{Incredible Dusty Oak Handmade Ornaments}

Do you know about Handmade Dusty Oak Ornaments? Sandy, a very talented lady is making the most incredible and romantic ornaments I've ever come across. Found out about her from Celestina Marie Designs blog about the Shabby Cottage Shops at the Christmas Shoppe. Just would love to share with you these lovely 'Evening Frost' blue ornaments that I got from her. Don't you just love them? She sold out on them (no wonder!) and was willing to make some additional ones for me. They were for a dear friend as a gift.

Just scroll down to see these two incredible ornaments; photos speak for themselves!

Blue ornament 'Evening Frost' on a Société Céramique Blue Boerenhoeve Transferware plate.

Don't forget to visit Sandy also at her blog Dusty Oak

Sparkling in the Sunshine...

Do you like blue for Christmas?

Related article:

{Mother-in-law's 1930s Société Céramique Blue Boerenhoeve Transferware} | previous post by me

{Who Are America's Best Cleaners?}

With Christmas nearing, there will be lots of dinner parties going on and often we need our fineries for wearing something festive. Have you gotten yours ready and cleaned? For finding out 'Who Are America's Best Cleaners' I will give you a listing and some further info. We are fortunate for having found one in our region, in Atlanta. Did you know that America's Best Cleaners 'ABC' has been certified by the Green Business Bureau as an environmentally responsible business? This business has reached the Green Platinum tier by adopting principles and practices that demonstrate a superior commitment to conserving the environment.

Choosing a cleaner that is taking serious and very active steps to lower their environmental footprint has been always an important issue for both of us. Probably because we grew up in an over populated country with more environmentally conscious thinking.

AMERICA'S BEST CLEANERS (click on link for locations) 

GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION (click on link)

Keeping our Planet GREEN by Going GREEN!

{Chocolate & Silver Alphabet Letters for Saint Nicholas}

Back in my birth country, Sinterklaas was celebrated again on December 6. This custom has been brought to the New World by the Dutch and continued here as Saint Nicholas before it morphed into Santa Claus. For more history on Saint Nicholas you can look The Origin of Santa Claus. One of the nice customs that come from the Dutch Sinterklaas is the giving of chocolate letters from Vander Veen's The Dutch Store. Click on the fore mentioned hyperlink as they are available in the US too. The availability is only around December. In Canada you also can get them  at The Dutch Market. 

For another Alphabet Letter in pure 925/000 silver from Giovanni Raspini Charms & Co Italy, you can look here at Giovanni Raspini. Available at Spectrenoir ←click it. 

At least we did have a wonderful Sinterklaas, together with our daughter Liz.

Chocolate letters are fond childhood memories...

What do you like; milk or dark chocolate?

Related article:

{Chocolate and Silver Alphabet Letters for Saint Nicholas} | previous post by me