Now that Christmas is over and gifts have been given, I can finally start revealing some of the things I’ve been working on the past few months! I’m so excited!
One of the most loved gifts went to my sister, who lives for 80s nostalgia (even more than I!) – and if it’s anything Nintendo-related, she’s all the more thrilled.
Last year she got Tetris soaps and a Koopa hat.
This year: living piranha chomper plant!
Want to see how I did it?
I came home to North Carolina for Christmas and was rewarded with the first white Christmas that I can remember – at least, here in the south.
Okay, so the snow came that night, but I think it still counts – and for us, this is a lot of snow! I thought I’d share with you (even though some of you are probably sick to death of it by now).
I spent a lot of time this year gathering and foraging, seeking and searching, at the pond and in the field…. all for the perfect materials with which to top gifts.
In the end I had grasses and feathers, and other dried items, all bundled together with bakers’ twine and each labeled with a bit of an antique book page.
This may be the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time:
Pick a location, get an address, and gift a stranger for the holidays!
(I’m sending to someone in China – how fun!)
Silver & Chalk is giving away a set of 10 crystal snowflakes PLUS one signed 8×10 fine art photograph of crystal snowflakes.
Entering is simple!
Simply leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about winter!
Additional entries can be had by:
1. Subscribing to the Silver & Chalk blog via email
2. Subscribing to my RSS feed
3. Heading over to my Etsy shop and letting me know what piece of art you like the best
For each entry, come back and leave a new comment letting me know what you did.
The giveaway will close on January 1, 2011, so you’ve plenty of time to enter!
I’ve added some new photographs to my Etsy shop, so go check it out! More are coming soon!
As kids, my sister called dandelion fluff “wishes” – and to this day I still refer to them (and other fluffs) as wishes.
I walked into an abandoned shed the other day, just to poke around, and found this: a giant wish catcher.
Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.
-Plato
One must not wish first to understand and then to feel. Art does not tolerate Reason.
–Camus
What we need is not the will to believe, but the wish to find out.
-Wordsworth
What wishes would you catch, if you could?
As much as I hate where I live right now, one thing has been a constant source of inspiration and beauty: the changing ecosystems in the field and at the pond.
I’ve been here a full year at this point and have had the intense pleasure of seeing each change according to season – and even within seasons at some points. The complete turnover in plant matter, insects, birds and other wildlife has been awe inspiring to say the least.
I thought I’d share a few treasures from our last trip to the pond:
What have you found inspiring around you lately??
It has been painfully cloudy here the past few days, and I’m sick of it! Where is all the sunshine Florida promised me? (Definitely not here.)
To add insult to injury, it’s been bitterly, bitingly cold. Too cold to take the dogs to the field. Too grey to… well, to anything. I’ve been walking around with every light on in the house in an attempt at replicating sunlight!
So I thought a little warmth was in order – in the form of orangey things that make me feel all melty, the way sitting in front of a roasting fire does.
1. A desktop ball of sun to brighten everything up.
2. Little notepads to record all my to-dos and mid-day brainstorms.
3. A vintage typewriter to help relieve writer’s block brought on by grey skies.
4. A lovely little ornament to craft while waiting for the sun to emerge.
1. Gorgeous Fluevogs to tromp out the shadows of the day.
2. Karma bubble bar to help recover from all that tromping.
3. Cheery teacup to hold the brew that brushes away the clouds.
4. Peacock fabric for a pillow in the reading nook.
Now it’s your turn – show me what you’re smitten with this week!
Are you ready?
The winner of the photography giveaway is Melanie!
I picked at random – there were only 4 of you, so I literally pulled names out of a hat. 🙂
Melanie, leave me a note saying which print you’d like and we’ll coordinate getting it out to you!
Thank you all so much for entering – stay tuned tomorrow for an all new Smittenday roundup and a new giveaway!
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