Kismet? Serendipity? AKA The Pivot Makes Sense Now
When You Realize Your Brain Was Two Steps Ahead
Remember last week when I got gloriously distracted and pivoted away from the muted vintage palette? When I fell down that rabbit hole with alcohol ink and fabric scraps and made those bright, bold ornaments I loved so much I could tinkle?
Turns out, my brain knew what it was doing.
I remembered something: I have a set of 12 Days of Christmas ornaments that my sister made for me a couple years ago. Hand-stitched felt ornaments with embroidery and beadwork. They're gorgeous. They're colorful. And they are absolutely NOT muted vintage.
So, hallelujah for pivoting early, because the bright, maximalist direction I accidentally wandered into? It actually fits perfectly with these.
Meet the 12 Days Ornaments
Not the full set, obviously, but you get the idea.
These beauties are based on a pattern from MmmCrafts' Twelve Days Ornament Series. If you've never seen this pattern, go look. It's stunning—each ornament represents one of the 12 days (partridge in a pear tree, turtle doves, French hens, you know the drill). My sister made me a set in bright, saturated colors, and I heart them so much.
I'm also selling this same set in a different colorway (Frost—think icy blues, silvers, whites) in my Etsy shop, and they’re just as beautiful as my set (they were also made by my sister—I’m selling them for her). The pattern itself can be purchased directly from MmmCrafts if you want to make your own set.
Once I pulled these out and looked at them next to everything I've been making, it all clicked. The bright fabric scrap ornaments with alcohol ink? They work with these. The wooden rings with colorful tassels (ahem, that I still need to finish)? They work. The chaotic maximalist energy I accidentally stumbled into last week? It all works.
My subconscious was apparently planning ahead while my conscious brain was just following the shiny thing. I'll take it.
The Painted Salt Dough Ornaments
Since I already have the 12 Days ornaments, I'm not making any more salt dough ornaments beyond what I've already finished. But I HAVE painted the ones I made, and they turned out so cute, despite what my photography skills (lack of, rather) say and not having the time to spend on them that I would have liked to have.
They’re all a combination of alcohol ink, acrylic paint, Mod Podge, and ALL THE GLITTER. I have a few more, but again, you get the idea. The middle three have serious snow globe vibes IRL. They’re my favorite. I also made a pile of snowballs with the leftover salt dough balls, a few wooden beads, and the rest of the glitter. I’ll show share that when the tree is done. Would be a super fun one to do with kids.
The glitter situation is officially handled. We're leaning into sparkle. We're embracing maximalism. The tree is going to be chaotic and bright and I'm absolutely here for it.
What's Next
Now that glitter is covered, I need to get back to the wooden ring ornaments. I'm going to redo the two I already made with brighter fabrics—maybe some alcohol ink-dyed fabric to tie everything together visually.
I'm also still experimenting with those fabric scrap ornaments using alcohol ink. The technique is coming together, and I'm getting closer to something I'm really excited about.
The Deadline
I want to have the tree done by December 1 so I can move on to other parts of this project—gifts, recipes, day-of planning, all the things I haven't even started yet.
Who knows, maybe I'll finish early. (Narrator: She will not finish early.)
But that's the goal. Two weeks to go (with the whole Thanksgiving thing thrown somewhere in there.) Let's see what happens.
See you Thursday with…something. Idk what yet, but isn’t that the fun part?
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About the Author
Gal is an autistic artist, late-diagnosed at 49, and the creator of AuRTistic Expressions—a space where neurodivergent truth meets creative survival. Through books, blog posts, printables, and coaching, Gal explores what it means to unmask safely, communicate authentically, and make art that doesn’t ask for permission. Stick around—there’s plenty more where this came from.
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