Tag Archives: Christmas

Merry Mushmas 2025

Doodle of a Christmas tree in the glow of the Christmas tree lights

Ahh, here we are again! At the most mushiest time of year, and yet I have felt the least mushiest yet. It’s been a difficult year. But, one where I look back and think well shit, I’ve become the most honest and truest version of myself thus far. I’ve spent more time with myself without the influence of others, without trying to overthink how people perceive me. Whether that really matters. Because it doesn’t. I spent time with the people who matter most to me and stopped chasing those who aren’t or even will be in my life. I stopped forcing things and questioned my motives with questions like, am I just saying and doing this to make this person like/and/or see me? Validate me! Attention seeking what? Uhhhhh, let me just be a blob and become a form of mush that isn’t seeking anything but life and love within and without! 

And that meant less writing, less doodles, more thoughts, more observations. Lots of anger, grief, sadness. I’m still in this formless shaping into what? Well, I’ll always be a little mushy, a little blobby but that means I’m always growing! Changing! and allowing myself to make mistakes. And hopefully I’ll eventually forgive myself for said mistakes… eventually…

Severed Hand of Christmas Joy

Severed Hand of Christmas Joy

Oh, well, it’s that time of year again where I make scribbles and dribbles or Christmasy Mush to delight you all and to spread the Christmas cheer! What cheer…oh what cheer ….

The world needs A LOT of Christmas Cheer.

It also needs to collect the severed hands of all the cruel people in this world too. Oh what a day that would be …but let’s not be heartless during the holidays, is that being heartless? I can imagine that would be a lot of severed hands though. We’ll call it Mount Severed Hands.

But instead we’ll just imagine a happy little severed hand decked out in Christmas lights.

Well, that’s as far as my Christmas spirit is going to take me this year. I have no Mushmas cards to give out, paper crafts, or sweet baked offerings.  This is the first doodle I’ve drawn this month unfortunately. But I shan’t let the cruelness of this world destroy the whimsical mush! No I shall not!

There is a sadness at the end of each journal

I go through a lot of journals. Just doodlin’ this and writing crap, jotting down the most obnoxious of thoughts …but this journal took me exactly, almost exactly, as I started it October 15, and here it is December 14th, two months which is quick!. I had a lot of introspection going on, and wasn’t creative, wasn’t putting it out there. Just getting out the messy, good for nothing thoughts out. Oh boy, the endings of things are always messy. The letting go and shedding of skin. I feel that is what is going on in my life right now. The need to curl up into a ball and let the body rest, the mind rest, let go of the sadness that’s been creeping in…

Here is my last page, the last tidbit. And perhaps I will move forward into another journal soon with some insight into love and into life.

Weirdo Birdo quoting Nick Cave

I read a quote the other day that struck me and I had to save it and so, wrote it in my final page. Needless to say I ordered the book pronto! It’s from Nick Cave and Sean O’Hagan’s book, Faith, Hope and Carnage. And I believe it is an intimate interview with musician Nick Cave and his wonderful insight on life, grief and love. I can’t wait to read it. My Christmas present to myself.

Here is the full quote:

Love has something to do with the notion of being seen-the opposite of invisibility. The invisible, the unwitnessed, the unacknowledged, the isolated, the lonely-these are the unloved. Loving attention illuminates into the observed world. To truly see someone -anyone- is an act that knowledge’s and forgives our common and imperfect humanity. Love enacts a kind of vigilant perception- whether it is to a partner, a child, a co-worker, a neighbour, a fellow citizen, or any other person one may encounter in this life. Love says softly- I see you. I recognize you. You are human, as I am.

-Nick Cave from Faith , Hope and Carnage

I hope this quote sparks a tenderness into you that illuminates into the holidays, as the holidays are always a way to show how much we love and enjoy each other. While we still have time!

Oh yeah, I get terribly mushy this time of year! And weird. 😉

-CM

Mushmas Brain

I’ve been in a creative slump, it feels like for a couple of months. And just also even writing, ugh, it’s like I have an empty brain. I haven’t been out exploring! Perhaps, been busy getting ready for the holidays, wanting to be more present with my family, trying to work as hard as I can to make it a magical time of year for them.

So here’s just an ordinary, repetitive mush brain. Ordinary repetitive doodle. Because sometimes repetition leads to some form of understanding. Maybe when you see the patterns, you can create a better understanding of what it is that makes creativity an ordinary, but extraordinary way of life. Ahhhhh I’m a mush brain ….

Coffee and Christmas Tree…and Orc?

Just journal doodling on this cold and rainy day …what better doodles than doodles in your journal? Just coffee, cookies and tree in the background..it’s not that great, but sketches are sketches and it could end up something later on if I felt like it. But I’ll go onto something else I presume. …

Oh yeah, that’s an orc drinking peppermint mocha. I saw a meme where someone drew an orc that says “Looks like peppermint mocha’s back on the menu, boys” hahaha if you know, you know what this is referencing…I had to draw it and stick it in the peppermint mocha holiday creamers and in the holiday coffees as well…hahahah. it’s hard to read it. Sorry but that’s what he’s saying.

Holidays are in full swing and you’ve got to keep your wits by drawing orcs and making your friends, co-workers and customers laugh.

2024 Mushmas Cards

Slugs made the cut..and inside each card is a little origami Santa.
I made an homage to potatoes…again, which was also the 2019 honorary code mush christmas card.
I had to do half head, and this seems to be the image that stuck around a lot this year.
Another slug, cause I really have been sluggish lately and out of ideas!

I do enjoy making these, and to me homemade gifts are special. Especially mushy!

O, Tree..

O, tree

O you guess it, O Christmas tree..Doodling yesterday with my kids. Nothing better than doing that, especially since they both love to draw too.

Here is my son’s drawing of Pizza Steve holding elf on the shelf. Looks just like him, so awesome !

My oldest is more critical of his work and told me not to take a picture. But his Godzilla monsters are amazing! I will have to show them someday! Their walls have all pictures of their awesome work!

I’m just glad I’m getting to spend as much time with them as I can during the holidays. This one is especially different and difficult as divorced parents now… I’m trying to keep our old traditions alive but doing new ones. And I think just being there and showing up with love is all there is to it. Letting them know we are never going to stop loving and caring for them no matter what happens in life. ❤️