creating an heirloom

In the middle of the last century, my grandmother began a family tradition when she made her grandchildren felt Christmas stockings to hang on her mantle.  Our house didn’t have a fireplace, but not to worry, Santa would come down the chimney at Grandmother’s house filling stockings and leaving treasures under the tree.  (He would also stop by Christmas afternoon for a cup of hot chocolate and bring a package or two he’d “forgotten” the night before, but that is another story.)

Felt reindeer, Santas, angels, wreathes and sleighs bejeweled with beads, gum ball machine charms, jingle bells made each stocking unique.