Advent of Christmas

As the holidays sneak up on me again, I’m still catching my breath from hosting family for Thanksgiving. I’m always grateful to have them all gather in our home. Seven houseguests, twelve for dinner… it was a whirlwind. A happy one, but still a lot of work. And then, as always, the moment they all leave, the house suddenly feels too quiet, like it’s exhaling after holding all that life inside. I’m glad I do it, though, because if I didn’t, another year might slip by before we’re all together again.

But that quiet after everyone leaves also stirs up the old familiar excitement of the holiday season—the kind that makes me feel like a kid again. I think about being wrapped up in the chaos of my sisters, laughing hysterically under a pile of my siblings and being the lookout for our sneak peek into our parents’ closet of toys and gifts. I remember the bright packages, the big oranges in our stockings, the smell of the pine in the living room, the snowmen, the snow, sled rides, skating on the creek. Aunts and Uncles everywhere, games on the floor, sweets in every corner of the kitchen. I hear “The Little Drummer Boy” and Sinatra crooning “Merry Little Christmas” while my mom boxed up her homemade chocolate turtles or pulled warm kolaches from the oven.

All of that comes rushing back to me at this time of year—the love, the noise, the magic, and even the little bittersweet tug of what’s changed. It all reminds me why this season still matters so much to me.

 So much of my art comes from these memories—color, joy, and the sense of being gathered in. Over time I’ve created a collection of original pieces and have made archival-quality prints of many, each one rooted in some piece of lived life, and each one priced so that it can be easily shared. Check out the $99 original paintings loaded up with new pieces and the Print section which range from $25–$50, and  5x7 greeting cards as well—small gifts that carry heart.

If you’re looking for something personal this season, something that feels like it comes from a real place, I’d love for my art to find its way into the homes and hands of people you love. A little piece of beauty goes a long way this time of year, and it means a lot to know these works might spark their own bit of holiday magic in someone else’s home.