Welcoming in a New Year and New Followers!

Welcome 2012!

I am so glad you are here!

A new year, new hope, new dreams, fresh beginnings.... :)

I wish you all many blessings and the best of the best in this new year.

I can still say it, because the month is not over yet!
Caution! Long post, but I threw in some eye candy for you. :)

Welcome, welcome!

Welcome all!

I am so glad that you are following my blog, it's so nice to have you, here. :)
Vicky Lovejoy

Amy Nguyen

Elena san millan

Evah

John
sherry raines

Blake

luisa

Keli

Andy

Ana Anselmo

Audra Pangle

English Manor Dollhouse

MelyMel

Lidi

Madelaine

chrischronicles

livingwithcraft

Teresa

Jamila Zolotnikova

MelanieNordMonsees

Kati

LLyn M.

Patrizia

LilacSmell

Once Upon A Time

nikkinikkinikki72

Judith Holroyd

Lalla Creations

jeannette5

Doorjte

Pilar

Susan

After Dark Miniatures

CWPoppets

Gleise

gillian

Eliana Martins

NarinaNäpertää

mariana belmonte

drora hed

Caraloo

Minteriors

mydina

özden ceyhan

Marijke

pilar6373

Jody

Elis

Pepper

GeMa

Jennifer Rydell

Tiny Treasure Trove

fillitsa

reid.suzy  (I have to brag a little bit, this is my niece)

maria ireland

Mieke

and from out of the shadows as they say, some more followers;
Barbara Gutierrez
Mary
Ela Wilt

                                       Daphne                                        
Галина

 I always say, I won't wait so long next time to welcome in new followers. (Smacks self in head!) When will I learn? lol! Well, that is quite the list of new followers, but, I'm not going to tell you how long it has been since the last time I made a welcoming post. ;)

As usual, anything written in pink is clickable, so click away, check out some new blogs and meet some new friends. If you take the time to leave a comment, tell them I said, Hi  :)

If you don't have a "google translater" widget on your blog, please get one. They are so helpful for those of us who read your blog from another language. Many times the google translate bar across the top of the page does not show up, so if you have a widget directly on your blog, you can be assured that everyone will be able to read your blog and it makes it much easier to leave comments, too!

There's another little widget that is now available that I truly love. It's the "follow by email" widget. This enables your blog posts to go directly into someone's email box. I love it! It's a great way to keep up on those blogs that you just don't want to miss a single posting from, but, the blog has to have the widget in place for you to follow that way.

I don't know what is up with blogger these days, but blogs either are not showing up or I'm unable to comment on them. I'm wondering if anyone will be able to comment here? I've changed the way my comments are posted, in hopes of getting to see the other blogs, that didn't work. Oh, well, I hope it is sorted out soon! :)
 

1. Photo credits: planter on stand, matching pitcher, smaller pitcher and bowl on left and floral plates on right, I bought from various dealers at the Philadelphia Miniaturia in the past. Small floral arrangement on the right is from Tallulah~Belle. Larger pitcher and bowl from a local Antiques/Thrift store- now that I am looking at it, I wonder if it is 1/6 scale...Pitcher in center, I can't remember where I got that from, I think I've had that for a while. Pink floral platters and trays from the most recent Philadelphia Miniaturia. Hydrangeas from my friend Pei Li when I was in Singapore. Lastly, the little stack of white plates I bought in Paris.

2. Photo credits: The two large matching urns I believe I picked up at AC Moore some years ago. The three in the center I picked up in the Smoky Mountains at a souvenir shop. ***Edit* Upon further reflection, I picked these up at the Museum Shop at the Winterthur Museum Shop. I brought baskets back from the Smoky Mountains. (Makes more sense, doesn't it? lol)*** The remaining three I purchased at one of the Antique Malls in Berlin, MD.

3. Folding screen, custom made for me by my friend Yuki. Felted black kitty custom made for me by my friend Hanna. Plate/wall hanging by lisaconfora

My original business mascot was my first cat named Thor, who has long ago, gone over the rainbow.

My new mascot, Tommy currently overseeing security. ;)

Christmas Swap Results!

Caterina hosted a Christmas Swap on her blog. I got paired up to give to Flor, and I was quite tickled about this and to receive from Pepi. Pepi, I did not know, but through the help of google
translate, we were able to exchange our information.

This is what I received from Pepi.

It looks like just a plain envelope, but, look at the cute little box inside.
What is inside the box, you ask?

A ton of Christmas goodies!

A sweet little box, a wall hanging, a counted cross stitch pillow, and a tiny little card from Pepi. :)
But, what is in the little box?

A tiny perfume bottle and a single long stemmed red rose.
Thank you so much, Pepi! I love all of my swap items, it was a pleasure to have you as a partner! :)

For Flor, I popped over to her page on facebook and nosed around in her pictures to see what could I make that would compliment what she already has and would be in her style.

I discovered this Christmas scene, note the gingerbread men. :)

Well, off I ran to the fabric store and I discovered a tiny print fabric that featured gingerbread men. Great!

I made her a tree skirt (shown here with my tree that I purchased from De), a pair of pillows trimmed with bunka, and bunting- all made from the same fabric. 

Recalling what her salon looked like, I thought some pillows from my shop might blend in well if she were to decorate the room for Christmas.

Her decor seems to have almost a Scandinavian feel, so I thought these pillows with their minimalist approach would suit nicely.

While I was at the fabric store, I discovered these foam gingerbread men and other decorations in the craft section. I know that Flor is pretty creative, so I added these in, thinking she could do something fun with them.

Well, there you go, there is my portion of the swap. :) Pop over to Caterina's blog to see all of the blogs. Remember, anything in pink is click-able in my postings.

Enjoy! Until, next time! :)

Merry Christmas!

From my house to your house,

I wish you a wonderful holiday with your family and friends!

I decorated one tree entirely in pink this year.

I love pink! :)

Our Christmas tree filled with memory ornaments and red, white and gold decorations this year.

A tree filled with vintage balls and tinsel decorations from the 30's/40's.

Tchotchkes, for and from the children over the years.

Some more decorations, yes, I save everything! 

I hope that your time is spent with the warmth of family and friends, eating good food and enjoying good cheer!

Best wishes,

dale :)