25 Days of Etsy Christmas Gifts. Day Nine: The Traveler

in the last two years, i've finally begun to travel and, even though the furthest i've been so far is jamaica, i knew even before i boarded a plane that i would be hooked. i have a bucket list of travel destinations and i start ticking them off as of next year, while keeping up with the road trips i love so much, in between trips. 

if you want holiday gift ideas for the traveler on your list and you want to support artisans and small businesses but you don't have time to run around town trying to find that perfect present? here are ten items (and shops) you should definitely check out on etsy.

1. this customized, hand printed leather book would make for a great travel journal. at $25 USD, in blue will personalize the cover for you so you can stick with this wonderful j.r.r. tolkien quote or ask mary lynn schroeder to print up to ten words of your choice on the cover. if you want to pick up a leather journal for yourself, while you're at it, i highly recommend that you browse this shop!

2. and now we head over to hailfax, nova scotia, where effie handmade offers up a nice selection of stylish travel bags and rolls, including this lovely jewelry organizer clutch for $44 USD. if you like the idea but not the print, have a look at the shop for a variety of bold, fun fabrics. 

3. how stylish are these personalized leather passport holders? at $22 USD, these come in an array of colours at bambina, based in nyc. want to create a fun, matching set for someone? check out the rest of this shop for great ideas for gift combinations!

4.  i like these personalized leather luggage tags for $12 USD at quiet leather. this is great for a small budget, as a stocking stuffer or as an addition to luggage bought as a gift.

5. these simple and classic leather travel pouches are going for $48 USD and could be given to someone of either sex. check out meredith bridges for more. 

6. available in a variety of colours, this chevron print organizer is perfect for stashing a passport and travel documents. check out the listing for detailed photos. they're $25 USD at dc bijou.

7. i love this large, leather duffle bag that makes for the perfect week-end bag. it's $230 USD at blue drop, a great shop based in athens, greece. 

8. if you'd like to get the lady globe-trotter on your list some inexpensive but adorable jewelry, i recommend this tibetan silver travel charm bracelet. get it for a mere $16 USD from ruth joy.

9. i like the idea of underwear travel bags and i found these for $39 USD at metka by traczka, a shop in warsaw, poland. there are many of these on etsy so look around if these aren't your cup of tea but i think they're pretty cute!

10. check out this french tourist attractions print. it's only $10 USD at peacock attic. it's worth searching for similar ones on etsy, if paris is not the right destination for your traveler; i found tons before this one caught my eye!

Read more »

25 Days of Etsy Christmas. Day Six: The Wine Lover

we have arrived at day six of my holiday gift guide and i hope you all love it as much as my day one list, which was for the beer lover and is by far the most popular one to date. today, we look at ten etsy gifts for the wine drinker on your list...


1. i'm in love with this handcrafted wood wine bottle holder i found over at farr out jewelry design for $21.99 USD. i'm eyeing it for someone on my list and i know it would look great on my table as well!

2. if you're looking for something simple but stylish to present the gift of a nice bottle of wine in, you can hardly go wrong with this leather wine bottle holder with stainless steel opener for $50 USD at pedal happy design. it's especially great for someone you know goes on picnics or gets around on foot or on bike. 

3. the classic, mid-century design of  the cocobolo wine stopper  is impeccable and at $18 USD, it is very reasonably priced. mica knob studios is really worth taking a look at if you appreciate beautifully handcrafted woodwork. 

4. speaking of wood, i love this reclaimed wood wine rack with stem holder! i found it at  the reclaimed life for $68 USD and, if someone else doesn't get their paws on it, i just might. not only is it lovely and rustic but really practical and a great space-saver!

5. if you're thinking of buying someone a bottle of wine for christmas but you feel like there should be more to the gift, how about ordering a set of four monogrammed, stemless wine glasses for $37 USD from j kelly events? 

6. check out this flattened wine bottle cheese tray! it's green (well, both literally and figuratively) and only $18 USD over at d'pholk design.

