Seasons Greetings Y'all!!

The Karma God or The Importance of Christmas Trees

If I have a bad thought about someone, I immediately stub my toe on the sofa and hop around on one leg until I fall over. If I curse up a storm and yell “a pox on all their houses,” the cat knocks a thumbtack or a saw-tooth picture hanger off the table and my foot plunges right into it. My husband then has to come over and pulls these things out of my foot.

“Why are you laughing?” he often asks, “Doesn’t it hurt?”

“Yes it hurts!” I laugh, “God, it hurts it hurts it hurts.”

Even when I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m mired in something –like last year’s Christmas for example. We didn’t get a Christmas Tree because it just didn’t make the budget. I had discussed this with my husband, wondering if it would be an especially tragic event. We decided that while it was too bad, it was something we could forgo. I didn’t get that upset about it, despite constantly hearing stories that opened with “We didn’t have much, but we always had a Christmas tree…”  And though I felt more than a tinge of irritation when I saw a tree lighting up the window of our neighbors upstairs, I just put it out of my head.  I really didn’t feel truly bad about it until I needed something in the basement and I came across all the ornaments lying dormant in their boxes. I suddenly regretted having kept the lid on an occasion to celebrate. They sat there limply missing out on their one and only purpose. It felt like a sad waste, and I wished we could have gotten a tree.
               Then, on Christmas Eve I got a voicemail from Trump Tower in New Rochelle. They had a package for me. They were sorry, but they had mistakenly signed for it in the “Christmas Rush” and that they would hold on to it for me. They would keep it refrigerated, per the box instructions, and wait for my call. I knew it was medicine that I was expecting. I was so grateful that it hadn’t been returned to Fedex for another round of return and re-delivery that I called on Christmas and said I would be right over. So we drove up to Trump Tower and I ran inside and  stopped short and drew back my breath at the sight of not one, but two twenty foot Christmas Trees, reaching high into the ceiling, bedecked, bejeweled, betwinkled with white lights and red velvet bows running all around.  I had to laugh. Behold the Karma God, the trickster who comes in all directions. -lauren de rosa

Here's to Christmas Trees and the joy they bring they us!

Susie goes to Amsterdam

Well it happened again. I blinked and Susie jetted off to Amsterdam to rendez-vous with her husband Chris. Si chic, non? She did a lot of chilling, went to the concertgebouw, visited coffee shops and did a little shopping. On the food report, there was lots of Indonesian food, Good Thai food, a plethora of Argentinian Steakhouses and a new Dutch favorite for her: Hutspot! (Potatoes, ground carrots with sausage) Sounds like some delicious comfort food to me. She made it over to Rijksmuseum and the famous Concertgebouw, known to have some of the best acoustics in the world. Here are some shots from her trip!

 detailed and leaning buildings built on canals, and gorgeous wood shutters

to market to market, to buy some fresh food...

 

 Salut Susie!

When you get tired of walking around and visiting coffee shops (haha) There's also plenty of art to see:

Hanging at the Rijksmuseum: Vermeer's "Humble Milkmaid"

Of course you will find some Rembrandt there too; "The Night Watchman"

And don't forget to check out this guy at the Van Gogh Museum

Happy Adventures this holiday season, 

wherever you travels take you!

Celebrate the Season: Israel

The Festival of Lights!

Hanukah is a holiday of freedom and faith, celebrating the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks and commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. According to tradition, when the Jews cleaned the temple, they found only a small container of oil, enough to light their holy lamps for just one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be made and purified.

Often called the Festival of Lights, it begins on the eve of the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev (usually in December), and lasts for 8 nights. Hanukah begins on the 21st this year! This holiday is usually celebrated by the kindling of the lights of a unique candelabrum, called the Menorah or “Hanukah”  Traditional Menorahs consist of eight branches with an additional branch to hold the candle called a “shamash”, Hebrew for “attendant”, which is given a distinct location, usually above or below the rest. The shamash is used to light the other candles, lighting from right to left.  A candle is lit for each night of Hanukah, celebrating each night the oil lasted.

It’s popular for children to receive gifts for each night of Hanukah, and to spin the dreidel, a four-sided top with Hebrew letters written on each side. Chocolate coins covered in tin foil called Gelt are part of this game. And because Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of oil, it’s traditional to eat fried foods such as latkes. Latkes are pancakes made out of potatoes and onions, which are fried in oil and then served with applesauce.

Enjoy the Season!

A Crafters Guide: Greeting Card Garland

Hello again Paris Market readers!

It's Jessica your go-to how-to girl, bringing you another holiday craft that will swing you into the seasonal spirit. 

I love the detail of decorating during this time of year. Every surface covered with the twinkle and magic of Christmas. One of my favorite holiday adornments is the garland. Whether strung up on a tree or lining your mantle, these little strands of seasonal cheer really can create a special atmosphere for you and your guests to enjoy. 

This week we will be creating our own unique garlands out of greeting cards and vintage bits to send the message of Christmas for all to see.

