Handmade Tree for Festival of Trees

I don't know if you remember this or not, but every year, I commit to donating a fully decorated tree to the Festival of Trees where all the proceeds go to the Twin City Ballet Company. This year, I chose to do a "handmade" tree instead of my usual LSU tree.

My buddy, Breanna, is doing it with me.  After all, two are better than one!  RIght?  And 20 are better than 2!  So, let me tell you what the general idea is this year.

Imagine a silent auction, where people donate all kinds of goodies, and then folks come and bid on them as individual items or as groupings.  Well, that is the concept for this year's Festival of Trees.  We are going to have themes for 12 trees, and on those trees, there will be all the ornaments and decorations for that tree, PLUS...

There will be associated items on each tree to ramp of the value of that tree.  For instance, on the LSU tree, we are planning on getting tickets to an LSU game, LSU tee shirt, and other LSU themed things that we will beg local business owners to donate. 

On the Saints tree, we will be trying to secure Saints tickets, a weekend stay at a privately owned condo in New Orleans, maybe some Cafe du Monde gift certificates for morning beignets, or what not.

On our handmade tree, I did some smaller canvases (these are all around 5x7" up to 8x10").  They will be a good size to fill big spaces on our tree and, in my opinion, will make cute little gifts that the owner of the tree can use as Christmas gifts.

Breanna and I are  planning to throw in a party.  She will do the banner, party hats, cupcake toppers (all handmade of course), and I will give a jewelry or painting party.

I intend to put these hammered wrap bracelets on the tree along with a good bit of my jewelry. Think about it, there will be a LOT of gifts attached to that tree, that one can either keep or wrap right up!

But, what I am doing now is sending out an all points bulletin to all who are artsy inclined!

We basically need anything handmade.  I have a friend who makes cakepops.  I have her commitment to make a dozen for the party package.  She will give us three to put on the tree along with a gift certificate to let the peeps know what they are buying.

Another friend of mine drew and screenprinted tee shirts and baby's onesies, and she is giving me a donation.  I have another pal who doesn't know it yet, but I'll be hitting her up for a piece of stamped jewelry.  Another will be making a fabric scarf. 

Breanna worked on the fabric end of things today while I did the painting.  She made these super cute felt circle ornaments.  They were quite labor intensive, but a great way to use the scraps and a really cute result!

It's just concentric circles of fabric, strung together with needle and thread and a bead on top and bottom.

. Tomorrow we start hair accessories with felt, tulle, feathers, and headbands.  Gonna be C.U.T.E.!!

I made these out of old toilet paper holders.  Ellie saw me paint one, and before I knew it, she'd brought me two more.  And you should SEE the amount of toilet paper she had to unwind on the extra large, brand new might I add, rolls.  Todd the Bod was about to croak!

We're going to add wire hoops to the backs of them and hang them as ornaments.  Thanks, Pinterest!  Oh, and did I mention we have about 30 other ornaments we made last week, with the help of my staff at MMPT.  This is an all hands on deck project!  :)

Ok, so here I go.  Do you make anything?  It doesn't even have to be Christmas themed.  After all, it is just a "handmade tree".  If you sew, speak up!  If you do ceramics, send me a little token!  We can make all kinds of cuties work!  So, if you think you can, send me a message at mojoy@att.net.  This is how we can continue to bring world renowned choreographers coming into West Monroe/ Monroe to teach our dancers.  And it is how we get those same awesome dancers to come and perform for our community! 

So, if you can help, holla!  I really appreciate it. 

MO