'tis the season: handmade holidays

I love the holidays.  I love the quiet that comes with the snow, the sense of urgency with which cookies and breads are baked, the making/acquiring of just the right gifts for loved ones.... I even really love the cheesy Christmas music (though, since Mike does not, I listen to it mostly in the car where it is quite easy to find these days no matter where you are on the dial).  I do not love the traffic, the mall, and the complete overload of unnecessary gifts.  We don't go crazy over gifts in our home, and I am ever so grateful for that.  Even with this being Claire's first Christmas, there are no plans to go overboard.  In fact, the plans are to keep it as sweet and simple as possible.  No doubt we will stress a little here and there, but I am hopeful that the biggest deal we will make out of anything is deciding whether or not to let her try more yummy treats and watching her as she opens her gifts and we take way more pictures than necessary.  And that I am more than happy to do.

In an effort to stick with simplicity around the holidays, I am making many of our decorations, treats and gifts myself.  So many find joy in doing this and there is such an abundance of fun ideas and recipes to be found.  While to some it may seem quite a bit more complicated to do it yourself when it comes to some of these things, I find that the act of making and doing and creating quiets my mind and body in a way that feels so right.  Especially at this dark and reflective time of year.  To turn inward a bit and remind yourself why you are doing this or creating that... for me, it is with love and in celebration of those that matter most to me.  This and because I am so wanting to establish some traditions of our own for this new little family of mine.  Celebrating the everyday by making ordinary things into rituals of sorts appeals to me beyond words.  I hope to fill my world with these little rituals on a regular basis, during the holidays and beyond.

Here are some photos of how our holidays are shaping up~

                                                                                  

fabric and pattern for Claire's Christmas stocking

A simple crocheted garland for our tree, SO easy to make and just what I was wanting.

festive little pom-pom elf

felt ornaments