We are almost there, and for any of you that are celebrating Christmas and have children in the house, the excitement, may be mounting exponentially.
In a time, when in Ireland, our homeless crisis is huge, currently over 8800 people living in hotel rooms or on the street, it makes me stop and think how lucky I am to have a house over my head (and no bank breathing down my back).
In a time when 767 million people live below the international poverty line of $1.90 a day, I wonder at the excesses of Christmas? Like many, there will be more than enough gifts under our Christmas tree.
For the children, I try to include useful and practical presents like books and clothes. My daughter loves fairies so we’ve all being working on some presents for her. I gave my son the job of building a miniature fairy garden. My husband has made a fairy door and I have made her two fairies adapted from these tutorials by Untidy Artist.
We’ve also made simple gifts for relatives. Being creative makes me feel a little better about the consumerism of Christmas, probably because I am as guilty as the next person!
Where ever you are this Christmas, whatever your circumstances, I hope that you find happiness and peace, and I hope you have time to enjoy the company of family and friends.
Murtagh's Meadow 
I have just this minute put the phone down from talking to my sister – we were talking about the very same subjects. I feel deeply uncomfortable about the waste and excess of the trappings of our modern Christmases – I have since my first Christmas as a newly-wed back in 1972! I have always made presents and wrapped in recycled paper and my family have always hated it – until now!!! My sister all these years later just told me she was feeling uncomfortable about the waste and wondering about not wrapping presents at all as they come in so much packaging anyway – she actually told me that at last she is beginning to see things the way I do – amazing! I’m reeling – in a good way…. ish!
Have a wonderful time with your little ones – I adore your fairy and love the sound of the effort that has gone into the door and the fairy garden.
Twinkly blessings Karina. ❤
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Ahh, thank you so much. I’ll show you the other fairy tomorrow. I remember reading somewhere of wrapping presents in fabric and reusing it each year. I like this idea and am going to look out for some nice festive fabric for next year.
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Very Japanese!
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Beautiful fairy, lovely gift. Happy Christmas.
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Thank you Cathy and Happy Christmas to you too:)
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Totally with you on that one darling! And being homeless ain’t just at Christmas or just in London and don’t get me started on food banks (but glad they are there for those in need). As a single Mum I wrapped everything up for Rich…new slippers, pants, socks and a book on sex education one year! He was always happy with whatever he got (thankfully). My sister has a fairy garden (mid life crisis?!) and I love it! Peace and love to all my fellow human beans xxxx
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A brilliant mum as always Miranda!
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We’ve cut back on gifts, too. I prefer to give and receive edibles, useful and practical. I reuse wrapping, ribbons, boxes and gift bags year to year as well. It doesn’t make sense to throw them away!
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I like that idea, edibles, useful, practical 🙂
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Lovely to read all the entries long the same lines. We too were talking about ‘present bags’. Chris was so taken with this Japanese tradition that he wants to look into it when he retires next year. We’d help at Jimmy’s night shelter if we were on our own. Still, for me next year it’s doing some voluntary work and a few carols. Loved your fairy by the way.
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I hadn’t realised till the earlier comment that it was a Japanese tradition, and it is a good one.
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