Happy New Year...

My bucket list seems to be growing longer and longer but the Elephant Festival is definitely in the top ten!!  This annual event is held in Jaipur the capital city of Rajasthan on the full moon day of Phalgun Purnima (February/March). Elephants have always held an important place in the Indian society, Lord Ganesha, the Hindu deity with the head of an elephant is greatly revered and is the lord master of all ceremonies and happy beginnings. The elephant is associated with Buddha and the Indian deity Ganesh and can be used to symbolize power, wisdom, strength, protection of the home, fertility, and general good luck.  Therefore, elephants are part of many major religious ceremonies, processions and even marriage ceremonies.

The elephants are the main attraction at the Elephant Festival. These majestic animals are washed, painted and groomed in all their finery.  They are then decorated for the festival with chunky elephant jewelry, large anklets decked with bells, their bodies are painted with traditional Indian motifs, gold embroidered velvet rugs grace their backs along with silver and gold plated Howdahs and gold embroidered velvet parasol’s . The large ears of the elephants are adorned with ear danglers and brightly colored brocade scarfs. Even their tusks are ringed with gold and silver bracelets and rings.

Love the detail in her trunk!

These ladies are smiling.

The next Elephant Festival at Jaipur is scheduled to be held on 16th March 2014.  Who wants to go with me??  In the meantime I can enjoy looking at these lovely Elephants that we have here for sale at Gillyweed.  Elephants with their trunks facing upwards represent prosperity, good luck, and success!  So here's to a Happy New Year!!

All in The Details

I've been working on a new website for Gillyweed and boy is it time consuming.  But perfection is in the details!!  My "out of town" Gillyweed peeps have been asking me about shipping the items they see on our facebook page for some time which I was happy to do. Then recently, one of my BFF's, who has a wonderful shop call Greenhouse, showed me her new website and I was smitten!!  I needed that kick in the pants to finally update and re-design the Gillyweed site!! So keep checking back as I add new items every week.  Also be sure to "like" us on Facebook as this is the place where I post our clothing collection.

Oh.. and speaking of the details...  our amazing pom pom key chains sold out before I could get the website up and going!!  We have a new batch coming this week and they are fantastic..

Hand Crochet Sea Star Pom Pom keychains $7.95 each.

A Year in Review...Happy New Year!!

What an amazing 52 week journey this was.. Thank you for sharing it with me.  Happy New Year!!

Week 52... The Color of Christmas

Making sugar cookies brings back the fondest memories of my grandmother, Denny, and her cozy kitchen.  She lived in upstate New York so we didn't get to visit her very often.  But when we did, she would always have a jar full of sugar cookies on the counter for me!  I would devour them... and I still do!  Sugar cookies are my absolute favorite, especially ones with red hots!!

We are having a 50% off Christmas sale at Gillyweed this week.  Yes we will be open!! 

Merry Christmas!

Week 51... The Color of Wishes

Week 51.. I can hardly believe that this year long journey is about to come to an end!!  These last few weeks have been zooming by and I always forget to relax and enjoy the special moments this holiday season brings.  So I was very excited to go to my friends' annual holiday Christmas party.. it even had a special name, The Bow Tie Eggnog Bash.  I love themed parties and had fun picking out a special bow tie for my husband to wear.  Ahhh... a few hours out of our busy retail season to mingle with good friends, drink some good Bourbon spiked Eggnog, and let my dancing feet take me where they wanted to go.  About 2 hours into the festivities I get a call from 11 year old son,

"Mom, I found the Christmas presents... I am so sorry"

Me FREAKIN too!!!  You see my son still is a believer of Jolly ol' Saint Nick.  And while most would think that it was a blessing that he actually found all of his sister gifts and only one of his.. Diary of a Wimpy Kid book... what was I going to do now about Santa's gifts???  I couldn't very well say some of her gifts were from the big guy on Christmas morning.. the jig would be up!  So I've been rushing around this last week adding more items to each of their lists (Cha Ching) in order for Santa to save face.

Crazy... but truly I am loving it!!  Merry Christmas!!

Enjoy!!

Christmas Tree Designing

 

 

 

  I love these tree skirt alternatives!  We've done the tree on table thing many times at the Dumas house over the years.  The presents just stack up perfectly when the tree is slightly off the floor!!  I think I will have to try the wicker basket idea for next year... and I have the perfect one too.

I walked away with this beauty after visiting my friend Kenya's Barn Sale in Senoia.  She will be having a spectacular set up this weekend at the Serenbe Christmas Market.

Enjoy!!

Week 50... The Color of YUMM!!

Out Christmas shopping.... have you gotten all your shopping done??

Enjoy!!