The true cost (and joy) of Christmas

for when you don't live up

Life in Transition

In a Stable

It's been three days since I've seen the sun. 

We all know how I feel about that.

Actually this time around, I have been enjoying the gray.  With Christmas so close, it makes everything feel cozy, and keeps us inside doing all the Christmasy stuff we want.

Projects are finished.

Sweet books are enjoyed.

Silly movies entertain us.

And hot treats keep us warm.

When little girls are sleeping, I've been pulling out something from my stash of Christmas favorites.

Endless baking has kept the house warm and smelling sweet.

My little helpers keep me company.

And a fuzzy headed mess of a toddler just makes me smile.

I think I have made quite the noble effort to embrace the gray. 

But now, with a feverish little one in the house, I must admit that what was cozy now feels confining. I'm longing to open the windows and purify our inside air from all the cough germs I know are just hovering.

So, in the meantime, I'll be "cheering" things up with some linen scent Lysol and a box of Emergen-C.

In case you haven't noticed, I've been absent around here the last couple of weeks.

That would be due to my fabulous Christmas project.

The one I hoped would only take a couple of days.

Here I am, twelve days later.

Finally finished.

I feel like pulling a Dora; jumping up and down, throwing my hands in the air, yelling "yo hicimos!"

The thing I need to remember is that life does not take a break just because I need to sew. So what probably could have been done in two to three days took twelve, because I had to fit it in here and there in between life.

Anyway, I have to show you. And I don't want you to think I'm bragging. I'm just so excited that I was able to do this. I am not a pro-seamstress; nowhere even close to that. A few hours into the project I began to wonder if I could really do it, and have it look okay. 

I did do it, and things look exactly how I wanted them to, so I'm just so happy!

First, Miss A's new friend…

Eleanor.

Isn't she cute? I adapted the hair and eyes of each doll to look like their soon to be owners. 

Oh, and their owners did name them. They just don't know it yet. I asked each girl what her favorite girl name was, and (after vetoing anything that came from a Disney princess) these are the names they chose.

For Miss E…

Clara.

Each little friend comes with a dress, underwear, shoes, hair ribbons, a nightgown, a scarf, an animal friend  and a monogrammed drawstring bag to hold all of her things.

I really wanted them to come with multiple outfits, but I had to let that go. It was too much for now. I'm thinking these are the kind of gift that can be added to for future holidays.

And last, a friend for Miss I…

Josie.

It's hard to tell in the photos, but I made Josie out of a slightly darker fabric than the other two….so her skin tone could match my brown baby.

My biggest fear is that they will fall apart ten minutes after they start playing with them. But I've been consoling myself with the thought that since I made them, I can easily repair them.

I definitely would recommend this pattern. The instructions were relatively simple to follow. If I can do it, anyone can.

As I took a break from sewing to eat lunch today I read this.

Such a powerful encouragement! I know it looks a little long, but it is worth the five minutes. 

Hope you'll be blessed by it too.