Christmas is finally here, all the preparation is complete and all that's left to do is, well, enjoy it!
Christmas 2014 has turned out to be a very black and white affair, the gift tags, the ribbon, the decorations donning our twiggy little tree. Next year I have challenged myself to using more colour, but for now I am basking in this very minimal, very simple, very 'me' Christmas.
Our first Christmas project for the year was to have cards printed and ready to send. We have friends and family in other countries and states, and we've been a little off the radar this year so we wanted to reconnect. Sending Christmas cards seemed like the ideal opportunity, and it has been so lovely to have the lines of communication reopen with a few well-loved but rarely seen people in our worlds.
Then to the wrapping, which whether for Christmas, birthday, or just a spontaneous gift is always one of my favourite tasks! Years ago I made the transition to craft paper and I haven't looked back. I just love everything about it: the feel, the look, the way it allows the ribbon and tag to shine. And though it's mostly aesthetic appeal for me, D appreciates that it's made from recycled paper, so it's a win-win!
My next job was to twine all the clay ornaments I made in Mum's studio. I made sixty five in total so it was a long process. I used metallic silver twine on some, and natural twine on the others.
Prior to wrapping the ornaments I paired them up (two is always better than one - tree symmetry and all) then placed them in mini craft paper gift bags.
Then it was time to sprinkle a little Christmas around the house. I dug into the Christmas tubs, but to be honest nothing was quite working for me this year - not even my much loved knitted shepherds! So, they stayed in the box along with most of the decorations from Christmases past, and I centred everything around my recently made clay ornaments and all their organic beauty.
We haven't crossed over to the plastic tree movement yet, we enjoy them, in other peoples houses, but not our own. We're just not plastic tree people. For D it's ethical, for me it's creative. And though it seems inevitable that we'll end up joining the masses one day, for now I am thoroughly adoring our less conventional Christmas tree of twigs in an old preserving jar, silver bells, bees wax table candles, homemade ornaments, a giant pruning from our Leighton Greens, and a bunch of locally sourced (by me and my long handled pruners) Argyle Apple Eucalyptus which Bonnie and KJ always have hanging in their apartment and I totally love.
Well, born is the King, born is my King. My Christmas prayer is that somewhere in the hustle and bustle of all that needs to be done in preparation, all of our hearts will find time to prepare Him room. He is, after all, the reason for the season...
Merry Christmas Everyone!
