Feelin a Bit Wired Before the Holidays?

This is a strange Christmas post....I'm not sure where it's going...



Several years ago, I inherited a sizable collection of vintage Christmas ornaments from a family friend...
most of which were pink...
...and then there was this spider ornament...



I've never seen a spider Christmas ornament before...
...it seemed to want to make a home on my Swedish wire trivet...
...I decided to "google" a Christmas spider....
...it turns out that there is a German Ukraine folk legend called "The Legend of the Christmas Spider"...

Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year.... The day on which the Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic. T'was the Christmas eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting for the children to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ child's visit. But the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door to see him. Silently they crept out of their attic, down the stairs, and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit and quickly the spiders scurried into the room. They must see the tree closely, since their eyes weren't accustomed to the brightness of the room... so the crept all over the tree, up and down, over every branch and twig and saw every one of the pretty things. At last they satisfied themselves completely of the Christmas tree beauty. But alas!! Everywhere they went they had left their webs, and when the little Christ child came to bless the house he was dismayed. He loved the little spiders, for they were God's creatures too, but he knew the mother, who had trimmed the tree for the little children, wouldn't feel the same, so He touched the webs and they all turned to sparkling, shimmering, silver and gold! Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on our christmas trees, and according to the legend, it has been a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree.

...and not only that but I found instructions on how to make a beaded spider ornament...
Who knew?



These pretty little blue ornaments came from Anthropologie...



...I have to find a new route to work so I don't drive past that darn store...



I really like the way the shiny blue ornaments look in this antique wire basket which I found at an estate sale many years ago...



I really like how the wire basket stands out against the stark white snow...
...contrast and texture...



I told you I wasn't sure where this post was going!

If you haven't signed up yet for my 300th post Give-Back you may do so here!
The 3 lucky winners will benefit from this obsession with Anthropologie...
You have until noon on December 26th to sign up. Good luck!

For those of you who have asked...it appears that the 2010 winter edition of Somerset Life is due out on January 1st... unless you have a subscription in which case you may have already received your copy!

Enjoy these last few days before the holidays!
Dan comes home from school tomorrow!
Then the fun begins!
:)

Little Vintage Christmas Bear

The snow was beautiful this morning....
...not as much as was called for but about 8 inches...
This little bear has been in the family for over 50 years...
(For some unfathomable reason...I am not allowed to tell you who he belonged to or what his cute little name is...but he wasn't mine! :)...)



Today he is sitting in a vintage sewing basket that was trimmed a long time ago with a few Christmas bells, faux greens and ornaments...



I added the vintage Santa ornament and old toy blocks...



The tinsel is vintage as well...found at the flea market last summer...



My assistant Starla and I finally finished up decorating the tree with our vintage ornaments this afternoon...



and finally...a vintage Christmas photograph of my Mom, my sister and myself...
...sweet memories of childhood....see those matching Christmas dresses?
My Nana made them for us....
I wore mine until I outgrew it and then wore sister Lynn's!



Vintage Christmas Monday is hosted by Joan of Anything Goes Here...
...to see more participants click here!

If you haven't entered my 300th Post Give-Back yet...
...you have until noon on Saturday, December 26th!
There are 3 prizes that I think you will love!

All you have to do to have a chance to win is leave a comment that says you want a chance!
I have a lot of fun within this blogging community and this is an opportunity to say thank you and give back to you all!
So, if you want IN....click HERE and leave a comment!

If you want to help spread the word, you can put my give back on your side bar or mention it in a post ... that will get you a second chance to win!
Thank you and good luck!

300th Post Give-Back!

It's snowing outside....and the prediction is that there will be 12 to 18 inches of snow on the ground by morning...
...it will be a quiet and peaceful, stay at home, wrap presents, finish decorating the tree Sunday...
...it might even be a bake some cookies Sunday...



Before we talk about my Give-Back ... I would like to thank each and every one of you who commented on my previous post and left me well wishes and congrats on the news that 52 Flea is in the Winter 2010 issue of Somerset Life. It means a lot to me to hear from you and I am once again overwhelmed by the kindness and support of all my friends in our blogging community. I hope my little article lives up to any expectations...it's not any great literary work...just about a simple girl, her appreciation of beautiful details, love for collecting and how she came to write a blog!

Anyway....moving on to my 300th post Give-Back! I have been trying to decide how to give back...what to give away to you... my blogging friends... for this momentous occasion.

