Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas Decorations ... or, Decorating with What We Got for Christmas

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I learned something this year, something that I think I've needed to learn for a long time - the Christmas spirit is a tremendous blessing in our lives, and it's such a special time to reconnect with the Savior and our families, that the opposition will go to extraordinary lengths to distract us from feeling that spirit. I always go through a little bit of holiday depression this time of year. But with this realization, and doing what I could to shake it off and pray myself out of it, I think I've had a better Christmas this year than I have for a long time, even though I wasn't sure at first if I would.

Enough of my rambling. Let's move on.

For the last couple of years, I've had two framed pictures on my wall over my desk. One is of the cover for "Nothing to Regret," my first published novel. The second is of the cover for "Strength to Endure," my second published novel. When I released "Season of Sacrifice" in 2008 and "Agent in Old Lace" in May of this year, I thought to myself, I really should get more frames and add my new books to my wall. But I never got around to it.

When my sweet honey asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year, I decided to delegate that assignment to him. I asked him for those two covers, and also for the cover for "Stolen Christmas," the Christmas compilation book in which my story "Arrows to Heaven" appears. Then I asked my mom to come over and help me redo my walls.

Here are the results:
This is the wall directly over my desk. Notice how the cover for "Season of Sacrifice" is right next to my large picture of the Hole in the Rock. Very fitting that they go side by side.
This is the wall to my right as I sit at the desk, and above my smaller couch. Here we have the covers of my other books, and to the right on the bottom you'll see the certificate I got from the League of Utah Writers for "Strength to Endure." I admit, it's kind of a brag wall, but I've got pictures of my kids on the other wall, so they all get equal space.

You noticed, I presume, the hole on the bottom left of the group picture? A nail has been driven in to mark the place so that in March, when "Secret Sisters" is released, I can immediately hang it up. There won't be any procrastinating this time ... that hole is already bothering me. I've decided that I need to make a "coming soon ..." sign to put there so it doesn't look so empty.

I also got a hand mixer for Christmas, but I decided that wouldn't look so good hanging from my wall. I didn't say I was going to decorate with everything I got for Christmas ... that would just be silly.

10 comments:

Mary Gray said...

What a neat idea--to frame the covers of your books!!

Autumn said...

You always crack me up and make me smile for awhile!

The "COMING SOON" pic is a great idea! haha
Your wall looks awesome and I think it's great you have a BRAG wall of your accomplishments -both your books and your children!

You are such an inspiration to me, Tristi, and I'm grateful for you. Even though you don't know how much you have touched me...you should know I think you're one wonderful lady. I'm happy to know you even if it's via random blog visits. Meeting you in person a couple years ago was really cool. :)

Shari said...

That is the coolest wall ever. Glad you had a Merry Christmas!

Tristi Pinkston said...

Thank you, ladies!

Someday when I have my own home office, I'm going to put the pictures in there. But for now, while the living room is my office, we'll all share space.

Anonymous said...

I think that's AWESOME that you already have the space ready for "Secret Sisters". =] What an AWESOME Christmas gift!

Someday, I'll have a wall like that too. =]

Don said...

That's a great idea, and maybe I should start mine with Stolen Christmas. Did you take the actual cover off of a book, or have it printed at that size?

Tristi Pinkston said...

Don, we put the book on a color copier. We wanted it to come out a little larger than actual size, so these turned out to be 8X10.

Nichole Giles said...

Great idea. I think I may need to create a similar-type wall when I have more than one book cover to frame. Looks great, and I can't wait to see it in person--that is, when we finally get back to critique group meetings!

Nichole

Karlene said...

I've done that too—but I only have one cover.

Just Joany said...

What a great idea; a whole wall for the covers of your published books! I love it. And (IamnotabitjealousnoIamnot) I look forward to the day when I can begin my wall.

Congratulations on your accomplishments. Have a very Happy New Year!

~ Just Joany
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