I am

 Most Grateful.

Thank you for supporting local, handmade goodness.

Nothing but the best of wishes for you in the new year. 

See you in 2013!

Seasonal Sale

Taking a few days to relax and enjoy the holidays eating, drinking, being merry.

I hope that you are also.

Then on Saturday, December 29th from 11-4

we're having our seasonal SALE.

Up to 50% off almost everything.

One day only then we're closed in the shop until March.

Cheers and Merry Christmas.

{source:  christmas4u.com}

Make it count

In this season of hope, make at least one really great snow angel,

Spend time with those you care about,

Be mindful of others,

take time to relax, enjoy, create memories.

Wishing you all the joy and wonder of this holiday season.

{Source:  google, thatinspirationalgirl.com}

Oops!

Yesterday went by in a blur and I forgot day 6!

Pretty packaging.  A joyful, fun, creative way to add that seasonal touch.

I haven't used "store bought" pre-made wrapping paper in years.  You know, the sparkly foil and stuff.

Using neutral, natural paper like newsprint, brown kraft wrap or just plain white paper allows you to add little embellishments with lovely, personal results.

I know, that sparkly foil and stuff have their place in the "workshop" so I'm not talking about that.

It's also a great way to recycle that old newspaper and next time you go to the local grocery store ask for paper bags and you'll get those brown kraft paper bags for wrapping!

When my nieces and nephews were younger I made gingerbread initials for each of their packages but these are really lovely for those grown up gifts.

There are recipes for making cinnamon/glue cookie ornaments but gingerbread cookie recipes work really well and are edible. 

Lovely little paper bag packages.  If you don't have ribbon, use strips of fabric.

The skies the limit.  

You don't have to buy stamps - remember potato stamps?

This one takes a bit of sewing but what fun.

Handcrafted goodie bags.  The instructions for making these bags can be found here.  They are in another language but the pictures are worth a thousand words!

This year, these great little ice cream containers made pretty little packages for my great nieces.  Handcrafted gift tags tied with seam binding and a bell.  Simple.

Even if you don't have gifts to give - nothing says you can't put together faux packages to use for decorations under a tabletop tree or pile in a basket.

Take some time to make those ever so carefully thought about gifts say happy holidays.  Enjoy.

{Source:  domestifluff.com,absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.ca,emformarvelous.com,lillmi-interior.blogspot.com,pinterest,kenh14.vn, theurbanfarmchick.blogspot.com}

Natural goodness

The simple warmth and texture of baskets, cones and wood.

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{source:  google, sjarmerendejul.blogspot.com, la-petite-cuisine.blogspot.fi, allthingsfarmer.com, vibekedesign.blogspot.co.uk, google}

Greens

and greenery don't have to be over the top to give you that instant seasonal feeling.

Little snippets of fresh and green work wonders when tucked here and there.

And, you don't have to be a designer to make it work, the greenery pretty much does that all on its own.  

~ I'm also a huge fan of anything "fresh" and by that I mean planted.

Paperwhites, amaryllis and the traditional pointsettia.

For me, anything white & green adds just the right touch and think outside the planter box when choosing a container.  Old bowl - perfect!

But this photo really wraps my style up so nicely . . . a simple tree, zinc metal, white and glass.  Gloriously, simple ~ beautiful, calm.

(images:  pinterest, hviturlakkris.blogspot.ca, griegedesign.blogspot.ca}

Today . . .

. . . let's use canning jars. 

Vintage canning jars come in all shapes, sizes and colors of glass.  I like to leave the zinc screw top on the jar but that's just me and my love of grey coming through.

I'm a real advocate of real candles but if you are using a "real" tealight, I would leave out the fresh greenery that's in the jars and just opt for white sand, imitation snow, glass glitter or just plain simple and lovely OR use a battery operated tea light ~ safe and lovely.

The skies the limit with mason jars.  

I have been using candle jars to line the driveway since what seems like forever.  I wire a hanging handle onto the lip of the jar and voila, instant glow.

This is during daylight, just imagine at night.

{Source:  google, google, the urban farmchick}

Day 2

If you've visited the shop this season there will be no mistaking that I'm in love with stars.  This inspiring idea is an easy DIY.  

Make 2 triangles from wire.  Directly bead the wire frame or using hot glue, glue buttons onto your wire frames.  Join the two triangles together with hot glue or twine at their joining points.  You can make multiples in different sizes.  Hang from the tree, make a topper, smaller ones for napkin rings, larger ones in place of a wreath . . . I think mine will be glued to a canvas frame or hung from an empty picture frame against the wall.  Hmm . . . 

{source:  google}

Seven Days . . .

. . . of inspired, simple ideas to help deck your halls.

Sort of like the twelve days of Christmas but not!

{source:  www.vintage-house.blogspot.nl}

Twigs

turn me on!

I've been making twig wreaths for many years and they look great no matter what.  I've turned them upside down and hung them from the ceiling around light fixtures, turned them upside down and hung them with mini lights in them, hung them on a wall, with a bow, without a bow . . . and then this year, I did this.  

And there's that vintage zinc bucket again.  I can't get enough of those.  The Christmas tree  will be stood in one again this year.  Keeping it simple makes me joyful. 

Mindful

 Today, one of my lovely customers, and I do have the loveliest customers, commented, "You must love Christmas?".  I do yes, how do you know?  

"You can just tell".

And, with that one simple comment I was very poignantly reminded why I continue to celebrate the Christmas Season at Moss Cottage. 

For me and I suspect for many of your also, the joy is in the details.

