CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN DAY 11

A CHRISTMAS WISH:

Lots of paper packages tied up with string, and days that are Merry and Bright

A Very Paper Christmas

The holidays aren't always happy. When grief comes to stay, it is very difficult to hold on to old traditions. Today I am reprinting a post from December, 2011 when it was all I could do to put up a tree. I couldn't bear to open any boxes of ornaments, or to hang stockings and decorations. This was my first Christmas of being alone. I kept busy by making all new paper decorations, from old book pages and Victorian scrap pictures

I was trying so hard to be cheerful in the original post, but this is also the year I sent out the Christmas card poem that made everyone cry.

Blog Post  December 2011

I've decided to have a very simple Christmas this year, so I bought a skinny tree of the very cheap variety. I set it on a box to make it look taller and proceeded to embellish. Most of my decorations are made from one old book. I pleated rosettes, glued them together and added old fashioned Santas. A large one forms the tree topper. Other pages were rolled into cornucopias, filled with red berries and rosemary. Birds were cut from cardboard, book pages, and scrapbook paper, with pleated wings. And sticks from the yard are stuck randomly into the tree. My most favorite decoration is the long chain. It's made from many bits of fabric, sewed onto a heavy interfacing, decorated with all sorts of fancy stitches and ribbons, and then cut into strips and all buttoned together. I've used lots of sentimental pieces
and written names and dates and sayings on them. I even had some fabric from the clothes I made from my girls when they were small. And from doll clothes. (I was always going to use them for a doll quilt or something. Now, I finally have.) I still have more to finish, but this works for my tree and is a great memory chain. I spent a lot of time creating it, and trying out the stitches on my sewing machine. The grandkids like looking for their names. I will probably keep it out after the holiday. It may become a window garland.

There is also a wreath made of book pages. So far, that's it, except for the Advent calendars. I do need something for the fireplace.

I do miss seeing all my ornaments, and other decorations, and Christmas village, and the big tree, but this just isn't the year for them. Next year: happier times and more decorating.

I really have to apologize for the terrible quality of the photos. I am just never home at a decent time of day to take pictures lately. And I knew, if I didn't add this now, it wouldn't happen in December. Happy Holidays!