COVID-19 has changed so many things this year. Possibly the best silver lining has been to have Hannah home since Thanksgiving. As a result, we’ve been able to work together on donations for WHRL’s Christmas Tree Festival. I organize the event for WHRL, and Hannah hears all about it but hasn’t been able to participate until this year. 

This summer, she started her planning for a Dory and Friends Christmas Tree. I helped her with a design for the first ornament (Squirt), but from there, she taught herself how to create the patterns on her own and started raiding my felt. She took her supplies to school and crafted in her spare time – and during boring Zoom lectures.

WHRL offers decorators live table-top sized trees, but Dory and her friends needed something special. We ordered a $12 artificial silver tree. Hannah spray painted it turquoise to mimic the ocean. Sparkly bunch fairy lights mixed with tulle ribbon wrap the tree creating the “current” the sea turtles ride in Finding Dory.

Bubbles were created with clear glass ornament balls stuffed with iridescent shred – both items discovered in a bag of old ornaments mom (AKA Granny Gadget) shared with me. The coral under the tree is made from felt garland – pink and turquoise – found on the clearance shelf at Hobby Lobby. Seashells painted purple help Dory find her way home.

Bidding on this tree (and others) runs through Saturday, December 5th at 10pm – and items can ship for a additional fee! Click here to more info.

I’m so proud of her work and creativity. I think she’s going to miss theses friends she’s been working on for so long. She’s already planning a tree for next year!