A lot of stockings and my 'secret' love

It seems that this time of year brings out the humbug. All over everywhere people are frustrated with consumerism, frustrated with crowded shops and frustrated with 'having to buy people gifts just because it's expected'. I feel like I should be shy about this, it almost seems like I should keep this a secret....

I absolutely adore Christmas... 

I love crowded shops and high streets with shoppers hustling about thinking about buying gifts for each other.

I love giving gifts. I love receiving gifts! I love the secret and fun. I love the surprise and the anticipation.

I love Christmas music, sweet TV adverts and all Christmas films regardless how sappy.

I love that in general people believe that this is the time of year for goodwill.

I love all the preparations that go in for just one day and that it is something our culture does together.

I love the sharing and connection - even if it is a card through our door from a neighbour we never speak to (even if they have to sign their house number along with their names just to make sure we know who they are).

I love the big massive feast and the eating and the parties.

I love missing people we love and being able to take this holiday to miss them as much as we want.

So naturally, my house is starting to overflow with delights in the pantry and packages hidden on top of cupboards and lots of fabric and yarn and glue.

I had a very ambitious idea to make this Advent Calendar to count down the days until Christmas with the children. This turned out to be more tedious than I imagined and I didn't number the cute little stockings and wasn't creative enough to actually put anything in them! So the advent calendar can be for next year! This year these mini stockings can just hang around being cute.

I did however, finish a project that has been on my list since my eldest was born. I am oh so happy with these!

I used this template and then roughly used these instructions. I found some blue ticking and a medium weight cotton for the lining then embroidered their names in red. I think they are sweet, I can't wait until Christmas morning when they are filled with surprises!