An iPhone Pictoral Arrangement: Christmas in Durango, Co

Taking a Christmas Break!

We will be taking a break on the blog for the next couple of days. Watch our Twitter and Instagram for random holiday updates! Merry Christmas! Have a lovely one.


Acorn by Finkelsteins Toys

Monday Treat: Holiday Movies You Forgot About

Monday, fun day! I've been noticing lately that all of the holiday movies that are playing on television are all of the same old (loved, nonetheless) movies that play over and over in December: Elf, A Christmas Story, Home Alone, etc. However, don't forget about the lesser-knowns! There are some wonderful holiday movies that don't get a lot of play in December. Here are some of my favorites:


Top row, from left:
• Joyeux Noël, 2005: This subtitled film focuses on the December 1914 truce between French, Scottish and German soldiers during World War I. The soldiers celebrated Christmas Even together in the trenches amidst the fighting.
• Home for the Holidays, 1995: This one stresses me out a bit, but it's still funny if you can loosen up with a glass of wine. Directed by Jodie Foster, this one is centered around a recently-fired woman who returns home to have Thanksgiving with her oddball family.
• Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, 1977: One of my childhood favorites. This was Jim Henson's first feature film, about Emmet the river otter and his mother, who are poor and looking for ways to buy each other gifts. It has some of the best Christmas songs ever written. (look for the blooper bonus on the DVD!)
• Bridget Jones's Diary, 2001: More for the girls, this one is just silly and should be accompanied with boozy eggnog and Christmas cookies.

Middle row, from left:
• Wonderboys, 2000: Not necessarily a holiday movie, but set during a school's holiday break: Wonderboys tells the story of James Leer and Professor Tripp: two lost writers and scholars who are trying to make sense of their mediocre lives through moments of pure brilliance. It's also one of the funniest movies ever made.
• Little Women, 1994: I saw this in the theater with my mom when I was twelve. It is the sweetest adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's 1868 semi-autobiographical novel about four sisters and their mother in the Civil War Era.
• Edward Scissorhands, 1990: Also not quite the "holiday movie" in the traditional sense, anyone my age probably has a special place in their heart for Edward.
• Love Actually, 2003: A new classic, I'm sure, Love Actually is just a delight. Told through several different characters' stories as they intertwine through each other's lives, this film proves the point that "love actually does exist."

Bottom row, from left:
• The Small One, 1978: My absolute favorite as a kid. I still watch this one every year, usually after a few too many drinks, which finds me bawling on the floor of my parents spare room in front of the tv. This one has a few religious undertones, but it's mostly the story of a boy who has to sell his donkey/best friend. It's touching and unforgettable. It's also a cartoon. (UPDATE! Just found out you can watch the entire movie on Youtube!)
• The Christmas Toy, 1986: Another Jim Henson film, I have to admit that this one creeped me out as a kid. I think it was the doll. Regardless, it's about toys that come to life when people aren't in the room, and how they feel when new toys are added.
• Home Alone 2, 1992: Don't get me wrong, Home Alone is probably my favorite movie of all time, let alone holiday movie, but don't forget about Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. It is just as good as the original, if not even better. I can recite it to you if you'd like.
• The Muppet Christmas Carol, 1992: Last but not least, The Muppet Christmas Carol. There are a lot of adaptations of A Christmas Carol, but none of the others have Beaker in them. Enough said.

What are your favorites?

Repost from Neatloaf: White Danish Christmas

Today, we're busy cooking up our Private Press Party for tonight's soft release of our Assemble Crafty Kits! We didn't have time to write up an entry, so we pulled a favorite from our old blog, Neatloaf. Enjoy!

Are you a fan of "Red & Green Christmas" or "White Christmas?" I don't know why I have compartmentalized Christmas into those two categories, but I have my entire life, and each is not without its charms. Keep in mind, I have completely made these up on my own and your idea of Christmas may be meshed. I just hope you don't have a blue one...

To me, Red & Green Christmas includes Charlie Brown, big fat colored lights, lit up plastic Santas, candy canes and bright wrapping paper. White Christmas has It's a Wonderful Life (in French), white twinkle lights, spritz cookies, brown paper packages and candlelight. I am a fan of the white Christmas, myself, and I found quite possibly the most beautiful and simplistic pictorial definition of my holiday dream. On the cute blog, From the Right Bank, I found this gorgeous Danish home, all decorated for Christmas. If you can take your eyes off of the beautiful, wooden floors for one moment, take a look at it's holiday charm. Love!






Photos from Lantliv via From the Right Bank

Merry, Merry!

Crafty Projects: Sweet, Polymer Clay Ornaments

I'm a sucker for quirky ornaments on a tree, especially neon! I have a pre-lit, artificial, white tree, (due to the fact that I have a vacuum for a chihuahua and she would eat the fallen needles) which really showcases snazzy ornaments. So, I really had fun making these for friends, family--and a few for Assemble! Plus, they're super easy to make:


What you'll need:
• Cookie cutters. My favorites are the crust punch-out cutters from Williams-Sonoma because they also make an impression on top of the clay (or dough, if you're using them for baking). I used a few of their seasonal ones, some Star Wars favorites and some good ole' woodland cookie cutters.
• A rolling pin. I've found that ceramic ones work best with this project, because the wood tends to soak up oils from the clay and stain.
• Polymer baking clay. I used Sculpey, but you can also use Fimo or any other type you find at a craft shop.
• Toothpicks.
Not pictured, but still needed:
• Parchment paper
• Cookie sheet
• An oven
• Double-sided tape
• Twine or string to hang on the tree!


Unroll a piece of parchment paper as wide as your table and place double-sided tape under it, to keep it as stationary as possible. Tape doesn't hold parchment paper well, but this will help when rolling. Use a different sheet for each color. Roll the clay until it is roughly 1/8 of an inch. Try not to fold the clay over too much, as it will create air bubbles.


When the clay is completely flat and even, cut out your ornamanents gently! Then using your toothpick, poke a hole big enough to get your twine or string through. Make sure to make the hole in a place where the weight of the ornament will distribute evenly, and hence, hang straight.


Place them on a non-stick cookie sheet (use another sheet of parchment if you would like), and bake them according to the clay's instructions. I baked mine at 275ºF for about 20 minutes.

When finished, take them out of the oven to cool, string, and hang on your tree, or tie them to gifts for a little added touch. If you're not up for the craft, we've got some here at the shop for $2. Merry, merry!