Wordless Wednesday: Santa!

Merry happy holly jolly!










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'tis

I've seen this floating around a few places, so I'm not sure its source...but have a happy happy holly jolly celebration this week!








- Posted using BlogPress from iLexi

ornament swap!

A few weeks ago, I posted about the ornament swap that I signed up for. Such a sweet thing to do, I think. I love new ornaments, and love meeting new friends, so this seemed like a spectacular idea for the holidays.

I was paired up with the lovely Allison of Nestful of Love, and she is the sweetest thing. She loves burlap! I love burlap! She makes lovely buntings too, and has an etsy shop called Simply Burlap filled with her creations! She also seems to love the Pioneer Woman as much as I do. Remember when I met Ree? Best day ever. 

Anyway. I digress.  

Allison sent me these two ornaments. An extraordinarily sparkly snowflake, and the most darling little birdie! Apologies for the poor quality iphone photo! I love them both, and I love that I can keep them up all winter! I think the snowflake will hang in the window over my kitchen sink. When the sun hits it, the sparkles will send beams all over the kitchen! I'm thinking also that the bird will live in my sewing room. I have a few little similar items hanging there, and I love it. 

Allison, thank you so much for these, they're wonderful! 

I forgot to take a photo of what I sent to Allison, but I think she will be posting them on her blog soon too  :)   Thanks to Mackey Madness and The Smitten Mintons for hosting such a fun little swap! 

Did you participate in any holiday swaps this year? Tell me about them!

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Also. I don't want it to appear that I am posting in vain, and ignoring the tragedy in CT last week. It's unspeakable, hard to comprehend, and because of that, I've felt that there is not much that I could say that hasn't already been said, and I have been keeping these families in my thoughts and prayers this holiday season. 

The 26 Acts Campaign has been an inspiration. Please look at it if you haven't already. 

stationary giveaway with English Tea Paperie and Scarlet Threads!

 

This was posted to Scarlet Threads blog this week, but wanted to share it here too, as I know many of you love stationary and all things monogrammed- we're having a giveaway featuring Chloe of English Tea Paperie, and she does the most gorgeous designs. Please have a look!

 

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Several years ago, I discovered the most delightful company and today I am sharing it with you! Chloe of English Tea Paperie is such a doll to work with. Chloe, her husband Joe, and their darling daughter Emma live nearby Richmond, VA, though Chloe is originally from England! That is actually how her company began!

In her own words, from her website-

English Tea Paperie is run by me, Chloe  - a modern day mommy entrepreneur with a love of paper products and all things pretty. Living the ultimate American dream, I moved to the US from England in 2006, having just married my wonderful husband Joe. Waiting for my green card to arrive in the mail, I sat at home with a million ideas and a pot of color pencils. 2 years of sketching, creating and planning and English Tea Paperie was born! I am a Christian and believe in spreading the positive message of God's word in a modern, chic and pretty way. 10% of my business income will go to my local church in Midlothian, VA.

I just love this story, don't you?  Women creating their own business is just the sort of thing Scarlet Threads loves so much, and supporting small business owners is such an important part of our mission. Chloe has the most adorable designs you've ever seen.

Just look at some of my favorites from her site-

Luke 2:11 Christmas Tree cards

Teacups (I have these, and adore them!)

Whales! 

Pineapples (I have these too!)



Sand Dollars

Don't you just love them? I know I do. Also, Chloe will do customized designs for you, and you can also suggest designs for her site! If you decide on a design from her site, you can customize it to your liking. You can use your full name, your initial, your full monogram or whatever you like best. You can also choose the colors for the printing as well. Chloe is so much fun to work with!

Chloe can be found online, on facebook and on twitter. 

Along with being fun to work with, Chloe is extraordinarily generous. She sent me a set of note cards to share with one of our readers! Yes, a little giveaway!

This set of notecards has a lovely scripture-

The Lord bless you and keep you

The Lord make His face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn His face toward you

and give you peace

-Numbers 6:24-26

Seriously, Chloe is the sweetest, eh? Each package is wrapped up like this, with a bow. Bows make everything better, don't they? 

Please see below, to enter the giveaway. We'd love you to leave a comment on this post with your favorite item from Chloe's shop. Also, a tweet would be terrific. Use both handles @ScarletThreadFT and @ETPaperie in your tweet! 

If you enter, go HERE to leave a comment and enter please!

In addition to this, Chloe is offering you all a discount at her site! Use the code STBLOG15 for 15% off your order. Also, there is free shipping the entire month of December, and the code will work on top of that! If you order by December 17 (next Monday!), you will have your order in time for Christmas!

The winner will be announced next week!

A big, big thank you to Chloe for her kindness and generosity in sending along these marvelous notecards to share with one of you.

event- Scarlet Threads in Old Town, Alexandria, VA!

DC area friends! All friends with friends in DC  :) 

 

I posted this to Scarlet Threads blog last week, but wanted to share the news here too.

 

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Good morning friends! I am SO thrilled to share this news with you, and I hope that you will be as excited as I am about this! Scarlet Threads will be taking part in a Holiday Benefit Shopping Night at the Ten Thousand Villages store in Alexandria, VA (Old Town, for those of you familiar with the area) next Sunday, December 16!

