On the seventh day of Christmas ...

cottonwood carving by George Blackstock

On the seventh day of Christmas ...

One the seventh day of Christmas, my True Love has well and truly perplexed me.
Today's unwrapping revealed a tiny and beautifully carved abode for fairies or elves, arranged over eight floors and featuring seven flights of tiny stairs internally.
Is he trying to warn me that the patter of tiny feet will soon be heard ... ?

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

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On the sixth day of Christmas ...

mixed media "home is where the heart is" brooches by Amanda Maxwell

On the sixth day of Christmas ...

Oh Christmas - sometimes you make me cry, especially when I hear Sarah McLachlan singing "I'll be home for Christmas".
My sweet True Love bought me these six tree brooches to remind me of my beloved homeland and how much of a home I've made for us here. Each tree is rooted around scottish sea glass, except for the final one in the series,"i shall live here" which clasps a tiny chunk of Sunshine Coast glass.
Will I wear them, or leave them displayed on their tiny canvases?

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

Click here to see all twelve days of Christmas as they publish.

On the fourth day of Christmas ...

sterling silver leaf earrings by Urszula Petrykowska

On the fourth day of Christmas ...

Today's package was on the small side. My True Love carried it back home in his pocket (the giftshop is open till 6pm weeknights), muttering something about being drawn like a moth to a flame by the bright lights from the gallery windows.
But oh what riches inside such a neatly wrapped gift, in its own beautifully sewn gift bag too (from Christmas Marketplace too) -

four shiny metal leaves 

(which together make two pairs of  unique and stunning earrings)

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

Click here to see all twelve days of Christmas as they publish.
ooops! the link has been updated so it will take you to the 12 days now!!

On the twelfth day of Christmas ...

painting by Valerie Simons

Here at last!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

A grove of twelve (or possibly more) slender birch trees 

(we only have a deck, so where I will put these I have no idea),

Eleven speedy motor cars,

Ten by ten by tens of stunning and artistically crackled grout,

Nine lonesome wilderness beasts (I dare you not to take one home with you),

Eight bearded jolly men,

Seven flights of fairy stairs (we're planning a home extension to accommodate them),

Six felted fibre tree brooches (perfectly at home with the birch grove),

Five crazy ceramic frogs! (the joint is jumping, I tell ya!)

Four swinging metal leaves (my lobes are beautifully adorned),

Three marauding (gently, of course) polar bears,

Two sun-drenched deck chairs (hello Hawaii),

and a glowing lamp by my fireplace (so cosy this Christmas)!

All best wishes for Christmas.

I hope your true love has been as thoughtful and generous as mine - if not, then the gift shop is open on December 22nd so print this list out as a hint and send him/her packing :)

See all twelve days together here.

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

On the ninth day of Christmas ...

art magnets by Elizabeth Wallace

My True Love, since he is now doing all the kitchen prep work on account of my bandaged hands, has noticed how bare and boring our fridge looks.
This was only temporary - today's ninth day of Christmas gift was a package of nine colourful art magnets.
Now I worry I won't be able to get him out of the kitchen at all.

Check out the other 12 days of Christmas posts as they publish.

On the second day of Christmas ...

painting by Vicki Allesia

On the second day of Christmas ...

... my True Love, tired of my incessant complaints about the greyness, rain and cold, escaped the house this morning (round about 10am, gift shop opening time) then returned about an hour later with a flatpack under his arm.

Oh joy! I thought to myself - self-assembly furniture!

But no - two sunny deckchairs.

The painting is now up on my wall, and I'm sitting in front of it, sipping tea (out of a cup decorated with a cocktail umbrella), with my feet up and covered in self-tan lotion.

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

Click here to see all twelve days of Christmas as they publish.

On the fifth day of Christmas ...

ceramic frogs by Pauline Doyle

On the fifth day of Christmas ...

The place is jumping! Last night's arrival were these jolly creatures. They're a lively bunch; each time I turn around they've hopped off to a new launch pad.
Christmas won't be dull this year but I'd better cover the trifle!

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

Click here to see all twelve days of Christmas as they publish.

On the third day of Christmas ...

carved polar bears by Tom Reid

On the third day of Christmas ...

So ... I love the thought of being on a beach somewhere hot and sunny, but maybe I should really be thinking festive and seasonal (and Canada). I mention this to the True Love, and he gets this crazed look in his eye. Next minute, I hear the front door slamming and the sound of feet clattering down the path.

Now what?
Again, an hour later he returns with a carefully wrapped bundle - lo and behold,

Three perfect polar bears!

I feel so wintry

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

Click here to see all twelve days of Christmas as they publish.

