Festival of Lights

I remember that the first year I spent Christmas in Canada, I was amazed at discovering how much people loved to decorate their houses and front yards with Christmas lights! Entire houses shining with hundreds of lights, front yards visited by inflatable Santas and flashing reindeers... Even if it's not always of the best taste, it is fun and quite magical!

In Vancouver, every year for Christmas, the beautiful Van Dusen botanical garden transforms into a world of sugar plum fairies and ginger bread men during the "Festival of Lights" :


Blue trees and pink flowers in the middle of winter...

One of the many magical sights at the "Festival of Lights"...

After some hot chocolate and a bag of sweet and salty popcorn (it's good, I tried!), my two "angels" were becoming quite silly...

One Thousand and One Nights...

Phew... I'm done! I am officially on holidays : I'm done with my marking, my craft fairs, my Christmas shopping... and I even hosted a home birthday party for my "baby" who turned 5 last weekend! Let me pat myself on the back : )

As a few of my friends have been suggesting it for a while, I have decided to create a *Olala* design Fan Page on Facebook! I am really proud of myself because I am usually a bit scared of anything too "technical" (you should see me with my cellphone... I still don't know how to text!?!)

Anyway, here it is :



My first announcement was to give the new address of Eclektica art gallery which is now located in Yaletown, a chic and hip neighborhood in Vancouver. The gallery carries a few of my pieces, for example, these sets I made with the holidays in mind :



"Mille et une nuits" necklace - Moroccan silk beads, Swarovski crystal baroque pendant, pewter beads.

The matching earrings...

Elegant and colorful, these necklaces will make any lady shine for "One Thousand and One nights"...

Eclektica art gallery
The Empress Galleria #112 - 1118 Homer Street, Vancouver

Christmas madness...

Holiday cards by Rubypress (Etsy)

I don't know about you but I am NOT in the mood for Christmas yet!

First of all, I can't believe we are in December when yesterday we were in September.... weren't we? And, quite frankly, I am way too busy at the moment to even think about Christmas! Actually, I have to force myself to think about it : I am trying to list new items in my Etsy shop almost every day because I know that by the end of the weekend, people are not going to buy Christmas presents anymore due to shipping...

So here is a bit of inspiration that I have listed in my shop recently :

"Fleurs du soir", a bracelet composed of red carved cinnabar, plum jasper and jet black Swarovski crystals

Here's "Fleurs du soir" with my new ring by Spark, a designer I met at the Fab Fair. Check out her cool jewelry at : www.spark-girl.com


And here is my latest Treasury, "So chic!", that made the Front Page yesterday : )

Now, if you excuse me, I have to get ready for the TWO Christmas Markets I have registered for this weekend (what was I thinking about?....)