The Bucilla Christmas stocking is not your grandmother's craft project. This item comes in an array of styles and many of these designs are really modern. The patterns seem to merge traditional holiday themes with a peppering of modern amenities that are sure to please children as well as adults.

I find the patterns to be wonderful to work with. I love arts and crafts but I do shy away from any kind of project that requires sewing. During the holiday season I always try to find a project that I can complete by hand. The Bucilla Christmas stocking is the perfect craft for me. The sewing is simple and the project is a great way for me to find my way around stitches.

I decided to order a felt applique kit from the company this year and I am thrilled with the product. The Bucilla Christmas stocking comes with instructions that are so easy to follow that I think that any novice sewer would be comfortable working with the craft. The step-by-step process is more than easy to complete and I almost didn't want the project to end so quickly.

Inside the Bucilla Christmas felt applique kit you will find everything you need to complete your holiday craft. The felts are pre-stamped with adorable designs and you have plenty of embellishments like sequins and beads. The Bucilla Christmas stocking even comes with beautiful gold plated needles to make the sewing a little more elegant.

What I love about the kit aside from the adorable patterns and ease of use is the modern amenities that go with the Bucilla Christmas stocking felt applique kit. You can choose a pattern with a holiday tree that really lights up. There are a number of stockings that play music, too.

Many of the patterns are really old-fashioned. The Woodland Santa Bucilla Christmas stocking seems as if it were created over a century ago. The design is magnificently aged but the item is brand new. This is my favorite design of them all.

The great thing about this particular piece is that it is musical as well as attractive. It is a prime example of how the Bucilla Christmas stocking merges the old with the new.

Bucilla Sugar Plum Fairy Stocking Felt Applique Kit-18" Long List Price: $23.99 Sale Price: $16.99 You save: $7.00 (29%) Average Rating:

Description BUCILLA-Felt Applique Stocking. Bucilla always has the highest quality; most brightly colored and creative designs for their fabulous Christmas Applique Kits. This Kit contains stamped felt; cotton floss; sequins and/or beads; needles and trilingual instructions. Finished measurements are approximately 18in. Design: Sugar Plum Fairy. Designer: Marie Stanziani. Made in USA. Features Seasonal wall-hanging kit provides all materials needed for completion Whimsical design features a Sugar Plum Fairy surrounded by festive details Decorative top border, felt hanging loop, and candy cane accents Includes pre-stamped felt, embroidery floss, beads, pre-sorted sequins, and needle Finished piece measures 9 by 18 inches; detailed instructions included

Bucilla Pop-Up Santa Stocking Felt Applique Kit-18" Long List Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $16.99 You save: $8.00 (32%) Average Rating:

Description BUCILLA-Felt Applique Stocking. Bucilla always has the highest quality; most brightly colored and creative designs for their fabulous Christmas Applique Kits. This Kit contains stamped felt; cotton floss; sequins and/or beads; needles and trilingual instructions. Finished measurements are approximately 18in. Design: Pop-Up Santa. Designer: Maria Stanziani. Made in USA. Features Felt is prestamped Sequin packs are presorted Kit contains felt, beads, sequins, embroidery floss, needle and easy-to-follow instructions Measures 18-inch long Pop-up Santa design theme

In The Workshop Stocking Felt Applique Kit - 18" Long List Price: $25.99 Sale Price: $17.28 Average Rating:

Description BUCILLA-Felt Applique Stocking. Festive designs; quality materials and generous embellishments continue to make Bucilla felt seasonal decorations a favorite stitchery tradition. This kit contains stamped felt; embroidery floss; sequins; bead; needles and trilingual instructions. Finished measurements- 18 inches long. Design: In the Workshop. Designer: Maria Stanziani. Made in USA. Features 18" Long

- Sledding Friends Stocking Kit - 18" Long List Price: $26.99 Average Rating:

Description A festive design with quality materials and generous embellishments make these felt stockings a favorite stitchery tradition. Stocking kit includes: stamped felt, embroidery floss, metallic thread, sequins, beads, needles, tri-lingual instructions, and directions for personalization. Stocking is 18 inches long. Design: Sledding Friends. Designer: Maria Stanziani. Made in USA. Features Stocking is 18 Inch Long

There is no reason why a homely Christmas celebration from an African American perspective can't take a different point of view.

An African American Christmas celebration need not be radically different. It's mostly a question of modifying the style and taste to make it easier for African Americans to identify with the Christmas traditions and decorations.

Fiber Optic Angel in Gold - African American (12")

African American Christmas cards, for example can use designs that reflect a distant African background, or more recent African American history and culture.

Christmas tree decorations can also reflect this background. African American Christmas tree ornaments often include charms shaped like giraffes, gazelle, lions, elephants and stylized African masks.

Other African American Christmas ornaments can celebrate African American literature, music, sport, education, farming, and all of the other areas in which African Americans have made a contribution to American culture. It's an opportunity to create designs with a distinctly African American style. Philadelphia Eagles NFL Glass African American Football Player Christmas Tree Ornament 4"

Washington Redskins 4.5" African American Football Tackler Christmas Tree Ornament

New Orleans Saints NFL Glass African American Football Player Christmas Tree Ornament 4"

Fiber Optic Woodland Santa - African American (16")

The end of year holidays bring up all sorts of feelings in people. For families that have experienced a happy harmonious year the holiday celebrations are something to look forward to. For dysfunctional families the holidays may reopen sad memories and hurt when they are spending more time together again. Families that do not celebrate Christmas due to their beliefs may feel excluded or even alienated. But everyone can bring some joy into their family life by giving during the Christmas holidays. The time is quickly approaching and work on gift lists and shopping needs to begin.

I have been fortunate to have some wonderful memories of Christmases past. My family had many happy traditions involving gift giving, baking, visiting relatives and friends and attending religious services. Now as an adult I continue to see Christmas as a magical time of year. Making homemade Christmas gift baskets gives me a lot of pleasure.

I originally started giving the Christmas gift baskets when I was a college student and could not afford a great expense for buying gifts. Now I continue to give baskets because the recipients look forward to the homemade goodies they contain. Because not having funds is not longer a factor for me I can now use the very best ingredients in my food items and high quality materials in my craft items.

Through the year I keep an eye out for different and interesting containers to use as the Christmas gift baskets. Most times I do use traditional baskets but sometimes, depending upon the likes and personality of the recipient, I may use another type of container. One year my nephew was just getting into fishing so I used a tackle box for his container. There are also times when I have come across beautiful hat boxes or similar decorated boxes that make a great alternative to a basket. Although each of the gifts I give is unique the standard fare for my Christmas gift baskets usually includes something knitted or crocheted, either socks, slippers or mittens, a scarf or a hat, a piece of beaded jewelry for the women, a loaf of bread, homemade jam, caramels, fudge, Christmas cookies and a specially made candied apple. It really makes me feel good when I hear people cheer when I show up with their Christmas gift baskets. I feel like I am giving away part of myself in each gift that I give. Also I do not have to fight the Christmas shopping crowds and full shopping mall parking lots. For me, making my homemade Christmas gift baskets has become a year long pass time.