Lettres from THE BLISSFUL: November 2009

The word I remember learning in high school French class for "turkey" is la dinde. But my handy dandy online English-to-French dictionary tells me that an alternative word for "turkey" is la turquie, pronounced very similar to our English word. Ooh, now I like turquie even better than before!

And so it begins, this week of crowded grocery stores, digging up of favorite recipes {and recipes that are favorites-to-be, like anything out of the Betty Crocker Holiday Cookie recipe booklets that you find at grocery store cash registers--have you flipped through one of those lately?}, and wild preparation, all to gather friends and family 'round a table to enjoy a meal which means so much more than just turquie + mashed potatoes + cranberry sauce. {Though we love those, too.}

I love Thanksgiving. I love this day devoted solely to giving thanks for the really important stuff--the tangibles {like a roof over our heads and food in our bellies} and the intangibles {you know what those are}.

Heart in Hand Bottle Opener

We hope you'll include THE BLISSFUL in your Thanksgiving week shopping plans. Pre-T-Day, we've got hostess gifts aplenty, from the small-treats-that-speak-volumes...

Vanilla and Chocolate Sugar {sucre} from France.

to the extravagant mementos, as well as those extra touches for decorating your home or tabletop if you're the hostess with the mostest.

And the weekend after Thanksgiving, we're having a lovely sale to entice those who are trimming their Christmas tree. We're also holding a giveaway for a pretty neat prize unlike anything we've ever offered before. Stay tuned to the blog this week for details, but it all starts this Friday the 27th and continues through Sunday the 29th. Local customers, watch the Repository's full-color Holiday Gift Guide on Thanksgiving Day for details.

THANKSGIVING WEEK HOURS

Monday the 23rd & Tuesday the 24th, 10 AM - 5PM
Wednesday the 25th, 10 AM - 2 PM
Thursday the 26th, Thanksgiving Day, CLOSED
Friday the 27th & Saturday the 28th, 10 AM - 5 PM
Sunday the 29th, 12 Noon - 4PM

Sunday hours begin this weekend and continue up 'til Christmas, 12 Noon to 4 PM. Yay for extended hours.

And thanks to you for supporting THE BLISSFUL.

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Saintly Glittering Humble Glorious Tarnished Bejeweled

Newly Handmade for a Modern World

Storefront at sunset, Bazaar de Noël.

Bazaar de Noël went off beautifully November 5th-7th. It's taken me half a week to cull through over a thousand photos that were snapped throughout the weekend between me and my two Shopgirl photographers.

One of my absolute favorite shots from the weekend. Pure magic.

Thanks to all the customers who came out for our Holiday 2009 debut event. We were so pleased to see so many of our regulars, as well as lots of new customers who were discovering us for the first time. After four years in business, that still feels great.

The event tagline was Modern Heirlooms for Inspired Holidays. We took our nod from the mood of the culture: quality treasures over fly-by-night trendy junk, value over extravagance for its own sake, recycled/repurposed items in limited quantities over mass produced stuff one can find anywhere.

Front display that greets customers at our entrance. Rummage-y, playful, enigmatic, unstaged.

When we combed the Markets for our Holiday story this past Winter {yes, nearly a year in advance}, we passed over mass market stuff we knew might get picked up by big box stores and were drawn toward that which felt unique, innately boutique-y, and most importantly, worth it.

This saintly fellow became the unofficial mascot of Bazaar de Noël.

Raphael Santos watches over one of our many fantastic Holiday candles.

Spiky Star Ornament in the brightest, glintiest silver glitter finish.

Our Eiffel Tower Snowglobe Ornament captures a bit of wintry Parisian magic. {No, the snow doesn't scatter about when you shake it, but it's so pretty just the same.}

We wanted a store full of heirloom quality finds destined for those customers with taste for the fascinating and an eye for quality.

Our paper Ting-Ting Birds can serve as romantic treetoppers or as adornments for wine bottles.

The bracelet of the season--a super long strand of faceted semiprecious stones in variegated colors. Wrap nine or ten times around the wrist for a casual layered effect.

