its beginning to look a lot like christmas...

december 1st always means big things around the downey household.

first, we always have our tree up!  thanksgiving weekend means decorating!

bill loves the holidays and the more decorations the better. i will have to take a picture of the outside of our house at night all lit up!

sometimes i have to reel him in, however this year i let him get the 6 foot singing santa.

 

he kinda freaks me out because everytime i come around the corner i think someone is in the house. however the kids LOVE it and after all daddy is just like a big kid during the holidays.

then the kids always draw straws for the order of opening the advent doors and the hanging of the daily advent ornament.

this year mckenna drew the longest straw followed by cole then payton.

today coley got 3 quarters in his door number 2, needless to say it was a BIG gift day from the advent house. after opening what was behind door number 2, he hung his ornament.

he read it, put it on the tree and turned to me and said, "that's a gift i can give all day!"

out of the mouths of babes the truth is spoken...

and bigger than all that, is the fact that every december 1st, zippy shows up!

he is our special elf assigned to us from santa claus himself and he checks back in with santa every night and return hidding in a new spot each morning. he a sly one that zippy!

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ADVENT ORNAMENTS

i have just a handful of advent ornament kits left from my big picture class if you are interested in the pre-cut  fabrics, batting and eyelets.

i also had unity create a custom advent ornament stamp set of numbers and messages for me to make creating the ornaments easier and allowing me to mass produce them as gifts for family and friends.

and if you are local, you can make a set with me this saturday at the studio!

Comments

[Siri]

That santa is just plain creepy!!

I was watching todays video over at Fun with Fabric, and wondering where to get that Forest Moss paint. Oh, the joy when I opened my kit and it was in there! Thank you!

[Karan]

lol Donna...i would say you are pretty nice to let that 6 ft dancing Santa in your house....and yes he does seem kinda creepy....beautiful tree, love your decorations...looking forward to seeing you in March in Kitchener, Ont!

[Janna {Papiersalat}]

omg I think the Santa would give me heart attacks too lol!

Janna

[Cari Kerstiens]

Love it! Thanks for sharing. I did manage to get my ornaments sewn up last night. Just in time!

[[email protected]]

my 1 year old didn't think santa was scary at all. she loved him. i totally love the elf and all of your decorations.

[sherry bullard]

I think it's awesome ALL of it, even the santa!! Esp if the kids love it. My son's first xmas he was only 6mos old but the second xmas he was a year and a half and we went to my brothers house the first weekend of Dec to celebrate xmas with them as they are his God Parents. Well my brother had a miniture one of what you got and Elias constantly was going over to hit hitting the button to make him sing and dance and the thing was SOOOOOO loud. Well he loved it so much that the next year I found them and even though it drove me nuts I bought one for our house : ). Enjoy it while they are young and do all those crazy things they love because they grow up just way too quick. (my son is 17 now). Love, what Cole said about the ornament too, just toooo cute! Enjoy the kids even the big one haha : ), and thanks for sharing!!!

[Diane]

Hilarious, creepy, fun, all at the same time. He'll definitely add to your holiday "memories" list! I'd be afraid to add this one to my Santa collection though (those eyes)...Thanks for the peek into your holiday fun!

[kitty]

Donna in the video of the creep Santa what are the decorations on the wall opposite your studio door. For some reason that caught my eye and fascinate me.
Kitty

[Angela C.]

OK, I won't care how much my husband loves the holidays, I won't let him get that singing Santa! I'm sorry, but he's just too creepy. Otherwise, I LOVE your tree! I never know how to decorate a tree so that it doesn't look like my 3-yr-old decorate it. We caved this year and bought a fake one that's prelit so at least the lights would look nice. LOL

[Tina M.]

I so wished I lived local, would love to come create with you!!! We have nothing where we live!! Love the kit though!

[Melissa McGee]

Your holiday spirit is beautiful!!! Love your tree and everything looks so very festive. Now Santa is a bit creepy and would scare the bajeezus out of me if I were to come in at night but some how I have a hunch he will be a hit with everyone walking in and he can soooooo be altered to be a bit less creepy. However after looking a second time at him, I'm not so sure. LMBO!!!!! You guys are AWESOME! Have a great time decorating and again many thanks for all you do for so many of us. Your Advent Ornaments are a huge hit with us and I'm doing a second set for some of our life goals. xxxooo Mel and Trent

[Larissa Heskett]

Thanks for sharing!! My 4 yr. old wanted to watch it like 50 times!! He wants one, I just laughed and said your dad wouldn't have it!! I love the decor and I love the advent story/ornaments!! Have a FABULOUS DAY!! =)

[LA]

HA! My step dad has a singing santa, and i swear that thing is vintage...i usually looove vintage things but i hate that damn thing! its so creepy! LOL thanks for sharing a photo of your xmas tree! happy holidays! :)

[[email protected]]

Don't like that Santa, he is scary looking. Your tree is gorgeous though.

[ida]

Your home is lovely and the decorations are great. I do, however, agree with you on the Giant, hip swinging, crooning Santa. Can you get him with Michael Buble or Josh Groban's voice? I have a few other comments but will save them for when I see you in NJ, SOON!! YEAH.

[Darlene Carroll]

Your house is absolutely festive delicious!! Love all your beautiful traditions... though that Santa guy would have me thinking twice... hehe. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home and creativity with us.

take care - have a gorgeous day filled with creativity & inspiration

hugs
Darlene

[Kelli]

I have to admit, Santa's not that creepy through the computer screen :o) I'm like you, though. I'd jump thinking someone was in the house every time I saw him.

This is our first year in a house we can decorate on the outside and we're having fun deciding what to get first. I love Christmas decorations!

[debbie McIntyre]

Too funny....gotta love the Christmas spirit! Bob can get carried away too, and this year has added a dog wearing a santa hat all lit up in the front yard. Whatever makes him happy. I just love that your house is totally decorated yet not cluttered. Nicely done!!

[Pearl Maple]

Too funny, can see what you mean, he is rather life like but cute and why not have a laugh.

[Edie]

My gf's Santa lasted 9 days before she came home one day and cracked him with a bat! She saw his shadow and reacted too quickly to remember who he was...lol He is not returnable if you try to kill him first.
On another note, I'm anxious to get you here already. See you on the 18th. I'll email re: dining plans :)
Smiles, Edie

[Erika Melnychuk]

That Santa is definitely one of the creapiest, scariest, friekiest things I think I have ever seen. Just being honest. And, also honestly, your family is SO LUCKY that you let them have it!!!!!

Onto your ornaments: LOVE THEM!!!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL! And, your home looks totally lovely :)

[Carla G.]

Hi Donna! I've admired those advent ornaments since last year's post. I tried to recreate them myself and it didn't work out. My question is: I couldn't tell by your listing if they come pre-stamped or not? I understand that I will be getting muslin and red fabric circles (along with eyelets) but I'm not sure if they are pre-stamped. I would love to buy a set if they are pre-stamped...I love the images. Thanks!!

[Angie]

I know where you got that Santa! ; )
He freaks me out every time I'm taping in the Troutman store! :D

[Damon]

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[Nik]

Santa is creepy. lol. I get creeped out with my dress form in the living room, so, I know if I had that Santa I'd die of a heart attack.

The elf visits my friend's house too. I think that's a cute idea.