The Studio Edit 08: Here's to the Grandmothers of Christmas Past

Thoughts on missing the ones who made our childhood holiday seasons so tender, special and warm

Welcome to The Studio Edit, a digest with favorite things and thoughts that I hope add levity to the latter half of your week and help inspire the weekend ahead 🤍

Happy Friday –

This morning as I padded downstairs to make coffee and read in the warm glow of the Christmas tree lights, I began to miss my grandmother – Grandmama – so deeply and distinctly.

Since her passing on New Year’s Eve 2018, Christmas feels like a hollow holiday, echoing her absence as time continues to march on.

The holidays felt like magic in her presence:

Starting the season by receiving my annual Christmas tree ornament handpicked by her depending on my interests that year (ballet, dogs and The Little Mermaid were all big hits), each adorned with the year and her signature on the bottom.

Spending Christmas Eve at a big, bustling Southern family gathering in her home full of first, second, third cousins whose names I didn’t even know but faces I’ll always remember.

Christmas circa 1997 in Newnan, GA. I’m on the right, wearing matching jumpers with my sister made by Grandmama, of course.

Going home that evening absolutely spent from running around with the other kids, settling into slumber and waking up the next morning only to return to her house for a day full of gift-opening, cookie-eating and couch-napping on repeat.

The crackling fire, the smell of sugar cookies from a tube baking in the oven, the hourly gong of the grandfather clock in her living room – it all feels so familiar and within reach, yet so faint and far away.

Laura Jean

’s recent post on desiring a 90s Christmas bubbled up all of the nostalgia inside of me that I’ve been trying in vain to ignore, and I found myself thinking only of Grandmama while reading.

Now at the helm of my own family, I feel a sense of responsibility to carry on Grandmama’s memory by curating the same sense of holiday magic for my daughter. This year we’ll make cookies from a tube, we’ll decorate the tree, and maybe we’ll even wear matching jumpers – never say never.

Here’s to the grandmothers of Christmas past: may they never be forgotten, and may we always mindfully carry their traditions, warmth and stories with us for decades to come.

In case you missed it: earlier this week I shared an honest, vulnerable look into what my imperfect work-mothering-writing-life schedule looks like in this season of blending raising my daughter and managing my design studio.

Shopping secondhand for Margot…
Last weekend I ventured back home solo to Georgia to spend the weekend with my closest friends from college. On a coffee run we stumbled upon the most darling pop-up market and one of the vendors, Spil Kids, sold curated secondhand clothing. This dress caught my eye immediately and it was in Margot’s exact size – it was meant to be.

Soaking up the festive cheer with old friends…
Nothing restores me like time spent with the friends who just get me and who I can be wholly myself around. One of those special souls is my friend and college roommate Tarver – pictured here with a glorious espresso martini. She generously hosted me while I was home visiting and we had the best time catching up over dinner, exploring the city and spending time with her daughter.

Here’s what I’ve enjoyed plugging into recently –

• Song: “On My Own” by Harrison Lipton
Harrison Lipton is so wonderful and this newer single has been on constant rotation for me since it dropped in November. It’s vibey, it’s moody and it’s catchy – pure listening perfection.

• Playlist: Focus Chill Instrumental Early Morning
Another Spotify Daylist that felt entirely too specific as soon as I played it. This has been my recent go-to playlist in the mornings while I write, spend a few mindful moments thinking about the day ahead and savor the stillness that early mornings provide.

• Podcast: Practically Happy #289: What Perfectionism Sounds Like
I absolutely love Miranda Anderson as a human and podcast host, and this episode of Practically Happy had me nodding along the entire time. I wrestle with perfectionism seeping into the most unassuming parts of my life, and this was a timely listen and reminder to embrace being human before stepping into 2025.

Thanks so much for reading – do you have any holiday memories with your own grandmother that you’d like to share in her honor? I’d love to hear them all 🤍

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