Week 50: Christmas Tree Stamp

Week 50's artwork is all about the Christmas Tree and was inspired by the joy and traditions of decorating the tree.

Every year decorating the Christmas Tree is a trip down memory lane. Each ornament is like to seeing a long lost friend.

When Jeff and I got married in 2003, we combined our ornaments - many of which were from our separate childhoods. As we decorated the tree in the early days of our marriage, we swapped stories. I learned that the fragile little red trumpet with the green tattered bow and broken off mouthpiece was given to him for his first Christmas when he was just 10 days old. He learned how much I cherish the antique delicate hand painted bulbs that were my grandmothers.

Every year, ornaments are added and more memories have been created. We have ornaments from our honeymoon out west. Our boys each have a special "My First Christmas" bauble that hangs from the branches. When our boys were toddlers, our tree gained an awesome red and white ladder, after an outing to "see all the lights" at a local Christmas store. We have added holiday treasures that our sons made in preschool and elementary school and other special ornaments that were given to each of us from loved ones.

Nowadays, our boys, ages 12 and 13, tell stories about their ornaments as we decorate the tree. They fight over who gets to hang the ladder and which train engine ornament is theirs. We reminisce and laugh. It's a treasured time.

​This year, another trumpet and a tuba will find their places on a branch. And, joyfully, our Christmas tree will continue to tell our family's unfolding story year after year.

It's such a magical time of the year!

​Make it a HAPPY holiday season!

PS - As with all the pieces that I create this year for the One a Week Art Challenge, the original is not available for sale until February 8, 2019 when I host my celebratory art show.

PSS - I do have a print available of Christmas Tree Stamp.
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If you are interested in a print, click here.