I’m patting myself on the head a bit right now. I’ve been trying to get up to my art room for a week or more to clean up a bit and clear the decks to try the impasto painting technique. Excuses abound, as usual, but the fact remains I’m lazy. I’ve been enjoying lots of other things and just haven’t made the time.
This afternoon I finally went up there. I wrapped the Christmas presents I’ve made for friends, still sitting on the table where I brought them in from the shop. So now they are on another table, ready to go out the door when it’s time. :0)
I cleared off the drafting table so I have room to try the new technique. Right now it’s clean and clear. I’ll leave it that way until tomorrow, when I’ll gather the things I need to try the technique. I’m really looking forward to giving myself time to experiment and play, not worried about whether it will ‘turn out okay’ or not – just enjoying.
I hope that you found something satisfying to do today, too. If so, pat yourself on the head and enjoy some good relaxing. If not, give yourself a break and find something fun. It’s not too late :0)
creativeartworksblog 
I am looking forward to seeing your new project, never heard of it, but it sounds like you will have a lot of fun !!!
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I can’t wait to try it, Stephie. Here’s a URL to give you an idea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVR6M77vmnk&ab_channel=IntheStudioArtInstruction
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Oh, I’m so glad I am not the only one wrapping Christmas presents already. I’m rubbish at hiding them, so I need to wrap them so they won’t be ‘discovered’.
Enjoy your new project!!
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It’s good to know I’m not alone. I feel rushed, since I tend to make my gifts, if I don’t finish early. I feel good, hoping that my friends will enjoy what I’ve made for them. I can see you in my mind’s eye, scurrying around, rushing to get each present wrapped. I started the new project this afternoon and am already having a blast. Thanks.
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Awesome!!
My thing at the moment is the advent calendars. When all the kids lived at home I’d just make one between the four of them, so six presents each. One of which was chocolate and one was a gift voucher, to do an activity together (one kid with Mama). So it was pretty easy. I just really needed to think of four little gifts, and someone always needed a rubber or a sharpener.
Then our eldest moved out. That first Christmas, I thought I’ll make her a nice advent calendar, all for herself. Poor student and all that. She was balled over, as you might imagine.
The other three benefited as well, suddenly they all got eight gifts in their present batch!
Then my son moved into a flat share with my daughter. So there were two calenders, 12 presents each.
At the same time I noticed a friend of ours, who lives alone, and doesn’t really get much input from anyone, was feeling a bit low. So I had the idea of making him a calendar too. I thought it would be nice for him to have a continued reminder for 24 whole days that we care about him and that we get him, know what he likes, you know?
He really seemed to like it.
So the following year, I picked a different friend, who also lives alone. He wasn’t going through a difficult time, but I thought it would still be nice for him. He really loved it and texted me every day about every present.
Then another friend was having a difficult time so I thought, why not do it for her? I sensed she needed to be shown some appreciation and just get something, rather than give something – she’s also a mum and a nurse and I think she often falls short of what she actually needs for herself.
I gave her the calendar at 8am, and four hours later she was still crying. It was an experience I’ll never forget. She cried or laughed about various gifts,
It was very moving for me, and I think she got a lot out of it too.
In amongst all of that, I thought, I really should make my poor hard-done by husband a calendar too. So he has got one every year too.
So it’s all sort of become a tradition.
Last year on Boxing Day another very good friend lost her partner to Covid. He was only in his mid forties and didn’t have any pre-existing conditions, so as well as it being a terrible loss, it was also a massive shock for her. To top it all, she’s had an absolutely terrible year. Just one awful thing after another. Hence she’ll get my advent calendar this year and I’m really going all out with it.
I’m not very good at making things. Mostly you’d just say what’s that? I can cook, so if I make presents it tends to be food based. Or I do something photography based – I’m no brilliant photographer, but I like it as a hobby.
I really liked doing the calendars. I get quite excited and emotional. But it’s a bit crazy now as there are always two kid calendars, one for my husband and one other. I often get quite confused what I have bought and how many presents there are still to get!!
I want to do NaNoWriMo in November again, so I really need to be finished this month or I’ll be distracted. I also want most of my actual Christmas presents under control. I’m not a rush around at the last minute person. I’d be too worried things had sold out, or I wouldn’t manage it!!
It’s really awesome that you make presents. My kids make gifts sometimes too, especially the youngest one. It brings her so much joy. When we all sit together at Christmas the main argument is about who can give their present next as everyone is so excited about the reaction. I think that’s really nice. It could quite easily have been exactly the opposite.
Actually, I think they are quite in competition with one another to see who can make me cry. Quite funny.
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Beautiful story. Thanks so much for sharing. I love the idea of the calendars. I hope they ALL manage to make you cry. :0)
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