Noodle Soup

Operation: Fresh Start

So, my studio is a complete mess. Way out of hand. Worse than it's been in a long time. Fact: I have too much stuff. And when I get bogged down with projects, I don't put things away as diligently as I should. Or, um, ever.

So I've decided the first step in finally doing something about this mess, instead of moving the piles to the side when I need to work on something, is to put my shame on public display. ;)

See what I mean? It's bad.

I want to start 2012 fresh, with a space that inspires me to create, rather than shut the door and avoid it. So Operation: Fresh Start begins today!

Can you relate? If so, play along! I've mobilized a force of like-minded mess-makers on Twitter to start cleaning up their creative spaces with me, and to keep each other accountable. 

All you have to do to start 2012 with your own Operation: Fresh Start is post a before pic of your messy craft area someplace. Link me up here, or on Twitter or Facebook. Then get busy cleaning and we'll all share our after pics while we start the shiny new year with shiny new spaces.

Need a little singing ringing through the rafter

My holiday playlist is getting quite the workout these days, how 'bout yours?

Blasting the Christmas tunes is one of my favorite things about this season. But...my taste is rather eclectic. Nontraditional even. On my list of favorites?

Mr. Heat Miser -- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

We Need a Little Christmas -- Glee Cast

A Great Big Sled -- The Killers

Mrs. Claus Ain't Got Nothing on Me -- Little Jackie

Elf's Lament -- Barenaked Ladies

And pretty much anything from this album --

What are your favorite holiday tunes this year? 

Decking the halls

Welcome, Big Picture students who hopped over from Stacy’s blog!

It’s that time of year, when thoughts turn to decking the halls, trimming the tree, and hanging the stockings.

The thing is, nobody really shows pictures from that week before the bedazzling of the abode begins, when your blog post is due and the crummy-looking boxes are stacked all over the house, and nothing is camera ready.

In the interest of keeping it real, you should know I do not have my holiday hoopla together just yet!

However, thanks to the magic of digital photography, the Ghost of Christmas Pictures Past can lead us on a virtual tour of a few of the holiday decorations I look forward to displaying each Christmas season. :)

Tree lights

These lights were a major score at a Restoration Hardware after-Christmas sale many years ago, and I absolutely adore their retro charm. Some years we add colored lights, and some years we don’t, but these shining orbs are always a staple. Slowing down from the holiday bustle to admire them with a cup of cocoa just never gets old.

 

Gingerbread house

I love our tradition of making and displaying a gingerbread house every year. This one from a couple years ago was one of my all-time favorites.

 

Candle jars

I love Mason jars, and I love the look of traditional Christmas candy. This super-simple DIY decoration is a great mash-up of both. Just dump some hard Christmas candy into a jar, wedge a candle in the middle, and bask in the glow of your handmade cleverness.

 

Do you have a favorite trimming or trinket that signifies the season? Would you love to document those little morsels of holiday magic in a fresh way this year? Don’t miss out on celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas with 12 Big Picture elves who are ready to help you focus on the present moments and the joyful anticipation of this yuletide in a more thoughtful way.

Rather than rushing through the holidays this year, give yourself the gift of happy memories documented in a delightfully doable way!

 

The Big Picture Classes holiday blog tour continues with the fabulous and super-creative Wendy Smedley! Click on through and visit her blog next for more inspiration.