Happy New Year

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” Eleanor Roosevelt

Welcome 2008
Good luck to everyone on their resolutions, plans, goals, dreams and promises, hope they give you opportunities to succeed soon.

A peek into my list posted on the bathroom mirror, it is glittery & sparkly & full of stars. Pic is from a calendar, sunrise through snow gums in winter.

Important Days

“There is not such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.” Alexander Woolcott

That time of year again when people start making resolutions or finding their one word that resonates for the year coming. Sandi of the Whistlestop Café makes promises instead of resolutions.

A nice idea as we all know if any of these plans were that easy, we would have done them already. Am working on my list of promises & plans, what about you?

Making Magic – takes planning

I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Charles Dickens


Participated in the 12 Days of Comfort Bella event over the last few weeks. One of the first projects was a template to create a little note book to hold all the details of December shopping. That got me started on this desk top diary which will be my Christmas Planner for 2008 because as any crafter knows it is never too early to start planning for next year.

The idea to honour Christmas all through the year was inspired by Shimelle and others who host Christmas Journal groups. Now we have someplace to safely keep all the recipes that did not get test driven this year and craft ideas that need to be scheduled. With family & friends scattered all over the globe, one can never start too soon.



The note book will give me lots of space to practice new color combinations and play with ideas.

Thank you for the very kind rak from my friend at Tied Up In Ribbons who’s blog has lots of playful creative things happening there.

And a special thank you for my family for their gifts and supporting my creativity.

Oh so charming

"Of all the beauties, Charm attracts the most lasting admiration, gives the sparkle to every thing we say or do, and renders us amiable in every station and thro' every stage of life." Eliza Haywood

Mary Ann of Follow Your Bliss is hosting a Valentine Swap in the new year that I am looking forward to starting on soon after the holidays, nothing like celebrating a season full of love and caring.

Christmas means. . . . . .

"Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought,
doesn't come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more? "~Dr. Seuss



Christmas means for me a time to remember all the people and things in life that we are thankful for.

This is a card Wendy of Berry Lane created for us during a recent Vintage Stocking Swap.










“ The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.” Francis P Church response to Virginia







When we were small, mum would read Yes Virginia to us each Christmas from this little book that she had thrifted in the early 60’s.


It was a special part of our family traditions to gather under the tree on Christmas eve while she remind us that Believing in Santa, Tinkerbelle & her fairy friends or ourselves was the most powerful force on earth and then sing us off to sleep with Christmas carols.








Christmas Magic, it is in the snowflaked skies of children's wishes. It's in the music of children's laughter. It's in the breathlessness of children's anticipation. It's in the faith of children's embraces. The magic of Christmas is here... In the childlike wonder of us all and perhaps – in gingerbread?

Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful Christmas.

Christmas Magic

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. Norman Vincent Peale

2 Peas month long blogging challenge has been hard to keep up with while we are on the road, today I am combining 3 prompts
Favorite Gift
Favorite Memory
and When Did You Learn The Truth Of The Magic of Christmas.

Today is our little one’s birthday and is our most special Christmas Gift. Every year as she grows and evolves, it makes me all the more humble to say that she is my best ever creation. Christmas magic is when regardless of the numbers on your calendar you want to grow up to make the world a better place for someone else.

Christmas is a magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance, not seen but felt with all the senses. Christmas may weave a spell of nostalgia for some, it may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a time of remembrance--when we think of everything & everyone we have ever loved. Augusta E. Rundel

Sharing some of my favorite Christmas decorations. Hearts, reindeer and hand crafted textiles.

"The joy of brightening other lives,
bearing each others' burdens,
easing others' loads
and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts
becomes for us the magic of Christmas."
W. C. Jones

And as the Grinch says, “Christmas gifts don't always come with packages, boxes and bows” but some times is kind of nice when it does. A big than you goes out to Nicole of Table Scraps for a huge parcel of her scraps and you Enna of the Scrapbook Room for the Christmas themed chipboard.

Always Remember

“Promise me you'll always remember
You're braver than you believe,
and stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think.
Christopher Robin to Pooh”

This is my childhood buddy Ted.
My grandmother brought him out from London and as you can see he is quite elderly but well very much loved. Ted is in foster care with my sister as his straw stuffing prevents him from traveling much these days and must bring some leather to repatch him next visit - because I remember.

