So Twelfth Night is upon us and it’s time to put everything Christmassy away for another year.
No they’re not ours. We didn’t even have a proper Christmas tree this year. How’s that for restraint…
But first there’s still time to wish everyone a Happy New Year, which I will do here with cake, well pie. Alice’s mince pies to be precise which we stamped with my cookie alphabet stamp set. They may not be the most elegant pies but they were deee-l-i-c-i-o-u-s. So Happy New Year one and all!
Putting Christmas away is a big palaver in our house, mainly because Christmas in our house is a big palaver and you can’t have one without the other.
So away it all must go and each year we squeeze a little bit more stuff into a loft space that I swear gets a little bit smaller each year. Hmmm. Every year I question the merits of OTT decorations and this year is no different. But this year the whole de-Christmassing is even messier than usual, both literally and figuratively.
Literally because there’s the aftermath of two friends’ Christmas parties I decorated as well as our home decs to clear away. At times like this I envy the folk with sheds and minimal festive tendencies – I so wish I could stick to a twig and an artfully arranged biscuit, but I can’t and so there’s a lot to do. Ho ho, blinkin’ ho!
Figuratively it’s messy this year because I start 2014 debating new career options and actually my Christmassy trinkets are at the heart of my big questions for the new year.
As I wrap each bauble in tissue paper, I ponder my future. Should my love of parties and festive sparkle fuel a new career direction? Is this the time to try and create a job from something I love doing? Or is it best kept as an occasional madness at home? Way down at the other end of the spectrum is it maybe such a big (obscene even) waste of energy, money and resources that I should scale down/stop doing this stuff and focus on other, more important things?
My vintage baubles. I love the little pieces of thin thread they are nearly always strung with…
But I’m supposed to be true to myself right? We all are. And I love, love the sparkle and festiveness of Christmas, and other occasions come to that. I enjoy creating special events and settings. I do wish I could say something more worthwhile about this, but I can’t. It is what it is. So here I am, still a-wondering and a-pondering…
But perhaps this confusion is somewhat justified, after all this is my first new year for more than 25 when I haven’t known what the next 12 months might hold. I know, incidentally that I am lucky to have these choices at all. And sometimes that fact even makes me see sense. Not always though.
The confusion I feel is possibly further exacerbated by the teensy weensy, insignificant point that I will soon be celebrating 50 years on this planet. Ho hum. Lets move on, shall we? Suffice to say it’s quite tricky approaching 50 without knowing where I’m going or what I’m doing and it’s extra tricky being a person with an endless ability to question, cross examine and flay myself at every available opportunity!
The nativity, placed in a homemade bathroom. My most favourite ever carboot sale find.
Anyway I refuse (today at least) to get the better of myself. Instead I will do as I might tell you to do when you’re being hard on yourself: look at what a fab person you are and remember what you do really well; consider your achievements for last year and pat yourself on the back. Then look forward with renewed vigour (or at least a little less doubt). There. Isn’t that just a bit better?
So in the spirit of practising what I preach, I shall finish off this 12th Night post with some jars of Christmassiness I (we, of course) made this year, for my friends Sarah and Matt’s party, to bring some extra special sparkle to their already splendid party. I’m quite pleased with these little fellas. There. I said it. What are you pleased about? Go on. Say it. And feel it. Well done you.
In all we made 16 festive scenes. Here are a few of them and also some tips on how to make your own next year. I mean this year…Eek.
Three cute figures, three cute scenes.
Once you’ve found suitable friends for your jars (but therein lies quite a task) they’re pretty easy to make, though surprisingly time-consuming if I’m honest.
A key to success is LOTS of fake snow for an instant festive feel. On some jars we even dotted glue on the insides of the glass and swirled snow inside to look like snowfall.
SO happy to find a skip lorry ready to deliver a Christmas tree!
Ribbons and bells can also bring something extra – but don’t over do it and sometimes just let the contents speak for themselves.
Here’s my favourite clockwork Santa
And of course we have Santa on skis, delivering presents to all the little children. Hurrah!
Each jar is lit from within. LEDs are either attached to the lid or hidden in the snow. The right lighting really is important. Use ice white lights sparingly – they tend to glare unkindly.
A herd of miniature reindeer beneath a starry sky
This fellow (he’s an ink stamper) sits on a bed of snow lit from within.
Simple and sweet.
Finally, something all homes should have at Christmastime and that my dear friends, is a Christmas pig. If you don’t already have one then be thankful that you have a whole year, well 352 days to acquire one. Just listen to this:
Rolf Harris – The Wonderful Christmas Pig
…It’s all in one of our favourite Christmas songs! On the other hand you may or may not choose to buy this book: The Christmas Pig – a fable I just found and which I’m not sure I’ll be buying. No offence Kinky and I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but I think I’ll stick to the song. Though all things considered, maybe I should…
Hooray for the Christmas Pig!
So as we begin 2014 I leave you with the wonderful Christmas Pig and I wish you a happy and peaceful new year.
Oh and I hope your thoughts and Christmas dec boxes are neatly packaged and much more sorted than mine! X
Tags: career, Christmas, decorations, festivity
January 7, 2014 at 11:34 pm |
Its always a struggle dealing with the volume of stuff in a too small house but its worth it, I’d rather the fun and quirkiness than tasteful and ordinary. I marvel at your boundless creativity and constant energy refining and tweaking. Brilliant. Great photos as usual as well.
January 7, 2014 at 11:38 pm |
Well you of all people knows the price we pay! So thank you for the approval – it means a lot actually. Great to have your endorsement of ongoing decorative chaos in print. Just in case! XXXX
January 8, 2014 at 11:26 am |
Where would be without your inspiration..don’t stop dazzling us in 2014..the world would be blander and so boring without all your sparkle and decs ….keep that glitter and ideas going and a job will emerge…..
January 16, 2014 at 2:15 am |
Ee Carole thank you, for your unending support, which means such a lot to me and makes me believe in myself at times – little self-doubting Thomas as I boringly am. Thank you X