Merry Xmas!

…at least, that’s what it says on my brand-new inkle-woven bookmark:

It must be Christmas. Here’s my mom’s Christmas cactus, loudly proclaiming the season:

But wait! It wouldn’t be Christmas without a tree!

Very true. Here’s my mom’s fabulous Christmas tree:

I’m proud of Mom: every ornament on the tree is unique, handmade, and exquisitely beautiful. Here are a few of them:

(Every year for the last 20-odd years, my mom’s hosted a Christmas ornament making party, where friends and family come over to make new ornaments from scraps of lace, bits of ribbon, sequins, beads, and pins. Up until a few years ago, she asked each participant to donate one of the ornaments they made to her tree – but now it’s so covered in gorgeous handmade ornaments that she has no room for any more!)

Wishing the best of the season to you and yours!