Shop Esty for unique gift giving

Esty is an online treasure trove. It’s a place where sellers have personal storefronts to sell their wares. The site focuses on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. These items cover a wide range including art, photography, clothing, jewelry, edibles, bath & beauty products, quilts, knick-knacks and toys. Please note that in all my posts, I hyperlink all store or item names so you can visit their websites. Simply hover over the name with your curser and you will see it change color, then click. Easy!

Above: Eye Poetry has beautiful 2012 calendars featuring ethereal photography that will inspire all year long. For the little ones, this large knit teddy bear from Yarn Miracle is just waiting to be adopted and promises to always be there for a hug. Below: I adore handmade knit items. Like this chunky cowl neck scarf from Happiknits or this darling knit hat from Ozetta where you will also find leg warmers for riding boots. Love the big wood button! They all come in a wide range of colors, just specify when ordering. I’ll take one in Charcoal please!

Above: The journal Bandolier at Cleverhands is the perfect gift for an artist , writer, or student. Replace that pencil case with something that keeps your pens and pencils with your journal. Travel light, draw often! At Whitney Smith Pottery, she crafts beautiful ceramic pieces, like this set of Lotus nesting bowls.

For a truly unique and grandiose gift for the cook who loves their cast iron, look no further. FeLion Studios created Made In America, a cast iron map of the contiguous United States of America. Each pan joins its neighbors to form a unique echo of the US. This final composition is 9 feet 6 inches x 6 feet and weighs approximately 550 lbs. A one of a kind piece of artwork. Individual states are available and they take on custom work as well. Have a wonderful weekend!

sources: (1) burgundy knit cowl (2)  white knit hat (3) eye poetry calendar (4) knit bear
(5) journal bandolier (6) nesting lotus ceramic bowls (7) cast iron made in america

Window shopping at…Luly Lang

 

Window shopping is one of my favorite sports pastimes but especially during the holidays when retailers go all out. Earlier this week I was strolling downtown Seattle admiring the twinkle lights at dusk when these beauties stopped me in my tracks. I instantly started daydreaming…snow gently falling, the sound of horses hooves clapping in perfect rhythm as we arrive to “Thee” social event of the season by horse drawn carriage…which came to an abrupt halt when the taxi driver decided to lay on his horn. But behind these bejeweled windows lies the beautiful boutique, Luly Yang. They specialize in couture dressmaking, have a full service bridle salon plus they carry a stunning collection of cocktail dresses. I spied one that would be perfect to ring in the New Year!

Gifts for the Gardener

Recently, I discovered a new favorite place to visit…terrain, I just wish they were in my neck of the woods! This fabulous chic yet rustic home and garden store is located in Glen Mills, PA. Lucky for us they have a beautiful website and is visually appealing to peruse. If your list includes gardeners then no need to look any further. Plus, the fine folks at terrain are offering complimentary shipping on all orders over $150 thru January 1st. Shopping just got easier, wouldn’t you say?

(1) Finally, a thermometer that marries function with style. It’s easy to read and weather resistant. When exposed to the elements, the zinc weathers to a beautiful patina. (2) A terrain web exclusive, this landmark book from one of Australia's best-loved cooks is an essential resource for anyone with an appreciation for sourcing fresh produce, sharing memorable meals, and cooking from the heart. With its beautiful hand-embroidered cover, Maggie's Harvest highlights 350 of Maggie Beer's signature recipes.

(3) Illustrated by Rifle Paper Co., this set of homegrown cards features backyard produce, garden wellies, tools, and fresh herbs, found only at terrain for a limited time. $20 (4) Made with fine English lavender from the Bonny Doon farm, the Gardener's Lavender Salve is an effective healing agent for dry elbows, knees, hands, heels and cuticles. $12

(5) Let this clever notepad help you plan your garden. LOVE! In a format that allows you to sketch your mini-plan and annotate the execution specifics, plants, tasks, and items to purchase. Perfect for the novice and advanced horticulturalist alike. $28 (6) This set of ten eco-friendly labels are the perfect gardening companion. Made from sustainably harvested birch wood, these blackboard labels help you easily keep track of the plants in your garden. The white chinagraph pencil is perfect for the blackboard as it won’t wash off in the rain-but can be reused to last you many seasons in the garden. $14

