Happy Holidays,
I thought I would compile a list of 10 things I have loved this last year to send to you as a celebratory smattering of gifts. Please accept my humble offerings:
Imamu Room - Bento Boxes
It’s the gift of vicarious snacking. Imamu wakes every weekday at 5.45 am and prepares bento box lunches for her family (and her YouTube channel). The camera sits intimately on the countertop, capturing the chopping, slicing, frying and arranging of the food in lunch boxes. We never see a face, and the narration is all done with charming subtitles, but the sounds of sizzling and chopping are an ASMR delight, and I usually really dislike ASMR.Delibes: Lakmé - Duo des fleurs (Flower Duet), Sabine Devieilhe & Marianne Crebassa
It’s an unusual gift, but I think you’ll enjoy these goosebumps and spine tingles. Don’t be put off if this is not your kind of music. I urge you to listen until at least the 1 minute, 10 second time stamp before clicking away. Play it really loud. At 1.42, you will feel something sublime.
casa_mazarrasa - Carmen Mazarrasa’s Instagram
This year I spent a lot of time working on tiny construction for my childhood dollhouse. Making miniature furniture from scratch quickly became a great obsession. Much of my inspiration came from the very beautiful Instagram account of the talented jeweller and miniaturist, Carmen Mazarrasa. If you want to read further, here is an article about her in the Guardian.I give you the gift of youth. Can you guess who it is?1
Geneviève Castrée: Complete Works 1981-2016
I give you the most beautiful book of the year. This highly personal monograph, collecting all of Castrée’s visual art, mini-comics, sketchbooks, and doodles, brought me to tears (absolutely no exaggeration). The work, the legacy, the story of her life and her early death will stay with you for a long time. Check it out below and order it from Drawn & Quarterly or P.W. Elverum.Teeny
This kitten, who belongs to my daughter. Her name is Teeny. She is the one cat I will facetime with regularly, even though she’s from Montreal, and I have to say, “Bonjour mon petit chat, ça va?” and she only says, “miaou miaou” in return. Thank you to Duo Lingo (status: 196 day streak) for enabling me to converse with my favourite cat. You will notice that Teeny has eclectic taste in literature.Art materials
What is a swag of gifts without art materials? Here is my essential collection:
The Fabel Castell Artist Pitt Pen - small.
Windsor and Newton ink - black
Windsor and Newton water colours - 8 colours
Prismacolour Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils - many
Though I am increasingly curious about trying Faber-Castell Polychromos Colour Pencils.Moleskine Art Sketch Notebook - large
Strathmore Bristol smooth paper - stacks
Prismacolor Col-Erase Colored Pencil - orange
The Best Classic Chili Recipe
This is a little bit of a cheat, as I am re-gifting this recipe from The Wholesome Dish, but we cannot stop making this. It’s so easy and quick that I think it deserves a place in every (non-vegetarian) stocking. My only advice would be you might want to double it. The leftovers won’t sit around in your fridge for very long.Pitchfork’s Best Albums of 2022
I give you 39 hours of something for everyone. All of the year’s best 50 albums in their entirety.Socks, Chocolate, Flowers
My favourites: Bonne Maison socks, Seattle Chocolate, Bullock Lake Farm flowers.
Stay safe and happy this season. Read a good book and kiss your loved ones. I’ll be here by the fire, snow all around outside, and leftovers for days in the fridge.
xo,
Claire
Judi Dench and Helen Mirren in 1968. Photo by David Farrell.
Ohhh! I need my dad back as an editor! It is, in fact, Diana Rigg, not Judi Dench. That makes way more sense. Thanks mum and dad and thanks Tricia!
Oh how I love your posts. You are so intelligent, delightful and informative. Just wondering, I’m a cold water swimmer and would love a sketch of a swimmer depicting your gorgeous character that heads your post. What cost might be involved please Claire. I’d love to use the sketching for communicating with my swimming friends if you would accept my request and I can afford you ?? Hope you’ve had a delightful Christmas and managed to stay warm and cosy. Lorraine 😊