Gift O Rama

I just finished updating my blog with three posts full of the gift-o-rama, and what I got from all my talented artsy friends.  

So this little sneak peek should entice you to go check it out.  

Jenelle's collage drawer fascinates me.  Her art is always done so cleanly and perfect, in horizontal and vertical planes.  My own is so slip-shoddy and whimsical, that now that I have one of Jenelle's larger pieces here, it reminds me how different but amazing all of my friends' styles are.  

Jenelle's mom Maggie made me a bunch of knitted things that I adore.  Here I am in my new hat and scarf:  

And Jackie really outdid herself on this book:  Its handsewn binding is beautiful.  And the glass knob.  I LOVE vintage knobbery.  

Under the book is a stack of vintage feed sack dish cloths that my mom made me, and a closer look at the scarf from Maggie.  

I'm sure this isn't the last that I'll write about the giftorama, but for now, check out my blog for more: 

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Some Christmas Spirit

We went to the Fort Steuben Mall tonight to set up our Christmas trees for the 1st annual Magical Festival of Trees.  They had an empty storefront opened for a tree decorating party, and there were quite a few people scurrying around putting together their trees.  

The event is a fundraiser for Big Brother/Big Sister of Jefferson County.  The trees will be on display starting Sunday, and the event continues through the day after Thanksgiving.  

Mall patrons can wander through the trees and view them.  They are all for sale.  There is also a voting event.  Each vote costs one cent - yes!  Only a penny.  

I would love for my literary tree to win.  Just because nobody gets it.  

There are two issues of Plain Spoke back to back for the tree topper.  Blue Paper comes down the tree in a cascade like water, and makes a swirly vignette around the bottom of the trunk.  And then there are bunches and bunches of literary figures wearing Santa hats and riding around the tree in paper boats.  

Pictured here is the Virginia Woolf boat.  

She said she would wear the Santa hat herself.  

I'll be posting more photos in my blog after Sunday.