Christmas Tree Design • MakeDo

I read blogs to see things I've never seen before, to be exposed to new ideas, to get inspired, to get excited.  SwissMiss blogged this week about a product I didn't know existed but I should have.  MakeDo is a company that creates a cardboard construction kit. They provide tools and fasteners and you provide cardboard (or other stuff to reuse) and creativity. Just look at this incredible Christmas Tree Design....

What an timely example of geometry. I love it! MakeDo has a great site full of creative ideas and a store to buy their construction kit.

The site is filled with creative play ideas. I saw it as an affordable, temporary solution to furniture! But the Christmas Tree struck a note. One of my Christmas stories came to mind.....

When I was in college, renting my first apartment in a Providence basement, I was excited to get and decorate my first Christmas Tree. David and I merrily trudged to the Christmas Tree lot on the corner and there I encountered disappointment. I was a country girl and I didn't have a clue as to how much a Christmas Tree costs in the city. There was no way I could afford a tree and I was heartbroken. The kindly person manning the lot understood my disappointed and offered, for free, the bottom two feet recently lopped off the base of a recently departed tree. I was thrilled. We dragged it home, tied the spreading branches up and created a Christmas Bush. We covered it with handmade ornaments. It was the most beautiful, ugly tree ever! I will never forget it.

I should have thought out of the box!(Hehee) I could have crafted a cardboard tree. There are plans for this one (plus many other great ideas) at the MakeDo site.

Can't you just envision the creative ornaments that could hang from its edges?

Previous Posts of Interest:

• Christmas Traditions • When Do You Change Them?
• Snappy Tree Decals
• Coat Tree • Simple and Elegant

©2011 Ashbee Design, Marji Roy

Swedish Tomte • Both Traditional and Contemporary

The little tomte is part of my heritage. There have always been tomte hiding about the relative's houses at Christmas time. It was a game of hide 'n seek to find them. They seem to magically appear about our home during this season as well.

via Scandinavian South

Traditionally tomte are from Scandinavian folklore and thought of as little folk that help with the housework and farm chores. They were protective and caring but temperamental. In more modern times they became associated with Christmas and, with their customary white beard and red cap, the connection has lasted. These little elves bring a touch of the Christmas spirit wherever you choose to hide them.

via Scandinavian South

Via Fairhaven Toy Garden

via Bibelot Shop

via Bibelot shop

via Scandinavian South

The design of the tomte is simple, often geometric in a modern Scandinavian way. The little characters are full of hidden personality. They were always scattered around my grandmother's home and a delight to all of us as children. My collection should appear soon to help me with the numerous Christmas chores.

HoHoHo!

Previous posts of Interest:

• Heritage Inspiration • Dala Horse
• Awesome Dala
• Christmas Traditions • When Do You Change Them?
• I Heart This Design

©2011 Ashbee Design, Marji Roy

Spiral Origami • Inspiration from a Friend

Yesterday at work a friend, Kris D. shared many ornaments she had made and I was immediately taken with the series she called, "Spiral Origami".

She explained that the design is called a Tomoko Fuse's Espiral. It doesn't take long with Google to learn more. Tomoko Fuse is a master Japanese Origami artist and published many books on the art of paper folding. There is a YouTube video on how to create this beautiful ornament yourself.

I had a better teacher though. Kris spent about thirty minutes with me this afternoon and gave me step-by-step lessons. Here is mine....

Thanks Kris!

Previous Posts of Interest

• Origami Influences
• Electrifying Origami
• Origami Lights • Again
• Origami Furniture

©2011 Ashbee Design, Marji Roy