2009 Valentine’s Gift Guide – WomensColoringBooks.com

Feb 112009
 

We mentioned WomensColoring Books.com in our 2009 Valentine’s Gift Guide.

coloring-books

The Color Of Joy. photo courtesy of WomensColoringBooks.com

This gift idea is a gorgeous coloring book for women called THE COLOR OF JOY.  Available online at WomensColoringBooks.com. 

In the month it’s been out it’s gotten amazing feedback from women across the board who have found the site. There are testimonials from customers that you can read to see the response it’s getting.  Many women have ordered one for themselves, and when they actually have it in hand, come back to the site and order more for friends and relatives.

Coloring is the best kept secret out there for stress reduction! Playing with color is deeply relaxing, meditative, incredibly fun (with no artistic skill required), and it’s completely addictive once you start. This book, designed specifically for women has a colorful glossy cover that’s very visually appealing, and beautiful 9×12 inch art tablet sized drawings, with inspirational and sometimes humorous writings to go with the drawings.

A great Valentines Day gift idea for a wife or girlfriend — impress them with how sensitive you are with this unique gift designed for relaxation… Throw in pack of magic markers and it’s like a mini-retreat without leaving home.

Price:    $22.99

2009 Valentine’s Gift Guide – PrincessBands.com

Feb 042009
 
Venus Tiara from Princessbands.com

Venus Tiara from Princessbands.com

We mention Princessbands.com in our 2009 Valentine’s Gift Guide.

Looking for a Valentine’s gift for the princess in your life?  Do you know someone who is getting married on or around Valentine’s Day?   Are you looking for classic jewelry and accessories that are of heirloom quality? If so, Princessbands.com is the perfect place to find the gift you need.

Princessbands.com offers handmade tiaras, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, which can all be custom made by choosing desired color pearls, crystals, and gemstones.  These custom pieces are all classic in design,  made mainly of freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals, which means they will last a lifetime and make great heirlooms.  Continue reading »

2009 Valentine’s Gift Guide – Centralized List

Jan 242009
 

Today I am going to start our 2009 Valentine’s Gift Guide. It is going to be a marathon! Each website will have a short individual review; it will take me a few days to write them all so please be patient. We have lots of wonderful gift ideas you can choose from! And the nice thing is that you can purchase them online!

As you know, the idea behind Valentine’s Day is to express your love and to show that you care! You can do it with one gorgeous rose and some chocolate or with a fabulous diamond ring. It is up to you. But remember, you are buying the gift for the person you love not for yourself! 

I want to say THANK YOU to our wonderful readers and contributors. We couldn’t have done it without you!

I gathered the info in this long list (which is not complete yet!). Many more suggestions will be added in the next few days. The links below are randomly listed. Please read their Store Policies before purchasing online.

Aromatherapy, Bath and Body

For a good cause

Gorgeous Flowers:

Books

Personalized and customized gifts

Stylish and Practical

Gorgeous Jewelry

Don’t miss:

Art

Gourmet and Desserts

Clothing and lingerie

Kids and Teens

Flowers and greeting cards

Especially for Men

Arts and Crafts

Updated daily from now (Jan. 13) till Valentine’s Day. Come back soon to see what’s new, read the individual posts on each of them and participate to our GiveAways!

2009 Valentine’s Gift Guide – TheChocolateTherapist.com

Jan 212009
 
The Chocolate Therapist Gift Set

The Chocolate Therapist Gift Set. photo courtesy of theChocolateTherapist.com

We mentioned TheChocolateTherapist.com in our 2009 Valentine’s Gift Guide.

If you’re going to give one of the most popular gifts for Valentine’s Day (chocolate, of course!), why not give a gift set which will explain the health benefits of chocolate and give you even more reasons why to eat chocolate everyday!

The Chocolate Therapist Gift Set is the perfect gift for chocolaholics everywhere. This unique gift set comes with the user’s guide The Chocolate Therapist: A User’s Guide to the Extraordinary Health Benefits of Chocolate by Julie Pech and three premium bars of chocolate. The Chocolate Therapist book teaches about the health benefits of chocolate, explains what is the right chocolate, how to read labels, how much to eat, and provides websites to find healthy chocolate. The book has a humorous touch, it has over 40 ailments each with a chocolate “prescription” and up-to-date research supporting how and why chocolate affects the body. For example, ailments include PMS, heartbreak, and food cravings. The book set also comes with three therapy chocolate bars; “Extreme Therapy” is a 72% dark chocolate with organic cacao nibs for a powerful antioxidant boost, “Nuttopia” is a 65% dark chocolate with chopped almonds and organic hemp seed for a perfect euphoria any time of the day, and “Going to the Dark Side” is a 35% milk chocolate layered over 45% dark chocolate to help milk chocolate lovers transition to dark chocolate and enjoy the many health benefits dark chocolate provides.

