On the 12th Deer of Christmas!

A few of my friends and I would like to wish you a

Very Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Deer!

See you in 2013!

xo - nella

On the 11th Deer of Christmas - Winter White

Well it happened.  It definately Snowed!
I'd say the chances are looking pretty good for a White Christmas, well in Picton anyway...

Just a few kilometres south the grass is green and the sun is shining and I hear up near Belleville, there is just a little dusting on the houses, but here at 65 Mary St. shovels are out and the boots are on!

I'm holding a Munny (by Dunny) perhaps the best toy ever invented for these individualistic times we live in.  Dunny's come completely blank.  They're meant to be decorated however you'd like - a Choose Your Own Adventure of the plastic toy variety.   

On the 9th Deer of Christmas - I Feel a Bit Grinchy

Maybe it has something to do with all this green grass.
Maybe its the fact that Jamie barely gets any holiday time off this year.
Maybe because its +6C and theres not a hint of snow in the future.

What are you doing to get into the holiday spirit this year?  I've tried shopping, decorating and listening to Christmas music.  I've even been to Swiss Chalet for a festive special!  This Christmas spirit is a funny thing though, it can't be forced - and I'm sure once I'm at my moms for her Christmas eve fondue with my family and friends, all will be right with the world.

Until then I'll sit back on the grass with my little flocked deer friends waiting for tomorrow to arrive...

The 10th Deer of Christmas - It's the End of the World as We Know It...

So are you a believer?

 This little deer/candelabra will be perfect for lighting the room when the lights go out tonight. I got her from my BFF who owns the incredibly chic Kelly's   at 197 Main St,  Picton, Ontario. Kelly is my wardrobe consultant and breakfast companion and she just produced the most beautiful baby girl in the world.

I haven't stockpiled much, just a few bottles of sparkling wine and some triscuits - but if you get tired of rioting ad you know how to tell a funny joke you are more than welcome to stop by, we can watch the world implode together...

The Eighth Deer of Christmas - There is a Light that Never Goes Out

So this kitchy deer lamp, made of a lawn ornament with a light bulb stuck up its butt, is one of the first deer I ever owned. Hes been around at least a decade, as long as I've owned my house. He's lived in my tenants apartments, hes proudly sat on the table at various craft sales and I'm sure he has inspired copy cats all around the globe.

There is something so cozy about the warm glow he throws. It instantly makes a room feel sleepy and cozy and somewhere you just want to stay home. He has the same effect as this song by Morrissey and The Smiths.

Anyways, I'm hope after all the hustle and bustle of preparing for the holidays is over you get a few minutes of peace and quiet to just be as calm, still and breathe.  

On The Seventh Deer Of Chritmas - Jingle Bell Rock!

Merry Christmas, I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight with You.

  

Perhaps the best Christmas song ever written - and we have the Legendary New York Punk scene to thank. Especially, my favorite band of all time The Ramones.

Collecting deer might not seem like the most Punk Rock kind of a hobby - But I rescued these two little beauties dumpster diving at the Picton Dump. You would have dove in as well when you saw their cute little faces smiling up from the muck. I can't believe they both survived completely unscathed.

5 more days - are you ready?

6th Deer of Christmas - Sparkle, Sparkle!

Today is the day! I am finally stringing the lights and hanging the baubles. Its time for things to get a little sparkly around here.

  This silver deer is ready to party and so am I. So crank up the Christmas carols and pass the eggnog!

Here's a little inspiration from You TubeYou The best light shows from the past few years.

On the Fifth Deer of Christmas - A Disney Classic

Who doesn't love Bambi?

And this really is my favorite sweater - it's the comfy thing I change into when I get home from work. In fact I'm wearing it right now.

What amazes me most about the film Bambi are the incredibly dreamy watercolour backgrounds. It also amazes me that these original watercolours and the hand painted cels from 1942 are still intact and even available for purchase! Hint! Hint! any of you wealthy benefactor types.

 Of Course if Bambi isn't your thing...feel free to watch this short film by Marv Newland.

On the Forth Deer of Christmas - SUPPORT DANCE!

This little deer was made all the way over in Japan. He's part of a set of 2 and he was given to me by my friend Claudia Fancello. Claudia is a Contemporary Dancer, she's got moves! I am lucky enough to have seen her preform several times and the projects she works on are so interesting and innovative.

In one piece the dancers created sounds- various beats on a keyboard, looped tracks and even samples of human voices and random sounds like glasses clinking together as part of the performance. They then used these samples to create the score to which they performed.

 The Troupe is called Public Recordings, they are currently hosting an indiegogo campaign to raise funds to launch a new show this spring. SUPPORT DANCE! Donate if you can, after all it is the season of giving!

On the 3rd Deer of Christmas, my True Love Gave To Me...

...Blue Mountain Pottery!
It's as Canadian as Maple Syrup.
The Blue Mountain Pottery Company was located in Collingwood, Ontario. Its stopped producing the distinctive black and green pottery in 2004. But don't worry - I'm sure your grandma, your auntie or even your mom has a gold lettered fruit dish from their trip to Wasaga Beach back in '69.

My favorite Blue Mountain Pottery pieces are the adorable ceramic deer which I own quite a few of. The colours are really spectacular, and each piece is unique having been glazed by hand.  Its amazing to think of the factory - ceramic artists busily hand dipping each little deer, vase or ring holder.  Then the final step.. the Legendary GOLD PEN writing the name of the resort, or casino in perfect script on each fired piece!

 I recently learned that there is a BMP Appreciation Society. I plan on sending in my membership dues any day now!

On the Second Deer of Christmas - A Lil' Somenting Red!

This Lil Deer is the smallest in my whole deer collection. He might be a scant 1inch tall, and I don't remember where he came from, but he sure is adorable. At Christmas I am amazed by the miniature towns that adorn the table tops and mantles in decorated homes. My dad is a model train enthusiast and he builds a special Christmas edition of his train with my niece Amelia each year. (Happy Birthday Lil Millie!)

 The colour red... nothing screams Christmas more than a red dress, red tinsel red bobbles, red Christmas crackers - Call me a purist but all these trendy orange and turquoise Christmas decorations can fade away after this year - I'll stick with Red Green and Gold.

 One last "Lil" thing, be sure to friend Lil' Bub on facebook. He's overcome obstacles and really embodies what the Christmas spirit is all about!

12 Deer of Christmas - Day 1 - I'd have a Blue Christmas Without You

The 12 Deer of Christmas - I've been doing my own kind of Christmas Countdown the past few years. This year I am featuring the deer of my own collection to usher in the holiday season. Day 1 - this blue deer was made for me by Stacey Hubbs - She is the brains and braun behind Edible Antiques - a heirloom seed archive and distributor. She has the best seeds to get your garden started, organic and anti-gmo. Plant a seed and taste some history!

Space Cats!

So over the past month I have been working on a special quilt for a good friend of mine.
I've been having fun researching images and thinking of ideas incorporating both robots and cats. The results have been a cute crew of Spacecats!
My favorites so far have reinterpretations of famous robots and outer space heroes but with feline features. Also its been fun thinking of ways to incorporate some ideas and memories shared over the years of knowing my good friend Trish. Amazing how many of our memories are a little "spacey".
Hope you enjoy.
Thanks for looking,
nella

PS that first one is Bowiecat, truly a space oddity.