Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers!

I confess to usually throwing out or never using all the junk I generally get in my stocking every year (unless it's candy or chocolate, but that goes without saying). All of these items are under $10, proving that it's possible to provide your loved one with inexpensive, QUALITY stocking stuffers. Save the environment-- don't buy ugly crap that's made in China or wherever and that someone is just going to throw out anyway!


These beautiful fabric push pins will should dress up your corkboard nicely and make you look like an adult and stuff. A set of 6 from Bethne3, for $10.



This little Irked Tofu softie breaks my heart! He's so cute! Buttonarcade is selling this pincushion and button for $6.



This cashmere scented 8 oz. tin candle is made from soy wax, which is worlds better than paraffin wax. , $8. Other scents and sizes are available.


CubistLiterature cracks me up. His item descriptions never fail to amuse me. I get the feeling that he's a fun and interesting person, which makes me want to buy things from him, of course! His knitted cuff comes from yarn that he handspun. Pretty sweet, and only $10 for all that handmade goodness. He also has a great website, which you can link to from his shop.



This hand carved stamp comes from craftpudding. $8. Don't go thinking that only kids want rubber stamps. Everyone loves a nice stamp! (If YOU don't well then there's something wrong with you and that's not my problem)

Etsy Gift Guide

Did you take the handmade pledge this year? If so, please allow me to help you in your quest for the perfect holiday gift items.



Chocolate- the obromine molecule earrings, for sale at molecularmuse's shop. $40. Chocolate lovers and geeks unite!


This pillow by Olive is eerily similar to a pillow currently on sale at Pottery Barn, only it's handmade and about $70 cheaper. Listed for $28.00. Pillows are a good gift for someone who has "everything" because you can never have enough of them. If you're feeling generous, you can put a bundle together for your loved one and include sheets and pillowcases and tie it all together simply with a beautiful satin ribbon.



Quilted linen and vintage feedsack pillow. JCasa has this pretty little pillow listed for $40. Dressing up your bed with unique pillows will put all your neighbors and their Bed Bath and Beyond bundle beds to shame!



Hello There Best Friend Forever Cactus, by Jackrabbit. $15. Perfect gift for the loved one in your life who wishes they had a green thumb, but just doesn't. Also a good alternative to an office desk plant.

Online Holiday Gift Guide, Part 1

I hear from so many people how it's "easier" to go to Target or Wal-Mart to do their holiday shopping, because they can get it all finished at one store. You can get all your shopping done in less than an hour, not have to deal with lines, and feel good about supporting artists and small businesses! How? Check out some of these amazing online finds and see what I mean.


Green Leaves tea set at Three Potato Four. $68.



Felted wool winter vase, at valeriesgallery Etsy shop. One word-- adorable!



One of AshleyG's acclaimed "Bearded Guy" prints, available at her Etsy shop. $35.



Feasting at the Berry Bush pouch, at the Curiosity Shoppe. Would be perfect for a makeup bag, to store pencils, or as a small clutch. $30.


Lumen, at Elsewares, by Adam Frank. Make a big impression with a small object. $48.

Fabulous Find: Etsy

These small series of prints are hilarious. As a neat freak myself, they speak to me deep in my soul. I especially like the hanger picture-- I am TOTALLY compulsive about having all the hangers face the same way. Also, they have to be wooden hangers. NO WIRE HANGERS! OK, off to bed before I get all Joan Crawford on you all.

This artist is located in San Fransisco.

Mercury Glass finds

Mercury glass is very "in" right now and is experiencing a renaissance of sorts. I wouldn't put a ton of it in my house, but a few pieces in a low-lit room look very glam and it definitely works well for the holidays. So if you're looking to add a little bling to your decor, check out some of these finds. Mercury glass, as it is commonly called, has no elemental mercury in it. It is really silvered glass-- glass that has been blown double walled, with liquid silver solution poured in between the walls of the glass. Historically, it is the first form of luxury art glass.


These colored mercury glass votives from Lunares Home are adorable. I especially like the pink ones. $29.99 for a set of six.


If you have a modern style throughout your home, don't despair! Mercury glass isn't all frills. The Aura Table Lamp from Crate & Barrel (available for $179) would suit any modern home. I like the sculptural look of this one, though I'd probably opt to switch the shade out for something softer.


For smaller items for a modern home, these ornaments from West Elm do just the trick. They are available for $4 each or $9 for a set of three. I would love to do a tree covered in these ornaments with blue lights.


If you want to add some mercury glass to your holiday decor, but don't have a lot of money to spend, try these ornaments from Pottery Barn. Ranging from $7-$9 each, they have a vintage look, but without the price tag. These would look great on your tree, but you could also hang them on a ribbon above your fireplace and they would look amazing catching the light from the fire.


This one is very ornate, but admittedly, stunning. If you tend towards traditional decor, then this would go well in your home. Since it's vintage, you could also work it into a shabby chic room. This French Opera Vase is available from VintageWeave for $180.

I heart Etsy

Etsy is an invaluable resource. It's lovely to buy handmade things for yourself, your home, and your family and friends, but it's often difficult to find local resources offering handmade items. Etsy is like the Ebay for crafters. You can find incredible, reasonably priced, one of a kind pieces. Prints, ceramics, textiles, supplies-- they have it all. For the next week, I will be posting my Etsy find of the day. On to the first post!



This 8x10 photographic print is of the photographer's letterpress collection. I love letters, the written word, and the art of print-making, so this photograph caught my eye. This particular artist is located in Nashville, TN (I love the geography search tool on Etsy) and is a children's illustrator/graphic designer. This print is offered for $20.00. You can splurge on custom framing, or get supplies from your local supply store and make a DIY project out of it for a small amount of money. If you're interested in purchasing this piece, go here.

Books

Today's post is dedicated to books. I love to buy books and to receive them as gifts. I buy most of my books through Amazon, as I find they offer an enormous selection and lower prices than book retailers. Any book makes a thoughtful gift, but I think the best gifts are larger coffee table books or books with lots of beautiful photographs. Here are a few that have made my wish list this year:


"Petite Pattern Book: Scandinavian Style". This is a book and CD. The CD comes with 140 royalty-free clip art patterns. You can go wild and do what you want with them. Published in Japan, this book offers ideas for what you can do with the patterns. Compatible with MACs and PCs. If Scandinavian style isn't your thing, the same publisher has different pattern book/CD combos available.




"Ultimate Winery Guide: The Pacific Northwest", Christina Melander. There are so many excellent wines coming out of the Northwest region of our country. Best of all, many of them are highly affordable. If you are planning a trip to the Northwest, enjoy wine, and want to experience some great wineries, then this book should catch your fancy.


"Transmaterial", Blaine Erickson Brownwell. I'm a tactile person, which is why I love raw materials. Sometimes it's the materials themselves, and not just what you can build with them, that are beautiful and wondrous.


"Modern Cabin", Michelle Kodis. I have a real thing for cabins. I'll take any cabin I can get, but a modern cabin would really take the cake. I'll readily admit that it's one of my dreams in life to own a cabin on some large and remote piece of land. Perhaps you have similar desires? If so, you'll certainly want to check out this book. This book shows examples of people who have decided to build wilderness retreats with small environmental footprints.



"The Meaning of Trees", Fred Hageneder. Trees are, in my opinion, one of nature's greatest triumphs. They remain beautiful throughout the year, season to season, while other plants come and go. There is nothing more regal than a tree in nature. Learn more about some of your favorites with this handy and informative book. The photos in this book are drop-dead gorgeous.