Counting Down the Days

It's getting near that time of year again. I'm not a big fan of Christmas as I really think you need little ones around to bring back the sense of wonder to the season. Since my 'little ones' are in their middle and late 20s and with no hope of grandchildren in sight, I have to make the best with what I have. Sandra still has a lot of kid in her as is exhibited by her penguin fettish. Her apartment is full of penguins in all shapes and sizes - glass penguins, ceramic penguins, crystal penguins - you get the picture. So when I saw this Advent Calendar, I just knew I had to make it for her.

The inside section was a panel and I bordered it with some matching penguin fabric. I actually made this earlier in the year which in itself is a miracle, but true to form, when I went to fill the pockets yesterday I realized I'd forgotten to make a label. You can see in the close-up that I actually USED one of the hundreds of decorative stitches on my machine. I was quite proud of that!
I've had fun for the past several months collecting small things to put in all the pockets - a lot of them penguin related. With all the penguin movies in the last couple of years, penguin items are a lot more plentiful than they used to be. Of course, Sandra would be the first to tell you that she has loved penguins long before the current craze.

She got engaged this summer and her darling husband to be arranged the most special engagement ever. They visited the Penguin Connection at the Aviary in Pittsburg where you get to interact with the penguins and they draw a picture for you. Darren arranged for a private session and this is Elivs, an African penguin drawing their picture.

While the painting was drying, they had the opportunity to play with the penguins and one jumped into Sandra's lap which just thrilled her.

Then they went back to retrieve their 'foot' painted picture and Sandra was greeted by this sign alongside Darren, on bended knee, asking for her hand in marriage.

I wish them all the happiness in the world!