On the third day of Christmas ...

carved bears by Tom Reid

On the third day of Christmas, My True Love is most definitely on a Remembrance of Things Past kick - these charming three bears are a great reminder of an interesting hiking encounter out on the trails earlier this year.
My! I didn't know I could beat him climbing over a trellis fence these days! Or that he could scream louder than me.
Oh my!

Check out the other 12 days of Christmas posts as they publish.

On the tenth day of Christmas ...

detail from mixed media panel by Karen Bagayawa

On the tenth day of Christmas ...

Oh my! My True Love came home last night bringing the biggest wrapped present I have ever seen him carry up the front steps. I swear it was a ten-by-ten but he says it measures less. He does admit though, that there are probably ten by ten by tens of gorgeous deep red plaster fragments embedded within the linen mesh.
I can't stop gazing at it - the beasts and I curled up on the rug, gazing up at our new treasure all evening. It makes a beautiful and dramatic statement - a perfect piece for the empty wall above the fireplace.

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

Click here to see all twelve days of Christmas as they publish.

On the ninth day of Christmas ...

original drawings by Sarah Ronald

On the ninth day of Christmas ...

My True Love had to stay away last night too, so he left me with this menagerie of wilderness beasts to pass the evening with. Once I had finished feeding, watering and tucking them all in for the night it was time to start serving breakfast.
Still, they kept me quite warm curled up round my toes, though I'm not sure when I'll get my bath back, and I don't know what the raccoon did with the trash ...

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

Click here to see all twelve days of Christmas as they publish.

On the eighth day of Christmas ...

driftwood sculpture magnets by Pat de Couto

On the eighth day of Christmas ...

This morning I blearily wandered into the kitchen in search of my morning coffee and found my every move scrutinised by this jolly crew on my fridge. My True Love is away today so he thought these gentlemen would keep me company. How sweet!

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

Click here to see all twelve days of Christmas as they publish.

On the eleventh day of Christmas ...

colourful wooden racing cars by Del Holbrook

On the eleventh day of Christmas ...

My True Love came home this evening, chuckling like a little kid.
"We're going to set up a race track, in the house," he shouted as he came into the hallway.
Oh dear, I thought. He really has gone off his rocker now.
But no - all was revealed as he emptied the contents of his bag out onto the floor. Eleven delightful and sturdy wooden race cars tumbled out, spinning off madly in all directions. The beasts and I scampered around on the wooden floor rounding up vehicles and zooming them back at one another.
Another happy evening :)

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

Click here to see all twelve days of Christmas as they publish.

On the twelfth day of Christmas ...

Watercolor dragonfly by Elizabeth Wallace

Almost there - Christmas is nigh.
Last night, as we snuggled together as a family, pets, and other visitors, with the smell of tobacco wafting gently in from the kitchen on the notes of a sea shanty, My True Love and I looked back over the last twelve months. A lot had changed - house, family, dog ... Our previous twelve days of Christmas seemed a lifetime ago.

"I think this seems appropriate," My True Love smiled as he reached behind the armchair, handing me a square package.
I opened it to find a beautiful watercolour dragonfly, its wings still shimmering from the water it emerged from s it dried out in the heat from the fire. A dragonfly - the symbol of change - how fitting.

Merry Christmas from us to you!

One lidded treats jar,

Two toasty slippers,

Three wooden words of calm,

For free, a knitting pattern , 

Five boxed foxes, 

Six waving branches,

A seven seas salty seadog,

Eight piggywig toes,

Around nine for winetime, 

Ten flowers on silk, 

Eleven paper boxes with earrings, 

A dragonfly for twelve months of change ...

Catch up with all the 12 days of Christmas posts!

On the eleventh day of Christmas ...

Earrings in handmade paper gift boxes by Zara Lau

Since it is our adorable baby's first Christmas, My True Love has decided that we should attend every possible party in the neighbourhood.
My idea of a first Christmas together is to go into deep hibernation in front of the fire and stay home as much as possible.
Never mind that I don't have any party clothes, or that I need to stay in to let the cat in, the foxes out, make sure the pig wipes his feet on the mat, shoo the gulls and stop the dog from worrying my slippers.
In the true spirit of Christmas Past, My True Love returned home with not one but eleven tiny boxes. Inside each handmade paper box was a beautiful pair of earrings, enough to make any outfit look special.
Maybe I am ready for the season after all!

One lidded treats jar,

Two toasty slippers,

Three wooden words of calm,

For free, a knitting pattern , 

Five boxed foxes, 

Six waving branches,

A seven seas salty seadog,

Eight piggywig toes,

Around nine for winetime, 

Ten flowers on silk, 

Eleven paper boxes with earrings, ...

Catch up with all the 12 days of Christmas posts!

A Christmas Marketplace created with you in mind

(Click here to read the article and see the slide show in your browser.)