7. two sets of coasters caught my eye enough to be added to this list. first, we have this vintage wine label coasters for only $22 USD, up for grabs at no sweat coasters. if you need coasters, you should really take some time to peruse this site, as its name suggests!

8. secondly, we have these slate wine cork coasters for $25 USD from scattered treasures. i love that they're green and that their surfaces have an interesting texture.

9. you want to buy someone a bottle of wine and some glasses but you don't want to present it to them in a basket? how about this hardwood rack for wine bottle and four glasses for $12 USD? you can find it at bandy woodworks and, in addition to being an original way of presenting your gift (you can put this in a box with bubble wrap and, as long as they pull it up, gently, by the neck, all is well), they get to use it again.

10. and, finally, another great way of packaging a bottle of wine is by placing it in this custom embroidered wine tote. you can get it for just $19 USD from key lime designs and your wine lover will enjoy using it again when heading out to dinners and parties. it comes in red too so check it out!

Read more »

25 Days of Etsy Christmas Gifts. Day Five: The Baker

as most of you know by now, i have assigned myself the task of creating gift suggestion lists for twenty-five days in the hopes of keeping even just a few of you out of malls and supporting artisans and small businesses instead.

i must admit that, when it came to amount of fun i had creating a list, this one is tied with day one for first place. i got to discover so many amazing things along the way! i had to stick to ten, though, and so, without further ado, here are my favourite etsy gifts for the baker on your list.

1. i'm really loving this unique long baking dish with handle for $60 USD. if you're not sure, take a moment to read the description in the listing. as great as this gift idea is, what i didn't expect when looking up bakeware was to fall head-over-heels in love with laurie g ceramics. there is not one thing i do not love in laurie's shop; click on her link and find out why!

2. how fantastic is this make your own vanilla extract kit?? at $12 USD, it's perfect for a small budget or as an addition to a gift basket. and why stop at christmas? this is the perfect host/hostess gift! check out sarah's naturals if you're looking for natural body and beauty products, as well. this could easily turn into a "one for you, one for me, one for you, two for meeee" situation. 

3. and we're back at scissor mill, a shop i featured on day one but simply had to return to for this list. (i suspect that this may not be the last time, either). check out this personalized rolling pin for $34.50 USD. you can buy it as you see it here or have it custom engraved.

4. we're also revisiting one of my favourite montreal-based etsy shops, purpose design, because how could i not add this baking and dessert salt kit to my list? it's only $13 CAD and perfect on its own, if you have a small budget or as a great addition to another baker's gift!

5. we first had a look at irin skye on day three and now i simply had to add this spoons and muffin tin baker's necklace to my list. at $17 USD, it makes for a great stocking stuffer or small gift, on its own!   note that brandy can gift wrap this for you for an extra $3. 

6. check out this custom cupcake gourmet apron for only $27.95 USD at bow peep aprons! i'm considering daring you to go to this shop and stop at one purchase; this shop is chalk-full of adorable, colourful, custom gifts!

7. want something both functional and decorative for the baker on your list? i like these bake text metal art bookends i cam across at knob creek metal arts for $42.99 USD. 

8. i must admit that i am personally over this whole "keep calm and..." fad because people were plastering tumblr and facebook with their own "witty" versions for almost a year before everyone then started marketing the idea and putting it anything and everything. that said, if you dig it or know a baker that does, this keep calm and bake on flour sack tea towel from kitch towels is only $8 USD and will no doubt be well-received by those who do not have a tumblr. 

9. i could look at this photo for way longer than i'd like to admit-- so pretty! 
you can take your pick of three sprinkles for just $9 USD and add them to any gift basket or stocking. yes, you can drive out to your nearest michael's craft store and buy these but this series is about supporting small businesses so check out the bakers confections for your holiday cupcake liners, sprinkles or paper straw purchases, whether they be for you or for someone else!

10. last but certainly not least, i recommend this personalized glass baking dish  for $28 USD from marcella's engravables. there are quite a few of these on etsy but i chose this one for its price and design. another reason i'm featuring this shop is because it's great! check it out for over a hundred listings for terrific, custom presents.

Read more »