Handmade Anniversary Gift

My husband and I got married 3 months ago and since we are in a new home, in a new city, I decided to give him a little gift.  I framed our vows and put them on our dresser for him to find when he came home from work.  We both wrote our own vows, so it was a little more meaningful than the traditional "to have and to hold" stuff.

I typed them up on my computer and used 2 different fonts.  One for my vows, one for his.  Then I switched them around for the highlighted portions in blue.  I just chose some of the more important words/phrases to highlight.  

Then I put them in 8 by 10 frames on our new IKEA dresser.  :)

Don't they look nice next to a few of our engagement pictures?

Cody really liked them and I was really pleased with how they turned out.  If you are looking for the fonts, I used Olivetti  Type 2 (typewriter) and Sunshine in My Soul (script).  Click on the names to download them.

Bridesmaid Gift Ideas

Here are some great ideas for gifts for your bridesmaids, or girlfriends.  I love all of these and want them for myself, but sometimes you gotta give for the girls.  :)

Love what you see?  Click here to go to the treasury page when you can click on each item!

Robot Love

I have an obsession with robots.  It is one of my many obsessions, kept company by owls, birds, leaves, gnomes, and seahorses...  I absolutely love anything robot and I put together this treasury to feature some of my favorite robot things on etsy.  Click here to go to the full page link on etsy.

Isn't the robot writing the love letter awesome?? To go to each sellers shop, click here and you can then click on each individual item.  

Surf and Sun - my daily diet

Suddenly I am surfing again.  I had been out of the water for a few months, and now this month I have been in hours upon hours.  I even got a new board.  Super exciting...  Inspired by my return love for surfing, I share these beautiful items from etsy.  All of these items would make great gifts for the ocean lover in your lives...  :) Enjoy the eye candy and get inspired to re-live something you used to love.

Check out this beautiful photo.  Visit the shop for more where that came from.

This is how I have been feeling lately.  The water, the sun, and the waves are a true therapy.

Grab this print here.

Whoa.  Stunning quilt art.  I would like to say if I saw this wave, I would be in it.  But the beauty of art is it could be 2 feet or 20, only the artist knows. :)  Pieced together with batik fabrics, you can find this piece here.

A social session with the girls...  :) What is not to love??

Grab this postcard and more here.

Inspired by Independence Day

Independence Day (and my birthday) is tomorrow.  I love red, white, and blue any time of the year, but for some reason Summer makes these colors POP!

If you love bold statements and summer fun, you'll flip over this cute little clutch.

Show off your cute and sassy side with this hair clip.

Walk in style and save all those little paper cozy wraps with this super cute peace coffee wrap.

I don't have any keiki of my own, but if I did, they would be decked out in these amazingly cute bloomers.

Enjoy your 4th of July and be safe.  Fireworks are my favorite part of my birthday, and I am so lucky to get them every year!

Softies

Softies are my new favorite pet.  I can't wait to start making these!  Here are some of my favorite and most inspirational.  You can find all of these on etsy by clicking on the link to the shop below the photo. 

http://www.ultrapunchtoyco.etsy.com/

http://www.pinkperch.etsy.com/

http://www.olivesandoats.etsy.com/

http://www.chunkychooky.etsy.com/

http://www.flufftail.etsy.com/

http://www.magicaldreams67124.etsy.com/

http://www.mookah.etsy.com/

RESOURCES FOR MAKING SOFTIES:

http://www.softiemaking.com/

(tutorials, photos, inspiration, books, etc.)

http://www.softiescentral.typepad.com/

(gallery, inspiration)

Kill Taupe

One of my favorite etsy shops/designers is http://www.killtaupe.etsy.com/.  You can also check out his original blog at http://www.killtaupe.blogspot.com/.  I went to his blog today and read that he will be doing a daily drawing this year!  What a treat.  I am so excited to see all the amazing and funny critters that he creates.  I also checked his etsy site and found some stellar new magnets!  I am trying to decide which one to get...  I like them all!  I really do... 
He also has a really great gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/killtaupe/sets/%20Here  If you like these, go check it out and find some of your own images to giggle at.  Here are some of my favorites from his shop right now.

http://www.killtaupe.etsy.com/

You can purchase all of these items right now at his etsy shop.  What are you waiting for??

