The packages have been sent to family members so it's time to reveal the 2023 theme.
Gingerbread Man and girls..with a lot of old fashioned sweets. An Old Fashioned Christmas.
Last year as I was putting away my Christmas ornaments I noticed my gingerbread men were sort of "tired". They had been taken out, displayed and stored in their boxes for over fifty years. I decided not to store them in 2023 but to do some repair and freshening up.
When I was a young newlywed I wanted to start my own ornament collection for my tree as all young adults like to do when they've moved out of their parents home. Because I loved to sew and because money was tight I decided to make these little guys. I used a cookie cutter for a pattern and cut out from velvet and brown gingham fabric scraps. Then I appliquéd and embroidered the eyes, mouth and cheeks and apple buttons. A velvet necktie and rick rack around the edge dressed them for display. I still love to hang these old ornaments on my tree each year. They send my mind back to another happy Christmas time as so many ornaments do. My friend, Jan, just recently described it as "my life's history is presented on my tree. So true!
Usually my Christmas theme inspiration comes to me in October or November but this year in early January I knew what 2023 would be. Gingerbread. I decided to make more gingerbread men and share them with others:
The originals are on the top and 7 new pairs of gingerbread fabric ornaments made from both old and new materials
white felt, "apple" appliqué , blue felt eyes, embroidery and vintage ribbon
As I decorated the tree I pulled out all the old ornaments that supported the theme of old fashion candy canes and ribbon candy, sweets like cupcakes and chocolate truffles. Then I added gingerbread houses and candy cane striped ribbon
Here's a look at my tree:
