Nisse Kalender & blessing star

It began to SNOW today!! About 2 -3 inches this PM - fortunately it was light until after my harp gig! The dogs love it - my Chihuahua, Gracie Mae, did her dogie dash back & forth, kicking up the snow - until she got cold! My daughter's husky mix can stay out longer, especially if there are balls (yes, inc. snowballs!) involved!!

Yesterday I began sewing a Nisse/tomten like Alette's for advent & he's mostly done ;) Still need to make him some boots - he has nice warm red socks & a hat.
I made a few little gift bags the other day, & my granddaughters quickly appropriated a couple, & had me make a bigger one for a (toy) hamster's sleeping bag! I got a few more done today, I'll use the little bags for some of the earrings & pendants I picked up at our holiday craft market yesterday - & maybe take Nisse along to deliver them? (Will probably have to make a Nisse for my son's house as well)

A friend of my daughter's is moving into an assisted living, & brought in some fabric for the gals in their office to choose from - there were a couple of sets of printed ornaments to sew & stuff, prob. from the 70s, as we had made some then! Saturday my daughter & I taught her girls how to sew them - even the 4 year old got half way around hers before she lost interest! & they were intrigued with the Nisse.

I also began making some new 'car stars' for my kids - they are little travel blessing dolls, usually felt, with a cotton batting face & french knot curls. They hang from a rear view mirror or knob, & give travel assistance. I've made them for my daughter & son's cars since they began driving. I tend to make something out of just about anything; & once Josh said "I bet she could make something out of dryer lint! Let's see, . . .
Both the Nisse & the Car star are stuffed with dryer lint (it's also a good fiber for paper making, or so I've heard :) I enjoyed seeing similar little beings featured in this Australian present exchange. Sounds like a delightful exchange, & I look forward to seeing the rest of the gifts, too!!
I've made happy faces on dolls for years, & often small faces like these 'dotties' - my son has a wee felt nativity group I made, adapted from a pattern in the French 'Mon Tricot,' which are no longer in print - I need to ask my mother in law where these are - she rarely gets rid of books or craft mags!

Ooo, & Friday, Leah's lovely 2009 calender arrived (I'd just ordered it WED!) can hardly wait to begin using it, tho I adore my 2008 Hafiz calender!!