Do you have a Christmas tradition?
We do, it started many years ago at Nanny and Poppy Lymer's house.
Here is a snippet from the 80's
This is my Christmas story.
Nan & Pop Lymer were care takers of a local high school, they lived in a home on the school grounds. As kids, on weekends we had the entire school as our backyard, gym equipment, stage with piano, rope swings, science rooms, tennis courts, pool. You have to understand that as kids we thought Nan and Pop lived in a palace - the place was awesome.
Each year we had our Family Christmas at Nan and Pop's about a week before the BIG day. The night before they would hang a stocking for each of the Grandchildren. The two of them must of had a direct line to Santa because each year he would remember to come and visit their place early.
Anyway, every year after our big Christmas lunch Pop would get a phone call from the neighbours letting him know there were big kids in the school ground that were not supposed to be there and he would have to go off to work and police the school grounds.
It was about this time each year (the Big man himself) Santa!! would knock at the door to come and visit me, my Brother and Cousins. We even got to sit on his knee and have our photo taken. Santa would stay a while and hand out presents and Christmas stockings and then say goodbye.
Moments later Pop would come walking back in the house to a room full of excited children. I can't believe poor Pop missed seeing Santa EVERY year.
I think once my cousin Nick commented that Santa even wore the same aftershave as Pop, wow - how cool is that?
I love Christmas.
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Now we are older and have little ones of our own we go to Mum & Dad's (the next generation Nanny & Poppy Lymer) for lunch.
Nan and Pop hang a Christmas stocking for the three Granddaughters and Christmas Eve Santa stops by and fills the stockings with little gifts.
2010 is the year to make the stockings a little brighter and fun for the girls so I reached for Monica's Holiday Happy from Lecien and went to work stitching a new memory.
Check out the swatchamacallit - I used the mini gnoma-claus fabric for the lining and my favorite snowflakes for the outer, I guess that makes them reversible.
I went a little stitch happy.
Five drawstring bags for three girls.
Oh yeah,
that means leftovers
for me.
They sure look sweet hanging there waiting for Christmas Eve.
The girls love them, and are most excited to see mini gnoma-claus inside.
I am thinking they might even double as pyjama bags or library bags in the New Year.
Mines the blue one Santa.
I love Christmas.
Till then,
Natalie x














Hi Melissa, I made the bags 19in x 14in or about half the size of standard size pillow case. Great size for lots of things after Christmas - pj bag, toy bag, library bag! enjoy
Posted by: Natalie Lymer | January 05, 2011 at 07:58 AM
Hi Natalie, I love the santa bags that you made! The fabric is so gorgeous and colourful. What size did you make your bags? Happy New Year to you!
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa Sheehan | January 03, 2011 at 09:31 PM
Hi Nancy - the mini gnoma claus is actually the print on the fabric, it is very sweet! If you click on the link swatchimicallit (in the blog post) you will see a swatch of all the fabrics in the Holiday Happy line. Merry Christmas xo
Posted by: Natalie Lymer | December 22, 2010 at 02:25 PM
Natalie, your Christmas story is so delightful. It is truly sad that Pop missed Santa every year because of those pesky kids getting into the playground, but really wonderful that Santa at least wore the same aftershave! Maybe...just maybe Santa did that because he was very wise and new the little ones wouldn't be afraid of him if he smelled like someone they loved, huh? I love the drawstring bags, they are totally adorable and really bright and beautiful. I have a question for you though...it's about the mini gnoma-claus inside the bag. Is that a family tradition or a tradition in Australia? I love it!!! Hugs...
Posted by: Nancy | December 18, 2010 at 01:45 PM
Beautiful Memories Natalie and So Glad to see you are Keeping the Tradition for the Next Generation...Pretty Bags..
Happy Xmas.
Posted by: maree | December 18, 2010 at 10:43 AM
What a lovely Christmas story. So sweet.
Posted by: Lisa | December 18, 2010 at 09:43 AM
Look at the wonderful new Christmas memories you're creating for this next generation!!! I'm sure you're gonna have a fabulous Christmas with Isabella this year!!
Take care ...
Hugs,
Joy :o)
Posted by: Joy :o) | December 18, 2010 at 09:15 AM
Lovely story. Brought a smile to my face. Those fabrics are gorgeous. Merry Christmas to you & your family. Hugs
Posted by: Jeanette | December 18, 2010 at 09:06 AM
I think I want to print out your story! It's soooo sweet and happy! And I'm just beside myself with joy that a little bit o me is part of the continuing tradition. I heart you so much, Nat!!
Posted by: happy zombie | December 18, 2010 at 08:18 AM
Natalie... How cute. What a great idea. LOVE the colours.
Enjoy your Christmas.
Blessings
Sandyn
Posted by: SandyN | December 18, 2010 at 08:15 AM
Oh, Natalie, what a sweet and wonderful Christmas you had as a child. Love the colours of the fabric too. I'm going to check them out. Happy Christmas to you and your family, Natalie. Blessings for a sweet and safe holiday season.
Posted by: Sandy Hobbs | December 18, 2010 at 07:24 AM
Love that story!fancy Santa having the same aftershave as poppa!
Posted by: leeanne | December 18, 2010 at 05:58 AM