I wish you each a new year brimming full of love, health, prosperity and of course, joy!

See you all in 2008 and thanks for a wonderful 2007.

Fireworks via Simply Photo

We’re stuck in the airport, with chaos reigning at air traffic control in New York, but here in the Raleigh Durham airport, folks are friendly, the husband bought me peanut m&ms AND a decaf coffee. So I’m feeling pretty thankful for a lovely holiday, lots of memories (who knew my mother was a bocce master???) and amazing meals.

My lovely mother in law sent me the photo above (from Better Homes and Gardens website) thinking that I would like it and she was right! I love the light, the tray table coffee table and the color of the wall above the mantel.

I’m finally catching up on almost a month of blog reading (I’ve missed everyone!) and thought I’d share a few photos from Christmas.

This is a snap of our stockings (made from a vintage quilt by my mom (the original Martha)). This is in the kitchen (explaining the pans in the top of the shot). The licencse plates are our old Vermont plates, the cow has been in Nova kitchens since I can remember and the two faux orange plants are from Pottery Barn and are left over from our wedding decorations.

A shot of the tree!

And, finally, the DONUT MAKER (we found it in the SkyMall Magazine) we gave my father. Every year in Vermont we used to go to the Dummerston Apple Pie Festival and sneak into the basement to get hot, freshly made donuts. We hoped this contraption would give us a memory or two of our old hijinks. It certanily wasn’t like the pie festival or like going to Donut Planet or the drive in at Dunkin’ Donuts, but it sure was fun.

Vintage Brass Stencils from the 1890s found on ebay — I love how graphic they are (I would hang the last in my kitchen). Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

I just got an email that this lovely mantel scape is on sale for $179 at Room Service Home. Still a lot of money, yes, but, given that you’re getting 13 pieces, its roughly $13 a piece, which isn’t so bad for this type of decoration. Every year I see these in New York… ABC Home always has amazing (and amazingly expensive) versions on display. I’ve yet to actually buy them (the aforementioned storage issues) but can always dream. At a minimum, they are lovely to look at.

Blue Ice Cathedral ($39)

Mint Holiday House ($49)

Ivory Church ($39)

I went to my favorite vintage shop yesterday and found German wooden “mosaic” blocks, colored on each side with different triangles of color. Making different patterns with them has proven addictive! They seem to be some sort of vintage educational toy, but, I think they are a nice way to jump start creativity.

A bit of research found beautiful modern versions (2nd image) and other vintage variations (3rd image).

Wooden Goethe Circle Puzzle, $60

Flapper Fortunes (currently $6 on ebay)

I love this mantle from Caroline over at My Pocket — so elegant. This is also her Christmas tree with some lovely ornaments– great idea! Check out her blog for gorgeous photography and inspiration.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is making surprise balls (of crepe paper) full of treats, little gifts and all sorts of fun. I made quite a few this weekend and posted a couple on sale at my Etsy shop for $8.50. The one with the fake teeth and wind-up swimmer is my favorite.

(Love these via Pixiegenne)