For more chocolate gift ideas, visit TheChocolateTherapist.com website. The website offers a wine enthusiast chocolate collection, Choffy (Brewing Cocoa), and Xocai, a diabetic and caffeine-free chocolate.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Have any chocolate gift ideas for Valentine’s Day? Have you experienced chocolate from TheChocolateTherapist.com? Please leave you comments and/or suggestions. We love to hear from you!

Modern Vintage

Jan 082009
 

Retro is back in, especially in these hard economic times when everyone is looking back into the past for simpler, less hectic times.  These “new” vintage take their inspiration from the past when things were done right and with purpose.  These gifts are sure to please those who make comments like, “They don’t make them like they used to” and “Those where the good old days!”

 

Tarantula Clothing Company

Tarantula Clothing Company is an East L.A. based company that makes and sells recreated 1950s fashion.  Continue reading »

How to Give Gifts that Support New Year’s Resolutions

Dec 312008
 
Getting Healthy in 2009?

Getting Healthy in 2009? Photo courtesy of voxefx

We all make them, but we don’t all stick to them. New Year’s resolutions can get the best of us, but with a little support from some helpful gifts we may not need to make the same resolutions next year. We’ll be looking back on 2009 with a sense of accomplishment.

Goal: Save Money

It’s a common goal. We all want more money in the bank. Gifts can help make that happen. Continue reading »

Interview with Si­lvia Leite

Nov 222008
 
Felt Doll (Lilly) on LookMamaMadeIt.Etsy.com

Felt Doll (Lilly) on LookMamaMadeIt.Etsy.com

I interviewed Ms. Sílvia Leite, creator of handmade dolls and miniature play food on LookMamaMadeIt.Etsy.com. I asked her a few questions about her creations and the work she puts into her craft.

What made you start creating children’s toys and accessories?

To tell you the truth, this is something I wanted to do since my early childhood. I simply can’t get tired of small scale objects. I started to make my own toys when I was about my daughter’s age (she is 6). I used to build large mansions with furniture made from cardstock and homemade glue, and to populate them with happy families of paper dolls. I also sewed, knitted and crocheted for my dolls. My deep love for miniatures lead me to unwillingly kill two innocent bonsai trees, and also made me want to become an architect. I gave up this project when I understood that what I really wanted was to build 3D models and maquette- and that is not what architects do.

Latter in life, and even though I was able to follow another dream of mine (taking a degree in Art History), I found myself doing repetitive, administrative work, and forgot all about toys and miniatures. Till the day when my daughter asked me to make her favorite doll a birthday cake!

Then, in the beginning of this year I had a little spare time in my hands (I was in between jobs) and decided to give it a try. I made my first felt cakes, cookies and dolls for my friends’ children, and they were the ones who encouraged me to start selling.

Miniature Birthday Cake on LookMamaMadeIt.Etsy.com

Miniature Birthday Cake on LookMamaMadeIt.Etsy.com

What is your inspiration for your creations?

My daughter was my first client, and the main cause and inspiration for everything I’ve created since her birth. A lot of the toys and accessories I make are also based in memories from my own childhood. Of course, this means I am particularly at ease with girl’s toys! I believe children should play with good quality, beautiful objects. I design my products to be visually appealing, pleasant to the touch, and easy to play with. They must have the right size, feel and weight for children’s hands, and to be stimulating and suggestive enough to encourage pretend play. Finally, everything is carefully and lovingly crafted, and tested in my home lab (my daughter’s playroom)!

What kind of materials do you use for your handmade toys and accessories?

I use mainly felt. Just love this material! I choose a high quality, rich wool blend felt that I can buy in a wide range of lovely colors. I always try to use non-allergenic, all-natural materials, and also use recycled materials when possible.

How long does it typically take to make one of your creations? Small (e.g. a cupcake) and large (e.g. a doll)?

Well, with a 6-year-old child and a full time job I have very little spare time to craft. I mostly craft at night, or on weekends, though I also need to take time for my family. I usually cut several pieces in one crafting session, then sew them all in another session, and then make all finishing in yet another day, so it is hard to answer this question. But if I had to make a doll in a single session I would need
at least 5 hours to finish it whereas one cupcake would take me about 1-2 hours.

