Pre-holiday joy.

Over the weekend - it became Christmas time in our home. The backyard was prepared for winter. The sparkly white Christmas lights were BEEFED UP to holiday strength (we leave them up all year!). We made greenery wreathes with red berries for the front of the house (totally Dan's idea). WE PUT UP OUR TREE and hunted up our Christmas carols... We even bought some candy canes and scented candles. True. It might be a little early - but, I'm not so sure you can have too much of a good joy-spreading love thing. There's a lightening in your heart when there's twinkling lights all around.

It's also very, very hard NOT to get in the Christmas spirit when you're busy working on Christmas merchandise projects for your clients. CHECK THESE OUT. (I snatched this wonderful photo from Heidi's blog! Thanks Heidi!) These are PLANTABLE holiday greeting cards over at Botanical Paperworks. You give your Christmas message and the receiver gets your love AND the beautiful wildflowers this card will produce when the card is planted. No waste. It's all recycled paper with wildflower seeds. They are beautiful and they are going to go at lightening speeds.

*BOTANICAL PAPERWORKS STUFF & the power of a wee blog: It has been SO COOL to see the PLANTABLE products in people's homes. We've been out and about visiting friends and even meeting some brand new people that have bought their calendars and greeting cards from Botanical Paperworks. So cool. I got a little bit teary-eyed over it. It's a little bit overwhelming to feel that kind of support.  OH, and yes, it's a cool product, too. But, still. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

So. I 100% realize that not everyone celebrates or believes in Christmas. That's okay with me. Personally - what comes to mind for me (and I might be going out on a limb to say this) is not the religious roots of the holiday... but, my own memories of family get-togethers and parties and sort of just the coming together of hearts and cheer. Family. I like taking the time to write cards and tell you how much you mean to me. I like that. That's Christmas to me... It's even more exciting this year with a new person on the way and the idea that our families will all be +1 and intertwined a little bit deeper. So, bear with me if you do not celebrate Christmas or if you hate the holidays and the commercializing... Find something good within it. It's a reminder to love. Afterall, we really should be spreading love and joy all year anyways.

Holiday hooo haw:

Handstamped jewelry from Lisa Leonard: I have been wearing my SO BEAUTIFUL custom-ordered piece called LOVE IS MY PILOT and getting so many compliments... AND hearing about how a piece of this special jewelry from this special jewelry designer is on your list. YOU MUST ORDER BEFORE DECEMBER 5 to get it delivered for Christmas. Do it early. Do it now.

These are pretty darn sweet. Handmade ornaments. Thank you Elise for posting the instructions!!

Mobile's away! I got my hanging mobile in the mail last week and have come up with a very cool solution. I will post it when it's done! I didn't even realize until it got here that it's from KIKKERLAND. Swoon. I love those designers over there. Love them.

EggNog for your body? Yes. I'm anxiously awaiting my holiday favourite from TiberRiver: Grog Noggin'. It's Eggnog for your body. Well, that's kinda dreamy.

Ali has lots of cool projects on the go. She is so cool. I could never keep up with her craft-bility. I like EVERYTHING she makes. I like HER.

Today: SERIOUS odds and bit. Tomorrow is my official LAST DAY of work. And for the record - won't really be my last day of work because I still have lots and lots of work to do... BUT, I am not taking on anything new. I am not answering the phone. I am not entertaining anything other than what is on my list RIGHT NOW. I started two paintings yesterday - and I want to get to those this afternoon. I need to get out for a walk. I will probably post again this afternoon with some goodies. I am settling in to some serious GO.

Happy little-bit-late-birthday-greetings to my Aunt Marsha. She is a kick-ass high school teacher in a small town to the west of me... I wish I had a teacher like her when I was in high school. Her students are lucky people.

Ready set. You know the drill. GO!

Comments

[cathy]

your cup-o-candy-canes is pretty dreamy. triple arm pump to you for being in the holiday spirit! :)

[kris]

can i just say i came back to re read this post because i so needed to get happy right now.

[Laura Reaux]

I've had such a crazy day, it has taken me until now (1:30pm) to finish reading today's post. But having your cheerful, Christmasy blog to come to between the chaos was a TREAT. I needed your sweet spirit today! I totally LOVE those BP cards and plan on buying some. And the tags, too. Deliciously adorable!

[Jana]

Wow, that photo of candy canes would be a perfect Christmas card image....with the sentiment included! Sweet cards from BP too---can you tell what I'm thinking about these days? Yep, it's time to design this years card...

[Lexy G]

I can't say I've been too Christmassy for the past couple of years, but this year, I'm feelin it.

I'm going to MAKE a christmas tree! (I think) I've got the picture in my head. I'm just gonna need some psycho-strong glue. And all the pieces of the strangler vine we're cutting down from the front yard. I hope it works!!!

But you've definately got me motivated! Joy to you :)

[mama G]

i was working at the pineridge hollow home tours all weekend and it is all about christmas and to me, this feeling of the season. LOVE IT!

for an instant feeling of the season watch ELF. if that doesn't get you in the mood, then go suck a candy cane!

.. jingle all the way...

[Julia H Fitton]

It's funny, I was just telling my DH about how I hate when they start Christmas before Thanksgiving, it seems too comercial to me and I know that is their hope. But you are right in that we should celebrate joy and giving in love and cheer all year long. From what I have read on your blog and the work you exhibit, you seem like someone I would like to have as a friend, you're cool!

[elise]

so excited for this holiday.
thanks for the link up.
thanks for spreading the joy.

[maile]

oh my gosh, i always decorate the week before thanksgiving. I love my house the best when it's holiday-ed out. The lights, the cinnamon smell. I can't wait for this saturday. !!!
p.s. love your candy cane photo.

[leslie]

yes. the necklace is still on the list. need to get that checked off.
thanks for the ornaments idea. love it.
and thanks for the reminder that chrismtas is coming.
sometimes easy to forget stuff when in other countries.