Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is here. I have a lot to organize for our families theme Christmas tonight. We are doing a 1930's theme. You can read more about that on The Cedar Chest blog. While you're there take a look at all the neat Christmas postcards and ephemera I have posted over the last couple of weeks. I still have so much more I didn't get to! More for next year.

I had touble getting some good photos of my Christmas decorations this year. I need a new camera (hoping Santa wil bring me one) and the lighting was just too low. But, I am going to post a couple anyway.

feathertree yuletidebear

The village I made turned out pretty good this year. I love all the different trees. Although it is nothing like Alicia's. There is a great tutorial on how to make her Christmas Village on her blog, Posie gets Cozy.

santaland

I hope you all have a fun Christmas. I will be heading to my parents in Washington, about 20 minutes away from here later on. I will leave you here with this photo of me from a Christmas Eve in about 1970. (I couldn't wait to use that new coloring book, I am guessing. They still make me feel that way). Merry Christmas!!

christmas eve

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

I made this for you

I have been selflessly scouring the database at Lala to make you this Christmas Mix. ;-)

I was inspired by the Sufjan Stevens Christmas 5-disc CD and there are a lot of his songs on here (how many other people in the last ten years have 5 Christmas records?). But, there are also others, too. There are some nice vintage songs in the middle and although it is generally pretty mellow, it picks up a bit near the end. I hope you enjoy it.



[Edit: Bummer. Didn't realize you had to be a member to listen. Still...I encourage you to join. It is free and it is a great way to listen to anything you are curious about.]

Sunday, December 13, 2009

using a christmas journal

I am the kind of person who makes lots of lists. I always want to buy blank books and memo pads even though I have tons of them. You know my type.

One of the things I love to do is start a journal on a theme. I have started journals for books I have read/want to read, quotes, zine topics, projects (I have many different project lists), personal writing, travel, gardening, cooking....it goes on and on. Most of these have a few entries and not much else.

My most successful and useful theme journal to date is my Christmas journal. About ten years ago my niece gave me a velvet covered blank book for Christmas. The next year I decided that this would be my Christmas Journal and titled it such and used some vintage gummed stickers to decorate it.



Every year I make a list of the people I am buying gifts for and I make a list of people I am sending Christmas cards to. Sometimes I record how much I have spent on people and sometimes I keep a record of Christmas cards I have received too. I also use the journal for any other Christmas lists including things I need to do, craft ideas for gifts, Christmas mix tapes, ideas for next Christmas and whatever else comes up.

Each year when I take it out I look through the previous years. I moved to Portland in June of 2000 and this journal starts that December. It is neat to see what I got people in the past. Most of those gifts I would have long forgotten, but I can be reminded each time I look through the journal. It is also neat to see the crafts I made or considered making.

The list of recipients has changed a bit over the years and that is interesting to see, too. It is a reminder of friendships that have faded over the years and it is interesting to see the new names that appear each year.

This Christmas journal is a nice record to have. Last year I recorded the presents I received for the first time, just so I could have that on record, too.

The memories that this journal keeps is just a secondary benefit. The best thing is that I have it all in one place and I have the last several years to look back on to help me remember the folks on my list and the ideas I have had through the year.

It is nice to realize that at least on of my many many journals has actually lived up to plans I had for it.

Monday, December 7, 2009

december is a great month for...

decembe is a great month to

From the Glamour's How to Do Anything Better Book, published in 1977. More here.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

contribute to a mix tape tribute

King Bingaman-Burt is a busy Portland artist who draws things. She draws the stuff she buys on a regular basis, putting out a monthly zine called What Did you Buy Today. A book is due out soon based on these zines. She also has her illustrations published regularly and is shown in galleries.

Right now she wants to draw your treasured mix tapes. Take a pic and send it to her or upload it to her flickr page. I have a few I want to submit. More info here.

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