Sunday, December 19, 2010

Tis the Season...

This is my Christmas card this year and below are some of my holiday decor and tree ornaments, mostly hand made. What a busy time of the year for all of us. I rush around, trying to do too much. I have to make myself stop, look around, take a few breaths, and quietly savor the beauty around me.


Be helpless, dumbfounded,
Unable to say yes or no.


Then a stretcher will come from grace
to gather us up.


We are too dull-eyed to see that beauty.
If we say we can, we're lying.


If we say No, we don't see it,


That No will behead us
And shut tight our window onto spirit.


So let us rather not be sure of anything,
Beside ourselves, and only that, so


Miraculous beings come running to help.
Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute,


We shall be saying finally,
With tremendous eloquence, Lead us.


When we have totally surrendered to that beauty,
We shall be a mighty kindness.
--- Zero Circle by RUMI


Happy holidays, prosperous new year and as always... peace please.

68 comments:

mosaicology said...

I enjoyed that!
No need to rush....we risk missing the point of it all!

amy of studio four corners said...

so simple, so beautiful, so inspirational - thank you

Fiona Dempster said...

The decorations are beautiful, warm and welcoming. Best wishes for a peaceful and gentle Christmas and New Year

Jo Reimer said...

What a gorgeous holiday card, Donna. It and the decorations are so you, so lovely. I wish you and your family a joyous holiday time.

Rebeca Trevino said...

Donna, as always . . . beautiful.
happy holidays to you too.

Dianne said...

Beautiful post...

zendotstudio said...

love the gift wrapping. reminds me to slow down and have fun with this aspect of the holidays.

You have such a wonderful eye for understated beauty. Thanks for sharing your home with us!

Seth said...

Happy holidays to you Donna. Thanks for all the creativity and inspiration you have provided this past year!

nancy neva gagliano said...

PEACE PLEASE...thank you for so much sharing this year, always calmly exciting my mind/heart/creative spirit...and now giving me my new favorite phrase: PEACE PLEASE.
i was trying to express my feelings this year for a card and wanted to simply say PEACE for all. your two words hit it!
now,
move PEACEFULLY into relax and breathing and enjoying the beauty you create.

Teri said...

Nice Donna! Your photos of your decorations are incredible. I just went around snapping photos of my stuff the other day. It is a time of the year when everything looks so happy, isn't it? I love your Santas. I have a few that I have collected but I have never seen one with all the Japanese items. Very nice! Have a Merry Christmas.

Unknown said...

I love the gift wrapping they are so beautiful. I would be happy even a empty box with so beautiful wrapping.
I'm not busy thank god..I have make all the present during autumn and I don't decorate at all, nature is my decoration outside the window ( we have snow 70 centimeters). I hate to hustle so I don't do that:)

I wish you a very lovely christmas and very creative next year, love to here from your upcoming art:)
With Art Love Henrietta

SusuPetal said...

Happy Holidays an an inspirational year 2011!

Lucky Dip Lisa said...

I love your christmas style! It really sings peace and joy to me.
May the christmas season be the making of many happy memories:)

Gaby Bee said...

Thanks for sharing the photos of your decorations! I love your Santas!
Warm Christmas wishes to you and yours! Health, Happiness and may all of your dreams come true for 2011!
Gaby xo

ELFI said...

je n'ouvrirai pas le cadeau... tellement l'emballage est beau!

ArtPropelled said...

How can one not get into the Christmas spirit after reading your post. Your beautifully wrapped gifts cheer me the most, knowing what care must have gone into wrapping them and of course the Japanese Santas decked in traditinal fabrics are just awesome. Have a wonderful holiday season Donna and a prosperous, creative new year.

juliaD said...

A very Merry Christmas to you and your family from Australia!....Thanks for great posts during the year, have really enjoyed seeing your wonderful art work...xx..julia

lyle baxter said...

thank you for sharing your christmas thoughts and decor with us. as ever Peace emanates from your work! can you tell us more about the santa. I love the fabric of his robe. does he come from a particular part of Japan? peace to you, too

sukipoet said...

Lovely poem and I adore your low key Christmas decorations and package wrappings. Love the musical paper in the tree. I too wrap packages simply with tissue paper and then I take calendar pictures etc and tape them on for decoration. I have used just plain brown paper at times too.

May you have a beautiful holiday filled with love and light.

Deborah said...

Simple and elegant, a feast for the eyes and the soul. Happy holidays!

Cynthia Schelzig said...

Wonderful art, beautiful words...thanks for the inspiration.
Merry Christmas and all the best for 2011.

Anna Mavromatis said...

Thank you for the beauty you give so generously through your postings.
Happy holidays! Peace and reason, good health and love for 2011!

Petra Eller said...

Your Christmas Card has become beautiful. Everyone who gets one of this cards is a lucky one.
And the gifts and the Christmas decoration is very natural but very noble. I like it very much.
Greetings from Bavaria and a wonderful christmas time ;)

Lisa Ursu said...

I love this post Donna.
Happy Christmas to you and yours.

Hannah said...

Donna, thank you for sharing your Christmas card with us; it is a treasure--as is your interspersing of Rumi's words with the sights of Christmas. "All is calm (!), all is bright." These lines have been going through my mind as busyness swirls around me. May your New Year and holidays be filled with peace.

Leslie Avon Miller said...

