Christmassy Stuff.

Image via the always wonderful Abby

Well, I don't have any great excuse for neglecting this poor old blog for so long. I mean, I do but none that I need to bore you all with. Lets just say that life has been life, bumpy and unexpected. There has been lots of things I've wanted to share with you but never the time to sit down and give it the time I would like.

Anyway, it's December. How even did that happen? I thought I better let you know the mailing dates for Christmas orders, if you're thinking of picking up a little something from either of our shops this year. I'm adding a whole bunch of new Watchful Eyes folks over the next couple of days, including our new Speculators series for all the sci-fi fans you might be buying for. Plus, I'm going to list a few one off jewellery pieces in our main store so that we can clear things out for the new collection that we're working on. There won't be anything over $25 in that range so hopefully there will be something for everyone! Please make sure you buy anything you might want in time for Christmas by the dates below. They are all in New Zealand time, by the way.

Christmas Mailing Dates

New Zealand - 18th December

Australia - 8th December

Rest of the world - 3rd December

I'll be back soon with something a little less shop-y, I promise. I hope you're all enjoying the start of December where you are. 

xx

In between.

I've discovered that I really love this week in between Christmas and New Years, it's so perfect for recovering from the holidays, thinking about resolutions, getting excited for the change of a new year, pottering about the house and indulging in being a bit lazy. Up until today, things have been dark and gloomy around these parts (I love how early it gets dark), lots of rain and lots of reason to hole up indoors. 

I just read this great post over at Jane's place and I can totally relate with her feelings of Christmas having to live up to the expectations of this perfect, sparkly day and the reality of how rarely that actually happens. Don't get me wrong, I actually really love Christmas, but the past couple of years I've found myself trying to make up for the fact that it's just the two of us by over compensating ever so slightly on the preparations. Christmas has always been a big celebration for my family, lots of traditions, lots of food, lots of decorations, and I love it. But with just the two of us, there's really no need for the amount of food I hauled home from the supermarket on Christmas Eve when I was freaking out that we had nothing special in the house. This year our tree was a branch we grabbed from the sidewalk outside our apartment with silver baubles strung on it and I didn't finish cooking our main meal until late at night (because of course I was also baking cookies, roasting a nut mix and making peppermint bark at the same time). When I sat (slumped) down to eat I honestly had to wonder why on earth I'd gone to all that trouble. In the end, I secretly love the fact that Christmas is just the two of us and that we can stay in our pajamas all day until we go out into the quiet streets and see a movie. 

In the end, our holiday has been a great one. This past in between week where neither of us have had to work has been so nice and relaxing. I've been knitting and reading for the first time in ages, and am completely unworried that we have someone coming to view our house tomorrow despite my lack of tidying. The sun made a glorious appearance today, and it looks like it will be sticking around to ring in the New Year. I (quietly) can't wait! 

How have your holidays been?

Merry and Bright.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, friends. I hope your weekends are filled with loved ones, laughter, treats and plenty of time to relax. Thank you so much for all your love and support this past year, see you back here soon! xo

Nocturnal Magic

I was looking through the old encyclopedia we use to find our bookmark images awhile ago for a custom order, when I came across this beautiful aurora borealis image. I scanned it in because I have a feeling it would look great printed up nice and big, something I have in mind to try out in the new year. With tonight's nocturnal happenings, and ushering in the Winter Solstice it seemed like the perfect time to share it. I love how the etched lines look alive and sparkling, and even though it isn't a Christmas image it feels to sum up this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere so perfectly for me. Sitting here, sipping a winter ale in our finally clean house, when it has been dark since around 4pm, it's so hard to believe that next Christmas will be spent at the beach during daylight savings! 

Like most of you I'm sure, I can't quite believe that it is Christmas this weekend. This weekend! These last few months have flown by, and now that all our markets are finished, orders are posted and the shop is closed up for a little while I've got that post school exam feeling of not being able to sit still or know what to do with myself. Really though, I'm sure the sitting still part will come quickly and as for what to do with myself I'm hoping to spend as much of these dark winter months with pals as possible. Aside from seeing this everyday, there are a few lovely people who are what I will miss most about this rainy city so I plan on squeezing as much QT in as I can. I'm also so looking forward to getting some reading (both blog and print, a comfy couch is calling my name) in, starting on the Christmas baking tonight, stringing some sort of twinkling lights and taste testing the various festive drinks on offer. I might even blog! Imagine it. 

For now I'm off to light some candles, put on a record and embrace the hippy vibes. What are your plans for the holiday season? 

Winding down.

Lights of Hope, St Pauls Hospital (I snapped this on my iphone while riding home last night)

The weather lately has been totally screwing with me, no snow but warmer temperatures and lots of drizzly rain. It doesn't feel like Christmas time at all! I'm pretty sure it's also due to the fact that we have been insanely busy which of course means our house is a mess and I've only half decorated (don't even get me started on holiday baking or Christmas movie watching!). Don't get me wrong though, we're busy because so many lovely people have being buying handmade for Christmas from us, and we greatly appreciate the support for our wee store! We'll be sending off our last couple of last minute packages tomorrow via speedy Fedex, and then after a major clean up it'll be all about movie watching, decorating and gingerbread baking! I also have a ton of ideas blog posts and craft projects I want to get to and share with you all, so I'm looking forward to getting on top of all that come next week.

I hope you're all winding down for the year, and getting some relaxation in now that Christmas is almost upon us (ha, unless like me there are still gifts to finish and you're secretly just freaking out. Bring on the mulled wine and hot toddys, I say!). Enjoy a lovely weekend!

xo

Fröhliche Weihnachten!

A little funky German Christmas love for you all. I can't tell if I love this song more for the video clip, how much it reminds me of late night Christmas shopping or Bobby Farrell's hair/'solo'*/costume/dancing. I do secretly love these guys though, in all their weird German reggae disco glory!

p.s. Thanks for all the well wishes, sadly we're still sick. Ugh. More tea, please!

*Bobby Farrell doesn't actually sing, it's all lip synced. Same manager as Milli Vanilli, seriously. Is it weird that I know this?

'Tis the season

So, despite Vancouver magically turning beautiful and sunny this week, both Richard and I have come down with a nasty cold. Richard is on his second week off work, and I just feel like staying in bed and drinking copious amounts of tea for the rest of my life. Ugh. So to brighten up my day (and many days to come) I have for you another Christmas favourite. Basically I think I'm going to post one everyday until Christmas, because really, what's not to love (you may unfollow until after Dec. 25th if you wish)!

Enjoy!

It's time...

As Richard and I were coming home from errand running last night, and checking out the full on very Santa happy Christmas display of a nearby hotel, I reminded him that as of today we're allowed to start listening to Christmas carols. Strangely he wasn't nearly as excited as me. I love Christmas carols! I have many a favourite album, and this song has quickly gone right up there with Sufjan Stevens, Phil Spector and Boney M. I love these ladies, and their take on this old standard is so very dreamy. Now it's time to decorate, hurrah!

Merry Christmas, enjoy!

Getting closer.

The very latest I can send my Christmas presents home is this Wednesday. Ideally, I'll get them out today as the postage will be cheaper, but...you know me. There are a few things still waiting for final details, etc, etc. So at the moment I'm feeling equal amounts of being overwhelmed and being excited.

This is most definitely helping with the excitement. Oh, how I love this man with his talk singing and dreamy voice.

Back to it!

xx