Enjoying the Holidays

Hello my creative friends!  Happy Holidays to all!

This can be such a crazy busy time of year for some of us. Even for me. That's saying a lot now that I have a very small social life. This time of year can be hard for those of us that have experienced loss in some form or another. For me it has been so lonely without my beautiful husband and also my lifestyle change that ensued once he was gone.

In spite of all the trauma I have been through, I have not been able to resist the seductive beauty of the holidays.  There is so much beauty to be found if we take a deep breath, come out of our shell and open to nature and the goodness around us.

This was the first year I was very tight on money. Not to be undone by it I decided to get creative.  I've always loved doing up the packages with beautiful ribbons and such so even though my gifts were very modest there was no reason they couldn't look fab.  I got out my old stash of xmas paper and ribbons and then went to Michaels to see if I could get a couple of things on sale.  I found glittery cupcake ribbon for $.79 and packages of Martha Stewart tags for $2.00 with tiny crystals on them.

Then I started my Santa's elf routine.  I wrapped, tied ribbons, made tags from scrapbook paper and glitter, glued flowers and ornaments to each little package.  Albeit it was not as elaborate or fancy as I used to do my gifts but I think they turned out cute.  I tend to like the fancy foil papers and such but felt that would be going overboard for the modest gifts inside!

The lighting was so bad that the glitter didn't show up...

I loved what Kelly Brown did with her packages http://artjournaling.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-spirit.html  .  She wrapped them in plain brown paper and tied them with twine then added lovely evergreen boughs for decoration.  Simple, green and retro.  Loved the look!

Thinking I might want to do the same with the fir tree greens, I took another one of my little adventures.  First I stopped at Dutch Bros. for my favorite S/F mocha and then drove deep into the woods and up a steep mountain on an old logging dirt road.  

My big chevy truck was almost too wide for the road/trail and some parts were quite steep and muddy. I was wishing for my little 4 wheel drive jeep I used to have! 

But I made it safely and found armloads of branches blown down from the tornado winds that had come through here a few days ago.

 I will decorate my mantel with them and then share a picture with you next time.  The xmas cards are mailed, almost all the little gifties are wrapped and now I have time to do a little more decorating and art.  Due to my diet the only baking I will be doing this year is a pumpkin pie for my parents.  Oh how I miss the baking and the putting up of Kahlua fudge sauce for my friends I had planned to do...  Oh well, health first!
 
Here's to a healthy happy holiday!
 
Forever in art, Jessica xox