Christmas Time

Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind.
Mary Ellen Chase

Photo taken at a relative’s place that was decorated with lots of little special trims.

Some of my favourite creations, vintage 1982

We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an good friend. - Robert Louis Stevenson

On the road to my daughter’s place for Christmas on the beach.
















Nothing like being welcomed back to Australia by the native wildlife! I wouldn’t mind if the water dragons if they did not chase me every time I went into the garden.

Home for Holidays

“When I speak of ‘home’, I speak of the place, where for want of a better description, a place where those I love are gathered; and if that place were a gypsy’s tent, or a barn, I should call it by the same good name notwithstanding.” Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby

Had the most amazing visit with family and friends in Ontario, White Christmas musical, lunch at Arcadian Court, Christmas window displays, shopping in the main street of St Jacob’s village complete with Mennonites in horse & buggies. Thank you everyone for making it special.

Karla’s Cottage is hosting a blog party on the theme of What I love about my holiday home and 2 peas is hosting a month long challenge on what makes the holidays special at your place.

Do check out the 100 links Karla has collected of people from around the globe all celebrating in their local custom or own special way. Posting some photos over the next few days of our holiday adventures and will keep adding on the way to our holiday destination of the white sandy beach.

Lunch at the Arcadian Court is a special event any time of year with its beautiful Art Deco décor and fantastic food. The room is so pretty; it was hard to take just one photo that captured everything, we tried this one for a fractured mirror view of the huge crystal chandeliers and grand architecture. Shrunk to fit for dial up bloggers some of the details are lost – you will just have to use your imagination

For anyone who loves their Swarovski crystals, this tree is a sparkling attraction at the Eaton Centre. We took a photo up close so you could see how it is simply covered in crystal decorations at from a distance twinkles with a million lights.

The Bay windows decorated for Christmas are a special tradition shared by many other big stores in cities around the world. We tried hard to take photos at an angle that did not include reflections of people walking by but then realised that it was part of the flavour of the day and decided to have fun working with the street scape instead for a layered effect reminiscent of altered art.

One of a kind

How are you doing with your home made pledge? This week I am visiting family in Toronto, in between playing with the snowflakes we will pop into the One Of A Kind Show to see what unique gifts are waiting a new home with us.

For Silver Bella fans there is now an opportunity to attend and event on line full of the usual merriment, techniques and tips

Some of my favourite shops include ........

Bittersweet Soap for the sweetest flavours and special touches

Beachy's Cape Cod Cupboard for vintage pretties with a touch of salt

Berry Lane - A recent swap partner who creates darling things

Faerie Window - for a touch of whimsey

Shabby In the City - her market days are a treasure chest

Please feel free to add your fav's to the list too as there are too many lovely little shops to choose from

still on holidays in the great white north

The Handmade Pledge

Have you taken the pledge to buy handmade?

Etsy, Ebay and many other internet based shops now make it possible for little traders from around the world to share their crafts with the whole wide world.

My family has a tradition of making presents but if you are running out of time to whip something up yourself, we now live in an amazing era that allows us to shop from home in our comfy slippers from homespun artists creating special unique gifts with their own hands.

Want more reasons to shop for handmade?

· no crowded parking lots
· satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter
· one-of-a-kind gifts with a level of detail that mass manufacturers could not touch
· buying handmade helps us reconnect with the process of creating
· environmental effects of mass production are a cause of global warming

Did you need any more excuses to shop?

PS Speaking of family - I am off visiting mine in Canada the next two weeks, blogging will be scattered an occassional from all kinds of places - St Lawrence Market, One Of A Kind, and if the snow holds off St Jacobs.

>

Debut - beginnings of an Altered Book

“Paris is the greatest temple ever built to material joys and the lust of the eyes.” Henry James

That must explain it, much more expensive than the usual 50cent book but how could you walk past that dust jacket, better yet the beautifully detailed cover.


Picked it up and put it down a few times
much too expensive for just a pretty cover
certainly not suitable for a good AB - it is not stitched
the story did not hold the attention
only one little picture of use on the pages inside

Decisions, decisions, decisions and here we are at home with book in hand trying to decide on a theme and should we split the spine to make it a chunky over embellished fat book or try to keep it in tact for a few polite petite pretty pages…………..

Got any suggestions ? If you are not familiar with my altered books here’s a link to the Garden Gate book from earlier this year.

