Last night we hung our stockings.   Originally, I had strung our stocking advent calender across the mantel (you can see it a bit in the pictures from my tree post), but I decided that I really wanted the stockings here (I told you, it’s a work in progress), so the advent calendar relocated to a nearby wall.

All of the large stockings are from my Mother-in-law.  She sends a new one each time a baby is born.  Some of them match, some of them don’t, it’s kind of a mishmash, they are all nice in their own way though.  Sometimes she goes a bit overboard, I think Màiri ended up with 4 in different sizes.  There are also a couple of doll stockings, that the boys made years ago from felt.  I think I’ll add some more hooks.  Currently we have shared hooks, one per person, but if I put the doll stockings in between, none of them will be obstructed.

Up on the mantel are these little snowy owls, also from my Winter Season’s Round partner last year.  I never did get around to sharing these because we were in the middle of a move, followed by Christmas and birthdays.  Aren’t they cute?  There is one for each of us.

Above them is a sampler of the Swedish straw ornaments we made earlier this week.  I love the owls, tucked between the branches, under the stars.

On a completely unrelated note, a friend tipped me off to the *best* children’s woolens.  The company is called Hestia Global.  I ordered some a couple of weeks ago and I was just blown away.  They are so thick and soft and luxurious, for a pretty incredible price.  Everything is still 50% off until the 20th, as in thick, merino/cashmere blend sweaters for like $17 (discount code here).  I just ordered another shirt and another pair of pants because, since we got them, neither Màiri nor Galen wants to wear anything else (seriously, Màiri has been known to cry when I try to change her out of her leggings and Galen insists on wearing his ribbed pants all day and then to bed at night).

I do wish they had more colors though.  They only offer really bright colors and sometimes natural, which just get’s stained too quickly.  Personally, I prefer earth tones or deeper colors, maybe even a pastel here and there, but it’s a minor complaint.  Word of warning though, the red is very much a coral red.  I was quite surprised by that!

Also 50% off right now are their wooden toys.  I was really impressed with their bathtub boats.  They were much bigger and sturdier then I expected (especially for only costing $6).  We have a couple going into stockings here.  They have lots of fun things.  The puzzles are really hefty.  And the tractor is sweet in person (again only $6).  It can be so hard to find good quality, natural clothing and play things that are actually affordable.  I was so pleased with this find, I couldn’t resist passing it along!