In the summer of 2020, while chatting with colleagues about my upcoming 50th birthday, I figured out that on September 1st, I would be 50 days away from that day. I started to prepare for a 50-day countdown. Every day, I prepared and published a life lesson article.
It was an exercise in writing, sharing, introspection, and perseverance. I enjoyed this challenge and when I celebrated my birthday I wondered what I was going to do now.
Little brainstorm with me and myself, I thought about my daughter's birthday which is in January. I did some research for ideas and concluded that I would make an advent calendar. A small cabinet of 24 drawers that can be used for storage, or to be used from year to year for the adoption of a new tradition.
And as long as making one for my daughter, I might as well make one for my mother and another for a friend. With the pandemic, we socialize less, which does not mean that we do not think of those we love. So I created these calendars with love ... like when you bake a delicious cake with love.
At the end of October, after I finished my research, I started designing my advent calendar. I drew a plan without calculating too much the production time of such an object. I had a little over a month to make them. Well, nothing there, I naively thought, two weeks per calendar, although it was necessary to have the materials, tools, equipment, and gifts to fill it ... Ah yes, I must also finish and deliver them!!
Let's say I blindly embarked on a "little" DIY project to give myself a break after my 50 days of writing. After my working hours, I spent hours, almost every day, sanding, assembling, and painting.
Fortunately, I had some help cutting the pieces. I asked a friend, who is well equipped with tools of all kinds, to give me a hand in cutting the larger pieces that did not fit in the guillotine. He offered to run it all through his laser cutter. I don't think he understood the scale of the project either. There are over 175 pieces per calendar.
Finally, I made a prototype, which I sold raw. I delivered the first to my mother two days before December 1st, the second was delivered to my friend on December 2nd and the third, my daughter's, was completed and delivered a week late. My daughter received her first small gifts straight into her hands while her eyes were closed.
What a relief it was to finish this project! And what a surprise I got when I received messages, photos, and thanks! Upon delivery, my project was complete, but it was just beginning for those who received them. They told me about their joys and discoveries. This unexpected pleasure surprised me so much and warms my heart.
My next project is to share with you the steps to make one yourself to spread the joy.
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