Time passes sooo slowly when you are a child and Christmas just can’t come soon enough for my kids. Shops also manifest this childlike enthusiasm, (but with less innocent motivations) hence the ‘Christmas in July’ concept...
Then there’s people who just can’t let it go. It’s still Christmas at my sister’s house well into February, which is when she finally gets around to packing up her tree!
As for me, every year I have two or three Christmas craft projects lined up, and as I become older and supposedly wiser, every year seems to go by faster. By the time I am set up to start my projects, January has already arrived!
So during the noise of shopping, functions, commitments, visitors from afar and travel plans how do you soothe the creative compulsion and sandwich in making something? A good place to start would be to recall what the intrinsic message of Christmas is, namely ‘PEACE on Earth.’ Shut out all that noise and find a quiet space and time to reflect, revive and create.
Contrary to the messages around us it actually takes leisure, not constant busyness, to mature and grow which will then facilitate remembering the other part of the Christmas message; ‘GOODWILL to all men.’ This, I believe, becomes manifest in the joy and pleasure we feel when we give and receive our gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
The joy of Christmas seems greater when it’s enhanced by something special you have made, as opposed to something you merely purchased… just go easy on those delicious homemade Mince Pies, won’t you?
Profile- Jennifer McIver
GLASS ARTIST, SYDNEY GLASSWORKS
“Creativity gives you the same buzz as shopping…
but without the guilt.”
Jennifer and Stuart McIver both lived the fast-paced Sydney life, each with high-powered jobs in the corporate world. But this could not be sustained and inevitably health issues caused the couple to reassess their lives and led to the decision to downshift.
So the tranquil sanctuary that is now Sydney Glassworks was born two years ago. The place is Forest Glen, about thirty minutes from Castle Hill out on Old Northern Road. There, in a barn housing an enormous kiln, fondly called ‘Bruce,’ Jennifer shares her passion: ‘You could buy a beautiful bowl from a shop, but here you can easily make a very professional product yourself, “ she says, “it will give you a sense of pride and achievement, and you make it in beautiful surroundings. Creativity gives you the same buzz as shopping…but without the guilt.” The McIvers trawl Sydney with horsebox in tow- collecting massive sheets of glass from the building trade that would otherwise end up in landfills- recycling this ‘trash’ into the beautiful objet d’art you see featured here.
Jennifer does not teach in a traditional way- classes are kept to a maximum of six so that Jennifer can facilitate designing a personal product for each participant. Many people have never had the opportunity to develop their creativity, and she has the ability to bring out this quality. ‘Every lesson is a learning experience. This keeps me creatively fresh, constantly innovating and working with other people in this way has an exciting energy.” Jennifer says. This came in very handy when Jennifer recently got a commission to create a glass hat for a table display at the Melbourne Cup!
From initially just making glass products with a few friends, the glassworks now reaches a wider audience, and will expand again in 2010 from homemakers to Corporate Training Programs. Apart from the creative aspect, the process of glassmaking gets exceptionally complex once it goes into the kiln, and many technically-inclined professionals are fascinated by this.
CRAFTY FACTS
PROCESS: Toughened glass is smashed in a sheet and heaped into shape desired on a kiln-washed base. Alternately, glass may be hand-cut into shape desired and melted into a variety of moulds available in the studio.
PRODUCTS: Christmas Decorations ($5-$25) Large platters 40cm ($75) up to 1m (POA), Garden Décor: Herons, fountains, glass Christmas trees. Commissions are welcomed.
CLASSES: Half Day: $50 per class. Firing costs additional.
Full Day, with gourmet luncheon: $150
Group weekend workshops with professional glass artists: $400, fully catered.
Left your Christmas shopping till the last minute?
Perhaps some additional guests anticipated on Christmas Day?
The clock is running down to Christmas like an express train, so why not just watch it ride on down the line while you relax and click through with a glass of wine to either www.madeit.com.au or www.etsy.com.au...
Both sites offer a wide range of beautifully hand-crafted, unique items by talented local artisans that would delight any guest or relative at your Christmas table. Etsy has the very nifty feature of a 'CUSTOM' button on the menu bar, where you can put in a request for what you want, and Etsy store owners make a bid to do the job for you...but perhaps bookmark this for 2010 as it may be getting a little too late to have customised gifts handmade!
Alternately, the good old-fashioned Christmas Market may just be your saving grace (no pun intended) and will provide a far less stressful day out than crowds and cars at the local mall, where everything kinda looks the same...
Check out these markets this weekend
Sisters Markets Sat Dec 5th Brunswick, Melbourne. More info...
Eveleigh Artisans Market Sun Dec 6th, Eveleigh Market Sydney More info...
Finders Keepers Market Fri 4th & Sat 5th Dec Eveleigh Town Hall , Sydney. More info...
Boutique Markets Fri 11th & Sun 13th Dec Portside Wharf, Hamilton, Brisbane. More info...
Planning an event we need to know about? Creative Addiction will be publishing a Calendar of Craft Events and Workshops on the website. If you are organising a craft-related seminar, market, workshop, trade show or any other event open to the public, let us know. Send your name and contact details, details of the event and a description of 50 words or less with the subject ‘Events’ to info@creativeaddiction.com.au.
1. The Lights. Start at the base of the tree and wrap the lights around the tree until you reach the top. There can never be too many lights as they illuminate the ornaments on the tree. Also try using coloured and clear lights together.
2. The Garlands. Start at the top of the tree and string your garland around the tree using more as you get closer to the base of the tree. You can use a variety of garlands including tinsel, beads, ribbon or even crepe paper.
3. The Ornaments. Start with the most important ones and the largest. Hang them evenly apart and then fill in the gaps with the small and medium ornaments. Then add other ornaments to fill the tree such as bows, etc.
Website Spotlight
Each month we throw a spotlight on a crafter’s website that we have randomly discovered, and love!
Carol has loads of different and interesting Australian Cross Stitch Designs (with a Danish Accent!). She has created a special cross stitch design (pictured left) were all the proceeds are donated to the Help for Wildlife Organisation who look after all the injured wildlife from the Victorian bushfires and other disasters.
With Australia looking down the barrel of another bush fire season, this would be a wonderful gift to give.
Creative Juice
Here is a taste of the projects on the Creative Addiction Website.
These gorgeous pin cushions were created by The Haby Goddess. You can buy the kit and make it yourself or buy the kit and give to your creative friend to have fun with.
Create these easy Christmas Pudding treats in a flash using marshmallow biscuits. Great as presents or to make when you invite your friends around for coffee (or champagne!)
ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS OF ART AND CRAFT?
Then list yourself in the Creative Addiction directory....and get a FREE Listing if you link back to our website, or pay for a Gold or Bronze Listing and get two years’ worth of exposure for the price of one! Events, artists, crafters, suppliers or wholesalers- why not register right now? Submit your projects to the website and be featured in our bi-monthly newsletter.
