How We Celebrate the Season

Merry Christmas, everyone! Well, almost... As we get ever closer to that giant, overly-commercialized, chilly, and sometimes kitsch holiday known as Christmas, we'd like to give you a closer look at how we makers of the Aspiring Artisan's Guild celebrate. 

Jingle Bell Holiday Cheer Necklace in Red and Green

Sarah of MyOliviaJewelry's family has a tradition of having to guess what each present is before they can open it. This was started by her great-grandma when the family couldn't afford many gifts. Guessing takes a good long while so it would draw out the present opening and make it more fun. This tradition has encouraged some creative gifts. Her grandfather once wrapped up a big rock from his backyard that her uncle used to sit on and read books as a kid!

Hand Painted Moleskine "le penguin" Cahier / Notebook and Gold Snowflake and Crystal Earrings

Laura of LeAnimale and Rachel of ExhaustedCreativity both have the Christmas tradition of opening a present from under the tree a night early Christmas Eve in anticipation of the day itself!

6 Crimson Red Holiday Bows

Rachel of cornflowerbluestudio takes an active approach. Since she and her husband live far from any family and don't celebrate Christmas themselves, they usually go on a hike that day. When they lived in Arizona they would spend a few days around Christmas at the Grand Canyon hiking the South Rim and now that they're in Alabama they go to a nearby state park on Christmas Eve and enjoy the crisp air.

Reusable 25-day countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar

When April of MooreMagnets was young she, her dad, and brother used to take a long drive home looking at all of the luminaries that were put out on Christmas eve. "It was a big thing that the town used to do, and one of the most beautiful things to see. As we got older my brother and I continued our long drive home, and even as teenagers when we didn't like each other it was something that we always did. We made a lot of memories on those drives, and I think we both are disappointed that fewer and fewer people put the luminaries out on Christmas eve," says April.

Wire Wrapped Garnet Necklace

Our wonderful AeridesDesigns moved to the U.S from england in the 80's, but her mother keeps Christmas very English. Christmas Crackers are becoming more common in the US, but the British way is to pop open the crackers with the person next to you at dinner and then wear the paper hat on your head throughout your meal. "We do that still, including my husband and my brother in law (who are both American, and both grumble at the idea, but play along)," she says.