Happy New Year 2025!

Besides Christmas decorations everywhere in Japan, there were many Kadomatsu displays.  For those of you unfamiliar with Kadomatsu, they are the bamboo decorations that many Japanese people display in the front of their home to welcome in the New Year, bless the home, bring good fortune, and pay homage to ancestors.  I purchased the miniature double Kadomatsu decoration in Japan because it was so pretty and small enough to fit into my bulging suitcase.  It gives me craft ideas for next year. Besides the traditional Kadomatsus in Japan, there were even more contemporary ones like those with Pokemon characters. A friend of ours made us a plain bamboo Kaddomatsu which I easily decorated with the addition of a Xmas sprig with a red bird.  I really like the way the sprig (from HM Ben Franklin Crafts) gives the twine wrapped bamboo just the right look. Here's hopping that 2025 will be a happy, healthy New Year for you and your family! Happy Crafting in 2025!