Christmas memories

Whenever I see one of those themed Christmas trees where everything is silver, or red/gold I think it looks beautiful, and a small part of me wishes that I could have a really stylish tree one time. But...... then I look at the tree that the kids decorated, and I look at the ornaments - our very eclectic mix of ornaments. And I wouldn't have our tree any other way because our tree is full of memories:

this ornament used to be my grandmother's and is part of a set of 3 - the only ornaments left over. I remember Christmas Eve at her house, 7 types of Christmas cookies, big box of clementines, Christmas curtains in the kitchen and living room, frost on the windows, snowball lanterns with burning candles outside in the snowy garden. Walking around the tree singing carols, waiting for Santa to knock on the door looking for nice children.

my mother's favourite ornament, a beautiful glass angel that always used to be hung near the top of the tree, always next to a light so that the angel appeared to shine. My mother loved angel ornaments and decorations, and there is a selection of angels that come out each Christmas now at our house. I hold them in my hand and remember the person that most resembled an angel in my life and I rejoice in the knowledge that I will see her again because of Him whose birthday we celebrate this season.

this is an angel that I bought for my mother in London while I was studying there. I didn't get to go home that Christmas, but celebrated with other waifs and strays at the Norwegian Church on Christmas Eve.
Baby Jesus, part of a Nativity set of ornaments made from Fimo. I bought this for our very first family Christmas together, Peter, Doodlebug and I. Living in our house on the cricket green in Hartley Wintney. The children have grown up with these ornaments and love playing with them, so now the shepherd is missing a foot and the wise man is looking a little worse for wear, some of the gilt has rubbed off his crown.

Thomas the Tank Engine..... one of a set of trains..... James, Gordon, Edward and Percy are also on the tree. Bought when we had 2 little boys obsessed with Thomas. Would somehow never stay on the tree for long and could be found in the oddest places around the house. The idea of a train not for playing with was an unfamiliar concept....

the ornament given to us by some very dear friends in the Farnborough ward - this is where I had come to love and appreciate Relief Society...

and then of course we have our ever growing collection of ornaments made by the children, I treasure each one

Turtle's clay ornament

Doodlebug's laminated Santa from pre-school

and..... at the top of the tree we have this paper angel, coloured in with textas

It would be lovely to have a fancy angel at the top of the tree, but it wouldn't be the same.... it wouldn't have been laboured over by my child, tongue sticking out concentrating on colouring within the lines, glued together and then handed over to me with such a look of pride and joy. How can I not love this angel more?

It holds a memory.

Handmade Christmas

As December and Christmas are approaching, I was having a moment of nostalgia. It's no secret that I still struggle a little to get that Christmas feeling here in the middle of summer. Christmases past with snow, dark nights, stars, candles and fireplaces get in the way.

One tradition of my childhood and youth was the "Juleverksted" - the Christmas Workshop... Christmas decorations and presents would be made along with the Christmas baking (- 7 kinds of cookies/biscuits is the tradition). Gløgg and gingerbread might be consumed while chatting and listening to the music of the season.

Every year my family members were the recipients of many handmade items that I had made with more love than skill. Seeing them on display or in use were my happiest moments.

This year I have decided that I need to share this with my children, and give them the same opportunity as I had. Both because I would like to continue the tradition and give the children a creative outlet, but also because I think that it might just remind us all a little of the need for reduced consumerism.

I read somewhere this week a question posed: What is the difference between a present and a gift? I feel that in making Christmas presents, we will be giving a gift - a gift of time, a gift of love a gift of thoughtfulness and a gift of self.

Along that line I decided that I would make gifts for everyone this year, and I have already started. My sketch/notebook is brimming with ideas, the craftcupboard and my recycling box (the one with items for re-use in various projects) are full and my hands are itching to start.

Getting to grips with the children's wishlist is more of a challenge.....
does anybody have a pattern for a handmade iPod Nano?