...It's like a triple play...300 posts... it's Christmas and the Somerset Life feature....

It seems as if there needs to be three winners!

I have been looking at all the treasures that I have found while shopping at some of my favorite stores and haunts in the last few months.

...and I just can't decide on anything that is worthy enough...that everyone will like or want...so...

The First Winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to my favorite store Anthropologie...
...this way you can pick out something that is just perfect for YOU...and if you don't have a store close by...you can order something online!



The Second Winner will receive these 2 darling hand towels...which I found, of course, at Anthropologie...



And the Third Winner will receive this beautiful glass plate with scrumptious calligraphy...



...and which I adore and want to keep for my greedy self...
...found, of course at Anthropologie...



So, all you have to do to win is tell me you would like a chance by leaving a comment.
(If you can't figure out how to leave a comment...send me an email!)

This giveaway is open to everyone...wherever you live...

... you don't have to have a blog of your own to enter...

...you don't have to be a "follower"...

In order to spread the word and give everyone an opportunity to win...I guess it makes sense to offer a second chance to those who choose to blog about this giveaway or put it on their sidebar...and for that I would be grateful...(please comment again to let me know)

Winners will be picked the day after Christmas...Saturday the 26th!
Good Luck to all and Thank you!

It's after 10 pm ...poor Santa baby is out shoveling snow already...
Hope you are comfy and cozy in your own little nest!

A 300th Post Give-Back Is Coming..................... and More...Much More!

Time for a Give-Back as a way to say thank you and to give back a small measure of the joy that I have received since beginning 52 FLEA in February...
...a give back to all of YOU, who take the time to stop by my little corner of bloglandia.

It is so hard to believe that on Monday...it will be my 300th post (in 310 days)!
I guess I just have a lot of stuff and have always loved Show and Tell!
(Just ask my family...I am sure they would love to tell you all about it!)
I am truly grateful for this creative outlet and for the people I have met and the friendships formed...
...you never know what life has in store next!

Tomorrow I will post the details of my 300th post Give Back!

....And now for my really exciting news!..............




Back in September, I received an email from Christen Olivarez, Senior Managing Editor of Artful Blogging, Stampington & Company, telling me that she would like to feature my blog in an upcoming issue and inviting me to consider writing an article about 52 FLEA!
At that point, it was just over 6 months since I had started blogging so I was shocked and surprised...so very thrilled and totally delighted!



I also had no idea what to write about or how to begin. Christen was very supportive and offered to let me bounce a few ideas off of her. She suggested that I write about "how blogging fits into my everyday life". After running a few thoughts by her...she liked one idea in particular...one that she identified with in her own life experience and one that she felt would resonate with other bloggers and readers...
...and so I wrote about my feelings of surprise at where I am at this point in my life as opposed to how I thought my life would go... back when I was a teenager and in my 20's..



I wrote about my life's little twists and turns, about my naive and youthful expectations and my actual life's path, which of course ultimately brought me to our world of creative blogging!

Being the good girl and diligent student that I am, I sent in my rough draft two weeks earlier than the deadline, thinking that I would receive some guidance in turning my words into magazine worthy material.



Imagine my surprise when next I heard from Jenny Doh, Editor-in-Chief and Director of Publishing of Stampington & Company, who sent me the proof and layout of my article as it would appear in Somerset Life! Apparently, the editors collaborate and after sorting through the submitted articles decided mine would fit in this other wonderful publication which features several blogs in the "Blogs With a View" section.
I love both magazines and am so thrilled and excited as I just received my copy of the brand new winter issue of Somerset Life in the mail...
...and 52 FLEA is in it!



Starla is head over heels with the joy of it all too!

So, once again, many thanks to all of you who have supported and encouraged me...I will probably need a bit more of that in 2010 as changes are ahead!
Life sure is interesting!
I am trusting that mine is moving along according to God's plan for me...
... and it's a good thing I like surprises!

:) Laura

The Open House and The Treasure To Be Found At Stony Creek

Last Friday evening we had the pleasure of attending Cathy Pendleton's Christmas Open House where she displayed and sold her whimsical creations...



Her darling owls are on display at the Folk Art Museum in NYC...



The lion lays down with the lamb on a bed of snow under a glass cloche...



Look at this sweet little guy peeking out from the sugar bowl!...
You can contact Cathy or see more of her creations at The Cheswick Company...



