Hey, friends!  I’m blogging over at Potter + Butler – where we are toasting the handmade life and all the merry celebrations that adorn it.

Come visit!

I’m digging this party pack of mini terrariums by California-basedTortoise Loves Donkey. What could one do with 50 mini terrariums? How much time do I have to list all the possibilities in both home and celebration? Suffice it to say – one can do many, many things with 50 mini terrariums, including…

Centerpiece decoration – it’s all about clusters

Place them in every window of your house

Natural favor (because guests may have enjoyed one too many personalized candy bars)

Hang them as a floating garden as a backdrop to an outdoor affair

Place card stands

A lovely gift for each friend’s birthday throughout the entire year (no more belated gifts – can you imagine?)

Mantle display lovely-ness

Dessert table embellishment (think organic dishes, southwestern menu inspiration)

So…… How would you use these terrariums?

By the way -if you’ve not yet had the pleasure of caring for terrarium plant life, I highly recommend it! It makes a person, like me, who seems to be, shall I say, “growing a green thumb over time” (lots and  lots of time) feel like a champion plant grower. And sometimes you just need to feel like a champion green thumb, you know? They are super easy to care for yet deliver all the benefits of having living plants all around. All around greatness.

AND SO IT BEGINS. JUST AS I INTENDED.

Love these custom Good Eggs by artist Caroline Colom Vasquez of Paloma’s Nest! She sums up the appeal of these sweet little eggs perfectly, so allow me to share her own words:

“With the arrival of every season comes a time for regeneration, rebirth, prosperity, and hope…there is no better symbol for these things than the Egg. This egg is slip-cast from pure white clay in the same dimensions and smooth texture as a real egg, making it quite the little piece of “trompe-l’œil.” It is hand stamped in black ink with the word, phrase or text of your choice. Greet the season with a piece to inspire reflection all year ’round; this mini sculpture is beautiful on a dining table, desk, or nightstand, with or without its nest, or gathered in a bowl with several other eggs.”

I’d like one that reads, “Celebrate.” But I can’t say I could stop there. I’d also want Good Eggs that say, “Radiance” & “Possibility” & “Peace” & “Be” & “Clarity.” That’s a perfectly pleasing half dozen.

What would your egg say?

I MOVE IN STEP WITH THE ENERGY OF AN IDEA

I LET GO OF ALL THE RULES AND PLAY

Happy new year!! How was your holiday? I’ve returned from a two week trip to the Midwest – where we spent a week each in Iowa and Wisconsin celebrating the holidays with both Adam’s family and mine. It was dreamy to say the least.

Snow, togetherness, great meals around the table, gift giving,  winter walks in the refreshingly cold air, holiday treats (red and green malted milk balls from Chocolate Storybook in Des Moines and mom’s homemade peanut butter kiss cookies- to be specific), card playing, laughter, fires in the fireplace, quality time with loved ones, flying with our dog, Burkeley, for the first time so that she was there for all of the fun – it was all perfectly delightful.

And now it’s back to this perfectly delightful life and lifework here at home in Portland. I’m ready. There’s something so wonderfully energizing about a fresh new year. Do you feel it, too?

As I sit in this quiet space this morning, I’m taking the time to envision my life as I desire it to feel this year. I’m seeing images of  what I’m doing, how I look, the expression on my face, the environment my life takes place in, the characters in this play, and I’m feeling with extreme precision the joy, peace, passion, and contentment that is my truth.  And then I’m opening myself up to allowing these visions and feelings to be however they want to be – however it wants to take shape.

I see myself as flexible – going with the flow. I see myself as intuitive – feeling connected with what move to make and when. I see myself surrounded in self acceptance and love – empowering my thoughts and actions . I see myself open and welcoming as I receive what gifts there are for me to collect this year. I see myself one with all – walls and borders gently melting away. I see myself in the groove of joy – choosing joy in this life. I see myself surrounded by love and support – intuitively connected with those whose energy is enlivening and uplifting and who wish the best for me. I see myself buzzing intensely with creativity  - creating in a way that radiates infectious joy.

2011. What a great year. What a truly great year.

It’s lovely to be back with you, friends. I’m overjoyed to experience this truly great, absolutely wonderful, shockingly incredible year with you. Here we go….

(photo: Me and my sweet mother, Marie, this winter. I love her. She’s amazing.)

(Side note – funny story (to me, at least) : the hat on my head is indeed a knitted raccoon. Because they thought it would be funny, I was told to try it on while at Urban Outfitters in Seattle with my brother and his husband. Mind you this is after a jovial Mexican dinner where margaritas were consumed. I put it on and they said, “That raccoon hat is flattering on you, actually.” The knitted raccoon hat is flattering?! When someone tells you a knitted raccoon hat is flattering – consider if they have margarita goggles. Myself, I tend to go with what’s flattering, so naturally I bought the hat. It has kept me warm and adds a bit of laughter to my moment each time I put it on. As I position it on my head and perk up its ears just so, I simply remind myself, “this is flattering.”)

I EXPERIENCE THE JOYS OF THIS WORLD

Little vintage wax snowman from Lodekka, a double decker bus that once carried the fine people of Liverpool from point A to point B, and now finds itself parked on the trendy North Williams Street in Portland, Oregon selling vintage finds. And yes – purchasing him from an old, character-rich, double decker bus is as lovely as it sounds.

Little glitter deer. From.. Sorry. Not sure.. I know, I know -shame on this blogger for throwing away the packaging before noting its merry maker. I can tell you this- it was a vendor from Crafty Wonderland (a.k.a. my heaven). It may just be worth clicking through all 200+ talented vendors to find which one created this festive piece.

Little needle-felted holiday penguins. I made these little guys. I’m now officially obsessed with needle felting. Have you done it? So fun! I recommend Laurie Sharp’s book, Wool Pets, to get started.