If you would like to make your own Ballard-esque Christmas stocking, here’s how to do it:

Materials:

• 5/8 yd ivory duck cloth
• 24″ x 7″ rectangle of leopard print cotton for ruffle
• 12″ x 2″ rectangle of leopard print for loop
• 12″ x 2″ rectangle of interfacing for loop
• 8.5″ x 4.5″ scrap of cotton fabric for embroidered name (optional)
• 8″ ball trim
• red and green scraps of felt/cotton/flannel/etc for accents (circles, bones for dogs, or fish for cats)

Directions:

1. Download pattern PDF and tape pieces together.
2. Cut out (2) stocking pieces (front and back) from duck cloth.
3. Cut out desired number of accents from red/green fabric and pin to front and back pattern pieces. Be sure to leave space on the front piece for the 8.5″ x 4.5″ rectangle if you are adding a name.
4. Use a zigzag or decorative stitch to attach accents to stocking. Trim any part that hangs over.
5. If adding a name, take your embroidered 8.5″ x 4.5″ rectangle. Press under 0.5″ on both the top and bottom. Pin to front of stocking and edge stitch top and bottom. Trim sides to match edges.                

1. Serge or zigzag the top of the stocking (both front and back pattern pieces).                
2. Sew trim to the top of the FRONT stocking piece with a 1/4″ seam.
3. Place the front and back pattern pieces right sides together. Serge or sew around all sides, leaving the top open. Finish edges with a zigzag if you didn’t serge.
4. Turn stocking right side out and press well.
5. Take your 24″ x 7″ leopard fabric and sew short ends right sides together to create a tube.
6. Press tube in half, wrong sides together. Edge stitch fold. Finish raw edge.
7. Baste the bottom of the tube twice. Pull bobbin threads to create a ruffle the same perimeter as your stocking opening.          
8. Slide the ruffle over the stocking opening, aligning raw edges.
9. Sew ruffle to stocking with a 1/4″ seam allowance. 
10. Press ruffle up. Edge stitch in place. 
11. Now for the loop. Iron the 12″x2″ interfacing to the wrong side of the 12″x2″ leopard print fabric.
12. Sew long sides, right side together. Turn tube right side out. Press. Edge stitch sides.
13. Fold in half to make a loop and zigzag raw edges together. 
14. Pin loop to the inside of the ruffle. Box stitch.  
15. That’s it! (I just added this step because 20 steps sounds better than 19).

Enjoy! I’d love to see pictures Add ‘em to this flickr group!

I recall listening to that song more than a decade ago. I remember where I sat, whom I was with, smells around me, the weather, my clothes, and my thoughts. (Please note that short white jean shorts are no longer an integral part of my wardrobe, thank God). It’s so strange when memories like that sneak up. Moments you may have considered insignificant at the time. And maybe they were. Or people who meant everything to you who are no longer in your life.

There are the memories that unexpectedly sneak up on you and then there are the memories you want to cling to forever.

I knew I’d love Brad for the rest of my life soon after we met. Between you and me, it was long before he felt the same way. We met by chance in a college class neither one of us ended up needing. I was instantly drawn to him. Brad can talk to a door and make it feel special. He’s the most authentic person I’ve ever met. When he says something, it’s how he feels. He doesn’t put on a show.

There have been so many times I’ve told myself to savor the moment and etch every detail in a memory. I thought I would melt the first time Brad kissed me. Thinking about that day still makes me blush. I have every angle of his face memorized and could pick his pouty lip out of crowd blindfolded. I don’t want to forget anything with him. Well, except for his obnoxious snoring. I’d be thrilled to forget that.

I wish there was a way to guarantee I’ll remember these moments for the rest of my life. Here’s praying the best ones stick …

Last year I made this advent calendar while on bed rest. Kate loved counting the days until Christmas and eating a chocolate Kiss each day with breakfast. I was excited for this month’s McKinney Marthas craft because I knew Kate would love changing the blocks each day. As opposed to an advent calendar that marks the days of December, this craft counts the days left until Christmas.

To make your own Christmas countdown, you will need:

* two 3.5″ wood cubes (I had Home Depot cut a 4×4 into cubes. Did you know a 4×4 is actually 3.5″ and not 4″ ? How confusing).

* one wood piece for base measuring 3.5″ wide x 8″ long x 2″ thick (I had Home Depot cut a 2×4 for this. Again, the 2×4 is only 3.5″ wide. Who named that?)

* Mod Podge

* twelve coordinating scrapbook papers cut into 3″ squares

* one 1.5″ x 7.5″ scrapbook paper rectangle

* 2.5″ tall vinyl numbers or stencils (you could also freehand the numbers with a Sharpie)

* 1.25″ tall vinyl word or stencil for base (again you could freehand with a Sharpie. Mine says “Merry Christmas”)

* acrylic craft paint

After you have your materials, let’s get going

1.  Paint cubes and base with acrylic paint. Let dry.

2.  Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge on all sides of cubes and place a 3″ square of scrapbook paper right side up on each side. Also apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the front of the base and adhere the 1.5″ x 7.5″ scrapbook paper.

3. Add vinyl numbers or stencil cubes. Important note!!!

For the first block you will need: 0,1,2,3,4,5

For the second block you will need: 0,1,2,6,7,8

Please make sure your number 6 is a font that can be flipped to look like a 9

4. Add your vinyl word or stencil to the base.

5. Add a thin layer of Mod Podge on all sides of the cubes and base! Let dry

PS – Quick shout out to Melanie and Leah in Tulsa!

I’ll have a tutorial up for the mystery craft next Friday.

PS – I was going to write the tutorial for the stocking tonight but I’m too lazy (grin). I’ll have that next week for ya too

Brad was gone all week for work (San Francisco – tough life, right?) and the girls and I ate dinner at home two nights. One night we had sandwiches (clearly, they were turkey with American cheese, being the culinary expert I am). And tonight I made the most disgusting, inedible, all around nasty pot roast. Kate said “This is not so yummy.” Sweet girl. It was so, so much worse than “not so yummy.” My drive to cook well is diminishing at a rapid pace.

On a completely unrelated note, do any of you peeps do Zumba? I take yoga and kickboxing classes at my gym. Occasionally I’ll take a step class if I feel like being embarrassed by my inability to face to the right direction Back to Zumba. The yoga teacher I love teaches Zumba and she says you don’t have to be *ahem* uber coordinated to get an awesome workout and keep up. Is this true? Or should I stick with inner peace on one day and kicking the crud out of someone the next?

Okay, gotta go watch Project Runway and Real Housewives… OMG, friends, Orange County’s back on tonight!! Weeee hoooo!!

xoxo,