Pottery Barn Inspired Christmas Countdown Calender Pillow

Yes, It's November 7th and I'm sharing a Christmas project. Hey, it's not just me!...Pottery Barn's Christmas catalog has been out for a couple of weeks and when I came across their adorable Advent Calender Lumbar Pillow (known in my house as a Christmas Countdown Calender), I knew immediately that I needed one.

Source

Of course, after my sister drove an hour and a half in each direction to deliver the vintage pine cabinet that I purchased at Nellie's Barn Sale in October, I decided that she  probably needed one more than I did.

                                                                          Isn't it darling?!

 I looked a the photo and decided that it wouldn't be too difficult to make.  Straight lines, a few zigzag's, a bunch of pressing and some stenciling.  That doesn't sound difficult, right?! That's what I thought....before I forgot how to count.

 Really, sometimes I just need to SLOW DOWN!  I thought that I'd be a smarty pants and save time by skipping the next row while the other numbers dried so that they wouldn't be smudged by the stencil.

An hour and a half later, let me just say, thank heavens for bleach pen!  and Yes, I actually did stop to photograph the mistake...
                                     
                  ...right in the middle of trying to remove the paint....with bad kitchen lighting.

It wasn't really all that tough to make...other than the disappearing ink...that didn't...even after 24 hours....again...my heartfelt thanks to whomever invented , bleach pen.

At some point, when faced with the possibility of starting completely over, I tried to come up with a "no sew" version. Yep, I was desperate.  I did come to my senses when I realized that glue probably wouldn't hold up to young children trying to put the star into the correct pocket....not even hot glue.

So, if you don't sew, bribe convince a friend to make one for you....you've got a couple of days to work on it!  Stay tuned for a tutorial with written directions for how to make one of your very own.
(Editor's Note as of 6/20/2015. Due to a system crash, the tutorial for this pillow was lost but take heart because I'm making one for myself and I promise that I'll photograph and post the tutorial. Check back in late August for a post).

Math, however,  is a prerequisite...counting is required....to at least seven....or maybe NINETEEN!

Seriously!?  This project was beginning to feel like the DIY version of Christmas Vacation....and I was starting to feel like Clark Griswold....waiting for someone to flip on the light switch and end the madness.

                           
Now that it's finally finished, I love how the ticking striped fabric peeks out from behind the pom pom trim....

                                                               
                                                    ...and how cute the star looks with the initial of my sister's last name on it.

I also added a tag with what used to be my sons' favorite question for the holiday season..... beginning some time just after Halloween....

It's a phrase that has new meaning in my life now that both of them are away at college.

                                 This year it's me who is counting the days....until my sons come home for the holidays.

I'm sure that my sister's Granddaughter will love keeping track of the number of days until Christmas using this countdown calender pillow but I can't help but wonder how many times my sister will still have to answer the question, "How many days until Christmas?" this year. Those days pass far too quickly.




Sharing at:

Savvy Southern Style

Featured at:
Organize & Decorate Everything!
KnockOffDecor