This time before the new year, when we consider a change between old and new, is my absolute favourite. Not just because there is a majorly fun holiday in there, or two, but it is a time for the cobwebs of the mind to be swept out and new beginnings to get a consideration.
With Christmas postal deadlines coming to pass and sales and guiding slowing down, my heart can turn to other projects. These next few weeks are like a little holiday, when all my regular scheduled work takes a breather. Office tools are downed, sort of, and the creative cap can be put on.
Time to Smile
The holiday decorations were brushed off and went up this weekend. A box made last year, after the festive season, to home them made it super easy to get them down and ready. And to Tree or not to Tree has been answered this year with a purchase of a singing Christmas tree. Totally tacky, but makes me laugh.
I saw this tree when I was cycling in Columbia at this time of year, many years ago. It was in a department store, and it suddenly started singing ‘Feliz Navidad’. With eyebrows of pine bows that moved up and down over large eyes, and a mouth also made of more pine bows that opened as it sang. I was in love. I didn’t find exactly what I am looking for, but did find one that sings ‘Jingle Bells’. Eventually my hope is to have a little forest of singing trees, one in English (tick), Spanish and French. (Keep your eyes open for me, please.)
Plans are Afoot
This time last year saw my restoration garden commence. My little medieval house came with a little walled garden. Truly overgrown and in need of some TLC. Queue a total dig up and re-plan. Planing of trees and many perennials with a view to longevity. I love perennials. And now plans are having a brush off and consideration to this next year. A permanent pergola is planned over the vegetable beds. Part duck protection, part climbing posts for those veg that climb.
Currently the weather is not so cooperative and leans one towards staying indoors a bit more. That is fine by me as I have a multitude of hobbies and projects I would love to and am delving into. Grey days certainly give a good excuse. A chance to sit down to music or an audio book and write, stitch, knit or glue.
Also Time For…
It’s also a time of tidying. Clearing not only my minds cobwebs, but desk drawers, shelves and wherever else takes my fancy. I discovered some old cards I had made years ago. It’s time they had a new home so they will be used for my Christmas and into the New Year cards.
Gifted a wonderful dipping ink pen a number of years ago, I finally gifted myself an ink well to go with it. A gorgeous glass Art Deco double well. Not good enough for My Shop, but perfect for me to use. I will enjoy moments over the next few weeks, taking time to write to friends, old and new. Other cards are still works in progress but the opportunity of creating with paper is always a draw for those cold rainy days. That and reading a few good books.
It’s Not All Play
A whole slew of vintage silk scarves are in the process of being readied for my French Silk Scarf shop. Time to be spent cleaning, pressing and photographing, with the aim to get them into the shop in time for the new year and thus Valentines day.
It’s a nice in between project as I sit in my cozy living room and edit photographs. It’s the photos that take the most amount of time, especially finding the right time to take the photographs at this time of year. Then checking the quality, choosing which to use, and then ultimately listing the scarf. Mundane need to do work, which this time of year suits perfectly.
And Finally
And last, but certainly not least, will be some photography and eventually designing. In pursuant of following my heart not just down the vintage path, but the creative side too. Taking old ephemera and making something new from it, particularly junk journal cards. (Which maybe, someday, I will go back to selling on my shop.)
So watch this space, and I hope you will tag along with me over the ensuing weeks to see what unfolds. And in the meantime, may you enjoy your own ‘quiet’ time, whatever that entails, before we enter this forthcoming new year.
PS
Enjoy my musings? Check out more in Finding a Simple Life.
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And here’s a sampling of what I sell in My Shops:
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