These are the pieces you will pass on to your daughters and granddaughters.

Our color palette was non-traditional, as well. This year, we almost entirely eschewed traditional red and green and instead created our story with hues that set a nostalgic tone yet play off of modern textures such as nickel, zinc, washed and weathered woods, and of course, mercury glass and glitter glass.

There were sips & nibbles aplenty.

The weekend's signature cookie, a lemon cutout frosted with our favorite Yuletide word. Thanks, Susan, for doing such a delicious job!

Tatine Garden + Forest Infusion Candles in intoxicating Holiday fragrances: Winterberry, Pumpkin, and Pine...

and some fun in the making, courtesy of Wendy Addison.

Our iconic La Fille de Bohème looks lovely in all seasons...

as you will when peering into our Bejewelled Mirror Compacts.

Love the glossy patina on this small Mercury Glass Fluted Tealight Holders. Just about the right size for a pat of butter. If only mercury glass were foodsafe.

A selection of new jewels from Strand by Kelly McGreal. One of a kinds and few of a kinds.

Enchanted Forest Pearl Tree Ornament

My favorite little stocking stuffers: antique-y crystal Snowflake Magnets from Belgium. Like something straight out of a vintage jewelbox.

Sparkle sparkletons. {Otherwise known as sparkly silver birds on stands that have a clear vase wired on to their back into which you can put a flower, a sprig of holly, or even a pen. I spotted these in last year's J. Crew Holiday catalog, yes I did.}

I spy...

our Sid Dickens wall in its sun-dappled glory. Now these make an unforgettable gift. Moveable, affordable art that actually appreciates over time.

Straight up yum. Hard to choose a favorite.

On the left: Music with Moulding {T04}. On the right: Moment {T216}.

Divine Love {T212}, a retired tile.

Belonging {T214}.

I love their otherworldliness.

Angelic Spirit {T213}. Retired.

Amour - Silver {S206}.

Santa Elena and a cupboard full of Bazaar finds.

Black and silver Fleur de Lis Ornaments in two sizes.

Always, always with the mercury glass around here. Add a hobnail texture and we love it all the more.

In an ornament? Yes, please.

The handpainted gnome of the gourmet table.

Cheeky Glittered Owl ornaments.

Fantastically detailed--and diminutive--Bejeweled Crowns.

Sparkling French Medallion Earrings, handset with Austrian crystals.

Etched crystals on ribbons.

Pearl & Crystal Bangles

White lights on white cord, all swirled together in a large Seafarer's Bottle. A simple idea with really high impact.

Just one shot of translucent cobalt blue--in the form of a really cool candlestick.

Snowflake Ornament from our Belgian jewelbox collection.

Baby cupboard with twinkly lights.

Alhambra Candlesticks add sleek drama.

New Bubble Baths by Tokyo Milk in vintage modern apothecary jars. Such shelf candy. Oh, and the formula is wonderful, too. In two fragrances--one sexy, one softly floral.

Silver Vintage-Style Camera Boxes find a temporary home on our Train Shelf with numbered hooks.

Thank you, Kirsten, for this shot. Great bokeh, sister.

What's in our Round It Up Wire Basket? From top to bottom, Wooden Paris Plaque, Green Fleur de Lis Votives, and large Silver Bullion Ball Ornaments.

Santos Wing

"Every great life deserves great moments." One of my favorite greeting cards from this year's Holiday selection.

Layers of goods for entertaining and serving.

Handbags and scarves.

Vintage-wash burnout tees and a perennial favorite canvas around here, "The Guardian."

Green in two hues.

J'adore.

Come rest a while.

These are my most favorite funky little votive holders. Love the tarnish-y, almost dirty look of the smoky inlaid crystals. Mmm.

Ornament exchange, anyone?

Mistletoe soy candles in chunky bubbly mercury glass tumblers, fronted by a glitttery Peace Dove Ornament resting between toes. Of course. Only at THE BLISSFUL.