The Gift that keeps on giving.

Wow!  I haven't written since August?  I sat down this morning to write.  Funny thing,  I couldn't remember how to get into my blog.  Since that early hour of 6 a.m.,  I have done a good number of things around my house.  I made my mom's famous Chocolate Pie for my brother and his wife and one for my son Malone.  I used the cookbook that I made of my mom's recipe's ( it was a Christmas present in 2009 for my sisters.)  I dusted the table, more importantly the dish that holds the heart that my mom sent me 1 week after she passed.  I talked to a dear friend of mine on the phone about Christmas this year and I recalled some of the last days I spent with my mom before her untimely (not sure if there is a timely) death.  As I sat later at my table alone in my thoughts I smelled my mom's perfume.  I inhaled so much to make sure it was her perfume and this moment was true, that I felt a little all smelled out.  Funny thing, a moment later  I smelled it again.  I realized at that moment that everything I have done during today's waking hours centered around my most beautiful mom.  I made her a Christmas present last year with ornaments of Christmas's past and that is what I was going to blog about today.  I was going to show the gift and the steps that I took just in case it would be of any help to anyone.  After I smelled my mom's perfume for a second time I remembered how to find my blog and I think she was coaxing me to get back to it.   So, here we go.

Memories of Christmas's past.

This is a collection of ornaments that used to adorn our Christmas tree growing up.  They have significant meaning to our Christmas memories.  Each ornament was given to my mom or dad from a friend, child or grandchild.  It still hangs on the wall right where she wanted it last year.  Sadly that was the last Christmas that we would be lucky enough to celebrate with her on this earth.

 Here in pictures are the steps involved in getting it to this finished gift.

First I arranged the ornaments on the table to get an idea if I could make them look like a tree.

Then I found a picture around my house that I wasn't using anymore.  It seemed to look like it would work.

I found a sweater of mine that I was no longer wearing.  I love the pattern.

I rehearsed marrying the sweater, picture frame and ornaments.

grabbed two of my favorite glues.

Measured, cut and spray adhesive glued the sweater to the glass portion of the frame.

Voila.... glued each ornament on one at a time, using my rehearsal picture to remember placement.  I used my trustee E6000 glue for this job.  I have yet to take a picture of it hanging on my mom's wall.  I was soooo excited to give it to her.  I wrote on the back... Memories of Christmas's past.  All the time reliving the memories.  The gift cost nothing.  I used things around my house, which actually make it all the more special.  There are many pieces of yesteryear.  Today I sit and give Thanks for all the blessings bestowed upon me by my beautiful mom.  As she would always say,  "Enjoy the moments, they go by fast."  Now you can preserve some of those moments and give them as a gift that keeps on giving!  Once again, Thanks Mom!  I Love You.