Before I show you a Christmas tradition, look at this camelia - isn't it beautiful! This is the first year our camelias are blooming, and if you don't have any, you might want to plant some!
Well, anyway, about 50 years ago my mother made stockings for us that looked like this.
The red corduroy stocking has felt appliqués on it - no kit - she made it up. Here's a view from the top.......
to the decorated tree......
to the happy snowman......
To the holly leaves & berries on the toe.
I made one for my hubby when we were dating (and filled it with homemade cookies!).
We have added presents under the tree.....
and a cute little mouse.
So this is what his keeping me soooooo busy! Each night I have to sew. I have 5 stocking in various stages and my goal is to be finished by Thanksgiving (call me crazy!)
I don't think my mother had any idea at the time she made our stockings that it would become a tradition, but it has.
to the decorated tree......
to the happy snowman......
To the holly leaves & berries on the toe.
I made one for my hubby when we were dating (and filled it with homemade cookies!).
Then as our children were born, I made them each one.
When they married, I made one for each spouse. All these stocking continue to hang at my house. My mother has also made a few more to hang at the married kids' homes, and now I am busy making 5 more for grandchildren and son & daughter-in-law.
We have added presents under the tree.....
and a cute little mouse.
So this is what his keeping me soooooo busy! Each night I have to sew. I have 5 stocking in various stages and my goal is to be finished by Thanksgiving (call me crazy!)
I don't think my mother had any idea at the time she made our stockings that it would become a tradition, but it has. And, mine has been used! Each Christmas I looked forward to a REALLY big candy cane - about a foot long, and life savers, along with an apple and an orange and some nuts in the toe of the stocking. My own kids would have none of that! They had to have chocolate and candy bars, etc. Oh, well, times have changed.....but NOT THE STOCKING!
I'll bet someone will do a Christmas Tradition Blog Party - that would be fun to read all the traditions. I'm rushing the season a little, but only because it takes LOTS OF HOURS for each stocking! Gotta run.....gotta work on another stocking! Linda (p.s. I've had some great recommendations for cameras....I'm on the hunt....sick of mediocre pics.....or is it the photographer's fault??)
16 comments:
I love all of your stockings. We use the same stockings every year also. I love it that everyone knows just exactly which stocking is theirs. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, Marty
I get a lump in my throat when it comes to traditions...the things that make us remember our sweet parents. And to honor them and their love, we carry those traditions on, as you have. How wonderful! Your children and grandchildren will always remember your stockings, even if what is inside them changes from fruit and nuts to candy!
I wish you the best of luck in finishing your sewing by Thanksgiving. The stockings are terribly cute!! :-)
xoxo
Janie
I think it's great that you have made stockings for all the family. Every year I fill the stockings, beginning with an orange in the toe. My daughters say don't put an orange in the stockings, but I still did. Now that they are filling the stockings for their family, an orange goes in the toe. lol
What a wonderful tradition Linda ... I love hand made Christmas things, doesn't matter whether it's decorations or presents they are all so personal. You brought back childhood memories when you spoke about your stocking fillers, I loved getting the Brazil nuts in my stocking as we never had them at any other time of the year.
Hugs,
Sandi
It is true that the things that mean the most to us are made with love by the hand of someone we love. I'll bet your stockings are treasured by each family membe lucky enough to receive one! They are truly works of folk art. Thank you for sharing them with us:>)
How lovely to keep such a nice tradition going.
so nice of you to visit me 'en France'.
What a cute stocking. I can't wait to get all of my Christmas stuff out and get the music going. I love this time of year.
The first time I ever had a stocking was when I went away to college and a friend made me a huge one..
Then I made one for my husband to be..then our son, his bride and 1st gchild.
I stopped..I don't know why! You've inspired me to make the 3 little gsons a stocking...but the stockings are so big it takes so much to fill! And they have to match!
I love your stockings...it just wasn't our tradition growing up.
No tacks allowed in the mantle! :)
I loved your stockings! My mom made a PINK felt stock for me, with felt appliques and fancy buttons on it. I still have it packed away in the xmas boxes. When my son was small, I bought a kit with felt and lots of seequins & beads. It never occurred to me that I could machine sew or glue any of it. I made several stockings & ornaments by hand. Guess I should look for them this year, since I didn't run across that box last year. Thanks for the great idea!
I'm still browsing for camera's. What have you decided on?
Thanks so much for your kind comments on my blog today......I enjoyed your visit and I am so glad you came by.
Suzanne
Hi Linda! oh, how special to have these made from your tiny hands stockings. They are just darling and what a tradition.
Be a sweetie and good luck on finishing,
Shelia ;)
Salut Linda! Quels jolis bas de Noël! J'adore les traditions de famille et celle que ta mère a commencé est merveilleuse! Mais...quel travail pour toi! Même quand les petits deviedront grands, ils auront leurs bas de Noël faits à main par leur Nina! Et ça, c'est l'essentiel! :-)
Bon weekend...Debbie
We have stocking traditions in our home also. I love yours thru the years.
Have a lovely day. Come enter our TRIPLE GIVEAWAY, if you haven't. TTFN ~ Marydon
Your Christmas stockings are so pretty, Linda. And for you to hand made them individually makes them even more special. I can't wait for my camelias to bloom. I have several in the backyard and they are big, almost like smaller trees and they are full of buds.
Hi Linda,
These stockings are adorable. I can imagine they are a lot of work. Every year I think I should make stockings, but always run out of time.
Thanks so much for the comments you left me today. Very much appreciated.
BTw, also love the little dresses you made for the granddaughters.
I love your sweet stockings..from the gifts under the tree to the little mouse. It's a wonderful tradition..we also have used the same stockings for a few years now..
I would love to make some like this..just not sure if I have time to finish them. Well, this will give me something to work on these long winters days after Christmas for next year. :).
Post a Comment