Friday, November 18, 2011

30 Days of Holiday Cards - Day 22: The Face Of Compassion



Today I am featuring my “Christ's Compassion” Christmas Card. On the front of it is my “Christ's Compassion” digital painting and inside it reads, “May the glory of Christmas awaken the compassion that God has placed in the hearts of all His children.”
I have been hesitant to feature or write about my thoughts on this card because I know many people are sensitive when it comes to religion. For example, I know that there are people who are offended by what they deem “inaccurate” artistic representations of Jesus Christ. My mental image of Christ and thus, my painting, is likely influenced in part by those representations and also movies like “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Jesus Of Nazareth”.

I know that there are scholars and religious experts that might disagree, but I don't think anyone can really know what Jesus Christ looked like and I don't think it matters. In fact, many Christians believe that, in addition to being a historical and religious figure, that “The Christ” is actually the divine spirit that lives in all human beings. If you believe this, then you will see him in everyone.

As to what I believe, to put it simply, I believe in compassion.


Christ's Compassion
Christ's Compassion by Victoreeah
See more Christian Gift Bags at zazzle.com
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Thursday, November 17, 2011

30 Days of Holiday Cards - Day 21: All I Want For Christmas

Wine Diva's
Sell art online at Zazzle.

Today's card is the Wine Diva's "Just The Wine" Fabulous Christmas card from Wine Diva's Fabulous Christmas Shop.  On the front is the Wine Diva in her fabulous Santa hat and it says, "I Don't Need A Man To Bring Me Jewelry, Candy and Fine Wine At Christmas Time To Know How FABULOUS I am", inside it reads, "Just The Wine Will Do.  Have A Fabulous Holiday!" (All text fields customizable).

Hippie is always joking about what a cheap date I am.  He asked me what I wanted for Valentine's Day this year and I said 5 dollars and a trip to the local thrift store.  We had a "who can find the strangest item" contest and I also found some unbelievable bargains, best Valentine's Day ever!

Barring that example, in my opinion I am not a cheap date at all.  In fact, I consider myself very high maintenance when it comes to holiday gifts.  I'm not going to be happy with some generic, run of the mill sparkly thing anyone can buy at the nearest shopping mall, no matter how much money it cost.  Call me a Diva, but I want something personal, something that is unique to who I am, something that says, "I get you."  Believe me, that doesn't come cheap.  That's going to cost someone some time, thought and creativity.  But you know what?  I'm worth it.

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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

30 Days of Holiday Cards - Day 20: Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice Greeting Card card


Today I am featuring my "Winter Solstice Greeting Card".  On the front is my digital painting of "The Winter Queen" and inside it reads, "Bright Blessings For A Merry Solstice" (or change to your own text).

Winter Solstice, also known as the first day of winter, marks the shortest day of the year, also the point at which the days start growing longer, and occurs some time between December 20th and December 23rd.  Many ancient religions celebrate this day. It is even thought that early Christian churches chose to celebrate the birth of Jesus around this time as a way of adding Christian significance to existing pagan celebrations, equating the rebirth of the sun to the birth of the son of God.

Since the beginning of time it seems, mankind has put so much emphasis on the differences between our various religions, resulting in petty arguments at best and senseless acts of violence at worst.  The world would be such a better place if instead we could all recognize and be united by the many things that all religions have in common.  I think the Winter Holiday Season is a great opportunity to do just that.

So I wish you a Blessed Solstice and a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah or a Joyous Kwanzaa, and I am grateful that we all have so many reasons to celebrate this season.


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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

30 Days of Holiday Cards - Day 19: In Good Hands

In Good Hands Holiday Greeting Card card

Today's card is my "In Good Hands" Holiday Greeting Card.  On the front of it is a digital painting depicting an angel holding up the planet Earth.  Inside it reads, "Peace On Earth" (or customize with your own text).

If you watch the news or read too much of it on the Internet, it isn't hard to think sometimes that this world is going to hell in a hand basket.  And yet in my daily interactions with people and this planet, I don't find that to be the case at all.  I find that in general people are kind, generous and helpful and I find that this world is continually astonishing me with its beauty.

