Doesn't just looking at jelly beans make you happy? So colorful, so bright -- happy candy!

What better J to share for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday?

A big thanks to all of you who played in my New Year's giveaway! I wrote 22 names on 22 circles.

I folded the circles twice and put them in a pretty glass.

All of them together, waiting for the big draw.

I wish I could send all of you that T-shirt, but the lucky winner is...

... Jo-Ann Dziubek-MacDonald who is a talented artist.

From her website:

Congrats Jo-Ann! The T-shirt will soon be on its way to you.

Moo-Mania's very first challenge is Asia -- perfect for a moo dedicated to the Year of the Dragon which starts today.

Well, I missed last week's deadline for H, so today you are in for a double treat thanks to Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday! Let's start with H then.

I had driven by that house countless times either by train or car, yet recently I had the chance to walk by it.

Now that's one piece of worthwhile advice:

Don't ask what others are doing,
take care of your own matters.

Now on to this week's letter -- I.

Haunted Design House has a new challenge -- Chic Freaks. Since Barb also allows digital artwork, I had great fun coming up with a Halloween-ish ATC. Isn't the little freak just chic?

Looking at my blog headers of 2011, I must admit that I don't have a favorite one this time. It was a joy to create them all.

If you want to see more of my previous blog headers, click here for 2010, 2009, and 2008.

It's time to kick off the New Year with a giveaway! It's a pleasure to announce it on occasion of Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. Last year I already gave away an Oktoberfest T-shirt, and now you have the chance again to win one. I went back to the store, and this time bought a shirt in size L. The front measures 57 cm which is roughly 22.5 inches.

The shirt is 100 % cotton with a pink heart and the words
I ♥ Oktoberfest.

The rhinestones sparkle in the sunshine.

The label.

A bit of pink is never wrong.

So how can you win the I ♥ Oktoberfest T-shirt?

The giveaway is open until Sunday, January 22nd.

While Joan from Joan's Home Studio sent a letter with beautiful earrings in early December, the envelope first arrived on January 3. What a great way to start into the New Year -- a real treat for sure! Joan had had a Cyber Monday giveaway, and generously gave away prizes for everyone -- a BIG thanks for that, Joan. She even sent earrings for my mother who chose the two designs below:

And these are my new favorite earrings in festive red/green and brownish red which look great for every outfit.

The earrings were safely stored in this cute organza bag with the Chinese couple.

Thanks so much, Joan -- that was perfect timing for a wonderful New Year's surprise!

On January 1, I took a walk around the neighborhood. The tree log and many branches were a good motif for a highly textured photo.

Silky flowers on bare branches.

Shopping carts.

The setting sun lighting up the bare trees.

Decorating for New Year's Eve.

Chimney-sweep candle.

Pigs and ladybugs for extra luck.

New Year's crackers.

A glass of sparkling wine at midnight.

Goodbye 2011 -- hello 2012!

The sky all lit up.

Ringing in the New Year!

May 2012 be as sparkling as this light!

Now the 2012 pig is shining brightly, too.

Time for Bleigießen -- first melt a piece of lead over a candle, ...

... then drop it into a bowl of cold water.
The result -- a beautiful rose!

Even the lead which stuck to the spoon looked beautiful.

Here's a close-up of my most interesting creation.

Dancing shoes?

The rose.

We started the New Year with a brunch.

Here's to a wonderful 2012 for all of us!