Supplies Needed

5 vintage holiday greeting cards

75 inch strip of grosgrain ribbon

Vintage magazine, newspaper, or printed paper

Craft Glue

Scissors

Star shaped cookie cutter

Glitter 

Colored twine
 

Step One

Using your star shaped cookie cutter, trace and cut 16 stars out of your vintage magazine. I chose to just use black and white images since all my holiday cards are in color. I thought the contrast was really interesting. Have fun with the images you choose to cut out. Try pairing just plain text with a picture of a snow covered hill or maybe a christmas tree ad.

Note: If you don't have access to vintage magazines, try finding some printed paper that inspires you at your local craft store.

Step Two

Using a small strip a glue, adhere your greeting cards to your length of grosgrain ribbon. Space each card roughly 8 inches apart. 

Note: My garland is made for a 65 inch long mantle. When making your own custom garland, measure your mantle or hanging space first and then adjust length accordingly.

Step Three

Cut 8 pieces of colored twine. With a brush and your glue, coat one side of your paper star. Place one end of twine at the top of your star and then sandwhich the twine with a second star. By doing this, you are hiding your hanging twine and creating a clean polished look. Continue this process until you make 8 completed stars.

Step Four 

Create an accent star for your garland. I chose to use a set of wooden stars found at a local craft store and covered them in glitter. Make your garland your own by choosing a foiled paper or a small ornament.

Step Five
 

Grouping 3 stars together (2 paper and 1 accent), tie a knot onto the grosgrain ribbon in between each greeting card. I chose to layer each star at different heights to give them a falling look. Repeat this step 4 times until each space between your greeting cards is full.

 

And Voila! Now it's time to trim your tree, mantle, or doorway with your handmade greeting card garland!

I can just feel the crafty christmas spirit taking over!
Tune in next Wednesday for another holiday how to and be sure to pop by my blog home, Strawberry Moth for more how tos, vintage love, and handmade projects!

Happy Crafting!

xo, Jessica

A Few of Our Favorite Things

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A Few of Our Favorite Things

Paula Danyluk

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I know, y'all thought we would never get to her right? Well we were saving the best for last! I once called her the "idea lady" Paula Danyluk is the woman who started this whole ball of vintage wax back in 2005, along with her husband Taras. Inspired by her love of world travel and world cultures, she brings back the most luxe, the most interesting, the most unique, in short the Creme de la Creme from her travels and we get the spectacular and inspiring feast that is The Paris Market. She also let's everyone who works here be as creative as they want and even once entertained an odd writer who wanted to sit in the window with her typewriter. Go Paula!

I'll let her take you through a few of her favorite things...

1. Fresh Tinted Lip Treatment in Plum:  Love the translucent color. Keep it in my purse at all times. Rub a little in on my cheeks as needed during the day.

2. Fresh sugar scrub: A must before every party or when you are showing a little more skin than usual.  It gives your skin a silky feeling and glow which is perfect for the holidays.

3. Love the vintage perfume bottles and case from India. The faded velvet interior make this piece feel so nostalgic.

4&5 The new felt and leather bags we got in. I bought the carry all for myself and the iPad cover for my husband!

6. Beaton: The Art of the Scrapbook. This book is just plain fabulous! In the course of his decades-long career as a photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair, as well as a British war correspondent, Cecil Beaton documented lives both famous and quotidian. Composed of his own prints and clippings from magazines, newspapers, and playbills, the pages are a rich narrative of his creative process. Love it. 

7. My daughter loves this little french doll, "Jeanne". Her hair looks like ours when we wake up!

8. I love, love, love vintage dishes.  The more the merrier. I don't want anything to match but every piece should have some age.

What are a few of your favorite things?
 

And the stockings were hung by a young opportunist.

 Handmade stockings by Jessie Matz - Cotton and Burlap

As a young(er) one, I learned that if you hung up your stocking, Santa would come and fill it up with goodies. Cogitating on such a wonderful phenomena, it hit me that this would be a great way for all the family pets to get something too! I mean, how would Santa know there were pets to be gifted if they didn’t have their stocking hanging up! Assuming the mantle of goodwill to all, I cut out two pieces of white felt and stitched one up with red thread for my cat Smokey. Sewing felt together was hard on a seven year old’s hands, and I wasn't sure I could finish many more by Christmas Eve, so I snooped around in the cabinet underneath the record player and I found three little stockings that had come with our McDonald’s happy meals. The hamsters Thumbelina, Hunkamunka and Jasper would all have to share one. The other one went to the three parakeets we had: Sweetie Pie, Honey Bun, and Cutie Boy.  And the fish would have gotten a stocking too except right at this glorious moment a voice from the kitchen came: “I don’t think the fish need a stocking. I mean, really, what’s Santa going to bring them?”  

Anyways, Santa came through. The hamsters got treats-sticks, the cat got toys, and the birds got a new cuddle bone. Success! And the poor fish didn’t get anything-----because they didn’t hang up a stocking! Thanks a lot Mom! Wow, only seven and already playing the system. I have no idea why I write. I should have gotten my MBA.

Don't forget to hang up your stocking!