Perhaps it is because good in people and beauty in nature is the norm that we find evil and disaster so noteworthy and fascinating at times.  Certainly we need to be aware of these things, if only so that we can respond to these aberrations with our innate goodness, and we always do.

So while my painting shows one angel holding up the world, she is symbolic of millions.  The world is indeed in good hands, it is in ours.

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Sunday, November 13, 2011

30 Days of Holiday Cards - Day 18: Give Peace A Chance

Peace Mermaid Holiday Dreams card

Today I am featuring my Peace Mermaid Holiday Dreams card.  It features a peacefully sleeping mermaid on the front and inside it reads, "May All Your Holiday Dreams Come True" (or personalize with your own message).

Hippie and I are big fans of peace and many of our designs feature the word or the sign.  In some ways I suppose they both represent the sixties/seventies era or a political ideal but peace has always been more of a personal thing for me.

I think of peace as something I practice, an active process of making decisions that considers the greater good.  That doesn't mean my response to every conflict is to light incense, chant or go do some yoga.  It just means that I try to do the right thing and that often means taking some quiet time to figure out what the right thing to do is.

Of course I don't always succeed. I can get caught up in my own selfish concerns and react hastily or defensively at times. What I am learning is that, when I behave that way, the person I most hurt is myself. What I am learning is that the practice of peace is not just a way of being kind to others but also a way of being kind to myself. I can't think of a more fitting sentiment for the Holiday Season than that.

Peace Mermaid Holiday Dreams mug


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Saturday, November 12, 2011

30 Days of Holiday Cards - Day 17: A Claus To Believe In


Today's card is my "Colorful Claus" Santa Art card.  On the front it pictures my colorful digital painting of Santa and inside it reads "May all your holiday wishes come true" (or customize with your own text). 

I was probably around six years old when I realized "the truth" about Santa Claus but I remained in denial until I was much older.  I told myself it was because I didn't want to spoil my parents' fun but I also didn't want to spoil my own.  However, even long after the proverbial cat was out of the bag, I would still get one or two presents where the tag read, "from Santa" (with handwriting that looked suspiciously like my Mother's) and I still do (the handwriting now looking suspiciously like my husband's).

I know some people think that encouraging children to believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy is perpetuating some big lie and failing to prepare them for the harsh realities of the world.  I'm not as cynical as that but sometimes I question why we need these external figures to represent the spirit of our own generosity.  My hope is that it is an exercise in selflessness;  a way to practice and know the joy of giving to others without claiming the credit; a method of blessing others freely and anonymously with no expectations of receiving anything in return.

If that is the case, then I very much still believe in Santa Claus and I always will.


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Friday, November 11, 2011

30 Days of Holiday Cards - Day 16: Lean Santa, Fat Christmas

Lean Santa Christmas Greeting Card card
make your own greeting cards online with zazzle

Today I am featuring my Lean Santa Christmas Greeting Card.  On the front is my drawing of a lean Santa along with the words, "Christmas may be a little leaner on the presents this year".  Inside, Santa is holding a heart where his "jolly" belly once was and it reads, "But it will still be fat on love."

I have to admit that when I was child, Christmas was pretty much all about the loot.  Or so I thought.  The funny thing is that when I look back at the Holidays of my childhood, it is very rare that I even remember the gifts I was given.  What I most remember is the laughter, all those funny stories that seem to create themselves whenever my family gathers together for anything.  Another thing that stands out to me are the traditions, the things we did every Holiday that I always looked forward to.  And of course I remember feeling special and loved, which was in part due to the presents, but not because of their monetary or material value but just the fact that someone cared enough about me to give me anything at all.

I hear a lot of talk about how the Holidays are going to be a tough time this year due to the economy.  I even found myself talking that way recently.  But what I realized while thinking about this card is that the Holidays are actually one thing that this economy can not diminish for me.  There are things that cost money in this life like food, shelter and doctors visits.  But laughter, tradition and even generosity often cost only attention, effort and creativity.  No matter how small my gift giving budget is this year, I can afford to be lavish with those three things.  I can afford a Christmas that is "fat on love."


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