our new old advent calendar

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...my mother made this advent calendar. We had one very similar to this one in my house growing up, but I think this calendar came first. I think it was the prototype. This new old calendar of ours was sent to us by my Aunt Kathy. (It arrived very specially on December 1st.) My mom made it for her when I was very small, at least, I think I was alive. If not, I'm inventing some memories. I am to touched that she sent it for Eva to enjoy (which Eva does), and I love having things that my mom made from way back when.

Each of the big felt numbers is on a pocket flap. On each day of advent, you open a flap, pull out the ornament that is inside, and pin it to your tree. By the 25th, your tree is completely decorated! The one I grew up with was slightly different--it had a bound edge, a skinnier tree, and chain stitched numbers on the flaps instead of felt.

Things this advent calendar makes me remember

1. Some of the ornaments clearly came from our church bazaar. The church ladies were very nice.
2. My mom could spend a lot of time making ornaments for the bazaar and still be smiling. I wonder if another little girl I know feels this way.
3. My mom made a third one of these for my cousin who lived in (very cool) Florida
4. It was raining when we went shopping for the ornaments to go inside my cousin's tree, and we went to a crowded store where we couldn't touch things. My sister was being a pill. I probably was too, but I don't remember that.
5. One of the ornaments on this tree is a walnut made to look like a strawberry. I remember this craft in the works. I didn't like walnuts.
6. One year my mom made snowmen out of socks for the bazaar, but she accidentally dyed them pink in the wash

Sending you lots of warm fuzzies, and a big thank you to everyone who has popped into my shop!