la forme de joie, detail

Ahh. Monday morning.

The best part of a holiday, as far as I am concerned, is waking up on a Monday morning and not having to get ready for work. Unfortunately, there was no sleeping in as T was up at 5 am in order to plow us out from under the snow. (Oh yes, we have much, MUCH more snow since last I wrote. Gosh, thank you, Santa).

la forme de joie, detail

And, despite my lazy-ass tendencies, it would be hard even for me to hear him chopping wood for the fire, grinding beans for the coffee, and just lie there in bed, knowing he is about to head out into the dark and cold while I dozed in comfort and warmth.

So, I got up. I even ironed a shirt for him. Oh?just canonize me now.

This weekend, besides watching the doves, chickadees and one stalwart woodpecker swarm the feeders between each icy blast of wind that sent showers of snow down from the roof, I finished the last piece I wanted to get done for Christmas presents.

la forme de joie

There are a total of five works going down to Philadelphia and what I like most about them is that they are quite different one from the other and yet you can see my hand in each of them. Although I?m nowhere near finding my own style and voice, this last piece is the first thing I have done since September that I felt okay about. I dedicate it to my fashionista cousins: Claire and Coquette.

la forme de joie, detail

I would regale you with descriptions of the snow and ice that surround me as far as the eye can see, but, you know, I?d much prefer to direct you to gaze upon the colors in this Jen Gray photograph. Jen?s photos never fail to inspire me?this one, in particular, I go to now for sustenance against the cold and bleak upon us.

Another great link for spirit transport is at Nina's. Oh how I want to travel out to Ocracoke! Seriously, I could read this and re-read this all morning.

And for some more lovely linkage?go visit Camilla where she shares with us her most delightful gift tags! Oh my. Such generosity and sweetness abounds.

Which reminds me?I?ve got a lot of wrapping and packaging to get done so that I can drive these gifts down to my sister?s in Boston (she?s going to take them down to Philly for me?yay! No postage! I wonder if she has any idea what she agreed to?)

So, off I go.

Be merry and bright, or brr and mighty! You know, whatever.

And, check out this NYT article (via design*sponge about the handmade movement-- not that it's going to tell you anything you don't already know, but it's interesting to see how long it takes for mainstream media (even in today's viral internet world) to report on trends.

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