tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post7042996641615030595..comments2024-03-28T12:15:05.971-04:00Comments on Simplicity by Lateblossom: A Couple of Non-Holiday Cards and Some Talk about Simplicity and ChristmasSusan Raihalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03018860599601419989noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-53021764534549184172013-10-23T10:30:46.708-04:002013-10-23T10:30:46.708-04:00Since we cut the tree on our own land, it isn'...Since we cut the tree on our own land, it isn't wrapped with twine. But I would take the twine off it to be able to get into all the branches. Jackie W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10316404412016475906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-20470872802470152482013-10-23T07:01:10.728-04:002013-10-23T07:01:10.728-04:00That's good, Joan. The decorations are just st...That's good, Joan. The decorations are just stuff, really, and the joy is in family and friends and all the love of the season. Susan Raihalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03018860599601419989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-80053905814922467412013-10-23T06:59:44.873-04:002013-10-23T06:59:44.873-04:00Good point about staying out of the stores! And my...Good point about staying out of the stores! And my hubs would love the idea of planting a live tree to decorate AND having a cut one in our house. Susan Raihalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03018860599601419989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-2673751452698892142013-10-22T21:24:28.036-04:002013-10-22T21:24:28.036-04:00part of me loves the idea of packing the house wit...part of me loves the idea of packing the house with christmas stuff and having the season start now and the other half will enjoy the very few but lovely or special christmas things we kept. i think i'm happy either way!Joan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377295989258923610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-53059477720072358062013-10-22T14:11:54.618-04:002013-10-22T14:11:54.618-04:00I sit here reading and puzzling over the "Chr...I sit here reading and puzzling over the "Christmas is in all the stores now" that everyone is saying and wondering how I missed it. Here's the secret: don't go in the stores. Grocery stores and the pet store are not decorated for Christmas! And neither will my house be. I put colored lights up outside my house because that's my favorite part of the holiday but I don't do decorations inside as it is nice to escape from all the holiday madness once the day is over. That also solves the problem of the tree. Maybe you could plant a live one outside a window and decorate that. As far as cards go I do wish I could be like the lady who works on them on and off all year round. Unfortunately I have too much craft clutter so all the Christmas themed craft stuff goes in a box stashed in a far closet. I am working on the craft clutter so one day it can be a part of the easily accessible stuff and I can work on it when the whim strikes.Princess Judy Palmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14870980058627037243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-83125290420255547582013-10-21T23:24:04.973-04:002013-10-21T23:24:04.973-04:00"PS I'm going to start using labels for p..."PS I'm going to start using labels for posts again. I know at least one reader will be happy about it (yes, you, kegbo!)" Ah, Susan, you have made me very, very happy!<br />As for starting the holiday season early, feel sorry for me (I certainly am): this year Hanukkah starts the night before Thanksgiving!!!! Waaaaaah!<br />Kegboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345695389831229630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-3993046146390326512013-10-21T12:32:25.432-04:002013-10-21T12:32:25.432-04:00Great post on Christmas, Susan. I'd love to s...Great post on Christmas, Susan. I'd love to see photos of your more minimal Christmas decorating as I'm trying to do that too.<br /><br />I need a lot of Christmas cards as I sell about 200 of them as a fundraiser for the therapeutic riding program I volunteer with (horse riding for children with disabilities) plus I need my own cards to mail out so I make them all year long. I don't have a blog but I do post a lot of them on SCS throughout the year. I use most of the SCS challenges for Christmas cards - it helps keep me inspired to make so many. So I don't really equate making and posting Christmas cards with the stores starting their decorating so early. That I see as part of our rampant commercialism which just gets worse and worse.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07741064223875062517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-3152525852151565852013-10-21T11:31:09.339-04:002013-10-21T11:31:09.339-04:00Rinsing off the tree makes perfect sense! Do you u...Rinsing off the tree makes perfect sense! Do you unwrap the twine first or just rinse it all tied up?Susan Raihalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03018860599601419989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-7963423923025422712013-10-21T11:28:03.665-04:002013-10-21T11:28:03.665-04:00Love the cards Susan. I love how you 'analyse&...Love the cards Susan. I love how you 'analyse' your designs. My cards tend to just 'fall together'-drives me crazy sometimes.<br />Christmas cards-I love them anytime of year. I don't send out a lot, but do make some for OWH-I really should start them sooner. Maybe next year :)) <br />I have scaled back on the amount of decorating I do for the holidays. I focus on the nativity, angels, and some snowmen. My Christmas village is set up around a nativity scene. You will only find 2 Santas in my decor, both Denim Days figurines I set out for my grandkids, and when they are beyond that stage, the santas will disappear. <br />About the Christmas tree issue, I used to have issues with a real tree until we started cutting them on our own land. The problems I had with the real one (from a nursery or tree farm) is the fire retardant and fake color they spray them with. I did find I had less issues with balsams than the other evergreens. But since we switched to 'untreated' trees, I have had no issues. Even with the untreated, we set the tree outside and hose it down well to remove any dust or other things and set it in the garage to dry overnight. Jackie W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10316404412016475906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-87617934334853091892013-10-21T09:17:52.497-04:002013-10-21T09:17:52.497-04:00I love both your cards and you always give good ad...I love both your cards and you always give good advice about placement and color. I love how you took the Dare 2B Artzy stamp set and put the stamps in a totally unexpected way. I would not have thought about the bow on top of the word and it looks great! Thanks for all your inspiration. <br />As for Christmas...I have a hard time seeing it in the stores so early because it is there to make money. I don't have a problem seeing Christmas cards on posts because they are made with love and thoughtfulness and intended to inspire others to make their own Christmas cards. I for one, need lots of time to think about the cards I am going to make and send out. Thanks to all those already posting Christmas for my inspiration!