I'm sure you're familiar with Ten Thousand Villages, but in brief, from their site- 

With 60 years of experience, Ten Thousand Villages is a global network of social entrepreneurs working to empower and provide economic opportunities to artisans in developing countries. A founding member of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), Ten Thousand Villages sees fair trade as an alternative approach to conventional international trade.

Ten Thousand Villages is now a global network of more than 130 artisan groups in 37 countries and sells products in more than 150 retail outlets throughout the United States.

Ten Thousand Villages always has the most unique gifts, and is definitely one of my go-to places to find things for certain people. I love that when you shop there, not only are you empowering a family elsewhere, you can read their story. Each item comes with the story behind the person that made it, and these artisan stories really help you learn more about the community that you are now supporting. When buying something in the store, you can take the story with you, and the stories are also available on the website too. This is just the sort of thing that Scarlet Threads loves so much; really knowing where your money is going, so that you can see the positive changes that are taking place. 

I did most of my Christmas shopping here a few years ago, and I know I'll be doing some here this year as well!

Here are a few items I'm eyeing- 

Peacock Tea Light Lantern, from Bali

I've been a bit obsessed with peacocks recently, and I think this would be so much fun. If my sister is reading this, it's on my Christmas list  ;) 

Sheep Wall Art - made in Haiti 

I love this! It would be cute in a kitchen, I think. 

Children of Hope coin purse, from Guatemala 

I think this might be cute to send to Majlinda, the little girl I sponsor in Albania with World Vision! 

Om bracelet from Tibet.

LOVE this. 

Bountiful Grove bamboo bowl from Vietnam

Maybe for salads? Or fruit? Or pinecones? I love having a big bowl like this on the kitchen table, as a catch-all sort of thing, you know? 

 Sturdy stripes shoulder bag from India.

Cute for weekends! 

Floral Jute shopping bag from Bangladesh

This would be perfect for those weekend trips to the farmers market! 

So! As you can see, Ten Thousand Villages has some really lovely gift ideas. Next weekend, I will be there in the store with some Scarlet Threads items for you to see in person! It will be an open house of sorts. I'll be there at 6pm. We will have some fair trade wine to try, some snacks, perhaps some fair trade chocolate as well. You can do some holiday shopping for your loved ones. I'll have lots of information about Scarlet Threads to share with you. Also, Scarlet Threads will receive a percentage of anything purchased from Ten Thousand Villages that night as well! 

I, of course, will be sporting one of our aprons....just need to decide which one!  

Details:

Ten Thousand Villages, Old Town Alexandria 

915 King Street

Alexandria, VA

(703) 684-1435

Sunday, December 16

6-8pm 

We're so honored that Ten Thousand Villages is hosting us, and are thrilled for this opportunity to share our mission with their supporters as well. 

I realize that many of you are not in the Washington, DC area, but please share this with your friends and family, and ask them to do the same! We'd love a big turnout of support, and we need your help to make this happen! 

Scarlet Threads apron blitz!



 

 

We posted this to Scarlet Threads last week, but I wanted to share it here too, since there is just one more day to grab this amazing deal!

 

Perhaps you are like me, and have not started any of your Christmas shopping yet? Perhaps there is a domestic goddess or two on your list? Perhaps you need a hostess gift?

 



Introducing the Apron Blitz from Scarlet Threads! Until Thursday (tomorrow!), we are offering a set of FIVE (yes, FIVE!) of our aprons for $55. The retail price of the set is $118, so you are getting a steal of a deal!

 

That is $11 per apron, each of which retails for more than $20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ava ($22), Mommy & Me Betsy Combination ($24 + $26), Daphne ($22),

and Xiao Talia ($24)

 

 

Scarlet Threads also now accepts paypal, and you can be invoiced if you wish!

 

 

Find here in the shop!

 

 

Also, use the code lex10 - since I am sending you along  ;)

 

 

 

 



holiday doors!

A few Christmas decorations came out yesterday, and here's the front door!

The wreath is made from Virginia grapevines that I acquired a few years ago on a winery wreath tour, and the star, I picked up at Joann Fabrics for about $4 a few weeks ago! The ribbon was the perfect thing to add to them both! 



We still have to put our tree up, but it's a good start!

Any holiday decorations at your house yet? 



Bellevue Newport jewelry!

Are you familiar with Bellevue Newport jewelry? I've just recently found it (thanks to Miss Whale Flip Flops!), and her jewelry is just so much fun! She has flash sales on facebook every Monday and Wednesday evening at 8pm, and I have bought a gorgeous pair of earrings, and a bracelet, both under $20. Also? Shipping is always free! 

Today she is doing a fun giveaway on instagram...I know many of you are instagrammers too, so go over and check it out, and you could be the lucky winner of this gorgeous necklace! It would be so fun for holiday parties, or, give it to someone else as a gift!

Here's what you must do- 

Go to instgram and follow Sarah at @bellevuenewport and comment on this picture saying that I (@lexilooo) sent you over. Then, tell your friends too! 

Here's my current instagram post-  

;) 

gorgeous necklace and today's giveaway from @bellevuenewport - go over to her instagram page (@bellevuenewport) and say that I (@lexilooo) sent you there! ps. she also does amazing flash sales Monday and Wednesday nights on facebook!

Happy Monday, y'all!