A December Gift of Mindfulness

 

I follow Mind & Tangle on FB and IG and for the month of December she had a daily tangle project to do on Bijou tiles (2 inches).  While she demonstrated them she also told a story or fable to go along with them.  Unfortunately, while I can follow what she's doing with pen and paper, I don't understand Spanish so that part is lost to me.  I do know that the intent of this exercise was to do these tiles and to give them as RAK's as we went about our daily life.  Not getting out kept me from doing that, but that is not to say that they will not be distributed in the future.  

The 25 Doors of Christmas and My Helper

I will admit that I missed a couple of days.  I really thought I went back and made the days up, but apparently I did not.  In any case, on the 18th our son and his family came to celebrate Christmas with us.  We were originally going to have both our son and daughter's family together but GS2 was directly exposed to someone at daycare and had to be in quarantine.  (This is the third time since September that he has had to be out of school because of exposure.)  Of course they didn't want to put anyone in jeopardy so they stayed home.   Towards the end of the visit, I was showing GS1 my book of Christmas doors and he saw that I had the next day sketched and asked if he could color it.  I said "sure" and got out the colored pencils for him.  I let him pick what he wanted to color and the colors.

They had to get going before he finished and he handed me the metallic rose pencil and said to use that next.  So I colored the window.  I outlined the sketch lines and the only other things that I colored on this were the two horizontal candy canes, the siding, and the colored balls on the twigs (which he told his mother he liked when she showed him the picture of it finished that I had sent them).  He wanted me to draw him more doors to color and we talked about doing an art journal to go back and forth that I'll prepare in January.  Pretty good for a 5-1/2 year-old don't you think!

This door was inspired by the lighthouse that I received in the ornament exchange I did in November.  Wish I was able to fix that wonky tablecloth.

There is an antique store near the condo that this is based on. The real building has more to it on the left side with a porch, but I took my liberty with it.  The colors are those of the real house though.

I think I've been watching too many Hallmark Christmas movies.  There's always some kind of tree festival going on or Christmas bazaar.  This would be the Hall of Trees.

I have to say that this is one of my favorites.  Although I think she might need a hat.  I might elaborate on this and have some prints made of it next year.  

Okay. Yes.  I know.  The yellow is a bit loud but it wasn't in my head.  

This came to me just before I fell asleep the night before I drew it and I'm really surprised that I remembered it in the morning.  Who could that be trying on Christmas sweaters on Christmas Eve?  A lost elf perhaps.

And to end things up, since I had done my front door, I thought it only fitting that I should also add the back door.  That frame that I used to make the wreath is a bit more elaborate IRL but since the buffalo plaid ribbon was fussy enough to do, I decided the frame was good as is.

So there you have 22 of the 25 Doors of Christmas for 2021.  

Merry Christmas

I thought we'd be back to a more normal Christmas this year but that was not in the stars.  We're able to spend time with family but not all together.  Some we saw earlier, some we will see today, and some we won't be seeing in person.  Such is the way of the world today.  Christmas Eve was just HWNSNBP and myself for the second year in a row.  We had a little of the Christmas Eve traditional meal with our son, daughter-in-law, and GS1 last Saturday, and tonight I fried some fish again, but it wasn't the feast of tradition.  But I guess that traditions are meant to change.  It happens when your family grows older and children marry.  It happens when family members are no longer with us.  And now it happens when there is a pandemic.  Hopefully, we will again be able to celebrate together.  Until then we will make the best of what we can do.  Merry Christmas!  

The 25 Doors of Christmas 2021 - Days 4 through 14

Yes, even the chickens get to celebrate Christmas with their own Christmas tree.

Some little Santa gnomes and a chalet.  Are they escaping or breaking in?

Somewhere where the weather is a little warmer.

You've got to decorate the potting shed with a tree made of pots.

Even the reindeer get a wreath on the barn door.

Could be a cookie house as a table decoration.

This door is inspired by an actual door.  My cousin's 21-year-old grandson Charlie is finally in remission after his 3rd bout of cancer and spending the last 322 days in the hospital where he underwent numerous treatments with side effects that debilitated him.  He has continued to fight back to regain his health and stamina.  He finally got to go home and his whole town welcomed him with a parade.  He is a hockey player and those in his community had a campaign of "Sticks Out" to keep Charlie in their thoughts and prayers.  His story was covered on several New England news stations and local hockey teams were very supportive.  We are keeping him in our prayers in the hope that this remission will be long lasting.

There's another sneaky little Santa gnome again.

