I've pretty much given up trying to do anything productive over this past week, what with Christmas coming and attending celebrations here and there, along with a head cold to mess with my brains.


So instead of making things, mostly I've been dreaming of the space I will someday have where I will make those things... Right now I work in the back corner of my living room.  It's cramped and small and disorganized and messy most days.  

  There is a shed on my yard that is presently filled with storage, but will one day (with the help of time, time, more time, and some money) be my sweet haven of creativity.  I can see it now: a half loft with shelves to store extra materials and a pillow covered couch to rest and dream of new things...The main level of the studio will have shelf-lined walls.  On these shelves will be stacks and stacks of fabric, visible in all their glory instead of packed away in the bins they are in today.  The shelves not loaded with fabrics will have fabric boxes and baskets full of paper and ribbon and buttons, patterns and thread, old books and wire bindings... And more shelves yet will display my many art books and sketchbooks brimming with brilliant ideas.  There will be a big laundry sink to wash paint brushes and other things.  A big desk on one wall to spread out the binding machine and papery goods, a big table in the middle to lay out fabric goods and to cut material.  And I'll have cork boards and chalkboards (made be me!) to organize my thoughts and plans.  Sigh...  Someday...


Today I hung a big framed cork board above my computer in my living room nook.   I made it for myself (for Christmas maybe?) as a place to organize my plans for another year of creating and making.  A tiny little start to a big project, it's a start for my one-day studio.  

-Maria

It's almost Christmas!  I've been feeling Christmas-y for quite awhile now.  Longer than I have for a long time - possibly since the excitement of childhood.  I longed to have my tree up EVEN before December 1st and that's not the way I roll.  I longed to listen to Christmas music before December arrived and that, too, is something strange - I think, actually, that working in retail for a few holiday seasons ruined Christmas music for me til now.  Seriously, for the last many years, a few weeks was MORE than enough caroling for this girl.  The problem I'm facing is that after so many weeks with the majority of the days spent feeling really quite brutal - my gumption may be at an all-time low.  I am still excitedly waiting to see if THIS year, my dreams of family traditions come to fruition...but I'm a more sedated excited - from a reclining position on the floor or couch.  I'm still not done the baking I wanted to do, nor are ALL my gifts completely done...and it's hard to muster up enough gumption finish.  You'd think that could make a girl lose the Christmas spirit but, thankfully, I haven't yet.  It's just slower going than I would truly appreciate.  But, as they say, slow and steady wins the race....and there's always the Christmas chocolates I've slowly been stocking to raise activity levels.  Right?
-celia 

Now that I'm back from my vacation away and the Christmas tree is set up, I am really feeling ready for the season (not that it takes much for me).  My favourite part of it all is waking up early every morning and sitting in the dark living room by the lit-up tree with a hot cup of coffee, watching the sky turn gradually lighter shades of blue.  I get a warm and peaceful feeling from that.  


Other than the tree, my husband and I don't really have a whole lot of decorations to adorn our home, but the few we do have I really love: a tiny house that shines coloured lights through the windows, a large red glass candle holder that glows warmly red when lit, sprigs of red berries in vases here and there...Browsing through Etsy, I can find many amazing pieces that would surely feel loved and at home around here as well...  

-Maria

1.  Vintage Red Ruby Candy Dish by PassionForVintage.  I love colored glass.  Especially red.

2.  Poppy Bowls by PrinceDesignUK.  

3.  Three Red Porcelain Bud Vases by NewMoonStudio.  They have some amazing vases in this shop -yum!

4.  I would so love a set of these beautiful and unique Hand-painted Stemless Wine Glasses by marywibis.

5.  Vintage Christmas ornaments by melanieperalto28.  My family used to have these beautiful indented kind of ornaments when I was young, but they eventually broke.

6.  Sweet Fabric Wreath by janejoss.  This lovely wreath puts my own handmade wreath to shame. 

7.  String Lights by panmile2005.  These are so lovely and soft and feminine.

8.  Tea Towels by PonyAndPoppy.  So cheerful and crisp!

Thanks to everyone who signed up for our free email newsletter; we like that monthly connection with do-it-yourself tips, news, coupons and sale information.


Congrats to Madalyn, the winner of our December giveaway draw!  If your name is Madalyn, check your email -we'll be sending you a note in regards to delivering your pillow covers.

If you weren't the winner, don't forget that our Facebook Holiday sale is still on until December 15th!  Check out our page to see how you can get 20% off your order.


Happy Holidays all!  Hope it's lovely and cozy and happy for each one of you.

-Maria

After a long summer of farm-work and a harvest season that seemed to never ever end, my husband and I are heading off on a small vacation this week.  We are looking forward to enjoying the snowyness that's descended, sitting by a wood-fire, going for walks and looking in shops, soaking in hot pools, and most of all, being away from home for a little while where we just can't seem to stop working!  


One of the lovely things about being in a partnership is that even though I'll be away for a week or so, Cecelia will still be around to hold the place together, send out orders and such.  So I hope you all continue to visit our shop and enjoy our Facebook Holiday sale until the 15th of December.  


Enjoy the season -my favourite part of Christmas is always the days leading up to it, enjoying the colorful lights during dark mornings, endless amounts of Christmas movies on TV, and the anticipation and expectation of time spent enjoying the company of family and friends... Happy December!


-Maria