I have been collecting vintage Christmas bits and bobs for a long time now. A few years ago, I tried on a new craft/art mantra— use it. I tend to squirrel away precious items and then I don't use them, don't see them, can't enjoy them, and although this sounds bad, I also can't justify buying/looking for more, because I have so much I'm not using. I now use my favorite fabrics, trims, stickers, mushrooms, all that. I make them as gifts or keep them, or think about selling them (?) but I get such joy using up my favorite supplies. Also, I had these unpainted cardboard boxes already, so no trips to the craft store needed. Resourceful or hoardy? Who's to say?
The idea for these started after seeing vintage ornaments I inherited from my great Aunt Mickey never really getting the love they deserved. I added the mica glitter, velvet ribbons, bottle brush trees, my precious angel candles, and made these boxes over the course of a few days. I just love working in 3D and I also love gluing stuff onto stuff. I had similar good creative vibes making these woodland centerpieces a few years ago.
These might get tucked away and given out next year, I'm not sure. That's another thing I have been doing the last few years, making gifts not knowing the recipient or the occasion. I figure it will be clear, and it always is. I do this with knitting a lot. I just knit scarves, hats, mittens, and don't worry about what I will do with them. I have a special box I keep them in, and then, sometimes 2 years later, give them as a gifts. It's so freeing know I don't have to "know" exactly the why, I can just make the thing.