On Saturday afternoon after the house tour we took a drive out to Stony Creek...a quaint village on Long Island Sound...it looks out over the Thimble Islands...
We ate lunch at the sandwich shop and visited the local antique store...
Click for a closer look at the beautiful coastline...



It is also home to a wonderful shop called Taken For Granite ...
The picture above and the ones below were taken inside the store to give you a peek at the treasure to be found there....
This place is truly a wonderland of fabulous unique clothes, jewelry, gift items and unusual antiques...
Everything is beautifully displayed and wonderfully gift wrapped...























If you are ever in the area....you must not miss this shop!
Truly Inspirational!

...and that's it for my wonderful weekend with the girls...
I hope you have enjoyed coming along with us!

There are many reasons to celebrate this holiday season and I have two more!

No. 1... This coming Monday will be my 300th post! ... and so, in honor of all that I have been given in the way of friendship, support and encouragement through my friends here in bloglandia...we will celebrate with a Give Back! Details to follow...

No. 2... A wonderful opportunity came into my LIFE...I look forward to sharing this with you tomorrow!

Have a good night! :)

The French Hen and the Essex Holiday House Tour

Essex is home to a lovely shop called The French Hen...
We were able to stop by Saturday afternoon and check out the beautifully displayed decorative items, gifts and jewelry...
...A collage of the displays in the storefront windows...



In the morning, we walked the Essex Holiday House Tour....The sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was wonderful to be out in the crisp December air in this charming seaside New England town. Although we were not allowed to take pictures inside these stunning historic homes...there was plenty to capture with my little Canon point and shoot outside!

Here are some of the sights we saw...
...as always, click to enlarge for a better look!













Tomorrow, I plan to share a little of Cathy Pendleton's open house in Clinton on Friday night and some photographs of one of my favorite shops...Taken For Granite in Stony Creek.

...and then...I have a secret to share! Shh!

Gather

Gather is a wonderful shop located at 104 Main Street in the charming village of Ivoryton, Ct.. Our friend Deanna had a vision...she wanted to create a place where the people in her community could come together... where they could meet, sit and chat over coffee and pastries, hold meetings, work on crafts together and shop for antiques, a card or gifts.



The space is wide open, painted a cheery and welcoming yellow with high ceilings and wonderful architectural elements. The building was originally built by the Comstock and Cheney company and was their factory store and then later on a grocery store. It is filled with antiques, consignment items and handmade gifts of all kinds. In the rear of the store, behind the antique brass cash register, there is a huge table surrounded by chairs. There are comfortable sofas with newspapers for reading and a bowl of old buttons set out on the coffee table to sort through...The library is near by and children stop in daily to buy candy and sometimes just to say hi.



Here is a counter of seasonal items, ribbons, handmade cards and tags ... check out the Cathy Pendleton snowmen...
Do you see that wonderful picture on the left? Paula fell in love with it ....it has all the creams and browns and greens that go so well with her palette...
We took it home with us and it now resides comfortably in her farmhouse as if it always belonged there....perfect!



There are antique linens galore displayed in this lovely cupboard...



This little village is steeped in history...
It was known for its production of pianos in the early 20th century and the village name, Ivoryton comes from that industry and the importation of the ivory tusks used to cover the piano and organ keys produced here.



Locally handmade items and wonderful antiques and treasures are brought in to sell on consignment. You never know what you will find at Gather...









You really need to click on the pictures to see the details!









These Mason "Vista" transfer-ware dishes match the set that I inherited from my great aunts, Nani, Fifi and Mimi (Anna, Freida and Wilhelmina).



















Everyone is welcome here...it is a gathering place for all ages....
...of course there is a "kid's corner"!
...and a pet's corner too!









Delicious chocolates...



Beautiful tags...









Deanna makes everything look wonderful....her attention to detail, her flair for decorating and her beautiful and welcoming smile for each and every person that walks in the door makes Gather truly a destination not to be missed!



These are a few of the treasures I "gathered" and took home with me!



Deanna, her husband, their family members and friends have created something special here at Gather. They advertise it as a store for making friends, memories, laughs and traditions....
I love their concept and it all works perfectly in this charming New England village.
For directions you may call them at the shop...(860) 767-7816.
...Pictures of Essex and the holiday tour tomorrow!
:) Good night!