Twenty-Something Days of Xmas: Happy to be home

Well, it's been a long, busy week, including a whirlwind weekend trip out of province. Long, busy, but great! But now here I am, home in Charlottetown, in sweats, on the computer. No shopping, the parties are done for the night. In honour of being home, how about some house and home gift recommendations, then, shall we? Six days' worth!

This recommendation is less for a gift than it is a store. Cottage Industry is a cool modern home decor shop downtown, on Grafton near the CIBC, that carries hip Canadian furniture lines and funky odds and ends. I'd love to outfit my space in modern stuff like this Gus sectional. (Someday!)

Moving Designz, also on Grafton, is another spot to check for neat household items and furniture. They've got lots of smaller items, like coral, vases, and toiletries if you're looking for cheap but stylish home buys. Their esthetic is more fresh, cheery and feminine than Cottage Industry, which leans more to the modern-rustic-industrial.

I am also a big fan of Cattails Woodwork by Brenda Watts, out of Hermitage, PEI, where you can get a badass Burled Maple Charcuterie Board, above, famous flamed French rolling pins, and cute wooden acorn-adorned things. Brenda also has an Etsy store that you can check out if you can't pick up her wares in person!

For your nerd friends who have homes, and empty walls measuring fifteen feet or more, you can get them this Entire First Level of the original Mario Bros poster from Packmania. 

My mom got a sheepskin for me as a baby, and I still have and use it. You should do the same for a baby you might have (or someone else's, that also works). Springwater Farm has great sheepskin products of all sizes, available at the Charlottetown Farmers Market on Saturdays.

And, for the last of the six days, MacAusland's classic, famous wool blankets. People debate whether or not you can be an Islander if you weren't born here; maybe you should only earn your status as a true Islander once you own one of these beauties from Bloomfield.

Whew, six more days along in the Twenty-something Days of Xmas. Stay tuned, especially if you procrastinate and still don't know what to get!

O Xmas Tree

My / our first tree! I am officially going to spend all of my time in here.

(Yes, it's real - balsam fir!)

Peter putting up our awesome tree topper - an exact replica of the topper I grew up with that my dad massacred accidentally smashed one year. It's even made in Poland! Last one at Winners. Success story of the season.

Most of the ornaments are antique mercury glass balls, some inherited and some lucky thrifted finds from work. Some are embroidered and beaded silk ornaments, made in India, bought at How Bazaar over the course of a few years. There are some pretty neat ones...

...like this turquoise-and-gold one...

...and this sort of ironic Islamic crescent-moon-and-star...

,..and, possibly my favourite, this red bird (reminds me of another ornament I grew up with).

We have two-tone lights, which we might rectify... or we might just keep the wonky mix. Hard to say.

I'm just happy the tree is here. The presents will follow soon behind it!

Happy holidays! The Twenty-something Days of Xmas will return shortly!

Twenty-something Days Of Xmas: So Fresh and So Clean

Ah, soap. A classic Christmas gift in the MacDonald household to our poor mother, who is up to her ears in all things lavender and triple-milled. And yet we keep giving soap, and she keeps putting it in her clothing drawers. On the bright side, those dressers are going to smell awesome for the next hundred years... but if we have to give soap, I say we start buying nicer, local stuff. Sorry, Yardley's! Meet your replacements.

From Moonsnail Soapworks, located on Water Street in Charlottetown, some Exotic Swirl Natural Soap. Listen to this doozy: "A touch of the Orient! A warm and romantic bar scented with a blissful blend of patchouli, sweet orange and ylang ylang pure essential oils. Each bar has unique swirls of spice for a fun funky effect." Yeow. All Moonsnail's soaps are made in PEI, delicious smelling and evocative. I also love Spearmint Swirl, Dad's Licorice, Chai Tea, and everything else, but this one just hits all the right notes.

Similarly, the Soap Drawer has small-batch, made-in-PEI soaps with scents that I can only describe as scrumptious. I love their spicier scents, with orange, clove, and cinnamon, but their soothing scents - oatmeal, goat's milk, et al - are equally lovely. Their wares can be purchased in Charlottetown at Emmett & Ellie's on University Avenue.

Here's some PEI soap I haven't tried, but would love to, hint hint! The Great Canadian Soap Co. is based in Brackley Beach, PEI, and its soaps look like delicious cupcakes/fudge/squares. I mean, they actually have a Cocoa & Oatmeal hand-milled soap - I would love to wash my hands with a spider cookie! Yum!

So go out and buy your moms, and other loved ones with personal hygiene, some soap - even if it does just scent their socks and t-shirts. At least they'll carry the sweet smell of Island businesses flourishing!

Twenty-something days of Xmas

Today I was touched and excited to find that fellow Island blogger and cool fashion lady Rebecca at Lot 65 included my Etsy shop in her Island Christmas Gift Guide. I agree with all her ideas - believe it or not, PEI has a lot to offer to the sartorially inclined for such a little place. 

So, in the spirit of things, I'd like to try putting together my own gift guide of sorts; a little bit Island  (or Canada, at least), a little bit DIY, a little bit of thrifting, and a little bit of Etsy.

First up in the Twenty-something Days of Xmas, Dreamboat Lucy sea glass jewellery. These ladies are from Kensington, PEI - one of my favourite small Island towns - and have been garnering all sorts of buzz for their cool clothing and accessories. I could go on all day about their wares but I'll stick with the sea glass jewellery because earrings and sea glass are my two favourite things to find and collect. Because the sea glass is authentic, no piece will be exactly alike. I love the saline patina, the colours, and the blend of modern, tough, and natural. 

Visit their online shop to see available designs. While you're at it, check out their cool new blog, too!

All images are borrowed from the Dreamboat Lucy Winter 2013 jewellery lookbook and online shop.