To Open a New Year

2015 New Year's Ornament

I've been cleaning up my workspace over these past few days, and in the slow-but-productive process have found some interesting items that I had undoubtedly forgotten about over the years.  Duplicates, supplies, and unique odds and ends comprise this interesting slew of items.  Some I will keep; others will go into the appropriate recycling or trash bin.  Needless to say, clutter is not my friend.  My husband is also happy about this recently productive turn of events.

So from here, with this end-of-the-year cleaning, I wish you and yours a wonderful start to the new year with lots of positive thoughts, productivity, and creativity, too.  It's been just over four years since I started this creative journey of jewelry making, blogging, and now professional writing--I know that I couldn't have done any aspect of it without your support, so thank you for supporting handmade!

Best wishes for the new year: 2015!

Stay safe and warm,

Deanna

* * *

Last minute coupon code alert:

Take 15% off your order* when you apply NEWYEAR15 at Etsy checkout.

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The Reader

The Reader
from shop: Majali

"Are you ready for Christmas?" you ask, curiosity piqued.

"Am I ready for anything beyond the ideological expanse of a well-written book?"
I replied, sardonically, but with a playful glint of the eye.

And then there was an awkward, somewhat debilitating silence--
I just wanted to hide, sit and read in my little nook.

So I garnered up my best enthusiasm, and yelled "I'm ready!"

With that...

Happy holidays!

Golden

Above is a new favorite photo of mine.  It's of a leaf collected during a stop on the way home from our road trip to Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park nearly a month ago, which I've documented here.  The leaf is huge: bigger than my hand, as wide as a face--in these parts, we rarely get leaves this big.  And the color is so deliciously golden, with a dappled hint of warm honey amber bordering on burnt cinnamon.

When we arrived home that night, I pressed the giant leaf flat under a heavy textbook in the hopes of preserving its delightful, intoxicating fall scent.  When this picture was taken a week ago, the arboreal scent still remained, lightly preserved, reminding me of walking at dusk in the thrilling chill of a November evening--along the empty cobblestone streets of an old, old town.