Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday!  I love the family getting all together, the yummy food, the closeness, the football games, the fall weather, and just the spirit of the day.  No gifts to distract us.  Just the beautiful spirit of THANKFULNESS!

In the days prior to Thanksgiving, I had so many marvelous ideas to post about.  But time was not on my side.  So I thought I would just do the highlights of those ideas in a few pics.

Here are a few of our Thanksgiving crafts:

And here's a craft project I did a few years ago.  I had seen a similar place mat in a Pottery Barn catalog, but not wanting to pay Potter Barn prices, I decided to try to make my own.  To say I am pleased with how they came out, would be

an understatement!  Every year when I pull them out of my fall bins, I am amazed that I actually made them!  I'm not much of a seamstress, but this was just plain fun!



Here's how: Just choose your fabrics - different fall colors and textures - just make sure they are all machine washable fabrics if you plan to use them as place mats.  I traced my largest dinner plate and added a half inch (for hemming) for the body of the turkey.  I made a template for the feathers and just began cutting out a variety of fabrics.  I sewed the feathers to the body and to each other using a sewing machine.  I added the head and the details there using embroidery thread and stitching by hand for a rustic look.  I then laid it out on my backing material and cut out the entire shape (with a little extra for hemming).  Then I machine stitched the two pieces together and then went around it with more hand stitching for that added charm. 

I am looking forward to fun with family and friends!  And I can't wait to start our Thankful Turkey.  I'll have to add the pic later.  I love hearing what others are thankful for.  And as I ponder my own choices to list, I find that I am often thankful for some of the very things I have found myself complaining about.  It's funny how Thanksgiving has a way of putting things into perspective for you.  I have so much to be thankful for!  The Lord has blessed me in so many ways!  Dwelling on these things is like being covered with my favorite blanket.  Cozy, content.   

Update: Here's our Thankful Turkey!

I pray that you will find yourself surrounded by those you love.  And wrapped in the warmth of thankfulness.