Despite the very hard, but joyful, work that goes into bringing you the season's simple pleasures, I have and continue to absolutely appreciate each and every one of you who visit our little corner of the world.  Sharing our seasonal vision is my pleasure and it's nice to know that it also brings you joy. 

Enjoy the happiest holiday season. 

{image:  pinterest}

Be

Joyful.  Spread Cheer.

Regular Season Hours:

Thursday & Friday 11-6

Saturday  11-5

Sunday  12-4

{image:  Google}

Have you

noticed that the falling snow and music are missing? 

Me too.  Have no idea what happened to the falling snow and the music was a surprise.

Mixpod (the music playlist) has decided to close it's online doors.  Once the holiday season slows down just long enough for me to look at other options ~ like my ipod, I'm hoping to have some gentle tunes loaded up.  But, by the way, I'm a total tech dummy, I mean, even facebook challenges me . . . so it may take me a bit.  In the meantime, you can just hum.

{image: http://kaismom.hubpages.com/hub/Snow-Snow-Snow }

Winter

Arrived with a blustery might just in time to welcome you all to the beginning of our

Winter Season here at Moss Cottage.

Given the flurry of activity here on our opening day it's clear that our little touch of winter magic is something you very much enjoy. 

Thank you, I am grateful that you appreciate our hardworking hands and ultimately our sore feet.  

Open House continues today from noon - 4

 ~ Regular hours begin Thursday, November 29 ~  

Monday, it's back to the workshop .

Cheers, and Happy Holidays!

{image:  google)

If . . .

. . . you have been trying to reach us by phone, we appear to be having technical difficulties.  Our service provider will be out at their earliest convenience which I have been advised is on Monday.  Sincerest apologies.  If you have left a message and I've not called back or you need to get in touch, please e-mail me.  

urbanfarmchick@gmail.com

{image via google}

The prettiest

little pears are in the grocery store today.  I think they were meant just for this ~

Yowza!

Discovered over at Bakers Royal 

Simple Joys . . .

. . . in everyday finds

{Image:  google}

Lest We Forget

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.  Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The Torch; by yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.  

~  John McCrae

{ image:  google}

Are you getting ready

For the season?

We've been busy elves, gathering greens, inspiration and ideas that we can't wait to share with you when we open for that most glorious of seasons ~

We hope you'll find time to join us as we celebrate a new but as always, awe inspiring 

vision at Moss Cottage

Saturday, November 24th, 2012

10 - 5

Sunday, November 25th, 2012

12 - 4

~ The joy and apple cider will be waiting ~

{Regular winter hours begin November 29th}

image:  google

Chalk board lettering

Have you ever wondered how you can get that perfect looking chalk board lettering?

I am totally into chalk board paint and love the look when the paint is applied directly to the wall.   Getting the lettering to look like signage can seem complicated.  Melaine from another of my favourite blogs has made it really easy.  You can find her DIY directions here.

I wish I had a large enough wall space in my kitchen so I could do this.  My husband built us a table that really resembles this table from Pottery Barn {although ours was fashioned after a vintage harvest table in a friend's home} and I'm really liking the lighting idea.  Now if only I had the wall!

{Pottery Barn image: here } 

What about you -- what do you think of chalkboard walls?

Village Life Dreaming

Today I'm taking you on a little trip to England.

I love Country Living - UK edition.  

I've said it before but it's a magazine that celebrates traditional arts and crafts as part of everyday life and shares wonderful stories of village life.  I can really see myself living in a village.  Taking a trip into the village with bake shops, cheese shops, flowers shops, tea shops . . . you get the idea.  And, once again, while I don't really foresee such an adventure in my life {but you never know} for now I'm dreaming of village life and living it vicariously through my lovely friends Cindy and Peter.  Let's take a little trip shall we?

What is it that takes you to England?

"England is my better half's home.  That is where we (eventually) went for our honeymoon!  Once I was there I fell in love with all the history, quaintness, beautiful walks and of course the sea.  All of it is what keeps us going back.  We have travelled from Dover right across to Lands End, all around Cornwall, up to Bath and Yorkshire.  We have, of course, been to London and surrounding area many times."

Do you have a favourite area?

"I think my favourite area is Yorkshire and of course I love the Isle of Wight.  When we go now we even run into people in the High Street shops and its like we live there.  I just love that.  All of Peter's relatives are there and we have made some good friends so it has become like a second home."

How often do you go?  For how long do you go?

"We have been four of the last five years and would like to go every second year if possible.  My hope and dream is to live there for five months and do as much travel as we can and see much more of England.  We usually go for three weeks to a month each time."

What are your favourite things to do while you are there?

"My favourite things are sitting by the seaside, searching out tea rooms, going on country walks.  You know in Country Living UK, how they showcase small villages?  Well, that is really cool how each village is really like that.  They have these cool little shops, their own pub and so on.  I remember when Peter and I went to England in 1973, there were no big box stores.  It was all little shops like the butcher, a green grocer, the fish shop.  But that is all changing of course because the younger generation want the big box stores.  But having said that, village life is still alive and well."

Nothing beats traditional fish'n chips!

Lovely gardens

"One of my most favourite memories was from our trip about five years ago on a beautiful sunny day, we visited the Minack Theatre in Cornwall.  We saw a Shakespeare play while sitting on the side of a cliff.  We watched the tide come in below, dolphins playing in the sea.  I often think about how grateful I am to have been able to see and do so many wonderful things."

Thank you Cindy and Peter for sharing.  Some day, maybe, perhaps.

Here's to village life - real and imagined.  

{all photos:  Cindy Napierala}