All images from terrain

Tis’ the Season for Shopping

Black Friday kicks off the season of shopping. I love the lights and decorations that adorn the streets and stores during December. It makes me want to bundle up and brave the elements as I sip a hot peppermint mocha but that’s for later…time to shop! Nowadays shopping  doesn’t mean you have to brave the bustle. With catalogs and the internet you can find something for everyone on your nice or naughty list. I’ve always looked forward to The Nieman Marcus Christmas Book. Page upon page of gift giving ideas for him and her or for the home but my favorite section is the Fantasy Gift collection. It is important to mention that most Fantasy gifts also include charitable donations which is lovely.

You’ll find exclusive gifts such as a 27-foot, solid mahogany Hacker-Craft Speedboat for $250,000. Or how about a custom built bespoke library by Assouline, where every nuance of this room will reflect the company's brilliant style through custom carpeting, objets d'art and beautifully framed prints, as well as your intellectual viewpoint. When the decor is complete, the shelves will be lined with a one-of-a-kind Assouline collection, consisting of 250 current and vintage volumes in the genre of your choice. All this for a mere $125,000.

For the auto enthusiast a Ferrari FF that seats four and boasts a 651-horsepower V12 engine. It also includes enrollment in the 2012 Ferrari Winter Driving Experience in Aspen, Colorado. Yours for $395,000.

Botany buffs rejoice…a handpicked extraordinary vacation just for you. Round up nine friends and head to Europe's most celebrated flower shows, organized by the exclusive private jet-chartering company, JetWay Private Air. You'll fly first-class style on a Gulfstream G-IV with a JetWay representative as your group's guide, concierge, and wine aficionado. Your destinations include Merges, Switzerland;  Athens, Greece; Avignon, France and London. This opulent package includes two nights and three days at each destination, gourmet in-flight meals, private ground transportation and flower show tickets for $420,000.

You can view the online catalog here which also features exclusive videos like the one below. Happy Shopping!

images: here & here

Watson Kennedy

Watson Kennedy is one of my favorite home & gift destinations. The atmosphere is warm and the style European.  It’s as if you wandered into this timeless boutique while perusing the streets of Paris. I’m always amazed how this pint sized space, chock full of treasures, looks so perfectly put together. Not one tag or soap out of place. Ted Kennedy is the owner and his love for design and gift giving shows. You could lose hours pondering and admiring every detail. If you’re ever in Seattle…Watson Kennedy is not be be missed and his stores are conveniently located downtown.  If you can’t make it to Seattle any time soon, don’t fret, they have a lovely easy to use website where you can purchase most anything and have it delivered. Thank you Ted for the visual feast.

Treasure hunting in Idaho

 

Mom and I wasted no time and set out early one morning for a day of treasure hunting. There is nothing we love more than scouring the local haunts for the perfect photography prop or antique piece for our homes or one of my clients. We started off by hitting a few thrift stores on our way into town and lucked up on a couple of kitchenware pieces.  By then it was approaching noon and when I’m visiting…it’s a given…lunch at Spud’s. A great local grill that serves up “THE” best sandwiches and homemade soups. Six to eight soups made from scratch are offered everyday and believe me…they don’t disappoint. In summer the outside deck overlooking the marina is lovely but it was chilly so we ate inside in the sailing inspired interior.

 

 

Fueled and ready to go…we headed to Marketplace Antiques. It’s a 4,000 square foot space with about 17 dealers. We found some great loot! We were very careful in deciding what to take home and some items were a bit pricy otherwise the Jeep would have been full. We must have spent two hours roaming up and down the artfully styled stalls. I just needed more money or more clients…maybe both!

 

 

Our next stop…Foster Crossing & Café. The building itself is a local landmark. Built in the 1930's, the massive three-story building began its life as a railroad freight house. Later, it became the Kist Root Beer Bottling plant. Now it’s chock full of antiques & salvaged pieces…truly something for everyone. They usually have larger pieces of furniture and big, old wooded doors too (Like the one you see in the picture above). Thanks to all the wonderful folks we met and worked with. We can’t wait to do it again.  Don’t worry…I will take photos of our fabulous finds so you can share in our treasures too!

 

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