I'd Love some Comments!

Good Morning! We've reached over 1000 viewings on this blog. Now, if we could only have some comments! This is our Christmas Wish. I am going to add some images of Christmas, and also recommend two blogs, Lucy's Kitchen Notebook and The Daily Spectre.

Some Christmas Green Tips, culled as a result of visiting craft fairs and public observation in general:

1. If you like wool roving or wool felting, save old wool yarns and sweaters. You won't have to spend tons of money you don't have.

2. Quilling is back; that's wonderful for me. You can cut your own strips for quilling using a paper cutter, or dig out your bargain supplies if did this thirty years ago. I've also seen gorgeous quilled roses out of post-it note paper.

3. Save ribbons, and don't be afraid to use real ribbons, lace, and strips of material cut with pinking shears. Newspaper still makes good wrapping, as does brown paper decorated with holly, evergreens, yarn, string, or silk and dried flowers.

4. Use the dollar stores for craft supplies.

5. Don't throw out those Happy Meal and other fastfood toys. Besides being collectibles, they make great packages toppers and Christmas ornaments. Those of us who like to collect them also appreciate them as stocking stuffers.

6. Charity stores of all types sell gorgeous ornamnents for pennies on the dollar. These are often currently sold at big box stores and cost over $5.00 each.

7. Pot brances of evergreens in large containers with potting soil; buy a live potted tree and plant it later, or buy a live Norfolk pine to keep. I had one for years in school and decorated it for different holidays.

A local greenhouse told me that the potted branches can be planted outside, too, and will take root. They also look great in flower pots that have been emptied for winter.

8. Milkweed pots andother natural materials make great ornaments. You also get to recycle and renew.

9. Buy a good artificial tree, or a vintage tree. No trees will die or be wasted. If you use a cut tree, make sure you know where to recylce it, or, if you live near a ravine or woods, put it back for the birds to live in later in winter.

10. Look around your house, and find collectibles and cherished objects to use as decorations. Get out the older and handmade ornaments, the treasured school projects, mittens, and afghans, and decorate with them.
We use a tacky plush leopard print tree skirt in memory of our kitty who loved to sleep on it, especially when it waqs under our tree. Our tree and the clashing skirt are a tradition now, and done in his memory.

More tips to follow; slow down and enjoy the season. You don't have to be perky to be a good elf.