The Not-So-Humble Tree Skirt

It's finally done!!!

I'm probably biased, but I'm pretty sure I just made the world's cutest Christmas tree skirt. Like for reals. Here's proof: 

I can't remember the last time I was so pleased with a project!

Kamber told me about Small Business Saturday and we went to Pine Needles and got this beautiful fabric, and the best part is, I only spent like $4 in the end.

It's good quality material and I like knowing that the fabric feels wonderful as well! (sort of like how I always was content with fake pearls until I got the real thing...I blame my in-laws for that one!)

Anyway, I saw a tutorial online on how to make a tree skirt and I started doing exactly what she did until I realized that my sewing teacher would haunt me if she ever saw what I was doing. So I went to a lot of extra effort to make sure there were no unfinished edges, and ended up making a much better product. Now I can sleep at night. :) Seriously though, if I had done it the sewing-teacher-will-haunt-you way, this would come apart the first time it was washed!

Thanks to Riley for helping me gather the insane amounts of fabric that went into these ruffles. I started thinking about how fancy I would feel if I had a skirt like this to wear, even if would look silly!

I sewed each ruffle on with a double needle, and because I somehow lost the box with ALL my sewing feet (the one on my machine is actually my mother's) and sewing machine accessories, I did not have an extra spool holder. Nothing my Gingher's and a trusty old paper clip can't fix!

Here's the bias tape I made of the outermost fabric and used to finish off the innermost circle and ties.

Voila! Finito! This was not necessarily hard, but it was quite time-consuming. Mark kept telling me at my most exasperated moments that I could put it away and finish it next year. I love him! He's so supportive.

Here's our humble tree, with our not-so-humble tree skirt. Gotta give it room to grow!

{I'm not sure I want to put the presents on top of it!}

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Christmas by Lantern Light

Last night, Mark and I attended the Christmas party of my home ward in Emigration Canyon. I will always feel welcome at that ward and return just about as often as I can.

As we had just finished our hors d'oeuvres (French is so beautiful) and were moving to another room for the musical entertainment, the power in the building went out. Everyone got out their cell phones and illuminated the paths as we gathered in the chapel.

My family had not yet arrived, so Mark and I sat in the Walsh's usual bench, hoping they'd find us there (reminds me of counsel given to me about what to do in the event you get separated from your group- go to home base and wait for them to find you). It worked! They found us. Joy of joys.

Once we were all settled, we all sang Christmas hymns and it was truly special. I'm grateful to those who can play any hymn at any moment, and for the unexpected blessing that loss of power provided. By cell phone light, we remembered our Savior's birth and the reason that we're celebrating this time of year.

We even got to sing one of my favorite Christmas songs, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." It speaks so much peace and hope and joy to my soul and I love it. Were tears free-flowing down my face? Of course they were. It was such a special moment to me.

Luckily the soup was already warm, so we moved into the cultural hall (what a weird name) and ate by the light of several lanterns. I loved it so much! I was rather disappointed when the lights came back on at the end of dinner.

Why is it that dim lights calm me and help me to feel the Spirit?