Happy Holidays!

  I just got a box in the mail this week from my Mother back in the east.  I had no idea what it might be, maybe some early presents for the boys.  I opened it up and read her note...and cried. It's a good thing-by the way! It's not that it says so much, but in it's few words it says everything that matters about the holidays.

These are made using some of my Grandmother's knitting patterns from the Shetland Islands.

   "Hi there everyone- About six weeks ago I remembered what you said in your blog last December, Fiona, about not having your box of Christmas tree decorations with you. So I decided to gather the troops together and make a few for you to use this Christmas.
   I had hoped to get them sent to you a bit earlier than this but the last ones were just dropped off to me on Saturday- so here they all are!
   I hope you like them and that you feel the love from us all as you take them out of the box.
   We'll all miss all of you this Christmas and hope you feel our love emanating from the decorations on the tree!
Much love to you all, Mam/Granny xxxx"

   Ohhhhh.....It's so simple and perfect, don't you think? It makes me cry because we are far from our families this year, but this note and package reminds us that we are never that far apart. I pass by each one on our tree and I can picture each family member, young or old(er) so vividly!
  Beauty, handcraft, love and family....Gosh, just how much sentiment can these ornaments hold... they are like tiny little concentrated capsules of emotion!

  I've organized group projects/shared gifts like this for so many others- this is the first time I've been on the receiving end, and I can't believe just how touching it is. As others have said that received them- I feel so loved!

  Just wanted to share my gift of warmth with you! And wish you all such warmth, whether your families are near or far!
Have a joy filled, peaceful holiday!
Warm wishes,
Fiona

Tree Project- ready for the holidays!

  Ahhhh...the tree is fully alight now that we have reached the Winter Solstice. From December 21st on, we will light one less candle on the tree each night, as the days get longer....even if only by moments...
  We didn't bring our candle clips with us, but I found some beautiful ones second hand that I love even more then the ones we have stored away. I'm so happy to have them- the candles and their light is my favorite part of the tree decorating, and once lit, they generate such a peaceful ambiance for our evening activities. It's amazing how much light is cast, just by the candles. Enough for me to knit by one night...and that was so soul soothing- everyone in bed, just sitting quietly in the glow, knitting...Perfect!

Since my last post, we made two more sets of ornaments. First the Paper Folded Flowers, and then our wool felt ornaments, each individually designed. These are made with our Hand Dyed Wool Felts.

We sit at the table, with warm tea and homemade cookies- absolutely essential to the designing process! We each draw what we want our ornaments to be. Then refine them to become paper patterns.

We trace the patterns carefully onto the wool felt using either a soft pencil (4B is good) or a sharpie marker.

We sew the two layers together, using either blanket stitch or running stitch.

The Gingerbread Chicken is sewn together around the edges using running stitch, in white, to look like an icing detail.

The Felt Star Cut-out is sewn with blanket stitch, to make a neat edge, before adding beads for a little sparkle. Last of all the hangers are sewn in place- just a simple embroidery floss loop, ready to hang!

The Wool Felt Fairy has a special story that I will share tomorrow, along with the patterns for each of these.

We didn't make anywhere near as many ornaments as I thought we would. Our tree projects days drifted into one another, as each day passed, full of other activities and engagements. This is as many ornaments as we will be able to make this year....and it is enough. With the beautiful cross stitched cards my mother makes holding special places on the tree; with our handmade ornaments and our candles alight; our tree looks full and joyous.  Full of shared experiences, light and warm wishes from family near and afar....Warm wishes, I share with you, and your families.

Handcrafted Traditions

  When our children were very young, we wanted to consciously create our family holiday traditions. In the same way we approached all of our parenting decisions- we wanted to chose with awareness, and to create a homelife that felt true to us. It is not an easy decision to live in a different way, but our holiday tradition choices have been some of the best we have made and strengthen our family bond every year. 

  On December 5th, the eve of St.Nicholas Day, we go out to find our tree. It comes into our home, and is left to rest for the night. The next day we decorate, with all our lovely handmade treasures collected over the years, plus many ornaments that have been given to us as gifts by dear friends. We use real candles on our tree, and light only one that evening. Through the night, Father Christmas comes, and leaves small gifts for the boys under the tree; traditional gifts like wooden boats, wooden trucks, small dolls, books, oranges, nuts and chocolate coins. It is all simple, and peaceful. Santa has never come to our house on Christmas Eve, and my children have never missed that. We explained that He has many names all around the world, and it takes awhile to get to all the children everywhere, which is why Father Christmas visits us so early.  We chose to spread out the Christmas energy, so everything does not all happen on one day.  And to mark the beginning of the holiday season, a time when we turn inwards as a family; staying home more and doing less....truly a quiet time..... It is okay to be different, and do what you believe. We have never felt resistance to our traditions; I believe because they are so right for us, and they are rooted in older traditions and this eases the way.
  On each night we light one more candle on our tree- from December 6th, until the Winter Solstice, so the tree is fully lit on the longest night of the year. The candles in the living room give off such a soft light, and this softness makes the long evenings pass more peacefully. On the Winter Solstice we exchange gifts with each other. A small family exchange that marks the turning point of the year.
  For most of my childrens growing up years, we lived in a place where the days are short in December, when the sun is low in the sky and barely passes over the tops of trees. And in the place where both of our sets of parents lived, making Christmas Day a social day of parties in town, rushing from family to family.  By choosing these traditions we honoured what was important to us, and had time to visit with everyone, honouring their wish to see us on the day most important to them. And this week, I feel honoured to act as a guardian of the Father Christmas spirit, more than 10 years into our handcrafted tradition. I carefully scribe my annual note on handpainted paper, eat my cookie and orange, and silently place gifts under the tree for my boys, nourished by the rhythm, love for my family and the Holiday Spirit.


Warm wishes,
Fiona