This blog is where I reflect on creative processes, creative happenings, creative experiences and creative artefacts.
Christmas Calamari
Submitted by Saskia on December 22, 2010 - 12:13am
This weekend I hauled the artificial tree out of storage and dug the Christmas bins out from under the summer camping gear and began the yearly trip through Christmas-ornament history. My Christmas tree looks nothing like those spectacular trees in home decor magazines where everything is colour co-ordinated and themed accordingly. No, my tree is a hodge-podge of ornaments made by family and friends over the years. Many have decayed, having been made out of perishable items, and had to be discarded but most have survived and each ornamnet gets a chuckle before it is lovingly strung onto a branch.
Clothes Pin Angel
The tradition of home-made ornaments started with my mother. As a child every ornament on our tree was made by my mom. I have one of her angels made from material wrapped around an old-fashioned,
straight, clothes pin. This special angel, probably over 30 years old now, hangs close to the top of my tree.
I have inherited a few of my grandmothers hand-knit bells.
In my last year of art college I was living on my own and had my very first Christmas tree with no ornaments to hang on it. My birthday is on December 18th (sigh) and so I decided to have an ornament-making birthday party. So we all sat down at my parents dining room table to be creative.
We started off with the traditional Christmas themes, like snowmen and angels...
Nancy's Snowman.
My mom, who is obsessed with nudity and large bossoms, made this angel who is experiencing a costume malfunction much like Janet Jackson.
Dad made this angel that slightly resembles Freddie Kruger.
We tired of the festive theme quickly and soon my Christmas ornaments weren't so Christmassy. Mom made a worm wearing a hat that looks like he should be in a Richard Scary book. Nancy made a whale.
I made the Christmas snail.
My brother surprised us all by making my favourite ornament of all. This ornament hangs just below the star at the very top of the tree. It is my Christmas Calamari.
I am sure that no where else in the world is there a Christmas tree with a silver squid on it.
Two years ago my friend Judy made me a simple, delicate, paper ornament which has survived being wrapped and packed and hopefully will survive a few more.
But this year I have added a new ornament to my tree. It is a very special ornament made by a very special little girl. Stephanie was 6 when she was diagnosed with colitis and just recently she had surgery and is already back at school. She makes ornaments from plastic beads that are melted together and she donates the money she earns selling them to help fund research for this disease. They are colourful stars and sowflakes. I asked Stephanie to make me 8 ornaments for me to give to friends and family as gifts this year. But one of these ornaments I kept for myself. It is hanging at the top, right next to the calamari.
Merry Christmas everyone.
I will write again in 2011!