When we decorate for Christmas at our house, it's nearly impossible not to think of the Christmas stockings we've made over the years.

A Christmas stocking made of burlap. It has a brown horse surrounded by a wreath and a bow

Traditional

Burlap isn't easy to work with because it shreds, but who wouldn't love the traditional horse looking through a Christmas wreath with a big Christmas bow?

A Christmas stocking made of burlap with a white horse, a pine tree, and a sleigh with gifts

Whimsical

I love this design because I feel like this horse has escaped the sleigh and is happy and free. Trying to find an imaginative way to photograph was fun. These pictures were taken in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Two horses one white one black on a burlap stocking. They are wearing gay Christmas blankets.

Variety

I loved making these horses with their bright Christmas blankets because I could use so much variety.  The burlap Christmas stockings are lined to cover the threads and the backs of the designs.

A red felt stocking with a cactus, a skull, and a six-shooter

What if

What if you don't like burlap? There isn't anything easier to sew than felt and I used large cookie cutters as patterns. They suit the inner cowboy.

A red felt stocking with a white cuff decorated with a cowboy hat, a silver lariat, and a boot

More Cowboy

A silver lariat and a silver spur. This was not my favorite design for the Christmas stockings, but it was still fun to make

A green felt stocking with a white cuff, a cute brown dog in a wreath of pine cones and a bow

Don't Forget Our friend Fido!

I love this cute pup and his big nose. He has a wreath of tiny pine cones with a bow around his neck. This stocking, of course, contained dog treats. The other Christmas stockings hold lots of horse treats or a combination of dog and horse treats.

To read about other burlap creations that are not Christmas stockings, check out this short post Out of the Mouth of Babes.

In my newsletter, I told you a little about my horse treats company, which has sold product worldwide. What's even more fun is that my work with the treats company, and all the great people I've met, inspired "Last Wish", the story about single mom, June Curwood, and Bailey, her overly enthusiastic therapy dog. Everyone who reads this story wants to start their own horse treats company! I'd love it if you would check out more about Last Wish here.

I'd also love to hear about the things you do with your creative talents. Would you share your thoughts in the comments?

I'm wishing you the happiest of holidays with all the joys and blessings of Christmas.

Barbara Ellin Fox
BarbaraEllinFox.com

P.S. If you haven't signed up for my newsletter, I'd love to have you join. Give yourself a Christmas gift of tips about using horses in your stories. And if you aren't an author, but you love horses, you'll enjoy the videos as well.

BarbaraEllinFox

Lifetime horsewoman, Barbara weaves her extensive background with horses and their people into exciting stories about happily ever after for men, women, and horses. Barbara also enjoys helping others with horses and writing.


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