DIY Christmas

It's June and we are approaching the 6 month countdown mark to Christmas. Surely you've started your Christmas crafting. What?! NO? Me, either. I'm so far behind that I just realized that I haven't even posted about the things I made last Christmas. I've had a lot going on in my life. Not any more than most and certainly not worse. Still, enough on my plate that blogging was pushed back, then pretty much forgotten. Now, though, my brother has cashed in one more of his 9 cat lives and is doing well, my kitchen is completely finished, Helena's spring collection of toddler wear is hanging in her closet and I can try to catch up where I last left off. 

Like last year, we agreed to do a diy Christmas, but with some modifications this time. I really enjoy shopping for the babies and there are only so many home made things you can make for a kid who likes tools and cars that will hold his interest. For new babies, it's even harder. This year I made some, bought a couple and recycled several older things. 

I had a few toys that I had saved from when my own kids were little, things that they really enjoyed. I pulled out their old Fisher Price musical instrument case that had lots of pieces to build what they wanted. I also found Meg's American Girl Bitty Baby. I wanted to get one for Helena, but didn't think her interest in baby dolls warranted paying that much for one. Luckily, while digging in the attic, I found the old one. Hurray! Big gift, zero cost. 

For their diy gift, I made several dress up items for both. I made a dino tail for Reid and a mermaid tail for Helena. I made a wedding dress using a vintage dress I found at the WLYS and added a veil. For Reid, I had a hand me down blazer and added a tie. Helena got a tutu with tap shoes found at a resale shop and Reid got fireman bunker gear made from a discarded set that my husband was able to get. I also made them both crowns and super hero capes.

For the adults, I made red wine vinegar with leftover bits of wine. This was one of my favorites. It really turned out well and I had enough for me to enjoy and share with others. I bought some unpasteurized cider vinegar, it had a "mother" in it that starts the transformation from wine to vinegar. I put the vinegar, the wine and some water in a nonreactive crock, covered it with a cotton cloth, and let the mother do its job. In a few weeks, I had a fragrant, delicious vinegar. 

I wanted small, cute bottles to use for the vinegar, but they were a little expensive. Instead I went to a food salvage and bought a few bottles of weird hot sauce that was .50 a pop. I dumped it, washed them and refilled, using corks that we have in endless supply. I made labels with some leftover linen I have. After coming up with the label on Photoshop, I printed them directly on the fabric. Love them!

For the girls, I had pinned a knock off of an Anthropologie scarf. I have a weakness for scarves and hankies, so I had a lot of them. I used my serger to not only finish the edges but to cut the strips. I liked the way they turned out so much that I made one for me, too.

I also made them pot holders with the lining of the firefighter coat. Felt pretty sure it was fire resistant and insulated against heat, so I took some squares of it and covered them with vintage flour sack fabric. I'm definitely going to be making more of these. I really like the vintage look and they are large enough to use under pots.

For the guys, I made a wallet with the leftover material from the firefighter gear. I'm telling you, I used the heck out of that bunker gear. It was a bear to sew, but the guys were happy with the outcome.  I also made the "wood chip smoke sacks" for smoking meat. I used more of the linen, printed directions on it and then made pockets that I filled with slivers of pecan wood from a tree that we chopped down in the back yard. I'm pretty sure I took pictures of all of this and I'm pretty sure I've lost them all. Take my word for it. They were fabulous.

There were other things but when you wait 6 months to write about it and you're the kind of person that has to text yourself on your iPad so you can find your iPhone, the chances of you remembering everything you made are slim. I promise if I remember what they were or find the pictures, you'll be the first to know.

I'm not gonna wait months until my next post. I am, however, going to make a few changes. Most people I know say they hate change. Change doesn't bother me, as a matter of fact, I kind of enjoy it. After taking a long break from blogging, and with all the sprucing up that's been going on in my life, I've decided this blog needs some sprucing, too. As soon as I figure out how to do it, that is. Hopefully, you'll see the results of arlene 2.0 soon.