A Handmade Christmas

This Christmas I wanted to make as many handmade gifts as possible.  I usually make a lot of handmade gifts, but this year I had certain things in mind for almost everyone!  Here are a few of the items that were gifted this year...  I am going to start on next year's gifts already so I don't end up rushing or being late like a few of the items this year!  I know I am not the only one who feels the days flying by when Christmas is around the corner.  I love giving gifts that are made by hand though, hopefully everyone will enjoy them.

A stamped keychain for my boyfriend's sister in law that has their names and their keiki's name.

A handmade felt ornament for my boyfriend's parents.  ALOHAAAA!

Hand knit bag for Ryan with a needle felt mushroom

 A hand sewn pouch for my brother to go inside the knit bag

A quilted/padded case for the "kindle" for my brother Zach

Hand knit mittens out of 100% wool for my boyfriend's mom

Chocolate covered mac-nuts for the FAM

Handmade caramels to share

Octopus necklace from Cody to my mom-(he picked out the pieces and I put it all together)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  I hope everyone enjoyed their gifts and their holiday!

Stockings

http://www.handmadepretties.etsy.com/

My favorite part about Christmas is stockings. When I was a little girl, my brothers and I each has our own stockings. Santa would stuff them with all kinds of little treats and toys. I used to wake up before everyone else in the house and look through all the stockings before anyone else was awake. I loved looking at all the new toys and candies, exploring each stocking and noting what was different and what was the same. I would pull everything out and lay it all out in front of me, choosing my favorite goodies. Then I would put everything back in the stockings and wake everyone else up. Time to open PRESENTS! My next favorite thing… Well, that is besides family and friends. 

http://www.cheryland.etsy.com/

http://www.lelis.etsy.com/

These are some of my favorites that I found on etsy.  It is kind of hard to find stockings when everyone is tagging their "stocking stuffers" with the word stocking, but I managed to find these super uniqe ones.  I also fell in love with this baby cocoon in the shape of a stocking.  :)

http://www.joliem6201.etsy.com/

What's not to love? Recycled goods.

http://www.funkyrecycling.etsy.com/

http://www.shopjessbecause.etsy.com/

  

http://www.rpmfiberworks.etsy.com/

http://www.birdversusbird.etsy.com/

Gal's Gift Guide

Are you shopping around but can't find that one item you know will brighten your gal pal's day?  Look no further!  Check out all of these awesome finds on etsy!  The top left corner is a beautiful set of hairpins, perfect for a secret santa gift or a stocking stuffer.  These can be found at http://www.emilywootton.etsy.com/.  I love these super practical, yet stylish pot holders from http://www.persnicketypelican.etsy.com/.  She has all kinds of other cool handmade items, so check her out.  Do you know someone who loves unique pottery and vases?  Check out http://www.marymeestudio.etsy.com/.  And these super fabulous obi sashes from http://www.ccdoodle.etsy.com/, they also sell cool tees and clothing too!  Everyone knows candles are perfect for gift giving, so check out http://www.lilacave.etsy.com/.  Have you been searching for a personalized gift for a co-worker or friend?  Go to http://www.shooptiles32.etsy.com/ to shop for these super cute ornaments for the holidays.  For super affordable accessories for the home http://www.redyellowandblueink.etsy.com/ has everything you could ever want in recycled glass wares.  Last but not least, I am really into the wall art deco stickers that are becoming ever so popular.  They are perfect for city dwellers and homeowners who don't want to put holes in their walls, or want a quick and fabulous decoration.  These photo frames stick onto your walls and make for quick decoration!  Get 'em at http://www.simpleshapes.etsy.com/. 

Mens Gift Guide

Are you having a hard time finding things for that special someone in your life this year??  I am putting together etsy gift guides to inspire and help you shop this year!  Here are some great finds for MEN.  Starting from the top left corner...  A necktie card wallet from http://www.prixprix.etsy.com/.  A recycled kona coffee burlap bag stocking from http://www.sasakibags.etsy.com/.  An awesome VW style silver ring from http://www.hioctanejewelry.etsy.com/.  Super cool robot ornaments that everyone would love from http://www.blueskyclouds.etsy.com/.  Practical, yet still great for gift giving, a cowl from http://www.newduds.etsy.com/.  One of my favorites is this amazingly useful box from http://www.barkupatree.etsy.com/.  Why not let your guy pamper himself with handmade soaps this year from http://www.dressgreen.etsy.com/.  And last but not least, your guys next favorite tee from http://www.1aeon.etsy.com/ with all the bells and whistles of a manly top.  Happy shopping and buy handmade when you can!