♪ ♫ It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas ♪ ♫

Noooooo, the tree isn't up yet...

At the moment the living room is filled with boxes of welcome signs, which need to either sell, or go live upstairs until next year, hehe. That accomplished (hopefully this weekend), we'll tackle the tree. ;)

But elsewhere in the house, there are little signs that Yuletide approaches...

I've been making these wonderful pomanders, which may turn up as gifts - unless I decide to do as my Grandmother, and tuck them away in drawers, and linen closets...

They're so easy! All you need is an orange, a jar of whole cloves, and some kind of piercing tool, like a skewer or icepick. Poke a few holes, insert a few cloves, and so on, until the orange is covered. The scent is amazing. You can add ribbon and hang them too, like an old fashioned kissing ball. ♥

The china cabinet is filled with Christmas teapots from my little collection. The bunnies are among my favorites...


And of course, The Nutcracker...

I can't remember where we picked up this sparkly old Santa, but he fits right in...

That's Susan Branch's "Christmas From the Heart of the Home" in the background - a must have if you love Christmas cookbooks. :)

In the kitchen, scented candles sit on top of the pantry, next to the old rooster cookie jar. Bayberry and spicy orange are burning today...

And old fashioned ribbon candy sits in a dish atop the woodstove. Soooooo tempting, but I'm trying to be good. ;)

Very soon, we'll trim the tree and hang the stockings on the woodstove mantle.

And I must remember to take a few pics outside, where the old watering can is filled with greenery, and a bright red wreath adorns the front door...

At the moment, there's packaging and shipping to be done! Those welcome signs offered a couple of posts back are flying out the door later this evening. It makes me so happy to think my work is even a small part of someone's celebration. Truly special. :)

I'll be back very soon to share some works in progress, and in the meantime, I hope this finds you decking your own halls, and enjoying every bit of *magic* the season has to offer!

Much love,
♥ Carolee

Show and Tell

Remember those days in school? I remember Show and Tell was always on a Tuesday, and I also remember just being sooooooooo excited to share....well, I can't exactly remember WHAT, but do I remember the excitement. ;)

That's a bit how I'm feeling - so much to share I hardly know where to start!

The week began with a knock at the front door, which I admit I tried very hard to ignore. I do that sometimes if I'm working - ignore knocks at the door. It's usually either magazine salespeople or young men in ties trying to convert me, so I'm in no hurry to check it out. But Cadie and Cosmo (a.k.a. the crazy Aussies) were not having any of that, and when the barking finally reached a level that went straight for my spinal cord, I decided to see what the fuss was about.....

Sooooooo glad I did!

It was a priority mail delivery from one of my collectors and friends - this beautiful bunny teapot, a gift for my 50th! Can you believe it!? Not that I'm 50 I mean, but that one of my collectors would be so sweet? I'm overwhelmed. It's in the china cabinet with a few of the other teapots (I have a smallish collection), where it will stay until I change the teapots around for Christmas. :)

Thank you again, Barbara!! I'll treasure it always....

The next amazingly wonderful surprise came last night in the form of two emails congratulating me on my work appearing in Early American Life magazine's "Events" section, representing the Ghoultide Gathering. Here's the little blurb, with a photo of last year's "Carnivale de Mystique" chest....

I'm thinking of bringing something similar to the show this year, we'll see. Just two of these chests left and one is already in progress for a commission. ;)

The next bit of excitement is that I was able to lay my hands on one more very large platter, which I've spent the last couple of days working wicked and whimsical magic on...

It lists tonight on eBay, at 9PM eastern. :)

Finally, I have to share the fabulous Miss Vanessa Valencia's annual Halloween Party! SUCH fun, these blog events, and I'll be there with pointy shoes and bells on. :)

That's about it for now. I'm about to have a glass of red wine with my very late supper, put my feet up and catch up on a bit of reading.

Oh! And if you haven't already, please scroll down to the previous post and sign up for my little giveaway. I'll draw the winner's name on Monday. :)

Wishing everyone a magical weekend!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´
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(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`• ~ Carolee