Tuesday, December 9, 2014

De clutter Christmas




Here comes my least favorite time of year again. I am just not a fan of all the retail Christmas pushers and the demand to buy buy buy during this one month of the year. Why must we be encouraged to buy gifts for people we are supposed to care about just once out of twelve whole months? How about a nice little thing each month, a surprise, a just because...... I don't like being pressured into buying a gift because I am being told to by the mass advertising of the holidays. Bah humbug!

Anyway, I try to make the best of it, it's unavoidable and I don't want to wallow in misery for a month. So I do things that are interesting, visually beautiful, and find some joy in things other than     the mall. 

Yesterday Wesley and I went to Old Salem. She lives just a few blocks from this charming place and 
it has been a place we meet when I visit her at school. It was cold and raining but we had a great day together. The shops are filled with quaint gifts, great books, handmade crafts, wonderful aromas and lovely music. Much better than the overwhelming experience of the mall. Next week we are thinking Seagrove....




This time of year I am normally recovering from the Thanksgiving weekend Designer Craftsmen show and preparing for the December weekends of the Chatham Artists Tour. If I had done the tour this year, there would have been a cold rainy Saturday and a blustery cold Sunday to deal with. Instead, I worked at the Fifth Season Saturday, warm store, great people, sold sooooo much, had a great time, spent no money and will get a pay check. I'm finding it way less stressful to work for someone else right now. And then on Sunday I went shopping with a friend and had lunch together. So much nicer than sitting and waiting for customers to show up, wondering will they come, will they buy, can I meet my show fees, can I afford more clay, do they like my work......  I'm so happy to be reading blogs of other artists that are having successful shows right now, and I did enjoy selling my work for the most part, but my momentum just came to a screeching halt and I can't seem to get it back.


I am also avoiding the dreaded trip to Myrtle Beach for Christmas. There won't be time. We are giving Wesley a trip to San Fransisco for Christmas to visit with Lazarus, so we will just have a few days together and damned if it's going to be spent riding in a car for four hours and arguing at my moms house. I'm sending a gift box. Eliminate stress! My mantra for this time of year.


I continue to purge, to fill my car with items for the thrift stores, don't remember one single thing I have taken there this year. The closets are clearing, rooms are sort of clearing, I still have a lot of stuff, but it's all now stuff I love. I really don't want to bring in new stuff. 


Wes and I were about done with the stuff in stores by the end of the day. We just wanted some hot tea and a quiet place to visit. I think that's the thing I love about where I work. People are buying fermenting kits, cheese making kits, homebrew supplies, garden supplies, DIY for the home. Nesting, making, comfort. Everyone was so joyful about the gifts they were buying on Saturday. No pushing and shoving, no grabbing, no looking for the cheapest price, the latest electronic. These were happy gift giving people, and many were just giving to themselves or buying for each other together. These are my peeps. The de-cluttering continues..... Mentally and physically.


11 comments:

Dennis Allen said...

As always, this was a nice read.Hope you all have a nice holiday season. I'm still enjoying doing shows but I am pickier about which ones I do. Nothing worse than staring at an empty lot all day after all the hard work and expense.

Lori Buff said...

I’m glad you’re finding some peace of mind. One thing I enjoy about doing shows is giving people an opportunity to give someone something they will love, not some clutter, and for them to avoid the malls while doing something good for a small, local business.

Sandy Miller said...

God, I love coming here……. thank you……

Barbara Rogers said...

Good thoughts. May your holidays contain and continue to have this joy and peaceful sharing.

Michèle Hastings said...

De-cluttering is so good for one's mental state. Avoiding the mall is too!

Unknown said...

This blog is always a spiritual refuge for me Tracey. You think good things and take good actions. I always feel encouraged and at home. You put into words things I'm aware I'm thinking, but could never vocalise. Thanks for putting this out here.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a refreshing holiday season over there!

littlemancat said...

Lovely post, Tracey. I love the image of people finding those wonderful gifts at the place where you're working and playing too a bit?
Hope so, anyway. Sounds like a great place to be.
Wishing you and yours love and joy this season - glad for you that you're going to be at home, no road trip. Hope Wesley enjoys her trip!
Mary

Trish said...

Thank you: PEACE for the day.. Blessings, of your choice, for the Season to you and yours,, Tracey.
Sending Canadian hugs... Trish

June Perry said...

Sounds like you are in a great space these day Tracey, filled with a new creative job, and time for family and friends. Good balance.
I understand your Christmas feelings. We gave up sending cards years ago, other than immediate family members. We call old friends over the holidays instead of writing cards. We only give presents to the grand kids, which our daughter-in-law makes super easy by putting the children's wish list on Amazon. Christmas is about the family time,indulging a bit on comfort food and good wine, and being in gratitude for it all.

Tracey Broome said...

Hi everyone, thanks for stopping by, sorry to be a slacker on the replies, but I love hearing from you
Xoxoxo