Christmas Ornaments

50 comments
When I was 17 my parents moved from Pennsylvania to Utah. There was not enough room in the moving truck for a few boxes. Left behind were our very vintage Christmas ornaments and my old toys. I've mourned those things and think about them every Christmas. Over the years I've replaced some of the toys but I've yet to replace the ornaments. Maybe someday.

This year I decided to decorate our tree simply with plain Christmas balls and fabric ornaments.
Over the weekend I started making the new ornaments. I made Nordic inspired houses - above, with this pattern at Orange Flower patterns and tutorials. Warning: Very small pattern! I made mine slightly bigger. The finished size of my ornaments is 6" high x 3" wide.

Here they are all puffy and finished with the ends stitched shut after stuffing. I used cotton fabric for the main house part with a linen look - it's much cheaper than real linen for this application and looks nearly the same.
I also fussy cut my matryoshka fabric (was an unused curtain panel) to make stuffed babushka dolls to hang on the tree. I had made sachets with this fabric previously and liked them so much I decided to make ornaments with them.
I also cut out the scraps of my Michael Miller fabric in tree shapes and then quilted them instead of stuffing them. I looped brown rick rack for the tree trunk and used narrow rick rack for hanging.

This is only a start. I realize I need to make lots more and I want to make some to share, too. I planned on decorating my tree Friday so I have work to do.

-nanette
Next PostNewer Post Previous PostOlder Post Home

50 comments

Purple and Paisley said...

oh, wow! i love your ornaments! won't your tree be fabulous? =)...and now i, too, am mourning the fact that you had to leave things behind in your move from penn to utah...how sad...but it's given you the ooomph needed to create new memories so that's a good thing...=)

Eileen said...

This is going to be a beautiful tree. I hope you will show it once it's all decorated. ;-) Those houses are the cutest things!

Abby and Stephanie said...

I agreee with Terri...you tree is going to be very special. I recently discovered Orange Flower. I bookmaked the tutorial. Thanks for sharing. You've been very busy. I hope you share a picture of your tree once it's decorated with your homemade ornaments.

Evelyn said...

Beautiful ornaments! I'd love to see a little tutorial for how to make those tree ornaments... hint, hint... :-)

Kritta22 said...

I would love to see pictures of your tree, Friday!

Unknown said...

I love those ornaments. Be sure to show a picture of the completed tree.
Teresa

Carrie P. said...

You know the same thing happened to me. We moved from California to Florida when I was 17 and my parents sold all our Christmas stuff too. My mom sold a little village with a train that went around the bottom of the tree too. Every Christmas I remember those things too.

Carrie P. said...

I forgot to tell you that I like your ornaments that you making. Your tree is going to be beautiful.

Sherri said...

I love your ornaments...the tree is going to be lovely...I can just imagine it! I've always wanted to start early and make all of the ornaments for a tree...but not this year...oh well, at least my gifts are soon to be done! Please share a photo of your tree when it is up!

MichelleB said...

I love the ornaments. They are all adorable. I can hardly wait to see the tree after it's decorated with these.

Christina said...

I hope you post a pic of your tree when your done. these are wonderful.

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

What wonderfully creative ideas you have! I just love what you've done with these fabrics. Gives you a whole new place to enjoy them, doesn't it!
~Elaine~

Elizabeth said...

I love matryoshka dolls. How cute to hang them on your tree. My parents were in the Tabrenacle Choir and brought me back one when they went to Russia when I was 13. I've loved them ever since!

Donna said...

Absolutely wonderful. When I think of all the old things from my mom and grandmas I gave away when I was younger it makes me crazy. I just thought it was old junk then. Oh well, that is what makes vintage stuff so special, it is hard to find because we all gave it away when we were young and foolish. Another great inspiring blog post. Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

Your ornaments are sooo fun and creative and CUTE! Can't wait to see the tree all trimed =)

I left a few boxes at our house in the move this past year and I know exactly how you feel about mourning those precious memories. I left a huge trunk of Halloween costumes/wigs that I had made over the years. AND a HUGE box of shoes I had been saving for my nieces or kids. They were all my funky shoes from college days and before, that are sure to come back into style.
(big sigh)

Nedra said...

I love everything you do. Can I just sit by you and learn? Your ornaments are delightful.

marilynl said...

Completely marvelous!!

Browndirtcottage said...

wonderful!!...what fitting ornaments for YOUR tree! can't wait to see!!

maria said...

These all look lovely, I hope you show us a picture of the tree.
Maria x

em's scrapbag said...

I love all your fun fabricy ornaments. Your tree is going to be so festive.

jen duncan said...

OH it really is hard to shake off those lost treasures, huh? This is a very sweet tree design you're working on. I wish I could plan on beginning to decorate this weekend, but a big fat home improvement project will most certainly preclude that!!

Mimi Sue said...

Your tree's gonna be beautiful. Love the little dolls. I would be so sad to lose vintage stuff. I have a hard time getting rid of things I don't use anymore. Mimi

Annette said...

