gifts!

Like I said in my most recent post - you don't need to go overboard giving gifts, but when the gifts are really special, they can make the gift giver happy, too.

I have so many wonderful friends who create their own fantastic items, often for sale, I thought I'd talk 'em up a bit here. My friends are so talented!


Urban Fairies - I just got my niece a copy of Jonathan's latest book. (I hope my 6 year old niece isn't reading my blog). This book is so magical! Jonathan, the certified fairyologist, has documented the arrival of fairies in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He took drawings that children did of the fairies and drew his interpretation of them. And both the children's drawings and Jonathan's drawings are so fantastic! He's such a talented guy. Sure, he can be a little disgusting sometimes, but talented he is, too.


Garbage of Eden Design - pick up a pair of green earrings, not only green in color, but green because they're upcycled, too. Stephanie makes lots of stuff out of recycled bags, but the earrings are a classic... in a new green movement type of way.


Pink Graffiti - everything that Lesley makes is cool. Especially check out the handmade, appliqued clothing. Oh, and the puzzle earrings. And the plastic action figure earrings. Ok. Like I said, everything this girl makes is cool.


AuH2O - Kate Goldwater makes affordable handmade items out of vintage and recycled clothes. Affordable and recycled? No one can beat that. If you're in NYC, stopping by her store in the East Village is a must. It's super cute.


Challengher NYC - Christine's shop is super cute, too. And she not only has tons of great screenprinted items, like on her website, she has unique clothing and accessories that ooze both sophistication and stylishness. And those are hard things to ooze at the same time.


Wonderthreads - Diana is a wonder with thread, that's for sure. Her baby clothes are definitely cute, but for those of us that are a little too big for toddler size 4, she makes big kid clothes, too. Like the big kid giraffe t-shirt and a big kid Big Wheel t-shirt. Because some of us may look grown up, but we still like to play, too.

giving

Going holiday shopping can be discouraging for even the mild environmentalist. I mean really - just how many $1.99 plastic Santas can a person really use? Ok, so they are only $1.99, but will they serve any purpose a month from now? Do they really serve any purpose now? I'm all about recycling scrap into something new, but it's better to start with less in the first place.

Being a part of the Bust Craftacular this weekend reminded me of why we give things in the first place. Most items there were created with lots of handmade love. It was fanstastic to see so many people shopping for handmade and one-of-a-kind items. It reminded me that people really do care about what they buy.

I had a conversation recently with a store owner and friend here in Brooklyn. She excitedly told me how she was making all of her Christmas gifts this year. Even though it was taking up all of her spare time, she was really pleased with what she was making. And as she described the gifts she got really excited just thinking about how happy the recipients will be when they open them. That reminded me what gift giving is all about. It shouldn't be "ah crap, what do I get my dad who doesn't need a single thing?" It should be "boy, I hope I can make my brother fall off of his chair with laughter when he sees the photoshop job I did on our mom and dad's heads."

Christmas doesn't need to be about the dollar amount we spend, but about the love we give the gift with. Ok, so maybe that last statement is a little cheesy, but it's way better than, "here are 10 plastic Santas that I got on a great deal on the day before Christmas." And if those gifts are wrapped in recycled wrapping paper, then all the better.

the Craftacular is this Saturday!

Don't know what to get your family and friends for Christmas this year? Then be sure to stop by the Bust Craftacular! RePlayGround will be there along with about 200 other crafty folks. And there will be oodles of cute gifts created with lots of handmade love.

Where: Metropolitan Pavilion - 125 West 18th St., NYC
When: Saturday, December 8th from 10am - 8pm
Why: because it's not your ordinary craft fair - there'll be a DJ, drinking, plus cool gift stuff

We'll have some new recycled holiday items - like Christmas light earrings, and the snot bulb Christmas tree ornaments pictured above (don't worry, they weren't used, they were factory rejects). And our newest clothing project - Clothing Swap pictured below. They're reconstructed t-shirts made from old ones. Plus they've been silk screened with our fancy Clothing Swap logo.

Get your craft on. This Saturday!