• Who?  You!
• What?  Blackberry Artist’s Society's 17th Annual Christmas Marketplace
• Where?  Port Moody Arts Centre, 2425 St Johns St., Port Moody, BC
• When?  Open daily through Dec. 23rd — Mon.-Fri.: 10 am - 6 pm, Sat. : 10 am - 5 pm, Sun.: 12 pm - 4 pm
• Why? Shop local; buy handmade…. 

It was a frosty day…one of our first. Glittering ice crystals everywhere…on the sidewalk, edging the leaves, on the tall grass. It was the perfect day for me to head to Port Moody City Hall to take photographs of a Blackberry Artist's Society display highlighting our 17th Annual Christmas Marketplace. The slide show above gives you a glimpse of what’s in store for you at the full exhibition and in our gift shop at the Port Moody Arts Centre. The centre is housed in a beautiful example of classic Arts and Crafts-style architecture, a bungalow writ large. High ceilings and much ambient light make it the perfect setting for a Christmas Marketplace. Every piece glows, no matter the time of day, whether you are gazing at warp and weft, brush stroke, vitrified glaze, polished stone, wood, paper, rendering, precious metal, glass, or captured image. A sensory extravaganza! Next to it is the centre’s Christmas tree, full of handmade ornaments at very reasonable prices. In fact, each piece being shown at City Hall or in the centre’s 3-D gallery or Blackberry Gift Shop is conceived of and created by talented artisans. They not only love what they do, they are active members in their art co-op, each assuming roles needed to make the society and gift shop run. And a member will warmly greet you the moment you step inside the shop…. So, whether you’re breezing by the display at City Hall, or at the centre to see the tree or exhibitions, make sure you take the time to linger in our Christmas Marketplace and gift shop, which are filled with marvelous goodies. Not only will you see paintings, drawings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, but also weavings, stained glass, paper and fiber art, intarsia, and carved wood and stone. Every medium. Brighten your day and fill your heart with the loveliness of it all!

On the fifth day of Christmas ...

intarsia wood wreath by Del Holbrook

Five perfect bows! and an angel.
Everybody needs an angel at Christmas - especially My True Love, who inexplicably locked both sets of keys inside the car last night when we were downtown for a theatre outing.

As I walk away to get a better cell signal for calling BCAA, I hear him exclaim "Let me sort this!" and turn just in time to see him raising a handy lump of sidewalk from the road and hurling it through the passenger window.

At around midnight, when I had managed to sign him out of the police station, he then re-discovered the inside pocket of his new jacket.
This morning it appears that he's shattered the only replacement glass not in stock.
Ho ho ho.

Check out the other 12 days of Christmas posts as they publish.

On the first day of Christmas ...

Lidded bowl by Lucy Hwang

This year I am hoping for a peaceful Christmas season, unlike our house moving saga from the year before. My True Love and I are settled in to a new house - we've done as much renovating as each of us can stand. The cat has stopped shredding curtains and has settled down as "ruler of all she surveys"; she is now stalking our new dog when she's not spying on the baby.
Maybe I can relax a little...
...with the marzipan chocolates that arrived one evening with My True Love, neatly packaged in this gorgeous ceramic jar.
At least, that's what was in the jar yesterday evening - this evening I pulled out a dehydrated fishy treat and a milk bone. Hmmm?

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

One lidded treats jar ...

On the twelfth day of Christmas ...

After the last bird incident, I'm impressed at his bravery.
Another mathematical gifting conundrum, but if you count carefully - voila! 144 precise papercuts.

And in countdown, my tally this year (aside from broken glass, lacerated fingertips, a stiff neck from the icy blast and the recurring bears nightmare) -

12x12 delicate papercuts

a gift at the eleventh hour

10 tiny leaf veins

9 artful magnets

8 dainty jewellery links

7 cute-but-flown-the-coop chicks

6 tentacular tentacles

5 heavenly bows

4 perfectly squared

3 marauding bears

2 lock and key sets

and an eagle swooping for the turkey (yikes!)

Isn't the partridge meant to come on day 1 though?

Check out the other 12 days of Christmas posts in all their glory.
PS: We're open later this evening, until 7:30pm for the end of the Arts Centre Silent Auction.

On the eleventh day of Christmas ...

wire tree decoration by Luci Gimenes

Bandages off today! This meant I could drive, so off I went into town for some Retail Therapy.
Unfortunately, this put My True Love right off track and he completely forgot about his thematic gift giving until almost the last minute. Luckily, the Blackberry Artist Society's Christmas Marketplace is open till 6pm most evenings (5pm on Saturdays; 4pm on Sunday; and until 7:30pm on Thursday, December 19th for the end of the Arts Centre Silent Auction).
At almost the eleventh hour he returned with this beautiful wire tree ornament ... and totally melted my heart.
:)

Check out the other 12 days of Christmas posts as they publish.