Handmade Holidays

Good Morning,

Stop reading this like I am crazy.  Just because it is the end of August doesn’t mean that for Artisans and Independent Sellers and Crafter’s of all kinds that you get to have a vacation.  Oh no!

Now, right now is the perfect time to start your Holiday goods.  I know it sounds super daunting and very overwhelming, but if the task is done in manageable chunks, it can be fun and profitable too.

1.  Supply Inventory:  I know counting is not fun, especially if you work with multitudes of little tiny things.  I am not saying count every piece of everything in your Craft Room / Closet / Box, but take a general inventory.  Do you need more of this or that?  All your tools in good working order?  Alright then.

2.  Evaluate: Do you still have things from last year’s season that did not sell?  Give them a good once over, why didn’t the item sell?  Did something look wrong, can you tweak it or give it a fresh look?  Do things need to be cleaned?  Now is the time to do that.

3.  Decide:  Are you planning on attending a Craft Fair or other Holiday Event?  Do you know the details?  Do you have everything you need to attend the Fair or Show?  Does the Fair you are attending have a theme?  Now it the time to get that organized, displays, packing material, business cards, signage, etc.  What pieces will you take with you?  Will you work on a project at the show?

4.  Create:  Now that you know what you have in your supplies, and what’s on the racks as it were, you can sit down and play with those supplies and create new and interesting pieces for the Holidays.

The Remaining Major Holidays

Halloween: Thursday, October 31st
Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 28
Chanukah:  Wednesday, November 27, Sundown
Christmas: Wednesday, December 25
News Year’s Eve: Tuesday, December 31st.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.  

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

Don’t Forget SHOP SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY is November 03, 2013.  Stop by Little Shop of Artists for your Holiday Gift Giving needs, or shop your local independent businesses this year instead of the Big Box or Department Stores.  You’ll be the person with the best presents!

Five Great Gifts For Giving List 16

Good Morning,

Today we showcase five cool items from five neat shops on Etsy.  We have two new shops as well as some returning favorites.

New to me and the Etsy Team, Road To Success, is this fun and adorable shop.

From: Nerdvana  Mama

Doctor Who Tardis purse bag

Doctor Who TARDIS Purse. Made of cotton, lined on inside with black cotton fabric. Two pockets on inside, one small, one large, to create more space. approx. 8×11 inches. Windows, doors and signs are hand painted.

Each purse is made to order. So slight variations will occur. 

Invader Zim Gir keychain

Ready to ship Invader Zim Gir keychain. Made of hard plastic.Approx 1 inch tall. Each keychain is hard drawn.

Have any questions? Contact the shop owner.

With Beltane comes the Babies, so why not get prepared for those new arrivals or those that are ready for a first year celebration.  There other neat banners and things in the shop.  Give them a look.

From: SDK Creations

Custom Baby Shower Onesie Banner, Fabric Banner, Baby, Boy,Girl, Twins, Unisex

 

Baby Onesie Banner. Just the perfect decoration, gift for the Mommy and Baby to be. What shower wouldn’t be a hit without the Banner. Nice thing is this is also a wearable banner.

PLEASE ALLOW 2-3 WEEKS CREATING TIME. IF YOU NEED IT SOONER PLEASE CONTACT ME.

**** THIS IS A CUSTOM ORDER, UPON AGREEMENT AND YOUR LISTING IS PAID FOR THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS. ****

**THIS LISTING INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING

Banner 4 Onesie’s
Choice of character
If you would like to do a name. $8 per Onesie
Choice of fabric color
Twine, Ribbon
Clothespins
4-6 Feet Long

** Additional Charge

$3.00 for each addtional onsie
$ .50 for additional fabric
$1.00 for added embelishments to clothespins

Have any questions? Contact the shop owner. 

From: Zlala959
  
Agate quartz druzy drusy pendant link connector No10765

If you want to make jewelry yourself, this item is a very good accessory.

material: druzy
size: about 10mm x 20mm x 30mm
color and pattern: please see the picture.
conditon: new and never been used.

If you have any questions about shipping, payment and return
policy, please check my shop policies.

Have any questions? Contact the shop owner. 

From Sue’s Arts

Layered necklace, layered beaded necklace, multi layered necklace, long layered necklace, chuncky layered necklace

Beautiful, elegant, charming and unique one of a kind layered necklace.

Created with red ruby gems, large clear Swarovski crystals and more.

CUSTOM ORDERS WELCOME

DELIVERED IN A GIFT BAG

Suzan ♥ 

 

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.  

 

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you pleasant day.

 

The Gifts of Giving

Happy Tuesday,

Christmas is just a week away and today instead of offering shopping venues and present ideas, I would like to take a moment to discuss other ways to give and be in the Spirit of the Holiday without spending money (well maybe a little), or rampant consumerism.

I’m not even talking handmade items that you can whip up at the last minute.  I am talking about the gift of giving, giving of yourself, your time, your smile, a kind word, a helping hand.

This time of year there are lots and lots of pleas for your hard earned dollars for this or that charity, cause or fundraising event.  Instead of writing a check, why not offer your time, volunteer to serve a meal or two at a soup kitchen, offer your gently used blankets, or clothing your kids have out grown to shelters, grab an extra bag of cat or dog food when doing your own shopping and drop it off at the local animal shelter, put a toy in the Toys for Tots bin.  These are simple small acts that will be felt and appreciated in ways that you can only image.

