Carole's Christmas Shop 2012

Maynard Greenhouse

Old Saybrook, CT

Carole opened her Christmas shop on Saturday...

...and by now all George's Christmas trees

 are ready outside the shop as well!

Every nook and cranny of this enchanting shop

 is filled with treasures! 

Seriously, 

I don't know how Carole manages to outdo herself each year!

Beautiful ornaments...

...glittery Wendy Addison selections

...gorgeous jewelry

Have a look....

I know...it's amazing!

If you are in the vicinity of Old Saybrook, CT...

be sure to visit Maynard Greenhouse and Carole's Christmas Shop

 ...stop in and tell Carole and George I say hi!

You will be soooo glad you did!

How was your Thanksgiving?

Mine was wonderful...

...we were with sister Mary Beth and family and friends.

We had turkey with all the trimmings

 and the most delicious desserts too! 

We are grateful for so many blessings...

Today, Dan and I ventured out to a few local shops...

steering clear of the Black Friday madness.

 It was very relaxing and fun to spend time with my "boy".

:)

Will be posting soon about the Holiday Open House

 at Taken For Granite in Stony Creek

 and my visit to Gather in Ivoryton

as well as a few more stops we made while shopping in CT.

Until then....

...take care!

A Few Thank You's and Show and Tell

Thought I would share some lovely gifts that 

I have recently received from friends and blog friends!

Carole of Maynard Greenhouse

 joined us for lunch at Evi's just before New Years.

 She made paper stars and fabric bows for each of us.

 Mine were blue! :)

Carole is so clever with scissors and paper!

 She demonstrated how she cut and folded the paper...

...but it was a bit too tricky for this novice crafter!

 Blogger friend, Leslie Janson sent me a sweet surprise in the mail.

See these charming earrings made from pocket watch keys?

...notice the tiny 5 and 2 !!

Leslie has a wonderful Etsy shop

 where she sells her jewelry and re-purposed creations.

I was impressed with her unique offerings and think you will be too!

Check it out HERE!

...and my dear Paula

...she went into her stash of linens...

...and pulled out this gorgeous grain sack with her initials on it.

I remember being together at Brimfield when she bought it.

She gave it to me because of the blue stripe and she knew I would 

think of her each time I look at it displayed in my home.

:)

Evi made this little white Christmas boot

 along with a white star that she used as a name tag

 and tied to my package.

 (shown on a previous post). 

Inside the pretty package was a copy of the book

"Tis The Season...Christmas Eve with James Cramer.

We have been big fans of James Cramer and his late partner Dean Johnson for many years.

Another blogger friend,

 Mary Pernula mailed a package with a surprise

 for each of us girls to be opened at Evi's luncheon.

My treat was this sweet little altered bottle.

The thoughtfulness of blogger friends

 is always such a delightful surprise!

Now, this unusual gift is from my pal Deanna

 at Gather in Ivoryton, CT.

I was there just a week after my birthday and spied

 this crazy and fabulous wire cone.

When I asked the price...she said...

"It's yours, Happy Birthday!"

:)

This wonderful vintage doll dress was embellished

 with the charming art of the very talented Michelle Palmer.

I was lucky enough to win the give away she was holding a few weeks ago

 and was delighted to receive this treasure! 

I just love her work and especially her renderings of birds...

...and mice...

...and other charming critters!

Here is a link to her Etsy shop!

 And last, but not least...

I have been wanting to share with you this necklace

 that Cindy from Fat Cow Studios sent me!

She makes some pretty cool pieces too!

You can check out her Etsy shop HERE

Thank you ladies!

Having friends to share with

 are the best gifts of all!

:)

Paper Bird Wreath

One of the treasures I brought home from Carole's Christmas shop

 at Maynard Greenhouse was a Wendy Addison,

 beautiful wire wreath with cut out birds.

I have been playing with it...creating different vignettes.

You know how that goes...

...shouldn't I be wrapping presents? baking cookies? organizing and cleaning out?

Here it is sitting on this vintage mirror plateau...

...but it is just as pretty hanging on the wall.

It can be kept out all year long...not just at Christmas.

So pretty!

OK....back to work, Laura!

FOCUS!

:)

Christmas Carole and Her Shop at Maynard Greenhouse

Warning...this post is very long...

and you may need sunglasses for all the sparkle!

The Shop at Maynard Greenhouse!

Carole and George have a beautiful setting where they sell Christmas trees, wreaths, and more...much more!

And then....

...inside the Christmas shop....

Carole has created a magical place...

full of sparkle, whimsy and pure delight!

There's so much to see......it's hard to take it all in...

...but go ahead and try!

Everywhere you look...every corner..nook and cranny...

...there is something special...a beautifully arranged vignette...

and a treasure to be found.

We spent a long time looking...sigh...

and if you are in the area of Old Saybrook, CT...

you should take a look too!

Carole came over to Paula's home Friday evening after she closed up shop and we shared a glass of wine and good conversation...

...then she had to get back to work and make more wreaths!

Did you see anything you wanted to take home?

I tried to be good...

I really did try!

:)