A little chapel in the woods with some woodland creatures keeping watch.

Someone turned a caboose into a tiny home and decorated it to the 9's.

Sitting at my dining room table and looking towards my front door this is a mash up of the view.  There are many more trees and little scenes to this view but for time's sake I've only included a few with the little white house village.

With part of the family coming for a visit this weekend I took a little break from the Christmas Doors for a few days.  Still looking for inspiration.  

 

 

Last of the Christmas Cards and the Round Up

I fell a few cards short in what we needed for this Christmas.  When this happens, I usually try to come up with a simple plan to make multiples.  I was doing errands with HWNSNBP last week and we stopped in Michael's for ribbon and of course I took a quick browse around the store.  They already have all their Christmas merchandise at 40% off and I was pleased to find these buffalo checked package of blank cards that sparked an idea.  I used a tree die for the tree obviously, and the deer are die cut also.  In fact the oval and the sentiment piece were die cut too.  The oval is cut from that roll of wall paper that I used on the previous card (Jingle Belle header card).  I found an SU sentiment which I embossed in white on the red, and then added highlights to the tree layers.  You can't tell from the picture, but I also added a line of glitter pen to the tree layers.  It looks much better IRL.

As HWNSNBP tagged it, Wednesday was "Selection Day".  I had all 40-something cards out and started putting my sticky notes on them as to who they go to.  I really could send any of them to anyone but there are some that more appropriate for those with children or without, and for those that are more serious in theme.  And then there are the ones that would only be "understood" by certain people (like the pigmass cards).  Part of this process also includes adding the picture to the Excel spreadsheet that I had started a few years back so I can make sure that I'm not repeating a stamp/theme with the same recipients.  I have to add here that I got a new laptop this summer and this past week I finally bought myself a wireless mouse to use with it and boy, what a difference it makes in moving things around on a spreadsheet and editing photos.  Merry Christmas me!

What I didn't do that I had said I would was add the sentiments and match up the cards with the envelopes as they were completed over the course of the year.  I will make a better effort with that this coming year because it does take a bit of time and there's always the chance that I won't have the right size envelope when I need it (although I do have quite an assortment).  There were a few envelopes that I had to add a strip of double-sided tape in some larger envelopes so those that were a little bigger than the quarter size I usually do wouldn't slide around in the envelope and hopefully not get bent up.  I also cut up some light cardboard food boxes for added stability in the envelopes with the cards that had embellishments that might go through the envelope on cancellation.  (I've gotten cards in the mail in the past like that.)

I have new goodies from this year that I still haven't used yet but they will be put to use soon after this holiday season comes to a close.  Of course I will be playing along with the Jingle Belles again.  There's something good about being able to not have to rush around in November or December making all the cards you need when you can be doing it all year long.  And having their inspiration to go with when you're not in the Christmas mode is a plus.  

The 25 Doors of Christmas - 2021

I was asked to participate in this challenge again by one of the other challengees who I'll tell you more about at a later date.  The challenge is an Instagram one that is hosted by Alexandra Sillos who you might remember was a contributor to and spouse of Michael McVean who used to do the Scribble Picnic challenges.  They have relocated several times in the couple of years since that time and have now settled in Kentucky near to her family.  They have recently opened a little gift and stationery store.  Alexandra still does her illustrative work and has continued to host the 25 Doors of Christmas.

I feel a little frustrated sometimes looking at the entries to this challenge as some of the contributors use technology to create their entries and always look so polished.  And there are some very accomplished watercolor artists who also add their wonderful work.  Since this time of year is typically full of other activities for me, I usually resort to watercolor pencils or my trusty Prismacolor pencils......... and the finished products look that way.  I'm actually trying to be a little more open with my drawing and not so precise as I've seen many other artists do, so my lines may look a little wobbly here and there, but that's okay with me for now.  

I'm using another little sketch/scrapbook that measures about 3 1/2" square.  The paper is heavy weight but not watercolor paper so when I do add water with the watercolor pencils there is a little bit of warping.  But I chose to use the smaller profile to be able to do these in a timely manner.  (Thinking bigger takes longer, but sometimes the smaller details warrant more time....... well, it was a thought!)

Oh, and my inspiration, for the most part comes from pictures that I've found on Pinterest or FB that I have made a folder of for reference.  

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

So, if you come across a picture of or actually see something in your neighborhood or travels that you can take a picture of, send it to me as I'm always on the lookout for ideas.

If you're on IG you can check out #the25doorsofchristmas to see more.