Beautiful ornaments! I especially love the houses and the trees. What a delightful tree that will make...a little Christmas neighborhood. With the dolls as the people too. The holidays are so fun when we get to be creative.

Annette said...

Beautiful ornaments! I especially love the houses and the trees. What a delightful tree that will make...a little Christmas neighborhood. With the dolls as the people too. The holidays are so fun when we get to be creative.

Nan said...

Things are certainly buzzing around the Hive! All the ornaments are adorable. I love handmade things adorning a Christmas tree. When my son was
7, he and I made a paper chain for the tree, and I still have it! It brings back such wonderful memories each year when I place it on the tree.

Sandi Linn Andersen said...

Oh, the ornaments are so cute, Nanette~ Your tree is going to look so festive!! I love the Babushka dolls!! I have one little Babushka ornament that I found in a thrift shop that goes on my tree every year. :-) Like everyone else, I hope we get to see pictures of your tree!!!

Dawn said...

Nanette, I love your ornaments! How lovely your Christmas tree will be...picture please! I too think the Bubushka dolls are darling! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

antique quilter said...

these are awesome....how special this tree will be this year, can't wait to see them on the tree.
I just love those trees, that fabric is perfect for them, just perfect AND the dolls
well they look real, amazing what fabric can do isn't it?

great job!
Kathie

erica e said...

you are going to have such a fun tree! i love the houses. and i love the little trees. what great michael miller fabric! can't wait to see your finished tree.

Unknown said...

Nanette - that is so sad about your ornaments - however your new ornaments are just gorgeous .... although I just feel so sad for that memory you have :-(

Betsy said...

please post a picture of the tree when done. I bet it will be stunning.

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

One year my in-laws decided they were not going to put up a tree, my children made home made ornaments, and a Christmas chain and we brought the tree over on Christmas Eve and put it up for them. It was so beautiful, and by far it was their favorite. Yours will be beautiful too, may I suggest to string Cranberries, I did that one year and they really are very pretty, I cannot wait to see your amazing tree.

Candace said...

Such a wonderful idea, Nanette! I love the simplicity of it! I hope you'll show us the finished tree! Cheers!

Lurline said...

My goodness! You have been so busy and more to come! My first thought was - Wow! - hope we see the finished tree - I see lots of others are thinking the same - sure we will!
Hugs - Lurline!

Shari said...

I love your home-made ornaments and am so sorry for the ones left behind. I like home-made ornaments the best. Thanks for the inspiration!
Cheers
Shari

Lily Boot said...

That is sad that the decorations and toys were left behind. Hmmm.... But I do love the decorations you have made - they are so whimsical and pretty - and now I know what I'm making Abigail's teachers for Christmas!

Nan said...

I am looking forward to seeing your tree. Last year I had asked all the people who read my blog to post a picture of their tree on their blogs, it kind of took off and we had fun taking a look into each others lives and how we celebrate with a decorations. I think I will do it again this year.

jacquie said...

wonderful ornaments! you know i adore those little houses!!!

Sherry said...

You are so creative! I love your ornaments & your tree is going to be so wonderful.

Material Girls said...

nanette,
the ornaments are so cute!! I really do need to find out what you eat for breakfast. You are the best!! Have a great Thanksgiving!!
Nadine

Cathi said...

Your ornaments are fabulous! You're starting new traditions with your ornaments -- and I bet your children will always love those ones!

Ginger Patches said...

I love your ornaments! That is so sad about your vintage Christmas stuff and games, that would be hard to get over :(

quiltingnana said...

what wonderful fabric ornaments.

Gayle said...

These ornaments are absolutely beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Super cute ornaments, Nanette. I especially love the quilted Christmas trees. I hope we get to see all of them hanging on your real tree. It's going to look spectacular.

Take care,
Cassie

Threeundertwo said...

Do you sleep?

Coloradolady said...

I LOVE the last one of the trees. Those are just too cute. They would look so good on my tree...*wink*

be sure to show a pic of your tree when you are done, I can not wait to see it. Happy Holidays.

Coloradolady said...

OK, me again, do you have a how-to on the tree ornaments...the quilting part? I love these.

Kristin Joy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
NCL STORE said...

Thời tiết ở San Francisco hay thay đổi. Chỉ bởi vì trời ấm và có nắng khi bạn bắt đầu ngày mới không có nghĩa là sương mù ẩm ướt và gió lớn sẽ không giảm bớt sau đó https://vemaybaydimy.org.vn/ .

San Francisco được xây dựng trên những ngọn đồi rộng lớn đến khó tin. Ngay cả khi bạn đang sử dụng phương tiện giao thông công cộng hoặc có ô tô vé máy bay đi boston , bạn có thể sẽ gặp phải một ngọn đồi khi thuê một lần (đặc biệt là trong một trong những chuyến đi bộ của thành phố ), vì vậy hãy mang theo giày dép phù hợp.