“Mommy, Memere bought me a Shrek advent calendar!”
Not the words you want to hear when you’ve spent the last month lovingly recreating the handmade Advent calendar from your own childhood for your (ungrateful) five-year-old son. At first, he informed me that I could give my version to one of his friends, but once he saw it, he redeemed himself by being appropriately impressed. And I’m quite impressed that I managed to finish it with a week to spare.
I was inspired by the embroidered felt Advent calendar at The Purl Bee, though I am not good at embroidery at all, and though all my squares looked nice and crisp when I cut them out, they are all wonky now that they’re sewed on.
Here’s the calendar my mom made for me and my twin sister when were about four. She saw a similar one at a neighbor’s house and made her own, adding the pockets so each day’s ornament would be a surprise. Most of the ornaments were lost or mangled, so I made 24 new ornaments, replaced the yarn stitching around the edges, glued on some new sequins to replace a few that had fallen off, and gave the new-and-improved calendar to my sister for my niece and nephew.
Here’s a close-up of some of the ornaments. I used wool-blend felt for everything, and almost all the shapes are from Microsoft clip art. I used bits of “Fabric Fusion” iron-on Velcro on the back, just the prickly side, which seems to work OK to stick the ornaments to the tree. I tried to include most of the same shapes from the original, hence the jack o’lantern and elephant, which strike me as a bit unusual Christmas ornaments.
Let the holidays begin!
Wow! We had a similar one when we were kids, and I’ve been looking for a photo of one to make for my kids this year. Thanks for the inspiration!
I love the not so square squares, I made little stockings last year from felt, I am glad I haven’t got to do it all again this year!
I LOVE yours … my old one looks rather pitiful now — but still glad I kept it for you! :^)
love,
mom
Love this! We had a similar one as a children, the details are all fuzzy to me. This makes me want to find it at my moms and do some kind of similar copy as you. Great inspiration thank you!
I am just catching up on the comments left on my Advent Calendar post. Imagine how surprised I was when I landed on your darling tree post which I have already bookmarked from OnePrettyThing! I am inpressed with the great work you did on your frlt ornaments. Waaaaaaay more cool than the felt ornaments I made for my daughter’s first calendar nearly 40 years ago!
Great job! Love it!
darling! I am almost finished with mine. Mine is a spin on the Purl Bee model too. I love your idea with the ornaments though! That is really fun! I have been wondering what I will put in my pockets this year. I don’t htink I will have enough time to finish the ornaments for this year though, but maybe next!
My mom made one of these for us growing up. Thanks for sharing the photos, I’m going to try to make one for my kids!
Hi, I love your advent calendar, I was going to try and make one for my little ones. I was just wondering though what the dimensions of yours are? And what size the the square pockets are? I looked at the Purl directions and their squares are 3 inches, but that seems kind of big if you are going 6 across? Thanks.
i love your blog…you are so creative. thanks for entering my giveaway. good luck
Hi there,
I just found your blog recently and did your advent chain(great idea). I think your felt advent is beeeeautiful wonky pockets and all. Personally, I like things when they come out a little less than symmetrical. Thanks for sharing.
Happy Christmas preparation!
You have created some beautiful treasures! And I also like the wonky pockets, in fact I thought it was on purpose. I am putting your advent chain on my project wish lists for next year. Hopefully that will be enough time to complete it! Thanks for entering the Barefoot Books giveaway and good luck!