A Little Christmas Magic Is Coming | LilliBean Designs

It’s only spring, and outside the world is heating up, but inside the LilliBean Studio, I am surrounded by Christmas decorations, pine needles from the tree, ivy from the back fence, half-finished paintings and a rather ambitious list of creative ideas that I would love to have finished for the festive season.

Christmas in Spring? Really?

I have always strived to have Christmas products started well before Christmas.

Most professional businesses have their Christmas items stocked and ready to go months in advance. Most designers, creators and makers are doing their Christmas collections in February, if not before.

But my brain doesn’t work that way.

My brain likes the pressure of a deadline. My brain likes to procrastinate, and it’s hard for me to be inspired to start creating Christmas gifts and ideas when it is still 40 degrees outside.

And yes, I know I’m from Australia, and I should be used to it.

But I don’t think I realised, until I actually lived in the Northern Hemisphere for ten years, how much we are conditioned to expect winter Christmases, snow and cold at Christmas time.

I remember working with lots of British backpackers in Sydney when I was younger, and they always said how weird it was to celebrate Christmas at the beach.

For us, it was normal. For them, it was an abnormality.

And although I find it difficult to start creating Christmas collections, I love the idea of Christmas and all the creative possibilities it inspires in me.

So now, with Christmas approaching and the red man in his jolly suit preparing to come down the chimney, I feel that my studio has become a bit like Santa’s workshop.

Creative projects everywhere, paintings drying, tools on every available surface and everything waiting for the next step of the production line before finally making it through to the sack on the reindeer’s sleigh.

Remembering the Magic of Christmas

When I was younger, Christmas seemed to take forever to arrive.

That break between the last day of school and Christmas Day seemed like an eternity.

These days, it goes so fast.

But I miss the excitement and the anticipation. Cutting out images from the toy catalogues for my letters to Santa, letting him know what we were wanting that year and how good we’d been.

And then I had kids of my own.

I realised how important traditions and rituals were, and how meaningful those little traditions could become.

Things like stirring the Christmas pudding for good luck, making our favourite recipes that we only have at Christmas, watching Carols in the Japanese Gardens and gathering with family.

And I like the idea of creating collections that become part of those traditions and rituals.

Keepsakes that, when you unwrap them each year, make you say, “Oh yeah, I remember this! Remember when we did that, or when we bought this?”

Things that start conversations and bring back memories.

Over the years, I’ve also learnt that Christmas doesn’t need to be jam-packed with a schedule of events every day.

In fact, paring it right down to the barest minimum, keeping the rituals and traditions that are most important, is what allows for rest and space to savour the moments that mean so much.

A Little Christmas Magic in the LilliBean Studio

So, in the LilliBean version of Santa’s workshop, I have been trying to contain my 70,000 ideas into just a few meaningful collections.

Which, unfortunately, means that some of my more ambitious projects will have to wait at least another year.

The Wee Beasties Are Getting Ready for Christmas

The North Pole and Nativity collections are welcoming last year’s additions, including the curious cat who ended up in the present boxes, and the shepherd with his sheep.

But this year, we’re also inviting in the Nutcracker and the Christmas Witches, who are excited to brew the best mulled wine in their cauldrons! 

I love that people collect a new Wee Beastie Christmas edition every year to add to their collection, and I hope you enjoy this year’s creations.

A Gathering of Angels

A new addition to the LilliBean Christmas collection this year is my angels. I believe in the messages of angels and that we are divinely protected and guided by them, so I wanted to bring a little of that into the LilliBean world.

These are small original paintings of angels, with mixed-media hearts, celebrating love, peace, joy and hope are not only beautiful reminders of the best of the season, but can be used all year round. 

They are limited to 20 in total, and I’m very excited to see them appearing in their frames. 

A Little Everyday Christmas Magic

Of course, Christmas at LilliBean wouldn’t be complete without several other projects in the works. 

Hand-painted notebooks have proved to be the most popular addition to the LilliBean catalouge that I will be making more. 

But there are also the Shadow Moon collection, (inspired by a conversation I had with a customer at the market.) 

My Australian-themed Christmas cards and tags will return this Christmas, and there is the new 2027 art calendar featuring 12 artworks.

Something Special Is Being Wrapped Up

This year, I’m also putting together five different Christmas gift boxes, each filled with a little LilliBean magic to make gift-giving that bit easier. 

There are still a few pieces to make and a few things to arrive in the studio, but I’m looking forward to sharing them with you once everything comes together.

A Few Important Christmas Dates

With Christmas coming up, there are a few important dates to add to your diary.

1 November — The LilliBean Christmas Collection Launches

This is the launch date for the 2026 Christmas range, when the Christmas shop goes live.

In November, I’ll definitely be heading to River & Wren in Wagga, but I’m currently waitlisted for Canberra Handmade.

So the best place to grab your LilliBean whimsy this Christmas is through the website.

Over the coming weeks, I’m going to be sharing more behind-the-scenes glimpses as the collections come together, including paintings in progress and the occasional creative adventure.

I’ve also been putting together a special Christmas corner of the website, the LilliBean Christmas Hub, where you’ll find everything you need from the new collections and gift ideas, and you will also find tutorials, decorating DIYs, Christmas rituals and other fun things to help bring a little more magic into your festive season.

The Magic Is Beginning

There are still quite a few things to paint, a few creative ideas to bring to life and undoubtedly a few side quests popping up along the way.

And while Christmas seemed to take forever to arrive when I was a child, I have a feeling this one will be here in the blink of an eye.

But the magic is beginning, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

You can keep up to date with all the comings and goings in the studio by joining the LilliBean Designs email community.

Join the LilliBean email community for studio updates, creative adventures and a little everyday whimsy.

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