Trimming

Around our house decorating for Christmas is called "trimming the tree". It always goes along in fits and starts because this time of year is so busy. We've had our little dinky teeny tiny tree up for more than a week with just the lights on. But this morning we got the big box of vintage ornaments down from the attic and went to our work. I'd seen this branch decorated with ornaments idea from one of my Flickr friends so I did that too. I love the way it looks in the mellow morning sun. 

Ode to Home Dec Books

These are some of my favorite Home Dec books. I would not like to admit how many I own. There is always that new tantalizing one that I must have. I sometimes think about all the actual home decorating I could have done with all the money I've spent on these books! But seriously, what is it that's so attractive about these books? I love to peek into how other people live, and express this in their homes. But only when it feels exciting. What makes one home feel exciting and another not, to me? I guess when I think someone has disregarded convention or "rules", and gone for what they love and can't live without. That passion gets communicated in the way someone designs their living space. And I respond to that.

ReUse

Look at these great moleskine sketchbook covers Sophie made out of plastic shopping bags! She saw how to make things like this on YouTube. The process seems simple enough, and I can imagine lots of great projects. What about place mats? Imagination is the greatest wealth we have. Sometimes it's been a great boon to not have the money to buy something I want. It forces me to come up with something even better that I make by hand. 

I've been looking at calendars.

I need a calendar for above my kitchen sink. I like these by Flora Douville. You can go over to her blog here, and then go to her shops from there.They come in French or English!  I usually like a calendar with a little bit of space to write in appointments, but I may just have to put that wish aside in favor of one of these lovely things.

Some New Work

Here are some paintings and drawings I've been working on the past few days. I'm really turning my focus toward work for a solo show I am doing next September. I have been working on pieces for this show since last January, but now I have to step up the effort to a new level. I started thinking about the show as "the drawing project", which I've written about here this year. The drawings have led me into more abstract work exploring the theme of bubbles and circles. I'm currently pushing that to see where it will take me.

More Baking Thoughts

Yeah, I'm still thinking about baking. I googled for "baking Blogs" and David Lebovitz  came up as the #1 baking blog. He wrote "The Sweet Life in Paris" (now on my Christmas list) among many other cookbooks. I just thought this Apricot, Almond and Lemon Bread looked so good. It looks like a brioche dough in this picture from David's blog. It has lots of eggs and some cheese in it, which makes it sound interesting. You can get the recipe for it by clicking on the link above. His blog looks useful, and pretty. If I make this I'll let you know how it turns out. By the way, I did make those Orange Fennel Almond Biscotti I blogged about last week, and they are really good, and not too much work. Get someone else to zest all the oranges and you'll be all set.

Potato Post

Well we do live in Maine, so potatoes are a big deal. And these are pretty fantastic potatoes! Chase's Daily in Belfast has all kinds of varieties. And they are beautifully packaged and presented, of course. Because this is Chase's. We bought German Butterball Potatoes, and then had to make home fries for breakfast. I can't even describe how good.