For several reasons, this year’s Christmas is very different from many previous Christmases in our home. Mostly, the changes are all very good ones. For instance, this year I broke that ugly plastic tree that my husband loves. Eewh!
Just before he came home from work, Arlo and I managed to replace it with a real tree before my husband could suggest fixing the plastic one. I often blog about Arlo and I getting into what I like to call Crafting Deviance. I love that kid. He is sooo my accomplice in masterminding a new route for our family to venture upon.
The littlest children have begun their first year with the Waldorf program. So much of our time was spent outdoors foraging for nature items for Christmas. We kept the decorating very simple and that was different from our over the top expeditions from Christmases past. It was wonderful to see their perspectives and talking about what Christmas means to them.
-the gathering… -the selected nature items on our table…. -the simplicity and sheer beauty of it all… -the love and togetherness shared… -the silence and witness of the Christmas presence…
I’m very grateful for having the incentive too focus on the things that make Christmas most special. Family and togetherness can be best accomplished without spending any money. This year, everything changed because we had no money to spend. Many might see that as a negative, I see it as our opportunity to grow and change, and I thank the Universe for that spiritual lesson.
Its really the simple things that make Christmas so special indeed!
Merry Solstice and Happy Christmas to all of you, from the Smith Tribe.
About Kate
I’ve been sewing all of my life. I truly didn't begin sewing very seriously, until I was in my early 20's. Over 13 years ago. Most of my newest sewing skills were taught by my husbands mother who is from England. She survived with the WWII mentality of the ration system. She was sewing in factories at age 13 and has been sewing ever since. She has an incredible eye and is very efficient. I am indebted to her for what she has passed along to me. My grandmother also sewed during the American Great Depression to make things the family needed. She too, was a professional seamstress and all she knew, she passed along to me. She sewed for about 55 years before she passed away. She also had a textile degree from a local college. My grandmother was very strong minded and very opinionated. I have inherited much of her outlooks and she has heavly influenced my life more than any human being I have met. One of the things I use in my shop, is her theory that vintage products are just as good (if not better), than organic because they have had time to off gas and release anything harmful that was once contained. She was very adamant that plastic is horrid for our human body. She believed it was the corner stone to cancer and would not allow its use in food or clothes. She only used organic materials. Cottons, wools, linen, wood, glass, etc. Thanks to both of these woman, I can do what I’m doing today. I make all of my items as if my entire soul was born within it. When I sew, I am completely in the moment of sewing. It is one of the most spiritual practices I exercise because I am in the moment Im given, right now. I no longer make cloth diapers. Its so much for work for so little. I praise parents for choosing cloth and especially the people on Etsy making diapers. Every now and then, I might post a diaper or a prefold, just because I felt like making one. But I will no longer be making large orders of diapers. Come join me at these following links! https://www.facebook.com/pages/PovertyJane/158587620892241?sk=wall http://povertyjane-povertyjane.blogspot.com/ www.povertyjane.com
