Ding dong merrily on high……

Bbbrrrrrrr…….it was a bit chilly this morning.
My thermometer outside read 0 but my body was saying -5. The ‘Pea Souper’ fog made me feel even colder. We live in a bush setting but this was the view outside my window this morning ~ where are all the trees?

No I haven’t suddenly developed a stutter – that’s a Christmas Carol. Hhhmmm…bet you think the cold has got to me. Well no it hasn’t ~ I’m in the Christmas spirit. That’s the mood type spirit, not liquid spirits!!!

Of course you’d be wondering why I’m in the Christmas spirit with 215 days until our next Christmas. For me Christmas starts about May and ends on Christmas day. I start designing my new Christmas range in April/May with a view to having it finished ready for release the 1st week of June. Many of my customers want to start painting their Christmas projects in term 3 so the pressure is on to get it completed. I’m very late starting this year and already feel the pressure with customers emailing and phoning asking when will it be ready.

I found it hard to get started this year. What with one thing and another life has got too busy and Christmas was the last thing I felt like thinking about. My creative energy was sapped and it just wasn’t happening for me.



The family made some suggestions and ‘Project Christmas’ was put into action.

I have turned the studio into a Christmas wonderland. Out went the sweet scents of rose and geranium pot pourri and the shabby pink and green decor. It has been replaced with the heady aroma of a Christmas pot pourri of citrus fruits and berries. I’ve lit my delightful collection of Christmas candles which I purchase every year from a local candle maker. As they burn they release a spicy composition of cinnamon and cloves….mmmmmmm.

I have cranked up the volume on the CD player….oh, what will the neighbours think? First it was a bit of Bing and more traditional favorites but they just didn’t get me there, so now I am onto ‘The Christmas Mega Mix Party’….I think that did it.

‘Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock’ [insert hip swiveling and fancy foot work here] ~ woo hoo, I’m in the spirit now and the creative juices are flowing!!

Every year I seem to have this thing for cheeky elves and reindeers….

…..so expect to see a few of those this year. As well as my own range I have also been commissioned to design 6 Christmas projects for Handmade magazine and Australian Decorative Painting magazine. A couple of projects have already been sent and I’m madly working on another 2 to be sent next week.

This sweet little fella with his personalised stockings will be in next months ‘Christmas in July’ issue of Handmade magazine. I love the mix of purple, green and burgundy for Christmas.

And if I wasn’t in the Christmas spirit before, I am now after making this large batch of Christmas puddings this week ~ 7 dozen to be exact ~ for the lovely Rick Rutherford (of Rick Rutherford’s Country) for his Yule Fest next month. I just need to colour the custard and they will be ready for posting.


Now back to work for me ~ I’m painting gingerbread houses tonight.

“Here comes Santa Claus,
Here comes Santa Claus,
Right Down Santa Claus Lane!!”