What Are Your Winter Holiday Traditions & Rituals?

Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate it

and 

Happy Winter & New Year to all that don't

The past few years have had me thinking a lot about holidays and traditions. I have thought about the joy they brought me as a child, the disappointments, the expectations, the longings, and the way I connect with them then and now. Since I don't have any kids yet and live so far from my sisters and their children I most often find myself skipping holidays or just minimally indulging them as an excuse to have a dinner party with friends. Yet still I have this longing for tradition & ritual. The old traditions just don't seem right though. Christmas, for example, has turned in to this monster guilt driven, money centric beast. This time of year people are stressed, out-turning their pockets, buying meaningless gifts for everyone they know just so they can have SOMETHING to hand over. It is a lot of pressure and takes away from what this time of year is supposed to be about. Gifts, if given, should be something one gives because they want to, not because they feel they have to. It should be something you feel reminds you of the person, something that makes you happy to know the person has, or something you made with that person in mind. These are the only gifts that matter.

I find that I connect most with the observation of nature, changing seasons, and the cyclical passing of time. Celebrating this time of year as a way to honor what is happening around us makes sense to me. I can connect with this. The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year, and thus, the return of the sun and gradually longer days ahead. This time of year also signals the cold winter ahead when we tend to spend more time indoors with friends & family, have more time for self reflection & goal making (new years resolutions anyone?), eat hearty warm foods, and settle in to a slower, sleepy time like the plants and animals around us. These are the things I want my winter holiday rituals to focus on & honor. These are the things that are real and truthful to me. Not the new soda maker or hot dog bun toaster that wastes precious resources and never actually gets used.

In my search for new, meaningful traditions I decided I needed to first look back to my childhood and the traditions & rituals I had and loved growing up. How can I honor those traditions and achieve those feelings of joy through new traditions that I can feel good about.  My list reminded me that being around people, friends and especially family is so very important. Making seasonal crafts was always something that I looked forward to. I remember making garlands and ornaments with my sisters and I know I want that to be a part of my holidays forever. Sharing seasonal food is something that I found holds a lot of emotional weight with me. My memories of Christmas morning quiches  and cinnamon rolls bring me such joy I will definitely find a way of working them in. I have also been searching out other peoples traditions for ideas I can adopt and am finding so much inspiration out there. One I especially find heart warming is to have your family sit in a circle and have everyone tell the family member on their right a positive wish or hope they have for them in the upcoming year. I love how this act shows nothing but love for the receiver with no hope of anything in return (since the person you give your wish to is not the person giving you a wish). It's lovely.

Your Turn!
I would love to hear about YOUR Winter Holiday rituals. What do you look forward to every year and how do you choose to celebrate? Is it something you created yourself, something that evolved naturally, or a tradition that has been passed down in your family from generation to generation? What specifically do you do that represents this time of year for you?

Bicycle Innertube Earrings - Holiday Style

This past year has been a big one for new designs here at Girl on Bike. I am currently at 13 different earring and 5 necklace styles. 

These are my favorite styles for the holidays. Great for parties, classy, & sparkling with holiday cheer. 

Falls - Upcycled Bike Tube Earrings

Cascade - Upcycled Bike Tube Earrings

Oak (Silver or Gold) - Recycled Bike tube earrings

If you would like to get some recycled bicycle tube jewelry for your loved ones by Winter Solstice/Christmas/Yule make sure you order by Dec. 16th!

Plaid Friday November 23rd

My jewelry shop Girl on Bike is participating in the EBAC Plaid Friday Sale on November 23rd.  

Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of local and independent businesses and organizations. It’s a fun and enjoyable alternative to the big box store “Black Friday.” Also, it’s a way to show your support for Local Independent Artists & Designers

Discount will be applied to all online sales through the etsy.com website in participating shops. Use discount code PLAIDFRIDAY to get the discount listed for each shop.

