Coffee & cigarettes & Woody Allen to tie the year up.

"And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt."

-Sylvia Plath

"The world is but a canvas to our imaginations."

-Henry David Thoreau

"The world needs dreamers and the worlds needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do."

-Sarah Ban Breathnach

"That's who you really like. The people you can think out loud in front of."

-John Green

I write this extremely late at night listening to this wondrous song that completely describes the mood I get as this utterly beyond perfect year draws to a close. I feel sad and melancholy to see this wonderful year go. It was so full of growth and changes and love and appreciation for everything around me. I travelled to New York and gained confidence and determination for my aspirations and my dreams utterly flourished. Friendships and bonds that can never be broken were woven this year. The Lord was continually pouring out blessings and I am so thankful for His grace and mercy and love.

This month, I've wanted nothing more than to do what I did Wednesday night and be surrounded by brilliant friends with nothing better to do than drink coffee and watch Woody Allen films. Or, on late nights like this, to stay up until I cannot stay awake any longer journaling and sketching and jotting down inspirational quotes while watching Harry Potter. It seems that this is what you desire most of all to do all year. This time of year you realize it more though: that the ordinary things aren't so ordinary but magical and beautiful and the most enjoyable.
Yet still that wanderlust is forever in my heart and I look forward to what this next year shall bring and what adventures and travels and changes. It's impending but beautiful and I am beyond excited.

"Living is like tearing through a museum. Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering - because you can't take it all in at once."

-Audrey Hepburn

Today, New Year's Eve, we're hosting a brilliant party with wonderful friends where we shall dance to Toro Y Moi, Jackson Five, and Foster the People and reel in the new year loving each other's company.

This year has been magical bliss. 

Cheers to the new year of 2012, darlings!
xxx,
Tuney Potter

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.

"Time was with most of us, when Christmas Day, encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our home enjoyments, affections, and hopes; grouped everything and everyone round the Christmas fire, and make the little picture shining in our bright young eyes, complete."

-Charles Dickens

"Christmas...that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance--a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved." 

-Augusta E. Rundel

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

-Norman Vincent Peale

Wishing you the most magical Christmas!

xxx,

Tuney Potter

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.' " 

-Luke 2:13-14

It's that time of year when the world falls in love♥

This week has been indescribably romantic and magical. It's been filled with hot chocolate, cigars, last minute gift wrapping, reading F. Scott Fitzgerald, exchanging gifts with brilliant friends, watching perfect Midnight in Paris, wearing Weasley sweaters, staying up till all hours of the night journaling by the fire, baking delicious cookies, and generally enjoying everything. 

Hoping your Christmas weekend is perfect!
xxx,

Tuney Potter

Soon it will be Christmas Day♥

  

A quick post and then I'm off to watch a movie by the Christmas tree with brilliant people, paint and journal in my room while listening to some Hugh Laurie, and read F. Scott Fitzgerald by the fireside to finish the night. 

This time of year takes my breath away it's so perfectly wonderful. My mum wrapped so many gifts last night and they look utterly perfect underneath the tree. 

My mind can't handle that fact that in one tiny week Christmas Day will be here and before I know it the New Year will be rolling round, with new possibilities and adventures and knowledge to take in. 

This December (and year, for that matter) has been such a time for learning and discussing creativity and inspiration. I am, as always, in love with this quote:

"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select things only to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean Luc-Godard said: 'It's not where you take things from, it's where you take them to.' "

Hoping your week is wonderful and magical! 

xxx,

Tuney Potter

***busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style***

You find me in a beautiful whirlwind of Christmas shopping, enjoying that excitement of Christmas parcels arriving by post, loving leisurely breakfasts sitting by the fire reading F. Scott Fitzgerald with only enough appetite for coffee, attending festive parties on the weekends, and enjoying the rare long nights in my twinkling house listening to Bing Crosby. 

All year I look forward to wonderful Winter and Christmastime: the only time of year when I can wear black tights and velvet skirts and sequin tops and not one person will think indifferently about it. It's the only time of year when nighttime is so cherished to watch lovely Christmas films or paint pictures by the tree or enjoy reading on your twinkle-lit bed as I do. The only time of year when sitting by the fire sipping cocoa with friends seems the most ideal thing to do and certainly the only time when going out to dinner seems ever so classy.  

{click photo for wish list sources}

This time of year completely enchants me with so much rush to get things around, parties to attend, and friends and family to spend time with, but still having those rare moments to sit at my desk listening to Christmas music while journaling or painting and always reminiscing and musing of loveliness and how perfect this year has been.

The blessings and experiences of this year are innumerable. 

Wishing you a magical week leading up to perfect Christmas Day! 

xxxx,

Tuney Potter

Painted candy canes♥

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, but it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up to find yourself in another quite different, and if this is not an enchantment, then where is it to be found?"

-J.B. Priestley

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." 

-Edith Sitwell

"In a way, Winter is the real Spring, the time when the inner things happen, the resurgence of nature."

-Edna O'Brien

Currently my days are quite leisurely. Late at night I paint Winter scenes by our beautiful Christmas tree, watch Christmas films with my family, or, as you find me tonight, home alone just me and my cat cutting out paper snowflakes to hang from my ceiling while watching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and journaling.

The next couple weeks leading closer to wonderful Christmas day will be busier getting shopping done, spending time with my brilliant friends now that everyone's going to be on break, and enjoying the season. So for now I am relishing these lazy days when I can listen to good music and read good books (The Great Gatsby!) and journal my thoughts that feel so inspired.

This weekend my cousins and I will be having our annual cookie bake at my grandma's house that is exceptionally cosy this time of year and we will also be watching White Christmas late at night. It shall be absolutely wonderful. 

The Nutcracker was completely and utterly magical last Friday. 

♥♥♥

xxx,

Tuney Potter

P.S.-Listening to this, adoring anything with sparkles, and missing this wonderful place.

Treetops glisten♥

"Winter came down to our home one night. Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slipper of snow. And we, we were children once again."

-Bill Morgan Jr. 

My favourite time of year has arrived. Wondrous Christmas. The days are shorter and the nights longer and I sit by the fire sketching and read until the early hours of the morning by the light of the glorious Christmas tree. Today is December the 1st and I've no idea where this year has gone! But this month is truly one of my favourites. Yes, Summer does pull my heartstrings more than I can bear but once Christmas rolls round I feel content and at home and all I want to do is be around everyone I adore and feel the warmth of this perfect season. 

This week my mum and I decorated the house and it became a glowing wonderland. The Christmas music plays constantly and I feel all warm inside. Last weekend shopping and galavanting around with friends was completely brilliant. That's really something I live for. Especially this month when it just feels easier and more cosy and welcoming to be with adored friends and family when you have a fire and a twinkling tree by your side. 

Tomorrow night will be a glamorous night. I shall get all dressed up in a sparkling dress and lovely ladies and myself shall go and see the Nutcracker ballet. It will be utterly magical and dreamy. I am so very excited to watch a ballet right in front of me, especially during this glamorous and sparkling time of year. 

Dreaming of cookie bakes, cuttings snowflakes to hang from my ceiling, and beginning to purchase Christmas gifts. 

Hoping your days have been beautiful and divine!

Enjoy the weekend. Cosy up by the fire or enjoy a classy dinner out. 

"My heart is returned to Sister Winter."

xxxx,

Tuney Potter

Wintry Pictures for you:

**The Nutcracker♥

**Snow in the Swiss Alps

**A Hogwarts Christmas

**Sunny sparkling houses

**Paris snow

**Layers of loveliness

**The Yule Ball

**Cookie baking

**Packages arriving by post

**Pure elegance