Small Treasures, Big Joy: Holiday Traditions From My Studio to the Kitchen
Every December, as the holidays get closer, my world becomes a beautiful blend of paintbrushes, cookie dough, glass pieces, and a little bit of joyful chaos.
It’s that time of year when creativity spills from the studio into the kitchen—and sometimes onto the floor.
For our family, cookie weekend has become one of our most cherished traditions. It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s full of laughter… and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
The Cookie Chaos Tradition (and Yes—Flour Everywhere)
Every year, we gather in the kitchen for our holiday baking marathon. Some years we’re organized. Some years we’re… well… covered head to toe in flour.
One of my favorite photos ever captured is me discovering that a flour explosion had coated not just the counters but also the dog, who was happily cleaning the floor like it was the greatest day of his life. Nothing says “holiday spirit” like a bulldog wearing half the baking ingredients.
Over the years, we’ve baked:
- peppermint bark by the sheet pan
- trays of biscotti drizzled with chocolate
- hundreds of sugar cookies cooling on racks
- little hands enthusiastically decorating cookies (and occasionally eating more frosting than they use)
- entire tables covered with finished cookies in every shape and color
Seeing my grandkids in their pajamas, proudly decorating cookies with complete creative freedom, fills me with joy every time.
These are the moments that make traditions feel like gifts we give ourselves.
These are the moments that make traditions feel like gifts we give ourselves.
The Plates That Became a Tradition of Their Own
A few years ago, I started bringing a new surprise to cookie weekend: hand-painted holiday plates. Just for fun, just for us.
Then something unexpected happened—
they became their own tradition.
Each year, everyone looks forward to not just the cookies, but the plates themselves.
They’ve become part of the experience, part of the memory, and part of what makes our family’s cookie weekend feel special.
Here’s one of the newest designs from this year—a wintery blue Nutcracker, painted especially for our cookie baking trip:
These plates are made with the same love and care I put into my tote bags and glass art, and watching my family use them for their cookies always reminds me why handmade things matter—they carry stories.
A Week of Creating: Tiny Treasures From the Studio
In between baking plans and packing for my trip, I spent a little time creating something new in the studio: tiny 4x6 illuminated art pieces.
I made them as gifts for my daughter, but I fell in love with how warm and magical they looked:
- a shimmering Tree of Life
- a glowing cluster of Purple Grapes
- a colorful, snowy forst of Glistening Pines
These little pieces feel like small moments of calm and beauty—perfect reminders of the joy in handmade things. I’ll be making more when I get home next week, and I can’t wait to share them.
Why These Traditions Matter
Whether it’s painting a plate, decorating a cookie, or creating something small and beautiful in the studio, these traditions remind me of the same thing:
✨ Joy lives in the making.
✨ Memories live in the mess.
✨ And the best gifts are the ones we create with our hands and our hearts.
From my studio—and my very flour-covered kitchen—to yours,
I hope this season brings you the same warmth, creativity, and connection that these traditions bring to our family.
Happy Holidays from Dana’s Uncommon Glass ❤️