Participating Shops:

*30% OFF*
Girl on Bike - Nature inspired jewelry made from bicycle innertubes
http://www.etsy.com/shop/girlonbike

*25% OFF*
Tangleweeds - rustic, elegant hand-crafted brass and steel jewelry
http://www.tangleweeds.etsy.com/

*20% OFF*
Mangosteen - Handcrafted silver jewelry
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mangosteenjewelry

Impressedbynature - handmade pressed flower jewelry
www.IMPRESSEDbynature.etsy.com

Percent - handcrafted jewelry from vintage, natural and re-purposed materials.
www.percent.etsy.com

*10% OFF*
Fresh Edamami - Origami art pieces & accessories
www.etsy.com/shop/freshedamami

Andrea I Jewelry - www.andreaijewelry.etsy.com

*FREE SHIPPING*
The Mice Art - Art, prints, & photogragraphy inspired by nature

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheMiceArt

Phases of the Moon

I've been in a very moon mood lately. Moons have been popping up everywhere and links with other moon ladies have been forming.

The moon in general is a symbol for change: new beginnings, new life, and rejuvenation. It's a very exciting time.

Art has been imitating life for me with some of my latest earring & necklace designs. You can find these new designs in my etsy shop right now. With more to come.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/girlonbike

A Full Moon Gathering + discounted GOB jewelry

I will be selling my earrings at the Full Moon Gathering in Oakland this weekend. Come get yourself a pair of Girl on Bike earrings or necklace for a beautiful discounted price ($15-20 sliding scale)

This weekend we gather in North Oakland to celebrate the full moon with kindred souls and moon lovers of all kinds.

Enjoy a mug of lentil soup, sip an herbal soda, get your tarot read and dance in the backyard under the stars! Shop goods from local moon child artists. Pick up a treat for yourself and maybe a gift for a friend.

Sunday October 28th
6-9 pm
@ Pepples Vegan Donut Farm6037 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, CA

Alese – Tarot, by donation 

Music by DJ Arash Shoushtari.

Artist List:

Girl on Bike, Kendra Poma – recycled bike innertube jewelry.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/girlonbike

Diamond Dazed, Sam E. – beaded diamond jewelry.

diamonddazed.tumblr.com

Chamomile on Mars, Cara Greene – herbal soda, hang over tea and healing desserts.
chamomileonmars.com

Tiny Assembly, Julia Booz – beaded ball and penny jewelry.
flicker.com/photos/tinyassembly

Rebecca Stevens – coconut date truffle boxes, soup in a mug, and adorable cookbook “SoupLove”.
beckyfresh.etsy.com

Grace Hearth, Keri and Jocelyn – nourishments.
gracehearth.org

Michael Olivo + Tomato Pie, Michael Olivo – comic books, prints, and tomato pie.
michaelolivo.com

Rachel Kantor – prints, original drawings.
ranchelkantor.com

Witch Kitchen Vessels, Jaclyn Tobia – healing salves, handmade mortal and pestle, sauerkraut and pickling vessels.
jaclyntobia.com

Heather Lynn Hankins – hand dyed and silk screen pouches and tea towels.

AmanDoug, Amanda and Doug – sketchbooks, notebooks, resin fruit jewelry and light covers.

D. Alexander Holmes – recent drawings and paintings.

Yoga & Fitness Supply Swap this weekend!

I am putting on a Yoga & Fitness Supply Swap this weekend in the East Bay. Come Swap with me!

If you're like me, and you probably are, you have too much (or not the right) athletic clothing and gear.  Yoga pants that a tad too short. Bicycle pants from a very short stint as a spinner. Extra mats and balls and weights or could use them. 

That industry has enough of our money! Don't buy more!

Swap It Oakland is putting on a  Yoga and Fitness Supply Swap 

Saturday Oct 20th

1-3 pm. 

1540-A 62nd St. Emeryville, CA

$5-$10 sliding scale donation

(goes towards supporting community swap events and affordable yoga) 

RSVP here 

Bring your gently used yoga & fitness clothing & supplies and swap it for new to you goods. 

(We will only accept clean, undamaged, stain-free items)

We will be swapping yoga & active-wear clothes, yoga mats & props, running & hiking shoes, small portable exercise equiptment (small weights, stretch bands, etc.), water bottles, backpacks, & bags

Free product has been provided from The Tye: http://theytye.com

$5-10 sliding scale donation & a bag of clothes/supplies gets you in.

*This event is taking place in a yoga studio so be prepaired to take your shoes off when entering the swap. 

Check out Swap it Oakland HERE