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06597975240907830347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-6470356177758276572013-10-21T00:31:13.518-04:002013-10-21T00:31:13.518-04:00I don't think it's early for Christmas, at...I don't think it's early for Christmas, at all. I haven't bought anything yet, but will start very soon. I usually have my gifts wrapped by Dec. 1st when the tree goes up., or at least the first weekend of December. Pretty much the only Christmas prep I do in December is baking because the only store I will go to is the grocery store. If I think of anything else I forgot to buy, I'll try to order it on-line so I can avoid actual shopping! I have been making Christmas cards all year, so am pretty much ready on that front.<br /><br />We have a fake tree because real would give me allergies. Maybe you could try vacuuming your tree? Did you know that caffeine can exacerbate sinus problems, among other things?<br /><br />I agree that the second card is better, mostly because I love complimentary color schemes.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03835448913758132227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-78598993049788759892013-10-20T23:30:19.020-04:002013-10-20T23:30:19.020-04:00I agree with you about the cards. I find the secon...I agree with you about the cards. I find the second more pleasing, although I do like both. As for Christmas cards, I believe I have posted at least two earlier in the year. I have made all that I need - 40+. I was determined not to be behind this year. I quite proud that most were made from scraps. All are CAS. As for decorating, we moved about 7 years ago. We don't live near our sons, grandson or any extended family. I'm still trying to find a way to decorate that works for is in the home we have now. I did get a new color scheme which I like, but haven't gotten the decorations placed in a pleasing way. I'll keep trying, and hope to get it "right" this year. Sheila Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14453580010456904917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-47799770250397336392013-10-20T16:20:48.881-04:002013-10-20T16:20:48.881-04:00Well I quite agree with you on several points...#1...Well I quite agree with you on several points...#1 the first card is cute and happy but you're right with the monochromatic color scheme nothing really pops. #2. Yes, the candles place closer together would be nicer. #3 Love the bow atop the sentiment, definitely conveys the party feeling. #4 Christmas and all it's pluses and minuses...Well I'm also guilty of being a hypocrite, having posted Christmas cards recently and being quite unhappy with all the Christmas hype in store after store...and we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet! #5. I am being myself this year as I was last and the year before that. There was a time when I was caught up in all the pre-Christmas preparations and was ready for Christmas to be over December 1st. But I changed all that a few years ago and I'm happy I did. <br />Thanks for this thoughtful post, a very good read! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889210668322430133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-44668126627812106082013-10-20T16:07:15.595-04:002013-10-20T16:07:15.595-04:00Your cards to start, Susan ... I do like the colou...Your cards to start, Susan ... I do like the colour palette on the first ... it's only when you mentioned it that I realised a little closer together may be better ... I'm imagining. The second is glorious ... simple, fresh and so wonderfully minimalist. I use one Christmas card design, the nativity ... the reason we celebrate Christmas ... a feast-day I love! Commercialism ... such a challenge to ignore all the hype in shops, on tv and just about everywhere ... I know, going your own way isn't always an easy choice. Looking forward to reading your thoughts. Anita :) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-12051118927399568352013-10-20T15:53:47.868-04:002013-10-20T15:53:47.868-04:00Okay, I'll be the one to admit that I gave up ...Okay, I'll be the one to admit that I gave up making Christmas cards (or sending out Christmas cards) a few years ago. Prior to that, I would come up with a mass produced card (not much different than just sending out a mass produced photo card, IMHO) and would spend a couple of days stressing to get them in the mail. <br />Then came the added stress of usually working full time during the holidays covering for everyone else who wanted to take off that time. Extra money during the holidays: Good. Extra stress during the holidays: Not so good. Sooo, I gave myself permission to just let Christmas cards go. I would rather spend the time putting up my various trees (because the last year I made cards, I barely got up ONE itty bitty little tree for the boys) and trying to enjoy all the extra performances, social activities,etc., that come with the season.<br />Though, I do admit I have considered trying to start making cards now. But instead, I just might start making teacher gifts and baking and freezing holiday goodies so that is one less "stress" on the list instead!!!Starlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02075522354027547485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-25097571951373679722013-10-20T15:29:08.309-04:002013-10-20T15:29:08.309-04:00My personal Christmas cards for this year are pret...My personal Christmas cards for this year are pretty much done. I am well ahead of the curve so I'll be able to start work on the cards that people request I make for them to send to their friends and family.<br />I am anxious to follow your "thoughts and experiences" for this Christmas.<br />mikkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12434151948375432764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008375791436102784.post-14961447451216279612013-10-20T14:20:43.006-04:002013-10-20T14:20:43.006-04:00OK, I'll be first. I make Christmas cards all ...OK, I'll be first. I make Christmas cards all year long, when the ideas or inspiration or time on my hands hits me. Also because I find that they are more useful than some of the other 'occasions' that cards are made for. And because I like to have them all on hand before the rush in December. And finally, because I love Christmas and if we're trying to 'keep Christmas in our hearts' all year long, that's one way to do it. I figure the world's gonna do what the world's gonna do, and it's up to us to keep Christmas as commercial (or not) as we want it to be in our own lives. Love your colour combinations on these cards, too - I especially love the simplicity of the second - that bow just makes it so celebratory!Ardythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05307898280046711131noreply@blogger.com