allsorts

Between holidays

Christmas 2005 is behind us, and its almost New Year's. I love this no-man's land between the two holidays. Its kind of a limbo time, still cleaning up after the craziness of Christmas Day, but not ready to take the decorations down just yet. Ro has the week off, and we've actually gone to the movie theater to see two films within four days! This is unheard of, we're most often cocooning with whatever dvd has arrived from our Blockbuster que. We of course were the last people on the planet to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and maybe the next to the last to see the new Pride and Prejudice. I'm wild about Harry, but ecstatic about P&P! Keira Knightley made a spectacular Lizzie, and it had some of the most breathtaking scenes from the English countryside I've ever seen. Fantastic.

As for Christmas, ours was a resounding success! Family, friends, food and fun, all the things that make life a banquet! Several people were snapping pics, but not me. If any decent snaps come my way, I'll share them here, or pop them into an album on flickr. Oh, and I'm especially over the moon about my present from Ro: new pots and pans! They are Calphalon tri-ply stainless and cook like a dream. Thanks, big guy!

Sorry I have no images in this post, if I stop to scrounge something I'll never get this post up!

Cheers,

Jenny

Holly Jolly Friendsday

Just a quick post for Friendsday, because there is still so much to do and relatives start arriving tomorrow night! I am in love with two of the cutest new blogs. Well, they are new to me at least. Take a peek:

I am nuts about Alicia's blog Posie Gets Cosy. She has an online shop called Posie and a bricks and mortar shop called Ella Posie. She does adorable stockings! Her blog is so creative and clever and fun, I am completely hooked! Check out her design for Christmas wrapping this year. I have struggled with mine, since I kind of fell in love with her candy-striped string, only I couldn't find any. So I bought a couple of balls of string-ish yarn in red and white and I'm twisting them together and using brown kraft paper. When I unearth my camera I'll try to snap a pic before the hordes descend and rip them to shreds. But check out Alicia's sites, you'll be hooked, too!

And I swear Meg of Beetlegrass has somehow tapped into my dream decorating vein, just look at the colors and fun details she has going on in her house. And this is her Advent Calendar... all seven days of it! Cracked me up. I could just hug them they are so cute. And her illustrations are colorful and super-jazzy. Check out her blog and her illustration site, too!

I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday... its almost here!

Cheers,

Jenny

Tiny button tree

Allow me to introduce the fastest little felt tree ever made. I cut a partial circle out of my favorite shade of teal felt, stitched up the seam and used pins to secure a sprinking of red buttons and beads onto it (I didn't even sew a bottom onto it, just stuck enough fluff into it to give something for the pins to hold onto). Then I dumped out a pile of white buttons, plunked down the tree and voila! Instant cuteness! Here's a wider view...

And the basic shape:

Special thanks to Lyn, and her adorable trees with mega-personality. Terrific inspiration!

Cheers,

Jenny

Cantate Domino, y'all!

Sorry about the Typepad hiccup back there, I imagine there are a few people who have gotten very little sleep lately trying to get everyone's blogs back up to speed. I'm just glad I can get back in here and post about this:

The cards I ordered from Katy have arrived! And amazing they are, too. My camera cannot begin to capture the intense color, especially the deep cranberry red of the paper. I count at least four plates used and that many different shades of variations on an icy blue. And they are tiny, only five inches across! I am blown away at how gorgeous they are. Not sure I can bring myself to part with any of them, but out they must go. Thanks, Katy!!!

Today is the day I finally get serious about gift shopping. I managed to place quite a few orders online, but for some people you just have to wander through the stores until something strikes you as perfect for them. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it!

Cheers,

Jenny