First published 2002
Rachel Griffin sits at her art table with blank cards spread before her, each one destined to become part of her twelve-day Christmas project. She plans to create a unique artist trading card for each day leading up to Christmas, drawing inspiration from the traditional carol. Griffin begins with a partridge perched in a pear tree, carefully sketching and painting the miniature artwork. As December progresses, she adds two turtle doves, three French hens, and continues through the familiar sequence. Each card presents new artistic challenges as Griffin experiments with different techniques and materials. The project becomes more complex with the higher numbers, forcing her to fit ten lords leaping and eleven pipers piping into the small format. Griffin races against time as Christmas approaches, balancing her artistic vision with the mounting pressure of completion. The cards transform from simple holiday craft into something more meaningful as Griffin discovers what the creative process reveals about patience, tradition, and the spirit of giving.
Genres: art, christmas, non-fiction, holiday
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: creative-journey, found-family
Barefoot Books Ltd