This is part of what Christmas looked like, last year.
I made most of this cross-stitched stocking before my second daughter was born. It seemed to take an incredible amount of effort to do the finishing on it, and have it ready in time for Christmas. I remember putting my sewing machine in the gated-off kitchen, so that I could attach that piping. (The pattern and hand-dyed linen is from Birds of a Feather, and some of the floss is from Weeks Dye Works, the maker of my favorite hand-dyed wool felt. Luscious soft, that stuff is.)
Fast forward one year. My baby is one, my toddler is almost three, and the second stocking is still a work in progress. I will finish it, sweetheart. I promise. I speak for second children everywhere, we of slapdash baby books and hand-me-down clothes. Because sometimes, second children need their own dresses. And most definitely their own stockings. This year, we will use the back-up stocking, as I continue to contemplate back-dating ornaments, too.
When it comes to holiday crafting, baking, or cooking, I enjoy settling into my own pace, with no deadlines. Ever. Whether the project is large or small, I like to focus on what can be done in the time I have, not what has to be done. Keep it a game, keep it fun, keep it joyful. ‘Tis the season.
13 responses so far ↓
ah-yi // November 27, 2007 at 1:03 am
it looks so amazing!! very very nice!
Rae // November 27, 2007 at 9:05 am
For all the 2nd and after children out there, stitch, baby stitch!
stef // November 27, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I can’t get over the cuteness … Each of them surely deserves their own stocking.
Bex // November 27, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Beautiful work! And yes, sometimes they do need their own dresses, oh! & crowns…(poppymeidays.blogspot.com)
carolyn // November 28, 2007 at 2:43 am
you are really cracking me up with this post. although as a first child, i really have no clue what you’re talking about! ha ha ha!
whereishenow // November 28, 2007 at 10:42 pm
3rd child here……
I love your thoughts on keeping it fun… one of my friends has started an etsy shop… and while I think that is fabulous for her, it is totally NOT what I want. I create for the joy. the joy of making and the joy and letting it go.
I stitch, therefore I am….joyful.
stef et sa belette // November 29, 2007 at 8:28 pm
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WONDERFUL !
sincerely i love it !
circleabby // November 30, 2007 at 4:43 am
Okay, my white fleece stockings have officially - and seriously - been put to shame.
LOVELY WORK!!!
jude // November 30, 2007 at 10:32 am
gorgeous work….and keeping it fun, a wonderful goal….
Meredith // November 30, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Lovely stocking. I am the first born and I am the only one with a custom personalized stocking. I applaud your determination.
Kristine // December 1, 2007 at 4:04 am
wow, I have never seen such beautiful stockings. How divine, and how lucky your girls are.
katelnorth // December 5, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I know just what you mean. My second child only occasionally owned new clothes of her own. But last year (she is now 8) she got a new bike, for the first time ever, and as she is tall, it was bigger than first daughter’s bike - you wouldn’t believe the strop from DD1 about that! Third child, luckily for him, is a boy, so a) doesn’t really care about clothes anyway and b) had mostly new stuff because dresses didn’t really suit…
charlotte // January 12, 2008 at 5:04 am
aha - a gated-off kitchen. I need a gated-off sewing area!
Your cross-stitch is lovely :)
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