A Handmade Holiday: Slow Down and Live!

A wise mother once told me in order to make the holidays more meaningful for her family, she was going to limit her multi-tasking, beginning with making eye contact with her family. ‘What does that mean?’ I asked her. ‘That means I stop doing dishes when Emily tells me about her day at school. Or I stop folding clothes and look at Miles when he is trying to describe his latest idea for a Lego city.’ 

I was intrigued and walked away from our conversation thinking about our busy lives filled with work, family, carpooling, and the thousand tasks we must do before bed, and how it counters the whole holiday spirit we are trying to create. I thought about how the spirit of love and connection, of meaningful interactions that lead to a season of peace can be as close as letting the dishes go and stooping eye-to-eye with your child when they want to talk.

It is in creating space in our lives to move slowly, to do one thing at a time instead of three. It is saying no to the extra social obligations just to make cookies or decorations together or scratch backs, take naps. Making your holiday season a handmade one may not magically restore love and order to your life, but it is one way to slow the multi-tasking, make eye contact, and share the richness of spending time together. Happy holidays!


Pressed Tin Ornaments
If I had to pick one project to do with my family this holiday season, it would be this one. For the crowd in our house making these handsome ornaments —from a three-year-old to a couple of teenagers — it was pure joy!

What you will need:

• disposable aluminum cookie sheet
• short knitting needle or pencil with a blunt end
• cookie cutters
• scissors
• pile of newspaper

Cut the rims off the cookie sheet for a flat piece to work with. Place the pad of newspapers on the table. Next, trace a cookie cutter lightly onto the foil with a pen and cut the shape out. Lay the shape on the pad of newspapers. Now for the fun part! Using the knitting needle or pencil, press a design or series of patterns onto the foil. Press hard! You want a firm hand to make clear lines, but take care not to pierce through the foil completely. Let your imagination go!

Fill the ornament with scrolls, circles, triangles, stars, squiggles and lines. Use a paper punch to make a hole near the top of the ornament and thread a piece of ribbon or wire through. Isn’t it a beauty? Print on a name — they also make unique gift tags that can double as an ornament.


The Sweetest Ornament on Earth
This ornament is so simple and so wonderful there is no excuse for not making them. Your kids will love them!

What you will need:

• hard white candies with flowers and designs in the centre
• cookie sheet
• cooking oil spray
• narrow ribbon
• nut pick or sharp object