Can I Get That Burrito in Green and Yellow Please?

Now that I'm looking forward to becoming a grandma again I've got my eyes open for unique baby items. I found a few must-haves at Elle Belle.


This Baby Burrito Blanket is perfect for swaddling, large enough to use for more than a couple of months, and would make a terrific "table" for a toddler's (invisible) tea party.





This darling I Spy Quilt looks like hours of toddler fun. Bright colors and child-friendly images will keep your little one engaged and entertained. Double sided means double the fun!

http://ellebelleonetsy.etsy.com
http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com

I Was Meant to Love You

Someday I'd love to have a huge collection of art. For now I satisfy myself with searching out new artists, and an occasional splurge on an art-print greeting card. This print by Valérie Parizeault of Witty Workshop is one of my new favorites.





I may splurge on one of her greeting cards. She has a unique way of saying "I love you," that stays with you long after the card has been opened.

Make sure you check out her blog for her monthly giveaways!


http://wittyworkshop.etsy.com
http://pot-aux-roses.blogspot.com

Want to Smell Like Croquembouche?

I've been looking for a natural, aluminum-free deodorant, and found ZAJA Natural Handmade Confections. There you can find not only a nice variety of deodorants, but body wash, lotion, and solid perfume in croquembouche scent. Are you more of a chocolate person? No problem, it's there. Lemon curd? Yep. Almond cheesecake. Spiced pumpkin. Even Flaming Black Russian. I can't decide whether to shower or have dessert. Maybe I should have dessert first....

http://aromaticbodyoils.etsy.com
http://www.zaidat.com




Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
aromaticbodyoils.etsy.com

Spring Has Not Sprung

I'm ready for winter to end and spring to warm and brighten the days. That's not gonna happen soon enough, so to help get me through the cold, gray days I've found these lovely cards and prints from Chalk Hill Studio.


This Pink Rose Notecard is a beautiful way to send a note to someone special.



This Red Poppies card is so pretty I'm tempted to frame it.



I'd love to look at this Peony print as I wake up each day!


Visit Chalk Hill Studio at:
http://kala.etsy.com
http://www.chalkhillstudio.co.uk
http://chalkhillstudio.blogspot.com/

New in my Etsy shop Jan 24, 2008

I've had several requests to make fused glass cabachons for people to wrap with wire or use in their PMC work, and I've been wanting to try pot melt glass, so today I was thrilled to list an item that takes care of both! Pot melt glass is putting chunks of glass in a clay pot, firing the kiln until the glass melts, and letting it drip into a tray below. It creates beautiful swirled colors and each melt is unique. It's difficult to do in my tiny kiln, but still very much worth it.

Kitschy with a Mexican Twist

The Creative Sundries shop on Etsy is packed with items you didn't know you needed until you saw them. Come on, who can pass up a five-pack of pink sugar skull glycerin soaps? Or a 1.5-inch-tall hand-felted purse? But my favorite things there are made with Mexican Loteria cards.


This parrot tile is lovely.



The El Sol pendant is very cool.



El Musico is one of the most romance-invoking Valentine's cards I've seen this year.



Visit Creative Sundries at
http://creativesundries.etsy.com
http://creativesundries.blogspot.com

An Artist at Work

I love the independent spirit that comes through Paulette Insall's paintings. Although each is unique, they all share a quiet happiness, with an underlayer of spunk, and hints of spirituality. I'm going to stop writing now and let the art speak for itself.





Visit this artist at:
http://pauletteinsall.etsy.com
http://www.pauletteinsall.com
http://www.pauletteinsall.com/blog

Never Needs Watering

I love flowers, especially the sort that I can wear. Kalicat Designs has the sweetest flower rings I've seen in a long time. Her Sunshine Flower Ring makes me smile: it's bright and sunny, needs no watering, and won't make me sneeze.




Kalicat's artisan-crafted Belle Blum Ring is so stunning it was featured on Etsy's front page recently. With a choice of matching earrings, this is the perfect set to feed my flower habit.


















Kalicat handcrafts her jewelry (or jewellery in U.K. spelling) in London. Can't afford the airfare? Visit her at:

http://kalicat.etsy.com

http://honeyandsweets.blogspot.com/

Sweet Bracelets for Your Sweeties

I hate buying gifts at the last minute: I feel pressured to get something "good," which makes me feel bad; I feel guilty because I must not have cared enough about the recipient to take care of the gift earlier; nothing I find is ever good enough, probably because I'm trying to compensate for my own guilt. This year I've started shopping early, in fact I already have several Christmas gifts tucked away. (No, they're not wrapped yet!)

I've been doing some shopping for Valentine's Day, too, and stumbled on to some sweet gifts for your female sweeties at Ulixis.

This sweet Cotton Candy Bracelet would make a delightful gift for any little princess on your Valentine gift list.



The Midnight Plums Bracelet should be a hit with slightly older princesses.



And for your grown-up princess, try this gorgeous Tip-Toe Through the Tulips Bracelet.




Amanda, the creative genius behind Ulixis, is a student at McMaster University who is working on her thesis. Visit her and cross some of those gifts off your to-buy list.

http://Ulixis.etsy.com

http://ulixis.blogspot.com

Creative Business Tools

I'm constantly on the look out for tools that make the business side of living a creative life more fun and, well, creative. I found a couple of the most awesome things at Darjeeling Paper Ltd this week. The first is a business card holder constructed from paint samples. You can choose your own color, and at only $3 each you can afford to have a rainbow's worth.




I am a master list maker, and tend to use notebooks to keep my lists handy and organized. These 4x4 Softcover Journals practically force you to pick up a pen and write in them. They're the perfect size to carry with you throughout the day, and at $6 you can pick up a few to stash in your car, your bag, or wherever you find yourself when the need to jot strikes.



Michael Gresh, the man behind Darjeeling Paper Ltd is a self-proclaimed paper nut. Visit, and be prepared to develop a paper addiction of your own.

http://darjeelingpaper.etsy.com
http://darjeelingpaper.com/blog

Hoist Your Sails

A few years ago I read a book by Chellie Campbell titled The Wealthy Spirit: Daily Affirmations for Financial Stress Reduction. She talked a lot about people who wait for their ship to come in: they wait, and wait, and wait some more, without ever realizing they hadn't sent any ships out--so there are no ships to come in. I try to sail a few of my own (metaphorical) ships every day, and creating this blog is one I intend to sail regularly. I'd love it if you join me!