Wow! I didn’t know how difficult it was going to be for me to get these posts up on Sunday! I had a fabulous day at the 5th annual Craftacular in Madison, WI, yesterday and today I’ve spent most of the day celebrating my daughter’s THIRD birthday!

So…now it’s time for my Gift Guide. This one is going to be a little tough but hopefully I can find some great ideas!

When I started my search one thing that caught my eye was business card holders. I finally decided to feature this one from JoliOriginals – the BUSINESS CARD HOLDER black leather / pink felt - DUTCH DESIGN. I just love the combination of the sophisticated leather and the hint of hot pink to add a little fun!

I’m normally a girl that likes a lot of color. But from my few years in the ‘professional’ world I know that doesn’t necessarily earn you a lot of respect (at least in the field I used to be in). I also learned that lots of color doesn’t necessarily mean style. I think this 15-inch Laptop Sleeve - Grey Wool Felt and Brown Leather from ByrdandBelle would be an absolutely fabulous gift for anyone in the “professional” world. It screams “Put together with style!” to me.

I think this Upcycled Felted Wool Sweater Gadget Pouch – Owl from newgreenmama is absolutely adorable and would be the prefect storage pouch for an ipod or blackberry.

I think this Wine Bag Christmas Gift Recycled Wool Eco-Friendly Tan Cozy Sleeve from WoolyWooly would be a great gift with a nice bottle of wine to help everyone take a deep breathe and relax during the crazy holiday season.

My co-workers and I have also gone in together and gotten a gift certificate for my boss to a really nice restaurant he talked about frequently for a nice ‘night out’ for him and his wife.

Hope this helps! I would love to hear other people’s gift ideas for bosses or ‘the professional’.

I’m up early about to head out for the Craftacular in Madison, WI, today.  I should have done a really good teaser blog to this but I just haven’t had time as I’ve been making LOTS of new, great things for it! 

If you are in the area you should definitely stop by!  There are going to be OVER 60 local artists!  A perfect spot to finish up your holiday shopping.

To read more details go to:

http://www.craftacular.glitterworkshop.com/

To visit stop by:

Madison Masonic Center
301 Wisconsin Ave
Madison WI 53703

Hope to see you today!

I wanted to start out this post wishing all my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I have so much to be thankful for…I will just take a minute to name a few…

my beautiful, loving children

an amazing, understanding, supportive husband

a healthy family and a healthy me

a prosperous apple season

jobs I love (stay at home mom, crafting entrepreneur, orchardist)

good friends to drink coffee with

And now, I’m going to move onto a Themed Thanksgiving Thursday!  Here’s a few fun Turkey Day Finds!

Turkey with Stuffing Felt Play Food from bugbitesplayfood 

Crocheted Turkey from  Sabahnur

 Funny Gobble til you Wobble Thanksgiving Food Vinyl Wall Lettering Words Decals Art Graphic from willowcreekdesigns

Gobble Gobble Carved Turkey Centerpiece Bowl Gourd Display from rivershed

Turkey Bone Pendant from UmbilicusDesigns

I would love to hear what everyone else is thankful for this beautiful holiday.

KEYWORDS

• faux bois
• mod
• plum
• upcycled
• woodland
• eco
• recycled

INSPIRED BY

• winter holidays
• regency
• the harvest
• a woodland holiday
• a winter frost

MISCELLANEOUS

• Holiday Gift Ideas x 9++ … instead of saying ‘found browsing etsy categories, etsy is now saying ‘Holiday Gift Ideas’…it was the front page theme A LOT
• Create an Etsy Holiday
• Winter Accessories
• Gift Ideas Under $100 USD
• Items with Free Shipping
• Awesome Owls
• Personalized Gift Ideas

I’ll probably put some more up later in the week considering I only have three days worth here…

Since I have two small children I’m always looking for great gifts for them…but sometimes it’s really hard to compete with lego’s and My Little Ponies and Dora!  Here are some great handmade items that I’m sure any small child or baby would love to receive this Christmas!

Oh…and before I begin I want to point you to a great promotion team etsyBaby is doing.  Just click HERE to find out more details!  Don’t wait too long…the promotion ends November 30th. 

