Ho ho ho and Holiday Designs

Ahhh the dreaded holiday sweater, that ole yuletide cliche, surpassed only by the even more cliche disdain for it.  The truth of the matter is that we cannot help ourselves.  As soon as that last morsel of large game bird is consumed we are off and running to our respective winter wonderlands.  

The Holiday Season can be an equally beautiful and tragic time of year.  At its best, it offers the promise of families and communities coming together in the spirit of warmth and giving.  At its worst, it offers the promise of families and communities coming together in the spirit of warmth and giving.... as not everyone is privy to this idyllic state.  In fact, it could be said that in this age, even the most energetic elf can get derailed by failing to meet the imposing expectation of the season.  (In fact, it is probably that cheerful elf that is most susceptible to gloom.)

In the true spirit of the season, we should curb our enthusiasm and remember that by escalating the "ho ho ho", we are in fact causing harm to ourselves and others who cannot sustain such cheer for the epic, two month season of jolly.  Smaller is better.  Quieter is better.  The core spiritual teachings of the religions that spawned this season are better.  

Sure, in the reality of the market we live in, now is the best time to buy...well....nearly everything ...(actually probably early January is the best time, but I digress).  Go ahead and shop...(I would be a hypocrite if I told you not to.) But occasionally push back on the "everything is awesome" urge with compassion for yourself and all the other human beings, who are at some time or another feeling a little less than perfect.  

It should come as no surprise that my "holiday" collection is relatively non-holiday-ish. I have employed a lot of grey weathered wood with some red, but mostly teal and aqua colors.  I am more inspired by the colors of the winter season and current tastes in design than I am by the holidays.  But for those moments when you chose to, you can see plenty of ho ho ho.