Tantalizing

Every so often, during the long dim Grey, the morning sun will find its way to a little patch of mountain.  It's a tease, a momentary glimpse of how glorious all this new snow would look if it actually were a sunny day.  Which it isn't, of course, but a little reminder goes a long way. 

I haven't managed much in the way of "just for us" Christmas crafting this year, but I stole an hour from the haste and hustle yesterday to make two of these:

Strata rules don't permit a natural tree in our condo, and while I don't miss cleaning up the mess, I do miss the sweet scent.  This is a rectangle of thrifted, felted sweater, machine sewed to form a little pouch, filled with rice and a few drops of essential oil of pine, and sewn shut.  A little decorative stitching hides the ungainly machine seams (helpful gifting hint: I would not say no to a decent serger.  In addition to the loom and the spinning wheel.  Just sayin'.)  Ten seconds in the microwave helps get the scent circulating.