Lovely Headdress

As you know Etsy is one of my favourite websites. It is a worldwide site of handcrafted or vintage goods by individuals or small crafters. I really love supporting these artists and I constantly find incredible things on it. I have had to start saving for various overseas trips so my appreciation of things things has to be from a distance- however I want you to enjoy them too.

Available here

Available here

Available here

Available here

Available here

Handmade Christmas Gifts

I have decided to try to buy all of my Christmas gifts from individuals who have lovingly handcrafted them or things that are secondhand. I think people go crazy at this time of year, buy too many things and things that only have a short life span.
So here are a few of my gift ideas (hopefully my family aren't looking at this)...


  My sister is pregnant so I thought of these lovely little booties from Tiny Happy on Etsy

For a manly someone...The Apothecarium on Etsy

I love the prints and stickers of Melbourne artist Catherine Campbell of My Folk Lover for little or big ones.

 

 

OR for me if I had loads of money from the Agent Gallery in Chicago

Ballooning

For my birthday this year I decided that I would love to go hot air ballooning. I searched for places that did it and was so disappointed when I found out how much it costs! Wow! Not in my budget for a wee while yet. So I consoled myself with some more affordable balloons.

Hot Air Balloon Steam Ship with Blackbirds

Into the Wide Blue Beyond

Floating

Archival Ballons Print

Bridges and Ballons Moleskin notebook

Paris is a feeling

Beautiful Affordable Art Prints

I have become a little obsessed with the amazing range of original art prints available on Etsy. Here are a few of my favourites. Very affordable and lovely.

All prints available on etsy from here birds, whale,  birds and flowers, Feather, lovers, undersea

Jewels

Here is a collection of my favourite jewellers at the moment- I hate the cheap rip off shops mass producing tacky reproductions of things. Nothing compares to the real thing.

 

Wellington, New Zealand (now based in New York) jewellers D_Luxe make beautiful crafted rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. They are getting a lot of coverage later which is well deserved. 

www.d-luxe.co.nz

Isaac Ibbotson is a jeweller from Nelson, New Zealand. He works mostly with silver, gold and native woods. http://www.quoil.co.nz/artists/isaac_ibbotson/

This clever jeweller created the ring from The Lord of the Rings but have many other wonderful pieces. Incredible craftmanship. www.jenshansen.com

Dan Kemp is a jeweller from Ames, Iowa, USA. He creates elaborate gorgeous pieces from mostly recycled products- a true bricoleur. http://www.etsy.com/people/dankartistry?ref=ls_profile