Thursday, December 6, 2012

The stockings were hung...on the rail with care...

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 We don't have a fireplace, hence we don't have a mantle. And I always wanted one. A fireplace was one of the criteria when we shopped for a house 4 years ago. Well, it was a choice between that or an extra bedroom...the bedroom won.

   But one of the reasons why I always wanted a mantle was stockings. Somehow the tradition of stockings makes Christmas decorating a little more homey...It is almost like a family picture on the wall. Well, not exactly but you understand, right? :)

   Last year we put our mismatched, " got them in a $ store/clearance" stockings on a dresser in the living room, and my then 1-year old had a blast pulling them down all the time...

   So this year I decided on two things:

a) I need new stockings
b) I need a new place for them

   First things first: I needed to either buy new stockings or make them. Very soon I realized that the ones I like cost $20+ each. No way it was happening! I wasn't about spending more than $80 for stockings alone. Which left me with only one option - make it!

   You already know that I have very limited sewing skills, so I was very pleased with how they turned out. I started with this:

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   It's a very fun patterned burlap. It's usually $19.99/yard at Joannes but I got it with a 60% coupon, so I paid about $9 with tax. One yard was plenty enough for 4 stockings and I have enough fabric for one more in case our family grows one day :). I got it a couple of months ago - you might've recognized it from this blog header too :) That's exactly what I used. I just love the letter pattern on it.

   Then I used this:

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   This linen fabric was only $1 per yard (!!!!) on clearance at Hancocks. You all already know about my love for this store... That's why! And the red ribbon was from Walmart ($1.97). Because burlap is fairly thin,I needed something for the inside of the stocking. You might remember my white sheets that got destroyed because somebody put a crayon in the dryer...Call me frugal or cheap but I saved them for some rags or other random projects. And I decided to use the sheet for the inside of the stockings (nobody cares what they look like inside, right? RIGHT?!!).

   I also got two of these candle holders in the Dollar store because I wanted to re-use the poinsettia flowers from them:

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   This is not a tutorial on how to make a stocking. There are just too many different tutorials on the web already :) And I just wanted to show you the result :) TA-DA:

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   I have to say I'm pleased with the result...considering how much I struggle with curved lines :) I added a little bow on the top with a poinsettia flower (from a $ store candle holder):

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   And here are all four stockings:

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   The cost for all four stockings: less than $12 which makes each stocking about $3. I'm very pleased with the price too :) And a new place? Well, as you can see, this year it's our rail decor.

   And now I'm officially done with holiday decorating. Now baking is on the list...

I shared this post with these great parties:

Pin It Wednesday
Uncommon designs
Flaunt it Friday Chic on a Shoestring Budget 
Centsational Girl 
Thrifty Decor Chick 







Blissful & Domestic

The Shabby Nest

23 comments:

  1. Wow great job Lena, they look great!

    Rhonda

    ReplyDelete
  2. How beautiful! I LOVE that printed fabric it's beautiful and looks so great on the stockings!

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  3. These are so pretty, I love the printed burlap fabric. Great find!

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  4. Fantastic Lena. They loos soooo sophisticated and expensive.
    Carolx

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  5. What super cute stockings! Your better with that sewing machine than you give yourself credit for, sewing curves is a bugger but you did it!! Go you

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    Replies
    1. Well, I'm learning from the best :) And I still have a lot to learn...

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  6. 100 times better than anything you'd buy in a store. Looks lovely. Who needs a fireplace anyway?

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    Replies
    1. Well, I'd love to have one because I like when it's warm and cozy :) But a rail works too :)

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  7. Lena!

    These are awesome!! And I LOVE where you ended up putting them!!

    I'm just now catching up with my blog reading and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the look of your blog!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sharon! This blog is a constant work in progress, that's for sure.

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  8. These stockings are an example of why you are so good at decorating. Most of us would not have thought of using burlap fabric for Christmas stockings, but they look great.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I think I have a little addiction to linen and burlap.

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  9. I love these! Just wanted to let you know that I'm featuring this post tomorrow on my Christmas Project Round Up post. I'm so glad to be your newest follower, I love your blog!

    Katie
    www.funhomethings.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful stockings! I love that patterned burlap!!! You did a wonderful job!

    T'onna
    Submarine Sunday Link Party

    ReplyDelete

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