The perfect Christmas Holly Jolly Holiday Sassy Pants Diaper Cover Panty Ruffles Ruffles Ruffle from SherbetBaby for all those holiday parties you get to show off your baby at.  They will have the cutest bum there!

The perfect WARM Knit Santa Hat from luluswoobies for babies’ first Christmas.  

Still looking for that perfect outfit for your Holiday Christmas Cards?  Don’t wait too much longer to order your Holiday set Peasant blouse and circle skirt in red and green reproduction prints from theMeasure. 

If your kids love stuffed animals as much as mine don’t skip over these Tis the Season Custom Minky Stuffie’s from LittleTumblebees. 

My girls would also have a blast playing with these gorgeous organic building BLOCKS natural colorful 24 piece wooden Walnut, Cherry and Maple set from littlesaplingtoys. 

This ‘Design your Own Starter Home’ from themercshop looks like a lot of fun too!  I’m sure any little girl would think so too!

Hope this helps to get you started on your Christmas shopping for baby!

Due to an exhausting weekend running the Handcrafted Hoedown for the Holiday’s I’m postponing my gift giving guide post until tomorrow (Monday).  I want to make sure it’s good and just too tired to think about anything right now except what I have to get done. 

That being said, if you have any hard to buy for people you want me to ‘shop’ for tomorrow, make sure to leave a comment!

On a happy note, I got on my computer only to see my beautiful baby girl Cedi featured on the front page.  She’s my model for the Dachsund Child Apron that was in a gorgeous treasury from strandsoflight.

Doesn’t she look adorable?!

Since I’m in the midst of major preparations for my 3rd Annual Hand Crafted Hoedown for the Holidays I thought it would be fitting to do a themed Thursday on some of the fabulous and fun looking DIY projects you can purchase on etsy. 

I’ll start with something for the ‘green’ lover.

A DIY Terrarium Kit, Great CHRISTMAS GIFT, Easy to Assemble, Comes with Full Instructions from WarmCountryMeadows.

This DIY Felt Sushi Set from umecrafts looks like super fun!  Plus would make some really cute stocking stuffers!

I’ve been drooling over StudioCherie’s travel duffel bags for weeks now (since I first discovered them) and now I find that she sells patterns!  Yeah!  I can make my very own Travel Duffle Bag!

I actually browse DIY quite a bit because I love kits.  It’s a good way for me to try a new type of craft out without investing too much in tons and tons of materials.  This Complete Kit In a Box from GooseGrease to make your own family of wooden dolls has caught my eye many time…I may have to give in soon…

You can never go wrong with a fun earring kit like Chasing Miss Scarlet from KCRLehrStudio. 

My last DIY project I would like to highlight is from ImogensGarden for her Anya ePattern.  I’m sure my girlies would just love one of these fabulous dolls!

Here you go!

KEYWORDS:

• harvest
• owl x 3
• love
• plum
• teal
• rustic x 3
• peppermint x 2
• winter accessories x 2
• mustard
• mint
• rust
• recycled

INSPIRED BY:

• Holiday Decor
• Eco-Friendly Fashion
• Winter Holidays x 4
• the harvest x 2
• miniatures
• heirlooms {would be a good tag for quilts…}
• owls
• mod
• luck
• travel
• a woodland holiday x 3
• a winter frost x 2
• a dark romance x 2
• November’s Birthstone: Citrine
• a winter wedding

MISCELLANEOUS:

• Personalized Gift Ideas
• Environmentally Friendly Gift Ideas
• Unique Gift Ideas
• Holiday Gift Ideas x 23
• Items Discovered by Pounce
• One-of-a-kind Items
• Items from the Etsy Artists of Color Street Team
• Gifts under $50 USD
• Gifts for Under $25 USD x 2
• Recycled Gift Ideas
• Gift Ideas for the World Traveler
• Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids
• Create an Etsy Holiday

I have an obsession with buying books.  I just love them…ecspecially books with different projects in them.  I recently purchased one with an adorable belt project in it.  I made the first one per instructions (not pictured here) and it turned out great BUT I had to modify a few things to make it easier and to make it look more professional.  Now that I have my technique tweeked, I am offering Patchwork Belts per Custom Order.