 

 

Celebrate the Season: Argentina

Argentine Christmas traditions are a combination of European, American and Hispanic conventions. Christmas dinner is served on the night of December 24 and normally includes roast pork or peacock as the main dish with stuffed tomatoes, mince pies and iced beverages. A favorite traditional dish of the people here is 'Ninosenvuettas' - a steak preparation served with minced meat, onions, boiled eggs and spices. Other food attractions of the event include special toast prepared with a variety of fruits and blended with juice and cider and a grilled meat dish called 'Parrillada Argentina'. The desserts mainly include regional delicacies like 'Turrons', which is a type of candy, and 'Pan Dulce' or 'Panettone', which is a sweet bread topped with fruits and nuts .

Traditionally, Argentineans observe the holiday with most of Christmas Day spent in Church services. At the stroke of midnight, families gather to attend church services and celebrate "La Navidad"

The twelve days of Christmas celebrations last until January 6 and ends with extravagant feasts and dinner parties for 'Three Kings' Day'. As in other countries that use the Julian calendar, the Magi bring the Argentinean kids gifts on Three Kings Day. On the eve of January 6th, children place their shoes underneath the Christmas tree or beside their beds. They leave hay and water outside the house so the horses of the Magi who bring them their gifts will have a meal as they journey toward the Christ Child in Bethlehem.

A cloche worthy of a king

Christmas in Argentina is warm and because there is no snow, the locals decorate their evergreen Christmas trees with cotton balls to simulate snow on the tree branches. The Christmas trees are also decorated with flowers, laces, balls and candles. The ‘Pesebre’, or the replica of nativity scene, is placed underneath the trees. Wreaths, in green, gold, red and white, adorn the living rooms and kitchens while scented candles are lit to brighten the rooms and red and white garlands are hung on the doors. Another unique Christmas tradition is of lighting ‘globos’ — colorful paper lighting made of flying paper that is used to light up the night sky during Christmas.

Stars and candles make a nice combination for the holiday table:

 

 

And keys to remind you of all the doors there are to open in life:

And a set of delicate gold bowls I just love. You just can't go wrong with gold...or frankincense and myrrh, I suppose.

 Enjoy the Season!

A Crafters Guide: Holiday Centerpiece

Hello Paris Market Readers!

My name is Jessica. I am a Paris Market shop gal, vintage fanatic, and how to guru. I have flown over from my blog Strawberry Moth to bring you a series of weekly projects to jump start your handmade heart and spread the holiday spirit.

The holidays are an extra special time for me and my family. I love to decorate my home and create Christmas crafts to add something special to my festive decor. One of my favorite projects is to plan out my table and create a memorable centerpiece. This year I will be creating my very own table tree using my collection of vintage jewelry and antique beads to add a sense of old to the new year to come. This is a great craft to share with friends and little ones, so pull out your jewelry junk drawer and join me on making this unique centerpiece.

 

Step One

Gather your supplies!

Supplies Needed:

Floral Styrofoam Cone (found at most craft stores)

Glue Gun

Straight Pins

Tube of Acrylic Paint

Paint Brush

Craft Glue

Beads

Vintage Jewelry (Grab bags available at Paris Market)

Any other buttons, gems, or pieces that inspire

I love incorporating vintage pieces into any project! Try using some family hand me downs to add a touch of sentiment to your centerpiece.

Step Two
Using your craft paint, coat your floral cone from top to bottom (I chose white to give my vintage jewelry a pop).

Let your cone completely dry. Use this down time to enjoy a hot cup of cocoa.

Step Three
Once the paint is dry, begin adding your vintage pieces. I chose to use a collage of antique brooches and earrings. If you are using special family items, try just pushing the pin back into the cone avoiding any glue. This way you can preserve your treasures and take them off later.

 

Try mismatching textures and tones! Or for an extra crafty look, try using vintage buttons!

Step Four

Add some strands of faux pearls or old necklaces to create the shape of garlands. It is a fun way to use up any broken bits you have lying around and will create some depth and detail in your centerpiece.

A glue gun can help string this step along quickly, but for more precious strands that you want to keep in tact try using straight pins to tack down your treasures.

Step Five

To fill in the spaces between your vintage jewelry, try using an assortment of beads as your filler. I chose to use this collection of different sized faux pearls. They make a great contrast to the colors I have chosen for my centerpiece and the different sizes make it possible for me to create various patterns.

I used simple straight pins to attach my beads to my centerpiece. This allows me to move the pearls if needed and also keeps my fingers safe from the hot glue gun. If you're doing this project with you're little one, straight pins are a great way to attach all the pieces and avoid any sticky situations.

I just love all the different textures together!

Step Six

No tree is complete without a star! Once you have finished attaching your pieces you will want to craft a top to your centerpiece. I chose to make my own using a wooden star (craft store find) and some sparkle. When choosing what to use as your topper, try an over sized star burst brooch or your family initial. Whatever you choose it will bring that extra something special to your Christmas creation!

 

Now step back and admire your craftiness!

We used a palette of silver, whites, and greens to decorate our holiday table. The use of textures and light catching surfaces will give your guests an extra dose of Christmas cheer!

Tune in next Wednesday for another handmade how to, and be sure to come visit me on my blog for more vintage and project love! Happy Crafting!

xo, Jessica