The Holiday Card

✨Seasons greetings to all, and to all a good night✨

After Thanksgiving, I usually start brainstorming a new way to torture myself make holiday cards for friends and family.

For several years, I painstakingly painted the same design on tens of little watercolor postcards, personalizing each one with a nice summary of the year and a wish for a happy new one.

But, eventually, I hit a wall. I ran out of new ways to paint little wreaths. I decided to branch out and try working digitally. Pun intended. Sorry.

evidence of past me constantly trying to out-twee myself

digitally edited drawings of trailers from 2022 (we moved around a lot)

Last year, it was easy. I got married and that became my entire personality. I had a million lovely photos to work with. Having never sent formal “thank you” cards out after the big day, the end of the year felt like the perfect time to send out cards (just in case everyone who came forgot how cute we were).

(if you did not receive one, that is because Rajiv forgot to send out his batch despite my MANY reminders. he claims he is sorry)

This year, I started planning (material-wise) in July:

I took a riso printing class and decided I’d make a special design for the holidays. Folding cards, very classy, with different covers that I could individually watercolor to make them feel more personal. They were absolutely gorgeous in my head.

my tangled flamingo riso print design from July 2024 (black and pink ink)

Some peaceful doves sent at the end of 2023

The problem: I had no idea what to draw. What could I possibly choose to represent this strange, brat summer dud of an election year?

I knew I wanted to keep the collage “look” from the thank you cards but with a more vintage “vibe.” 2024 generally left a bad taste in my mouth about the “future.” I was more inclined to search for inspiration in the past.

That’s when I stumbled upon this fantastic collection, where the perfect idea was handed to me on a silver platter: Dog.

How had it not come to me sooner? It’s so elegantly simple. Dog!

As a dutiful dog mom, have many beautiful photos of my son. As a dutiful motorcycle wife, also have many other photos of me and Rajiv riding. It was a great idea.

Until last week, when I realized I had simply run out of time.

I had started making sketches with the intention of booking studio time to print my cards, but it never really happened. Between week-long visits with friends and parents after Thanksgiving, I simply blinked and it became December 20th.

So, this year (to save me from tears), I’m doing something special:
not sending physical cards.

I’m sending my holiday card to your inbox, where you don’t even have to pretend you’re going to keep it or put it on your fridge!

Me, Rajiv, and Sneakers sending love while we dig a hole to sleep in for winter.

If it was a real physical card, I’d write something on the back like “Hey, you! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support in 2024. Having people to send my words and pictures to this year has given me more joy than I could have possibly imagined. Thank you for reading, and have a happy new year! Love, Polly”

And I’d mean it! Whether we’ve been best friends since birth or you have no idea how you got here, I’m sending love to you. If spreading a little love isn’t the true meaning of holiday cards, I don’t know what is.

The year ahead is uncertain. But I know one thing to be true: I can’t wait to send you more poop scoops. See you in 2025 <3

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And, since nobody asked, a few rejected holiday toons to round out the newsletter:

Okay, that one only makes sense if you (unfortunately) are aware of Hot Frosty, a holiday film about a jacked jack frost. I usually love to hate a bad movie, but I couldn’t get past the 20-minute mark. Instead, I turned to the internet for a summary and learned that (despite all the horny reviews) the main protagonists don’t even get close to anything steamy. Regardless, the man who wrote it gives his movie five stars.