Do you take into account customer feedback and suggestions when you start a new creation?

Yes, by all means. Clients can customize almost anything from my shop, and I am always glad to have special orders, because they help my work to evolve. Feedback is very important, since I really want my clients to be satisfied. My toys are conceived to make people happy.

What is next for Sílvia Leite and her handmade children’s toys and accessories?

I don’t know. Maybe I should, but I am not really making plans. I love to craft, and would love to be able to do this full time, but the right moment hasn’t arrived yet. Anyway, a part of me likes to keep this business in small scale… like my toys. But I always have ideas for new products!

Tell me what you think of Sílvia Leite’s handmade children’s toy and accessories. Please leave your comments and let me know if you enjoy handmade and handcrafted gifts.

Zulugrass Jewelry by The Leakey Collection- A Gift that Gives Back

Sep 032008
 

It is my pleasure to host a special article today. It was written by one of our Lovely Contributors: Amy D.; she represents The Leakey Collection. Enjoy!

Zulugrass Jewelry by The Leakey Collection- A Gift that Gives Back

courtesy of The Leakey CollectionÂ

What better gift is there than one with a special story behind it? The Leakey Collection is a unique line of jewelry handmade from natural elements from the Maasai women in Kenya.  The jewelry is made from natural grass beads and hand strung. Philip and Katy Leakey, who live among the Maasai in the Kenyan bush, wanted to help their neighbors by providing work opportunities after a terrible drought devastated their livelihood.  They came up with an imaginative idea that would utilize the excellent beading abilities of the Maasai women using grass, an available sustainable resource, as the primary element. 

courtesy of The Leakey Collection

Soon the women were harvesting grass, one blade at a time. The long grass was dried and cut into bead-size pieces and dyed lovely hues which were then strung into necklaces and bracelets. Hence, Zulugrass was born. Now over 1400 hundred Maasai women are making Zulugrass while continuing to live in their traditional life style, and they can use their income to better their lives as they wish.

 Not only are these necklaces stunning; the Leakeys invest a percentage of the profits of sales to go back into the community.  Outreach programs that benefit the Maasai such as the Womens Health Initiative have been made possible as a result of sales of this product.  For information on these extraordinary pieces- visit their retail site, Leakey Life.

 

Shell Night Light

Jul 152008
 

I have night lights throughout my house and I hate to throw one away when the light cover breaks, which happens often Sad. I have had drawers full of broken night lights that I simply couldn’t bring myself to throw away. I started looking for ways to recycle the broken ones so that I could reuse them. I had a ton of shells laying all over the house and I remember seeing a shell night light before. So, DING! a light went off in my head, I bet I could make my own. I did just that and it was so cute. I found they make wonderful gifts, my mother in law still has one I made her over a year ago. It’s very easy to make and you will be surprised how beautiful they are. Here’s how I did it: Continue reading »

Create Your Watermelon Fruit Basket

May 262008
 

 A popular gift around our house during summer and usually for Fourth of July is the Watermelon Fruit Basket. I give it everytime I am invited to a summer Barbecue. It is a great inventive gift. I like to make a different style depending on the size of the watermelon but for this one I will advise how to make the smaller one.

It looks a lot more complicated than it actually is, you’ll keep that bit of info to yourself Winking. First thing you do is find yourself a small round watermelon with a thick skin. Once you get it home, clean it with plain water and dry it completely. You are going to need a stencil, unless you are an artist and can freehand, to draw onto the melon. The stencil will act as a guide in carving the design into the melon.

For the design you can be as creative as you like, stencils are available at any arts and crafts store. Back to the prep:

  • Peel the skin off of the watermelon, this gives you a better hold of the melon. The skin is very slick and it looks better without the skin.
  • Cut the watermelon in half and scoop out the inside of it. Cut a 1″ lip around the top half of the melon and one around the bottom half of the melon. This makes the decorative edge for the two adjoining pieces of the melons.
  • Now you can draw your stencil on the top half of the melon. Use a carving knife to cut the stencil completely out of the watermelon. Do a rough cutting first then you can come back and neaten it all up.
  • The topper is optional, I never use it but it is made out of a turnip. You just cut it into the shape you wish, using stencils or freehand.

Anyone who sees this will be so surprised and thankful. This is the perfect gift for any outdoor event. Creative and easy to make!!

Image belongs to Temple Of Thai.

Related Posts with Thumbnails
 Older Entries  Newer Entries