It’s officially the time of year when I convince James to take a crowded train back to Brooklyn with me, loaded up with brown paper shopping bags stuffed to the gills with pine cones and branches, privet berries, bittersweet, and other bits and bobs collected to bring a little bit of the winter spirit inside. 
Adding the bits of greenery to the apartment will be the little treat I give myself after work this week and this weekend, I’ll get to extend the merry-making by teaching a little workshop here in Brooklyn. On Saturday afternoon, I’m paying a special visit to the Girl Gift Gather studio, where we’ll pass a few hours making wintry crafts (mulling spices, beeswax candles, and wintry swags!) and generally getting into the spirit of things while enjoying edible treats from nearby places. Head HERE for more information and to purchase a ticket. (Workshop attendees go home with pair of hand-forged scissors from Brook Farm General Store. Hurry, hurry.)
PS. If you’re doing any special holiday shopping today, I hope you might consider snatching up a few treats from the independent sponsors of this site (many of them running sales today):
wintry things.
December 1, 2014 Barnacle Bags | Bashful Garter | Billie Blooms | Bridge & Burn | Brook There | Marble & Milkweed | Moop
PPS. If you’ve been eyeing some of the basics I wrote about in my minimalist wardrobe series, some of those companies are running sales today, too. Deals on jeans, pajamas, and other things!
6 Comments
I love your blog and can't wait to do some holiday foraging this week! However, Oriental bittersweet is a highly invasive vine that chokes out native flora. It is basically the kudzu of the north. While there is a native variety, it is very hard to distinguish between the two. Perhaps a better option would be winterberry (Ilex verticillata) so as to minimize accidental dispersal of bittersweet. I'm not trying to be a killjoy! Rather, just hoping to pass along a useful tidbit from one plant lover to another. Happy foraging and happy holidays!!
Hi Natalie. Yes, indeed, there's always room for improvement. It's probably best to avoid bittersweet (this particular vine chokes a large pine near my mom and dad's house), porcelain berry, and all the other invasives around this time of year. I love ilex…will keep my eye out.
Now that it's officially December, I'm fully going to allow myself to dive right into the decorating, too! Love bringing the nature in.
lovely! you're inspiring me to do the same.
Wish, wish, wish I could be there. Your words and pictures are my absolute favorite. I'm always inspired and can't wait to read your posts. Thank you!
I love the bit of winter where we bring greenery in to decorate. Being from a Celtic country, those traditions carry through.
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