Hello friends, can you believe it's already November and time to start thinking about gifts?! I tend to get a little stressy searching for the "perfect" gift for each person (and doggie!) on my list. The perfect gift shows that you truly thought about the person and that you think they are pretty darn special, right?
I started thinking about the gifts I've received or given in the past and I can't remember a lot of them! I feel awful admitting that, but here's the truth...I remember almost every handmade gift I received, even from when I was little. The stuffed animals Country Mouse made me (as well as a big unicorn she surprised me with from a craft show one Christmas), sweaters and mittens from my grandma, photo collages from my friends...
This year instead of searching department stores, Country Mouse and I along with a group of bloggers are vowing to support handmade. By supporting handmade you are sure to find a unique and meaningful gift as well as support real people in our community.
Our friend Angela from The Artists' House (we met at the Creative Connection Event this Fall) is hosting a Crafty Holiday blog hop. If you follow along, you are sure to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Would you like to see my list so far?
1. Dog Collar Flowers by Mimi Green
our pups love to be stylish!
2. Antler Dog Chew by Antler Pantry
better to chew on one of these than my shoes!
3. Blue Wool Capelet by BugDuds
my little Cricket would look so cute in this!
4. Pet ID tags by Make Your Dog Smile
just in case the pups get lost!
1. Soapy Sewing Kit by Love Lee Soaps
fun soaps for the kiddos!
2. Printable Paper Calendar by Little Paper Dog
personalize it by writing in special dates for each recipient!
3. Fingerless Gloves by Skylark Dawn
these were a hit last year for Country Mouse!
4. Tall Ship Wood Block Print by Wayfaring Art
for those with a fascination for ships and pirates!
I'm taking over what used to be the "man" room in our house,
it will now be my sewing room and I'd love to see all of these in my new space...
1. Cloudy Hand Embroidered Wool Felt Pincushion by Sea Pinks 2. Crest Mod Cabin Wall Clock by Nice
Everything on my list is found on Etsy which is a wealth of handmade goodness. You can find gifts from artist all over the world! If you prefer to shop local you can even search for shops in your area.
Rather than fight the crowds at the mall, check out your local craft fairs. If you are in the Twin Cities area here are a few upcoming events you should check out:
November 20th 9am - 4pm North Branch Arts Fest
(we will have a booth here!)
Hope you're inspired to start your shopping! The next stop for A Crafty Holiday is Prim and Propah. Happy shopping!
