Friday, November 29, 2013

Holiday Shopping

I will just start out and say that I don't have a single photo of Thanksgiving. Not one.  Once the family starts to arrive and begins milling around preparing their contribution to the feast, it's fairly hectic, and warm and loving. Just the way Thanksgiving should be :>) And I just can't be bothered to run for the camera and stage a bunch of pictures to post. There is too much going on and every moment is to be savored and enjoyed. Everyone looks for their favorite dish, and there are hugs and greetings and the latest tales from Uncle Clarence. This year the story was about how earlier this week his car was hit by a semi and he walked away unscathed. Another thing to be thankful for! And typical of the adventures he has lived through. We love Uncle Clarence and his stories of survival!

So here we are the day after. The house is still clean and, I don't know about you but I am not one to brave the crowds for the Black Friday sales. Can I just ask? Why do people even go to WalMart on Black Friday? It seems every year someone gets trampled or a fight breaks out. Christmas spirit anyone? At any rate, I have been doing a lot of my shopping online. And that doesn't mean I hit the big box websites and Amazon exclusively.  I love etsy and I love buying products from cottage industries who really care about my business. This year I purchased this beautiful photo for my brother who has been looking for some pastoral art for his walls.
 It's from Jenn Diguglielmo's beautiful etsy shop, and it is a photograph that has the feel of a gorgeous vintage painting. My brother was up for a visit last week and I gave him the gift early and he loved it. Her prints come in a variety of sizes, and the delivery was lightning fast
I also admire the products in the Happy Little Cottage shop. Oh my, the gorgeous colors and the wonderful work that Debbie does will make anyone's heart happy! A darling pincushion stocking stuffer, pillow, quilt or holiday banner is like a little drop of sunshine for your home. Go. Look. You will be so glad you did.

My dear friend Trish is a sewing dynamo. She does quilt pattern testing and still finds time to make beautiful things for her shop natnkat. Adorable tissue holder covers for your purse make a great stocking stuffer, but she also has pretty Christmas pillowcases for sugarplum dreaming, and a candy colored scarf that will keep your loved ones so warm and cozy:>) I have one of her scarves and it is a favorite that I pull out again and again.
Last but not least is my sweet friend Karen Harvey Cox. I have several of her lovely watercolor paintings throughout my home and I love their vibrant color and the dreamy style she paints in. She
has an etsy shop called French Script where she sells her fabric designs in totes, pillow covers and by the yard so you can make your own beautiful creations if you like. She even has cut and sew tea towels by the yard so you can make a set for someone special, or for yourself! She has delicious designs that take advantage of her original art in so many different ways. I have ordered from Karen and always been thrilled with my purchases.
So there you have it. Some of my favorite shops this year and all accessible from the comfort of your home with a nice cup of coffee and preferably still in your cozy flannel jammies. Don't forget to check out my shop, I have my sparkly Christmas stocking marked down for the Black Friday weekend.  So who needs to get trampled at the big box stores?  If you have a favorite shop please tell us who it is! Do you go out on Black Friday?

9 comments:

  1. Oh that is exactly the way I like to shop ~ in my cozy Vera Wang jammies! I found a few special deals and feel like I make wiser choices shopping from my computer at home where I can think sensibly! I'll check out the shops you mention. Started decorating today too. Decided to get out my Christmas cookbooks and spread them around ~ love it looks! Thanksgiving was very special this year as my Mom got to come home for good after spending three months in the hospital and Rehab from a major heart attack.

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  2. Me, too. I'm not one for big crowds or fist fights when shopping. I shop mostly online and try to buy from my friends' shops and it works great. Your blog looks so cute!

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  3. Love the photo of the beautiful cow you got for your brother. Really gorgeous! Thanks for sharing her site!

    Judy

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  4. This is a great way to shop! I'm with you - no Black Friday shopping for me. Loved seeing your Etsy recommendations. I love to shop there, too.
    ~Adrienne~

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  5. Now that is the way to go! That print is lovely and I also appreciate Karen's work. She is so creative and imaginative.

    Your header is darling!

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  6. When I saw the photo of the cow I thought it was a painting by a master artist. And then you explained it is a photo. Wow.

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  7. I love Karen's work. I have to go check out the other shops you have mentioned.

    So glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
    Hugs,
    Penny
    p.s. I am with you...no black Friday shopping for me!

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  8. Ooooh love that photo of the cow! I think I have enough cow prints now but I'm going to have a look at her shop to see what else she has. I like Happy Little Cottage too - she always has something in my colors!

    I'm not a Black Friday shopper at all. My husband had to work and he couldn't leave the store until 5 am on Black Friday because so many people came out Thanksgiving! Then he slept for 5 hours and went back to the store until closing and they were still busy!!

    Every year I see those cell phone videos of fights breaking out at Walmart! It makes you wonder about humanity. But people do the Walmart thing because they're trying to stretch their Christmas money. Which I totally get. I just don't understand why people have to fight each other for a blender or a Roku player? My daughter says Black Friday is like the movie the Purge (have you seen it?).

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  9. Thank you so much for including my little shop. :o) Trish xo

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Thank you for taking the time to say hello :)