Winter Solace

 

I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.  Albert Einstein

  For the first time in many days, I’m in solitude.  I love my family, of course, and miss them when they are gone.  However, moments of solitude are like ice cold water on a hot, humid day.  I need this space to re-charge my batteries.  I am exhausted and looking forward to leading Winter Solace in January.  I often work the exercises& share my responses when I teach this course & this workshop is a gentle, inner retreat that I so need after the rush of the holidays; a time of inner reflection and hibernation. I hope you’ll consider joining me on this peaceful journey.

As far as what I’ve been up to besides the obvious…I decided this year to focus more on meaning and a homemade Christmas (not entirely, my youngest already experienced the “sack with a pocket” as we called it when I tried to make her pj’s last year!).   However, we have enjoyed some of our crafts this year like this simple centerpiece (bonus – I got to play with a glue gun!):

I found an interesting article about the History of the Christmas Tree. 

I also played with making scented, holiday soaps ~ “fail” as my oldest daughter would say.  And the homemade chocolate body scrub was disgusting…not in smell, & it does work but I couldn’t imagine giving it to someone because of the way it looks.  So, these fun jars (bought at the dollar store along with the jewels & snowflakes, ribbon half-price at the dollar store & coffee scoops two for $1) were filled with candies instead:

I made some ATC’s as prayer cards with verses &/or hymns on the back and put them in small drawstring pouches:

A closer look (images from Graphics Fairy)

I also made my own Christmas cards this year but forgot to take pictures.  Instead of the usual framed picture of my girls for the grandparents, I played with mixed media (sorry, light reflected off the glass so the pictures aren’t great):

And I’ve been making journal totes, with several more to go:

Finally, what’s the holiday season without a party or two (ps – love picnik for photos, I’m “winterized”):

In case I don’t get back or visit for awhile, I wish you all a blessed season in whatever way you celebrate.

(note to self ~ start earlier next year!)