my husband to get the Christmas stuff out of the attic. Last year I got frustrated and went up there myself and broke my foot falling down the ladder. This year (no, I didn't learn my lesson) I got frustrated again and went up there myself whereupon we had a small... um... discussion. We have now agreed that the Christmas decs will no longer be stored in the Garage attic. Whew! That's a relief!

[Susan]

Great idea. I love those quick and easy crafts. Thanks for sharing.

My house isn't Christmassy either - but that'd my own fault. Still trying to get other stuff done before launching into another project.

I'm not ususlly a scrogge.

[Hanna]

the snow pillow is just great - looks so cozy and warm too! just right right now!

[Samantha]

This is genius! I've spent almost a month looking for the perfect fabrics at the fabric stores to cover my incredibly comfortable 11 year old throw pillows. Why didn't I think of placemats?! I must kick myself all the way to target and walmart to start my inspiration shopping trips over again :)