Open

Tradition probably helps dictate how you celebrate Christmas (if you celebrate Christmas). When you open presents, how you open the presents and activity after opening presents can all be unique to you and your family. 

I have a few strong memories of Christmas time from when I was growing up. Watching a televised production of Menotti’s ‘Amahl and the Night Visitor’ is one of them. I know the music and the words by heart and can sing along to the entire opera. The story always makes me tearful. My own family likes to make fun of me when I listen and sing to the music, but I don’t care. It is one way I open up to my roots and childhood memories each holiday season. 

Christmas Eve was spent with ‘the Greens’ for years and years. Our two families would gather, share a meal starting with Oyster Stew (which I grew to love), open gifts and share festive conversation. Today I am thinking about that tradition and how the repetition of those gatherings were so special in my life. 

When I was a child, Christmas morning had a ritual. My brother and I could open our stocking gifts at the same time, but each present under the tree had to be opened in turn, one at a time, and the wrapping paper was carefully saved to be used another time. I know other families approach opening differently, ripping into the presents willy nilly and all at once. There is no right or wrong way. 

When my husband and I married and had our first child, we began our own tradition of celebrating both Hanukah and Christmas. Our kids enjoyed opening gifts during each holiday. Now that our family has grown up and live on their own, new holiday traditions emerge. Christmas Day is often celebrated with a movie, Chinese carryout, or a simple home cooked meal. 

Merry Christmas!

Lighten Up

One of my favorite parts of the holidays are the lights that dress up the winter darkness. I have a visceral memory of driving around my Arlington, Va. neighborhood with my mother and father when I was very young to enjoy the colorful house displays.  These days, my family enjoys perusing our neighborhood to enjoy our local light shows in the same way. This is a holiday treat to treasure. 

On the flip side, the stress of creating a perfect holiday is also evident this time of year. Selecting the perfect gift, cooking the most delicious meal, acknowledging every family tradition, all at the same time can take its toll on the enjoyment of this festive season.

So lighten up. That’s my mantra for the holiday season. So much of the stress we put on ourselves this time of year, is self-imposed. It’s not a competition with our family or friends, or I don’t think it should be. It is probably impossible to create the perfect holiday you have pictured in your mind, and that’s okay. Do holiday time your way, the best way you can.

Here’s my nod to holiday decorating this year. A little tree covered in chili pepper lights next to my blooming Christmas cactus!

The holidays can be about spending time with loved ones. Gifts are nice, but time together is what we remember. Share some food, play some games, take time for conversation. Build those memories that truly last a lifetime. What better gift is there than that?

Click on the photo to tell me about your favorite holiday tradition.

Be Merry!

It's a good day to savor all that is good in your life. Soak it in.

I think some of the things all of the winter holidays have in common is family time, familiar recipes, unity and a reminder we are in this world together! 

Shiny Objects

I think it’s safe to say we are in high-season of ‘shiny objects’. The sparkly holiday lights brighten early darkness and festoon neighborhoods and businesses with a magical effect. The excess of edible treats is abundant at parties, office gatherings, and annual religious occasions. Merchants bombard us with reminders to choose just the right item for our entire list of gift recipients. If you are like me, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

So what’s the best approach? It’s sometimes easier said than done. Overall, what I try to do is personalize my participation during this season of overload. I’ve found it’s okay to say no to outside pressures bombarding us to create the perfect memory for the holidays. What is best for me may not resonate with your own tolerance and desires. Take note of what you enjoy about the holidays and do that. If there are ‘shiny objects’ you don’t really like, you can eliminate them.

Donations are another way I override the excesses of this season. Gifts to a charity in the name of  a family member or friend accomplishes much more than searching for a present just for the sake of giving someone something to unwrap. These kinds of lasting gifts are meaningful tenfold.

As I finish up a prolific year in the studio, I want to make sure I thank all of you for your encouragement, ideas, orders, and overall support. It has been a great year of creativity for me. I am one lucky clay artist!

Gift Giving

"'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

  'Twill be in the valley of love and delight."

Joseph Bracket - Shaker Dancing Song

As autumn shortens the days and the weather becomes brisk, the fall holiday season beckons. It seems as if the stores, shopping malls and advertisers shove it in our face before we are ready to think about Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hannukah – but the retail planning for these festivities needs to happen far in advance.

Lots of potters I know and follow are readying their inventory of holiday wares in anticipation of upcoming sales events. I am in the same mind-set. The dilemma is figuring out what and how many to create. I’ve mentioned before my passion for the clay process that includes figuring out the best way to make multiples of an object. I often make a couple of samples of the final product until I’m satisfied with the outcome. Next, I develop a template out of manila folder as a pattern guide. I gather any other necessary tools and begin cutting and assembling.

The holiday sales season is a chance to experiment in the studio with new shapes and colors and revisit the reliable sellers. This fall, I have been asked to create new designs for a corporate client gift, a fund-raising holiday sale and a craft retailer. I'll also be teaching a class or two in the studio; students will create a mosaic serving tray. If there is a special gift you would like me to create for a client, loved one or hostess, now’s the time to speak up! Are there items I create, you would like to give or receive as a gift? Please let me know.

Think about supporting local, hand-made or small business operations when you fulfill your holiday shopping list and gift giving this season. It makes a big difference to those of us toiling away in our studios and shops on a regular basis. A special gift from the ClayByLaura studio lasts far beyond the excitement of the holiday season bringing enjoyment to the recipient each time it is used throughout the year. New holiday items will be available for sale through the website, studio and local retailers beginning in late October. Let me know if you are looking for a specific item or color and I'll be sure to make it for you!