reading on the subway

I love seeing people reading on the subway. It makes me happy. I read a book every week during my commute. This week I'm reading People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. Loving it. What are you reading today?

 

Port Mouton in the Winter

Some people go away to the seaside in the winter. They usually go south :) Where it is warm. I go east. Where is is not warm.
But our house in Port Mouton is very cozy. Very hygge.
We spent a glorious week there.

Here we are on Day 2 -- at Carters Beach
(please click on these photos -- they look so much better when they are large!)

 (can you see that little cape islander? it is coming in from hauling lobsters!)

Our little bit of festive decor :)

We woke up one morning and the frost looked so beautiful. I ran outside in my pajamas to take these shots!  The pond. Hence "Pond House" or Pond Cottage (what do you think of Pond Cottage?)

If you want to see more of the fantastic beaches in the area, please go to Sara Harley's blog and visit her videos of the 12 Beaches of Christmas (you will have to scroll down a bit to find them at the end of 2014). They are all within a short drive of  us. And they all look (and sound) so different.

Next up : one more post about Nova Scotia -- and then onto some art! Yes, I still make art. I don't just collect art supplies.

12 Days of Christmas

Well, I wish it was Christmas all year round :)
I'm a bit late in posting my 12 Days ornaments -- Once again, I was in a FABULOUS swap hosted by Elizabeth. My return box was somewhat late (mail took forever this year), so Miss L, my mom and I opened them up, 3 per day, right before Christmas. Actually, it is the 11 days of Christmas this year -- someone had some difficulties and had to bow out.

The ornaments were extra fabulous this year!

First up!

Day 1 - Kathie Barrus

 Love her! So medieval looking. Medieval art was my specialty in University, so I lean towards anything medieval/ renaissance looking. (I have a degree in art history :)

Day 2 -- Christine Lush Rodrigues

 OMG! I have been wanting a piece of Christine's ceramic sculpture ever since I saw her website. This photo doesn't do it justice. So much depth and texture. It is beautiful and looks fabulous in its new home among my tree collection!

Day 3 - Barbra Posey

 Isn't this little cutie fabulous??? He is swinging on a star! Another addition to my snowman collection!!!!!

(I just can't get over how green it was on this day, just a few days before Christmas!)

Day 5  -- Marilyn Hammenwright

 I really couldn't get a good shot of this felted ball. See those beads? The Big Dipper. WOW! Great idea, Marilyn! This one will be featured front and centre next year when our theme is "Navigation" (my mom has a theme each year -- this year was "Christmas in Paris" or "An ooh la la Christmas") (or "oh la la")

Day 6  -- Melissa Terlizzi

Melissa is a polymer clay artist -- see the "six" button on her packaging!

This is perfect! I have started a collection of snowmen (so now I collect snowmen and trees :) (and snowflakes, and bottles/ snowglobes). Maybe I'll show those collections someday ;)

 

Day 7 --  Me! - Martha Brown
 " I wish we could bottle up Christmas Spirit" 

 So I did!

 Day 8  -- Maryanne Lush

I could not get a good photo of Maryanne's glittering cone of goodness. It has a bottlebrush tree in there!

 

Day 9  -- Robin McIntyre

 

Robin knitted 12 bells. Soft, white, perfect bells. I love how her tag matches what is inside..... I wonder if Robin carved the stamp?

 

Day 10 -- Stephanie Woolsey

 Stephanie made this adorable snow globe. I have made these in the past too -- and they look so nice together! Another collection :). Look at those bottle brush trees. and that gold stag. I am so lucky!

 (we made the left one in my class last year -- I wish that I had the nice, round wine glasses that Stephanie used!)

Day 11 -- Linda Morgan

 

I liked the back of the wrapping so much I took a shot of it. Fantastic washi tape. 

  

I have a year round collection displayed of art dolls (not surprised, are you?). This one will go up on my doll wall :) 

 

the back was as fabulous as the front!

Day 12 -- Elizabeth Woodford 

 I didn't think that I was going to be able to pry this bird out of my mom's hands :). But I have a bird collection. In fact, in the past I have bought birds from Elizabeth.  Can a person have too many collections? 

And it's a wrap!
 Thank you everyone for participating, and especially to Elizabeth for hosting and organizing and reorganizing and prompting and reminding and unpacking and packing and repacking and mailing......

 (my ornament has the incorrect name below it)

2015 - one little word - hygge

Over the past few years, I have chosen a "word" to exemplify my year. 

This year, I knew the sense of the word that I wanted to use, but I couldn't find a word that embraced it. 

These are some that I considered:

thrive

healthy

home

no

slow

focus

mindfulness 

less

But none of these seemed perfect in themselves ( and I didn't mean "no" to be negative -- it is just a reminder to myself that I have to say no more often -- I do too much and am constantly exhausted - because I am a pleaser and like to say yes to everyone :)

I follow (and read)hundreds of blogs daily/ weekly, and one of my go to bloggers is Holly Becker from Decor8. She is currently living in Germany  and posted about embracing life in a "smaller" way.

She talks about hygge -- a Danish concept of being socially warm and cozy and relaxed. I researched hygge a lot -- and decided that this is what I need. A year of hygge to recharge my batteries :). You say it "huy-guh"

Please see Holly's post here to learn more about hygge.

One of my favourite stores (in London, Ontario ) is called Hyggeligt  a fabric store, of course) ( you can order online and also visit them in Toronto at the CreativFestival.) (they carry Liberty of London fabrics, swoon, among other fabulous lines)

So, have a cozy 2015!

( I am testing a new blogging app  for iPad and iPhone -- BlogGo -- it seems to add photos well, but I have had some problems with interface and stability when I have to leave the post to copy a link -- but at least I can add links! WooHoo!) ( remember, 'save' is always your best friend)