Wishing you a joyful time this season celebrating with your family in such your home prepared with love, care and your fabulous artistic eye. Merry, merry Donna!

Laura said...

so beautiful Donna! wishing you sweetness and light now and always!

Anonymous said...

Your home looks so serene and lovely with your decorations.The natural materials and simple paper/boxes really resonate with me. Have a peaceful and merry holiday. xox Corrine

mano said...

thank you for all the wonderful posts during the year. your christmas card and your decoration is so beautiful.
Have a merry christmas time and a very good new year. mano

CERULEAN said...

Donna, happy holidays and thank you for all the beautiful and inspiring posts last year!

Donna Iona Drozda said...

Peace Please indeed...you bring it to us with every post and Rumi to boot...

Beginner's Mind to you always.

Barry said...

D- be filled with joy - love the simplicity yet artistry of your Christmas greetings and decorations. Go well in the snow. B

Naquillity said...

yes, tis the season for being rushed but it's also a beautiful time of year with all the lights & decorations but most of all support in new friendships. your decorations are wonderful. Merry Christmas to you and your family. may you find the peace you're searching. have a great day.

Debrina said...

Hello Donna - thanks for stopping on by and leaving a comment about my workshop! It was such a blast and so inspiring to see what everyone created.
Loving your Nature inspired Christmas! Here in NZ it's mid summer - and the birds are still nesting everywhere.

annell4 said...

It is quiet, still....with just a whisper, Merry Christmas....
May this be your best year, ever!

George said...

A beautiful post, Donna. Love your card, your ornaments, and the Rumi poem. May you and your family have the best of Christmas holidays!

Lisa said...

lovely thoughts Donna! Your Holiday decorations and Christmas tree looks like mine....Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year!

r.bohnenkamp said...

Donna, I wish you a merry Christmas time and a happy new year.
All the best ...
greetings from Germany

Mieke van Sambeeck said...

wonderfull post, so calming, lovely colection of beautifull pieces you must have collected over time wich give you happy memories I hope.

Anonymous said...

only

YOU could pull of a total

wabi sabi

christmas style..

Leovi said...

Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful compositions on his blog. Wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Best wishes. Leovi.

John M. Mora said...

My best for Christmas and the new year....John

india flint said...

blessings to you

Anonymous said...

warmest wishes for a beautiful festive season and many,many wonderful things in 2011 Donna...
S

Lorraine said...

Happy holidays Donna! All the best in 2011.

Cynthia Monica said...

Donna, What beautiful words and images...wishing you a joyous holiday season and peace and blessings in the new year!

joanne said...

Wishing you a peaceful and beautiful holiday season! Your card and decorations are beautiful.
"Stop" is my motto:)))(in Japanese,
'tomare'---
xo
Joanne

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Such beautiful inspiring photos always. I love all those soft reds!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Donna

Carolyn x

Harnett-Hargrove said...

So very well said, well taken. -J

Emma said...

Such a lovely quietening card, thank you.

LizBlog said...

All Best Wishes to you into the New Year 2011!

Unknown said...

I wrapped my packages just the same with craft paper, sheet of music, and twine1

Anonymous said...

your home is sheer holiday gorgeousness! i had a three week bout of pneumonia so our house was far from festive this year.

happy new year!!

Laura said...

Happy New Year Dear One! May the year to come be rich in blessings for you as you continue to grow in compassion...blending your humanness with your Divine essence...merging, flowing into the ONENESS that we all are.

BLACK AND WHITE said...

DEAR DONNA ♥ HAPPY NEW YEAR ♥

rivergardenstudio said...

Wishing you a glorious new year filled with your beautiful gardens, deep blue waters and a warm nest. roxanne

Gwen Buchanan said...

Donna, I hope the beauty that fills everything you do follows you through the entire New Year!

Karen Wallace said...

I love the colors you use. So beautiful and rich. Warmly, Karen

Sharmon Davidson said...

Hi Donna, I'm just getting back into my blog reading, and as usual, yours is wonderful. Your holiday decorations look just as I would expect- understated, and tastefully beautiful. I love the tree with the birds; I wanted to do my whole tree in bird ornaments last year, but couldn't find any! The Rumi poem is very inspirational; thank you for that. Happy new year!

Sea Angels said...

Happy New Year Donna, thank you for all of your beautiful posts and gorgeous art works you are so inspiring.
Hugs Lynn xx

jill zaheer said...

I appear to be on the slow mode- but not too late to wish you a wonderful new year. Love your pictures, your holiday card and thoughts in your post. With peace and joy- best wishes for a creative and appreciative 2011. hugs

annell4 said...

Loved coming back to see your Christmas one more time! Thanks so much!

juliaD said...

Hi Donna, Thanks for your lovely comments..I am so inspired by you and your lovely art and life...
I hope you have a very wonderful 2011!..x..julia

lynda Howells said...

Thanks for visiting my blogxxlynda

ruma said...

The Japanese-style doll is lovely.
He seems to have a peaceful atmosphere.

Thank you.
ruma

Teri said...

Donna--Thanks for telling me about your Santas. How creative you are to have made them. They are wonderful! You should be very proud. Do you sell them or did you just make them for yourself? Wonderful!

mansuetude said...

This Rumi is very serious about where he speaks from and this poem seems to spread that essence deeply.

I love it.

Thank you. Happy New Year Blessings

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