Friday, December 23, 2011

A wonderful Advent gift

Years ago, a dear friend, who knew how much we loved England, sent us the most amazing, amazing e-card we had ever seen. It was an English country cottage, complete with dog and cat.


We played it over and over again. It was the very beginning of Jacquie Lawson cards. Since then the company has grown, and it offers the most beautiful cards on the internet. There is a small charge for a year's membership. You have your own address book, reminders of special days if you wish, and choice after choice of very special cards. Now they have added note cards and letters as well.

Last year for the first time, an Advent calendar was offered. It was a little English village.


We bought it, and enjoyed each day. This year that same one is available, as well as one of London.


The company has outdone itself! There is an information center with 'brochures' about the places visited each day. What I've done is go to the information pamphlet first, and then the day. It is one of the most magical experiences I've ever had. And it isn't too late. In fact, I think it would be wonderful to buy it now, and go back and see each day. For three dollars, it is the finest gift you could buy yourself or someone you love this Advent season. And it's yours forever after.

Here is the website.

Click on 'The Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar' for details.

The demo is here.

And here is the original card.

24 comments:

  1. So beautiful! With such a huge choice of cards and calendars, it is not easy to offer something special; this company have cetainly succeeded!

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  2. They really have, Librarian. I've never seen such beautiful cards, and such realistic portrayals, particularly of dogs!

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  3. I will definitely be checking out this website, Nan. It sounds so wonderful. Especially for us Anglophiles. :)

    I was recently reading a post over at Better Living Through Beowulf about the influence Dickens had on our view of Christmas and the celebration we make of it. I couldn't agree more.

    The Brits didn't invent Christmas, but they sure made it fun.

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  4. Yvette, you will love it. And it may change how you send cards. So many bemoan the falling away of snail mail cards, but honestly I love the JL cards more.

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  5. I've been using Jacquie Lawson e-cards for a few years now and love them, I've never seen the original one before though. I've had the village advent calendar two years running as well but next year I might try London - unless there's another new one:) Merry Christmas!

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  6. Wow, I have always loved my Christmas cards from England. I should have known that the e-cards would be stunning too!
    Merry Christmas!

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  7. A very Merry Christmas, dear Nan! I wish you joy.

    warmly,
    Aisling

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  8. I have seen her cards before. I bet thi sis great. Thanks.

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  9. One of my blogging friends (Linda from The Task At Hand) has purchased this for me the last two Christmases. It is indeed a joy and delight to visit each day! I love the animals, especially, with their whimsical antics. I have to look for the brochure, though; somehow, I've missed that.

    Your headers are always so very beautiful, Nan.

    God's blessings on your Christmas if I don't visit before.

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  10. We"subscribed" to Jacqui Lawson years ago, and still love her work!
    We have such great taste :)

    Lots of warm Christmas wishes to you and yours Nan.
    Blessings,
    Niki

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  11. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to your family from ours !

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  12. Hi Nan:

    Dear Nan: Another thing we have in common. I have been a subscriber to Jacquie Lawson, for many years now. I like that they have beautiful cards to fit any occasion, at a very reasonable yearly fee, plus I am saving postage and trees.

    I also wanted to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, and I hope the new year will be a healthy happy one for you.

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  13. Nan -- I love Jackie Lawson and have belonged for years, but I have never bought the Advent Calendar -- next year I am going to send that to the great-grands early in the season.

    Merry Christmas to all -- and thank you for the gift of your blog posts throughout the year.

    (I just caught up on your posts I've missed and as a result added several movies and a couple of books to my TBR (or TB-watched) lists!!

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  14. These are so beautiful. Thank you for including the link, which is now bookmarked for future exploration. I suspect I will be sending some e-cards in the future.
    In fact, thank you for all your interesting blog posts throughout the year. I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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  15. They're lovely, aren't they, Nan. I signed up to them to keep in touch with my son and his family in Australia.

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  16. This is my favorite ecard site. Stumbled upon it a few years ago. The animation--music--settings are so well done. Yes Nan--the dogs are perfect. Love Chudleigh! I've always wanted to "travel" England. My husband lived there as a child(his father was on sabbatical). These cards stirred his memories.
    Good Christmas to you!

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  17. Rowan, that first card was so magical, so unique. There was nothing like it on the internet. Such a great company.
    And the same to you!

    Kay, some of her designers are over here, now!

    So good to hear from you, Aisling, and the same to you.

    Lisa, absolutely wonderful. I can't praise it enough.

    How very, very nice of that person, Bellezza!
    And the same to you.

    Very funny, Niki. :<)
    And the same to you.

    And to all of you, Val.

    So nice to hear from you, Donna. How I miss seeing your pictures!
    And the same to you and your family.

    Sallie, I almost think you would enjoy the calendars most of all! There is so, so much to appreciate.
    Happy to oblige with the books and movies. :<)

    Alex, thank you.
    And I wish the same to you. Btw, I just got a book from the library which you recommended - The Christmas Menorahs. Thank you.

    Nicola, a nice reminder of home for them.

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  18. Tracey, you and I must have been writing at the same time! Have you read on the JL site about the real Chudleigh, sadly not alive anymore but he wasn't pure Labrador - part Lab and part Springer Spaniel (I think). Do you have the Advent calendar? You'd so love it.

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  19. Some dear friends gave us the London Advent calendar this year, and other people we know also got it. So conversations now begin, "Didn't you love today's Advent scene?"
    The one yesterday (the 23rd) is my absolute favourite of all the scenes, for personal reasons. I repeat it often.
    I enjoy e-cards, but with a mantel overflowing with gorgeous snail mail cards from around the globe, and many with photographs of beloved family and friends and their growing offspring and various pets, I'm not willing to give them up. Or cease sending out our own!
    Happy Christmas to all of you!

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  20. Oh, Margaret our favorite was Buckingham Palace!
    I love snail mail cards too!
    Thank you and the same to you.

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  21. A reader was kind enough to send me one of these this year. I have enjoyed it beyond measure, looking forward to midnight each day to open a new treasure. Such a treat!

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  22. It really is so wonderful, Penny. Glad you have one too! Fun that you do it at midnight.

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  23. Even the free Jacquie Lawson cards are amazing. We received two of them this holiday season and loved them.

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