Woman's work brightens manor tree

Elaine Davis offered her talents as a gift this Christmas, making over 200 decorations for the tree at Felt Manor.

manor tree

If giving of oneself is the greatest gift we can give at Christmas time, then the residents of the Guy & Mary Felt Manor are the recipients of many, many great gifts this year.

Elaine Davis couldn't help but smile when she saw the large Christmas tree in the lobby of Felt Manor. It seemed to bring her work, some 200 handcrocheted ornaments, to life.

Her crocheting hobby, which dates back more than 60 years, has given the tree a colorful, one-of-a-kind look. Davis, who learned the craft from her mother, is known for making blankets, hats, scarves and table covers. In May, she had a different project in mind and approached Felt Manor leaders about her idea. They were happy to accommodate her ambitious plan.

"I don't have a Christmas tree, so I decided to make the decorations for the manor," she said. "And they really did make the tree look beautiful."

The ornaments feature various patterns. Some are adorned with beads. Each of Davis's designs is an original; only a few times did she glance at magazines for ideas.