Be kind to each other, let some one go ahead of you in line, smile just because you are capable of doing so.  People are rushed and hurried this time of year, take a moment to breath, slow down, instead of shouting at the idiot that just cut you off, focus on the song on the raido, sing at the top of your lungs, you’ll feel better, and it’s better for you.  Sit down and have your favorite beverage and write your friends a letter, I said a letter, not an e-mail, a letter, with pen and paper.  Remember those?  A short “I was thinking about you” note is always more than welcome and a lovely surprise.

I know in this day and age it is a risk talking to a stranger, or offering assistance, put if we all did just one little thing, one small act of kindness a day, without thinking about ourselves or what we’ll possibly get out of it, the world would be a gentler, better place to inhabit.

Thank you for stopping by and having a read.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

Five Gift Ideas from Etsy

Image via CrunchBase

Good Morning, 

Tuesday arrives wet and a little dreary, but that is all right.  Idaho could use the rain.

Today I have five gift ideas for you from the shops on Etsy and a new one or two to check out!

Here is a brand new shop and an interesting artist.

From:  Emily Andrews

Dream Factory Photo Collage Print

Description: A high resolution print of a photo collage I did using images from multiple sources such as magazines and old newspapers on a TV tray. The Dream Factory sequence is one of my scenes of surrealism and was made to inspire imaginative thoughts where the possibilities are endless. The print is 8in x 12in and is printed on glossy photo paper.
Other sizes are available for every print. 

From:  StaRsbyDi

Black and White Pearl Necklace with Black Resin Rose Flower Pendant

Description:  Black and White Pearl Necklace with Resin Rose Flower Pendant, Necklace and Earring Set.
I handmade this lovely necklace with ivory glass pearls. The beautiful pendant is made of a black resin rose set on a non-tarnish fine silver-plated metal base. I finished the necklace with a silver plated lobster clasp.

-The necklace measures approx. 45.5cm (17.91”) from one end to the other in a straight line.
The pendant is 3.5cm (1.38”) long and the resin rose measures 3cm (1.18”).

-The earring will fall 3.3cm (1.30 inches) from your piercing. I handcraft this beautiful pair using black resin rose flowers, set on silver plated ear posts. I wire wrapped the roses and pearls with silver plated wire.

This pretty set will brighten up any outfit and it is a perfect gift for a woman.

From: Sues Arts

Bronze Flower Daisy Ring 

Description:  SOLD SEPARATELY – PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHICH # YOU LIKE.

Gorgeously beautiful and unique rings in antique bronze.

CUSTOM ORDERS WELCOME

DELIVERED IN A GIFT BAG

Thanks for looking.

From:  I Paint It Pretty

Holiday Ornament Red Sled with Penguins 

 

Description:  This is a hand painted and decorated pine sled with two penguins and an igloo. The penguins are sitting in the snow with presents all around them. The sled is a cheery holiday red with white runners. Glittering snowflakes add some sparkle. This versatile sled can be placed under the tree, hung on the wall, stood in a corner or placed any where you want some holiday color. This sled will become a treasured holiday decoration you’ll love for many years. It would also be an exceptional gift to give a loved one.
24 in x 10 in x 2 inFor the sled I used acrylic paint and three coats of varnish to ensure durability. The holly and the snowflakes are glued on. I added a red and gold tie for hanging.

 

From:  Green Witch Designs (Shelly Moody)

Stitch Markers – Just Like  Mommy’s 

Description:  One of the greatest pleasures we get as a knitter, is teaching the skill to the next generation. We love sharing what we know with the younger set. Many of us have young knitters in our own homes. The dilemma we face is, what do we do when they raid our favorite notions? Here is the perfect answer, our Just Like Mommy line of stitch markers. These fun little notions are inexpensive and created with the youngest knitters in mind! The perfect way to give her, or him, the tools they need to keep up with their new favorite hobby! No more worrying about your own favorite markers and hoping they will make it back to you.These pink with purple heart markers are made of plastic beads, silver plated findings and will fit up to a size US9 needle.
They are pictured here with a size US6 needle.

 

That is all for today.

Thank you for stoppping in and having a look.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

 

 

Five Great Gifts To Give Sites

Instead of listing five great gifts to give, I thought I would list the sites on where to find those five great gifts.

Your favorite and mine Etsy.  Many of you I am sure have seen the big orange square with the letter E.  This is Etsy, a web site full of handmade gift goodness.  They do require an account for buying or selling, but the venue is free!

The Web Site Uncommon Goods has some unique and interesting gifts like this wood tie.

This site “The Best On Line Gift Ideas” is just that, a site that has hundreds of ideas from Gormet Food, Faher’s Day, Birhtdays, Anniversary suggestions!  There are hundred of categories to check out!

Findgift is rather like Etsy, categories and a home page full of items to look through or purchase.  The prices seem fairly reasonable as well.

Tip Junkie has a great page full of fun and unique ideas for making a homemade gift all by yourself and sometimes those are the best gifts of all, something from the heart, made with your hands!

Remember the idea of gift giving is that the gift reflects or in some way is a measure of how you feel about the person.  The gift should be something they will like, use or reminds them of you.  Gifts are not about the amount spent, they are about the thought and time the giver has taken to select one.  Buying something from the $1.00 aisle in Wal Mart would do, if it is from the heart and the recipient will like it, just take more than five minutes deciding!