  The color scheme here is for a ‘Mocha Meringue Patchwork Belt’ – Made to Order.  The belt will be a random combination of fabric from the Mocha Meringue fabric collection from Marcus Brothers.  Everyone will be unique in the order and piece size but the general color and fabric scheme will remain the same.    The belt is 1.5” wide and comes with a double d-ring end.  You just have to weave the other side of the belt in and tighten to fit.

When you make your custom order I need you to measure your waist (or the waist of a comfortable pair of jeans) and add six inches.  Include that in your ‘Note to Seller’ when you purchase the belt and I will create your order from that.    With all the holiday activities and craft sales I’m involved in I would appreciate a week to make and ship out the belt.  I don’t think it will take that long but with two little kids it’s better to give more time than too little.  I would love to hear what you think of my newest creation!

This week’s Sunday Gift Guide is to help out folks that need to buy people like me gifts.  To know if you need to buy for a person like me I’ll help you out a little.

I am an under 30 mom of two little girls that stays home with them and runs her etsy shop.  I love to create, watch movies, read books, play airplane with my girls and nap.  Sometimes the beauty of colors in the world make me loose my breathe (or in fabrics).  If at all possible I would rather make something myself than buy it from a store.

With that…here’s some great gift ideas for a person like me (this is also for family members and friends who so desire to buy me a gift this holiday season *wink*).

My first wish is this Hot Pink and Peach Floral Brooch / Zipper Pin from ZipPinning.  I don’t usually wear brooches or pins but how could a crafty person not be in love with this flower made out of old zippers!  I just love the creativity and ingenuity used to create this item – I must have one!

I’m also a huge fan of hats, cowls, scarves, mittens, any fun accessories!  This Slouch Beanie Hat in Autumn Harvest Pumpkin Spice from BeautifulBridget has caught my eye many times in the past few weeks.

I also want this Elfin Hooded Scarf from PixieBell.

I think this Deep Magenta Crocheted Neck Cozy from CamilleMarie would keep my neck nice and warm and look fabulous with my new ‘art’ hair!

I think this  Earring Sampler Kit no. 2 Flower Cluster Earrings Do It Yourself in Red, Green, Purple, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Blue or Green from BellasBeadsandMore would be really fun to make.  Sometimes it’s nice to have a kit with all the pieces and you can just make something for yourself.  (PS.  I would chose an orange kit)

I really love these  Recycled Magnetic Locket Sets from Polarity.  They’re just so unique and different…two things I LOVE!

I’ve been dreaming of this Patchwork tiered spin skirt from ChopstixWaits for months now.  I just love that it reminds me of a quilt but is still super cool looking. 

• Key things to remember when buying for someone like me:
• I love little, cutesy things that not many others will have
• Supplies (ie fabric, beads, wire, etc) are always appreciated and WELCOME!
• It’s hard to go wrong with anything cozy or a good book
• handmade pottery items always, always rock!

If you are curious if something will work on not feel free to ask!

I’m still looking for more ideas in the Sunday’s to come…leave a comment!

If you are in the Middleton Area today make sure to stop by my aunt Becky’s Holiday Craft Fair. 

I was there yesterday morning and took pictures of the fabulous collection of handmade goods. 

Some of the things you’ll see are: hand-crafted fall and winter decorations, fused glass jewelry, fused glass bottles and bowls, ornaments, greeting cards, candles, handmade baskets, purses, totes, pillows, quilted/embroidered wall hangings, table runners, towels, jewelry from theApple, baked goods and treats!

Complimentary coffee and refreshments.

Where: 7100 Spring Hill Dr., Middleton, Wisconsin

When: Saturday November 14, 2009  -  8:30 am - 4:00 pm

  If you want to bring your kids I’m sure Becky will find them some fish food to feed to the fish they normally have in their backyard pond.  Due to winter weather they bring them in to a big tank…kids LOVE them!  (Trust me…feeding the fish beat out Build a Bear in my kid’s answer to ‘what did you do today?’)      As you can see…I only have a small fraction of the jewelry I make listed on my etsy store, theApple.  It’s good that I have a lot of inventory though…I still have three more sales to make it through!                     I hope you can find some time to stop by!