Several years ago, I purchased runners, pillow covers, and other handmade linens from Ann of On Sutton Place to sell in my retail spaces.  I had learned that despite my most determined DIY efforts, I couldn’t make everything I sold.  I just couldn’t keep up and I needed to find things I could hire out and buy wholesale.  Ann is wonderfully creative and did beautiful work with antique linens, so it was a good match.  I also bought mini stockings from her for Christmas and requested she make 24 for me to use as an advent calendar.  I even sent her my grain sack and fabric scraps from upholstery work for her to use. Ann made a beautiful set for me that I have used as a countdown for Christmas every year since. I purchased some numbered clay tags on to number them.  Sadly, the shop I bought them from is

Back in 2014, I had the idea to make an advent wreath out of an antique ironstone ring mold I found at an antique store.  It was one of my favorite unconventional Christmas decorating ideas and is still one of my favorites to this day.  You can find the original post about the ring mold advent wreath HERE. I have done a few other ring mold advent wreaths since, but a couple of years ago, the first year we had the cats, Esmé picked my wreath apart.  She preferred the “deconstructed look” over something that was too put together and intentional.  So, it hasn’t made an appearance since.  It felt like a losing battle and one that I didn’t want to fight. Well, yesterday, on the first Advent Sunday, I really wanted to set up my ring mold advent wreath again.  So, I decided to give it another try and,