Snoopy is one of my all-time favorite cartoon characters. Now, with these T-shirt add ons, he gets in on the ugly Christmas sweater craze. Whether doing a little Christmas decorating, or doing some Christmas cruisin’ with Woodstock, Snoopy’s antics are sure to brighten the holiday. (By the way, these just happen to be Vinnie and Cooper’s favorite sweaters.)
Nancy, The Ugly Sweater Gal
Snoopy and Woodstock lighten things up.
Snoopy and Woodstock do some Christmas cruisin’.
Find the lowdown here to get on get 70% off all items (ugly Christmas sweaters and more) purchased at NotYourAverageSweater.com now through December 27, 2012.
Thanks for your support during the 2012 sweater season!
Nancy, The Ugly Sweater Gal
On Tuesday, Dec 11th I made an appearance on the local King5 TV show, New Day Northwest. I was to have been interviewed by the show’s host, Margaret Larson, but she was ill and Meaghan Black (from our local, Seattle Evening Magazine program) stepped in for Margaret. I also emceed an ugly Christmas sweater “unfashionable show.”
I’ve included some photos below of the great sweater I “embellished” and wore for the show. It was a real crowd pleaser (both at the TV show, and my neighborhood Starbucks)!
Nancy, The Ugly Sweater Gal
I found a web site (wishbookweb.com) with lots of old Christmas catalogs starting back in the 1940′s and going through the 1980′s. It’s been fun to look back at the winter sweaters through the decades. This photo is from the 1943 Sears catalog.
Nancy, The Ugly Sweater Gal
A classic Nordic sweater from 1943
For any of you local Seattle-ites, I’ve been asked to do a segment on King-TVs New Day Northwest show this coming Tuesday, Dec 11th. I’ll be interviewed and will also emcee an ugly Christmas sweater fashion show (which I’ve come to call an un-fashionable show). If you’d like to attend the taping here’s some information from the producer about getting complimentary tickets:
**We’d love everyone’s help in spreading the word (Twitter, Facebook, etc) of your appearance by inviting as many people as you like (family, friends, colleagues, fans) to be in the audience. You can find us on Facebook at KING 5 New Day Northwest or Twitter @KING5NewDayNW. Audience will need to arrive at 9:30 and should expect to be here until 11:30, when we finish taping. Anyone interested in free tickets to be in the audience should RSVP to newdaytickets@king5.com. Our Audience Coordinator will then send instructions.**
Maybe I’ll see you there next Tuesday!
Nancy, The Ugly Sweater Gal
Here’s a fun game that’s a good bet for an ugly Christmas sweater party: The Gift Wrapping Game
1. On a table, set out a gift wrapping station for each team. Each station includes:
2. Designate one person to be the timer and act as the judge.
3. Divide your group into teams (You can have as many teams as you’d like. You’ll just need to have a “wrapping station” set up for each team.)
4. Within each team, group everyone into pairs. Each pair will work together as one when it’s their turn to wrap. Important: Within each wrapping pair, both people must use only one hand while wrapping. One of the pair must use only his/her left hand. The other of the pair must use only his/her right hand. (You’ll have to make up your own guidelines about whether or not “lefties” will be allowed to use their left hand, and if “righties” will be allowed to use their right hand, and this will, of course, be dependent on the number of “lefties” and “righties” you have among your guests.)
5. The object of the game is to race to see which team can gift wrap their box most quickly. (But give out other prizes, too.) One pair from each team goes up to their wrapping station, assembles their box, and begins wrapping. They continue until the timer calls out “TIME!” When time is called the first pair stops and leaves the station. The second pair goes up to continue where the first pair left off. Continue calling “time” and switching pairs until all the boxes are wrapped. (Sometimes some pairs on some teams will end up having to take more than one turn before all the boxes are wrapped.)
6. Give out as many prizes as you’d like for categories such as:
On your mark, get set, WRAP!
Nancy, The Ugly Sweater Gal
You know how when some families and groups gather, they hold “shows” that all the family members or colleagues contribute to (with singing, dancing, skits, poems, displays, all manner of things)? I love it when they call them “Talent-less Shows.” (I attended a party like this once back when I worked at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, and that group of eclectic, create folks threw one odd, wild, zany night of entertainment!)
Anyway, if you’re going to an ugly Christmas sweater party and you need to contribute to the festivities by providing a “talent,” or an act, or a group skit or some-such-thing, I have an idea for you: A dramatic reading (okay, so maybe it’s going to end up being a not-so-dramatic-reading) with the added bonus of ugly Christmas sweater visuals. Picture this — You all stand with your backs turned to the audience. Reader #1 turns around to face the audience. First, the crowd is wowed by his wonderfully ugly Christmas sweater. Then, they are wowed by his beautiful rendition of the first few paragraphs of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Each paragraph or so, the next reader turns to face the audience, and continues on with the next few paragraphs of the poem.
As I read through “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” I realized there’s a wealth of ideas for sweaters that will help to tell the story: Santa Claus, reindeer, a bag of toys, a sleigh, stockings hung from the chimney with care. Lots of good sweater add-on stuff here!
To help out, I’ve printed up the text of the poem for you, along with some sweater add-on ideas. (You could expand the list to include many, many readers, or, smash a LOT of items on just a few sweaters and have just a few readers. Your choice, based on the number in your group.)
For even further inspiration, I’ve included shots of sweaters below from my eShop that have some of the “Night Before Christmas” items that I mentioned above. This ought to help get the creative juices flowing.
Have a wonderful (un)dramatic reading. (I’ll be VERY surprised if you get through much of the poem without breaking up in laughter – so good luck trying to keep a straight face!)
Nancy, The Ugly Sweater Gal
I know how many of you feel. You have no interest in wearing an ugly sweater. However, you’ve been invited to an ugly Christmas sweater party and don’t want to be ostracized to the corner for being a wet blanket who’s not wearing “appropriate attire.” Never fear. You’re definitely not alone. Based on sales at my sweater eShop, there are a LOT of people out there wearing beautiful winter sweaters and they’re fitting in just fine right alongside their friends (who might be wackier, tackier dressers). Here are some photos of some classic winter Nordic sweaters to give you some inspiration.
Nancy, The Ugly Sweater Gal
(Who admits that MANY of the sweaters in her shop don’t come anywhere NEAR being ugly!)
Pillows. They’re great for sleeping, home decorating, propping things up, and pillow fights at slumber parties. Something they’re ALSO great for is decorating ugly Christmas sweaters. Search them out in the housewares and linen departments at your local thrift stores. The only thing to watch for is that the pillows aren’t too heavy to be supported by your sweater. (They can be as big as you like, as long as they’re light enough.)
Have fun, you DIYers!
Nancy, The Ugly Sweater Gal
A Santa Claus pillow is the star of this show!
This Sponge Bob pillow is right on the mark.
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Nancy, The Ugly Sweater Gal