It always amazes me how some traditions take shape- quietly, guided by the candlelight of one person. And become much more. Growing up, annual Christmas Eve party was our mom’s gift to her children, and to our friends and family alike. For weeks ahead of time, Mama, my sister, and I bake, planned, taste-tested, and prepared for the gathering. The stand-up freezer in the basement became filled with lasagnas, pies, and decadent treats that became traditions of their own, our mom talking us...

One of my favorite stories as a child was The Gift of the Magi . You may remember it, too. For Jim and Della, giving doesn’t come from abundance—it comes from within. Della sells her most treasured possession... her long, beautiful ha ir... to buy a gift for Jim. Not just any gift, but a watch band. A simple, perfect one. Jim’s watch is deeply sentimental, though the band has long been broken, and she wants to restore something he loves, something he carries with him each day. At the very...

As Shared By David Cleveland, Written by Marcy Vierzen First Shared in an Email Blast From Artisan'sNovember 27, 2020 It was around 1987, in between the time David Cleveland was living out in Colorado and his move back to New Hampshire. Contemplating the magic of Christmas in New Hampshire, David returned to New London in mid December, and offered that it might be fun to put a Christmas tree up in the field.   His father, James C. Cleveland, who had served as a Congressman in Washington for...