Shop with Our Online Artists & Artisan Friends!

October is almost over! So what, you may say; but the passing of another month means the holidays are creeping even nearer.
 
You've made your gift purchase list...right? And since the thought of battling crowds for high priced generic items at the big mall is such a spirit-of-the-season killer, you're glad you're shopping online this year AND supporting independent artsy crafters and small biz owners...right?
 
I thought so! So click HERE for the original post which has tons of cool links to some of the loveliest, original and unique gifts you'll ever see. Then kick your feet up, refill your favorite beverage mug, and get busy shopping til ya drop. (No sirs and ma'ams, it is not too early to shop. You have to allow for shipping and all. Doh!)

Hey, besides supporting our cool online community friends and beating the crowd, saving money and foot aches, you'll have all those niftyfied presents to decorate beneath your tree with early. How's that for lotsa lovely bonuses? Kathryn Magendie over at Tender Graces is running the same type of blog post, so check out her listings too.
 
So...whatcha waiting for?...go shop!


 
 
*Photo from CountryCottageChic

Support Our Online Community

I'm making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice...oh, wait, wrong song! But I am thinking about the upcoming holidays and all the shopping that usually involves.

In an effort to stop the insanity of last minute scratching for gifts this year, I'm going to do the bulk of my shopping online. It's a great way to avoid the mad crush in the overpriced mall, but most of all, shopping with indie online artists & artisans is a great way to support our online community!

The gifts are unique, handcrafted, beautiful and many times, economical even when you include moderate shipping charges. You'll love browsing the art, photography, crafts, luxury items, specialized poetry, pet accessories, jewelry, toys and so much more.

I'll keep adding to and rerunning this resource list every so often, and in the meantime, please feel free to contribute your favorite links for cool cyber shops or blogs. And if you want to tweet this post and/or use the links for a post of your own, be my guest. {You can copy and paste the links to a Word doc or into an email to yourself for easy reference so you don't have to keep coming back here...not that I don't LOVE when you visit! LOL}

Kat Magendie is running her links simultaneously, so visit her also. If I've left off someone, let me know and I'll add ya in real quick.

Now, let the shopping begin...........

@@ Online Indie Artists/Artisans Resource List @@

http://moonwillowwhispers.blogspot.com/ 

http://www.riggscreations.org/ 

http://www.afiori.com/  http://afiori.etsy.com/ 

https://sites.google.com/site/robertomadeit/ 

http://beadedbadgelanyards.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5535950

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6641946

http://www.yeahthatsrandom.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6820529

http://www.theaccessorylady.com/

http://theaccessorylady.blogspot.com/ 

http://www.mommytyme.etsy.com/
http://www.mommytyme.org/  
http://fuzzb.com/MommyTyme  

http://ribbonsrosesandmore.com/

http://trusk4u.etsy.com/
http://trusk4u.winkelf.com/ 

http://www.artistryarts.com/shop.php?user_id=100006

http://themartinidiva.com/

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/3004962

http://michelle-colourmyworld.blogspot.com/

http://jeweledrabbit.blogspot.com/

http://twillypop.blogspot.com/
http://twillypop.etsy.com/  

http://www.pinkribbonshop.com 

http://scribblesbyglynis.blogspot.com

http://jarielyn.blogspot.com 

http://www.1000markets.com/users/gibsonwirecreations
http://www.artfire.com/users/GibsonWireCreations 

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=49783 

http://www.LittleStudioJewels.etsy.com

http://www.LittleStudioJewels.artfire.com
http://www.icraft.ca/littlestudiojewels
http://www.meglittlestudio.blogspot.com 

http://www.mairzydozy.etsy.com 

http://www.dogwalkers.net 

www.lionandsloth.com

LIST ADDITIONS:

From Kimmi (The Unbreakable Child): Shop Goodwill. You can buy/bid online from Goodwill stores around the nation, land a teasure and give back to the community all in one click HERE.

From Carrie Link: Here's another one for you, Angie. It's my cousin's website, great for those spiritual seekers: http://www.creatingquietspaces.com/

From Hilary of the awesome photographs: Gary over at the Pottery Blog has an etsy shop too at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5056727 and his blog address is http://grpottersblog3.blogspot.com/

Contributed by Kat from her blog: I just happen to have a studio full of my original oil paintings that make wonderful lifetime gifts. Also make handwritten poetry suitable for framing that is not quite as expensive as the paintings. Preview art works here:
http://www.paintingstudio.spaces.live.com/ and contact info here:
stephenrowepainter@msn.com
Thank you, and as ever be well, Stephen Craig Rowe

From jeweledrabbit: Fine Artist and Illustrator Thaneeya McArdle: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6757 , Polymer Clay Artist Pamela Fleming of The Magic Sleigh:  http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6290188 , Fine handcrafted leather purses at Valhalla Brooklyn: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5456402 , Soft Sculpture Artist, Art Accessory Rabbit Bag Maker, and Animal Activist, Annette F. Tait of Dragon House of Yuen: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5231837  

From Lady Glamis: Levenger Has the BEST Writing and Reading Stuff EVER http://levenger.com/

Sent from Twitterville: http://jillstreasures.blogspot.com/ 

http://www.jillstreasurechest.etsy.com/
http://www.hiddenridgeroad.net/

Ho-Ho-Ho and Holy Guacamole!

What's up with me rushing the holiday season by doing a Santa shout-out and posting an elfin photo of my parents I made a few years ago on Jibjab, you ask? (Aren't they precious?)

Well, I want to do some Christmas shopping this year from online folks...support the arts and artisans, ya know? And since I've been known to go to hardware stores on Christmas Eve to do a last minute gift-grab, I thought I'd do it a better, more efficient way for a change. (Hey, don't laugh; hardware stores NEVER have crowds and they carry such nifty items for everyone on your list!)

Here's where you come in. If you have friends, family or bloggy pals who sell artsy items, I'd be ever so grateful if you'd leave me a link or info. in a comment! Kathryn Magendie is also looking around for online sellers, so hope over to her blog and give her the 411 too, if you would. Thanks in advance!

If I get enough resource links, I'll compile them and post them in a few days so you can help support our online community too.

@@@

Now, for the holy guacamole part: I've got close to one hundred (100) entries in the book title contest, and couldn't be happier! I'll be hosting this contest again real soon as it was the most popular post ever!

So, all you kind contestants and those of you who are just waiting with bated breath to find out the winners (yeah, I'm picking two -- one for the Cajun goodie package and one for the writer's delight package), you'll have to hang on til Wednesday to get the news. Sorry, but there are just too many great entries to go through. I've already got them divided up into different levels, but I want to read them a few more times.

The book title suggestions corresponding to the photos are REALLY fun to read, so if you have time in your blog hopping today, take a gander at all these interesting titles HERE!

Back tomorrow with a new Tuesday Recipe. Hope you had a fantabulous weekend, and everything is going smooth as buttuh in your world.

*Graphic from Triple F tees.