Open to trades or swaps for ephemera, had to promise myself that we would not ebay anything to finish this book as it cost enough by itself. See how long I last on that promise :)

Virtual Vintage Prom

Over the next few days I will keep adding to this post for the Virtual Vintage Prom that Natasha is hosting. Not sure what that does for your google feed and blogger updates but you can always come back over the next few days to see the new additions below.

What about a little party starter
Frangipani Dreams

Drop a thick dollop of crushed mango at the bottom of a cocktail glass

¾ cup pineapple juice
¼ cup coconut milk
& if you are of legal age
1 shot of coconut liquor
½ shot of white rum
wizzed in the blender till frothy and pour

A girl needs a bit of fuel to keep up with this virtual vintage partying, may I suggest an old favourite, shrimp cocktail with a modern twist?

This is an easy fix summer salad that keeps your protein level up without getting to ‘bogged’ down.



grill shrimp/prawns with a little sweet chilli glaze or cajun spice
while you are waiting for them to get crunchy & crispy
chop tropical fruits of the season, mango, star fruit, melons, the sweeter the better and place in lettuce lined goblets or cups, sprinkle with a thinly sliced pepper for a quick and easy light meal

A wrist corsage and freshly starched hanky

The dress……..
As you can see, did not have access to a dress, instead we enlisted the assistance of a little frangipani fairy to show off her finest vintage party frock.

“We ought to dance with rapture that we might be alive” D.H. Lawrence

Post Party

This picture and quote are from the 1906 edition of The Lady's Realm

Had do share as it appears we may not have come as far as we think?

" The tendency of the modern woman in a large town is towards perpetual motion. Her meals are taken hastily, and immediately after them she is off in quests of pleasure or business. Ten minutes quite rest in the midst of all this whirl is practically an unknown luxury to her and when indulged in is often considered a frightful waste of time. Yet the value of the interlude is inestimable. "




Thank you for playing in the virtual vintage prom or visiting with us, hope you had as much fun as we did.

Random Little Acts of Sweetness

Lori of Faerie Window has posted this little button recently to celebrate the joy of finding new friends in blogland, the gifts of time and encouragement that is openly shared along with the tangible treasures that arrive in mailboxes to brighten the day.

Recently sent out some secret seasonal gifts to friends in the spirit of random acts of kindness. It felt so good to be able to send some goodness someone else’s way. How about you? Want to post Lori’s button and toss treasures around?

Searching For Sheet Music

Have got an idea for next year’s Christmas cards and hostess gifts that calls for sheet music background for songs like “Home for the Holidays”. If any one has something they could part with, drop us a line for a swap or paypal or what ever. You know how pedantic I am about the whole theme concepts and it just has to be ‘home & hearts’

Fashion

“Fashion fades, only style remains the same. “Coco Chanel

If you are joining in Natasha’s Virtual Vintage Prom, you might like to add this little image to your party pack or at it might help to springboard some ideas. Should be a clickable image for you to play with, let us know what you got up to with it. Can anyone tell me how to right click protect images for future posts?

ScrapFX

Thank you Enna of the Scrapbook Room for these darling ScrapFX chipboard pieces. Enna’s been showing off the ScrapFX range on her blog for the last few weeks and kindly shared some of her’s with us. There are all kinds of words and shapes including all your Christmas needs in baubles and trees.

Do check out Enna’s samples on her blog all glittered up in their seasonal finest.

Aiming For Stars

Reach for the moon... even if you miss you'll land among the stars

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails." Mark Twain

Found the template for this star on the Jasco papercraft site. Bit fiddly to piece together but glad we stuck with it as it is quite nice now that we are done (with bits of glue and tape stuck to everything else including me).

Dancing for Joy

“To dance is to be out of yourself.
Larger, more beautiful, more powerful.
It is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking." Agnes De Mille

Our neighbour from the south, Natsha Burns is hosting a virtual vintage prom, yes another ball in the blog world, full of fabulous fashion, feasts, fancy footwear and fun fantasy fineries. Ran out of F words.

Not much time to get yourself organised if you want to play, check out Natasha’s site for more details, while I scurry off to see what we can whip up for the occasion. Mark the date in your diary Nov 19th when I will begin posting festive photos here.

Have got to love Etsy and all the little on line stores the crafters are opening there to share their many different types of creations. My Cherry Heart has a little offer going to celebrate the opening of her shop. Do check out her sweet little birdies, they are the cutest.