An Abundance of Obsession

by Robin Weaver

I have an abundance of Christmas ornaments, but I’m making more. Why? That answer is simple. I’m
obsessed with Christmas trees.

I’m the first to admit, my obsession is debilitating. If I’d use my time to start a business instead of gluing, painting, and getting glitter out of my rugs/kitchen/hair/etc., I’d probably be rich.

Then I could buy more ornaments.

Wait!

That’s not what I meant to say. Really.

Last year, my theme was “Up, Up & Away.” Yes, sadly I have a theme. Every year. I plan. And plan some more. My goal is a new theme each year (even if it’s just a fancy term for pink and green baubles, i.e. Apple Blossom Special). I also try to come up with a tree idea that won’t look like every other tree. Which has gotten harder and harder. I mean seriously, have you seen the variety in Hobby Lobby?

Anyway, for this Up-Up thesis, I spent days (maybe weeks) making glittery paper airplanes, hot-air balloons from old ornaments, and even crazy sequined flying saucers. All that for a mere thirty-eight days of beauty. I think my grammar school didn’t have enough arts & crafts.

This year’s theme is Royal Brass, which is just a fancy way to say my decorations will be blue, copper, and gold. Starting in July, I began stuffing blue velvet into Styrofoam balls. While I watched Netflix—didn’t want to totally waste my time. 😊 A couple weekend’s ago, I sprayed leaves gold and copper, and, of course, added lots of glitter.

Even I know the results don’t justify the hours invested. Still, I can’t stop. Designing my tree is kinda my thing. It’s not like I’m robbing banks, or defrauding investors. (Yeah, I’m not even buying this justification myself).

On a positive note, one year, a friend vowed to “one up” my tree. No, the challenge is not the positive note. The positive outcome was the competition (although no one admits to any competing) provided the inspiration for the Christmas Tree Wars. And the birth of the fictional town of Merryvale.

The novella details a small-town Christmas Tree competition, which incidentally brings in tourism and props up the town’s economy. The characters are also “tree” obsessed, but underneath all that glitz, there’s more to having the best tree than Dresden ornaments, preserved magnolia leaves, and garland by the town.

In short, we’re all people doing the best we can. And hopefully not defrauding investors. I hope there’s something that adds a little glitter to your life. Even if it is a little obsessive.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Robin

The Christmas Tree Alliance

Make sure to enter the Christmas Tree War contest—see details at the end of this blog.

Inspired by Book Cover

To celebrate the launch of my holiday novella on December 10^th, I used Debbie Taylor’s cover art as inspiration for one of my three personal Christmas trees. While I’m not exactly thrilled with the results of my blue and white creation, I do like it.  I am however, pleased with my other trees. I really enjoyed decorating all three.  In fact, I like decorating trees so much, I start planning a new theme each January (yes, I know I should be in a program). Worse, I’ve infected several of my friends and they, too, start planning eleven months early.

This year, I fashioned a green and pink tree—inspired by a hydrangea display I saw in a store window in Asheville, NC. Normally, I only design one “new”  
tree each year and simply recycle designs from prior year favorites for the other two. Did this obsession inspire The Christmas Tree Wars?

Not exactly.

Pink and Green

Pink Tree without Lights

In the past, I always felt a bit odd for my multiple tannenbaums—until I met my friend Pam.  She had twelve Christmas trees--or maybe the number was even higher. Of course, she counted the small tree on the tank of her bathroom toilet (the woman was ahead of her time). Pam had a wonderful assortment of Radko decorations and lights for every color of the rainbow.  Since I have a new theme each year, I must be more budget conscious about my ornaments.  Not only do I modify dollar store decorations and paint inexpensive boxed ornaments, I also create a lot of folded ornaments. Yep, the very same ones you made from Christmas cards as a kid. Except I use Wonder-Under and shiny/lacy/metallic fabric to give them a more grown-up flavor. You can find the instructions on my website, www.AuthorRobinWeaver.com.

Sometimes art imitates life and sometimes it doesn't. The effort my friends and I expend on our trees each year certainly ignited the idea for The Christmas Tree Wars, but there are no battles. Ours is more of a Christmas tree alliance; we each keep an eye out for ornaments befitting the theme (both our own and others).

Some might say spending so much time on a tree that’s displayed for only a month or so is a waste of effort. I say it’s a thing of beauty.  After all, isn’t that what makes life worthwhile—those moments of beauty?

Wishing all of you a very happy holiday!

Robin

Don’t forget to enter the Christmas Tree Contest.  Send a picture of your Christmas tree to ChristmasTreeWars@yahoo.com.  I will be posting the pictures on my facebook page and will select at least one winner on December 15th. The winning entry will be selected on December 15th and will receive a free copy of The Christmas Tree Wars AND a copy of Ashantay Peters holiday tale, Dickens of a Death. Also, one lucky person leaving a comment on either of my Facebook pages (Robin Weaver OR Christmas Tree Wars) will win a copy of the novella--so leave those comments.