Etsy Gift Guide for Your Best Friends

Gifts For Your Best Friends

Story by  joslyn

Published on Nov 25, 2011 in Shop

Photo by Is Was and Will Be

Joslyn Taylor is the founder of Simple Lovely, a lifestyle blog that chronicles her love for design, fashion, art and food. In addition, she is a founding partner in tinyDallas, which focuses on raising kids in a creative and mindful way in her adopted hometown. She also is a freelance writer contributing to local publications such as The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas edition of Edible Magazine and Dallas Child Magazine.

I’m a bit of an obsessive gift giver — I plan, ruminate on the recipient and make lists before deciding what to buy. The act of selecting a truly meaningful gift for another person gives you a chance to really celebrate them, to consider what they love, their interests and passions.

I think the best gift is a combination of something useful and beautiful — something the recipient probably wouldn’t buy for themselves but will use and love. No dust collectors or fodder for re-gifting allowed.

The most fun (in my opinion) is sleuthing out a gift for a sister or best friend: something that honors your relationship. The ladies in my life tend to run the gamut – there are staunch foodies, earthy gals, accessory lovers, nesters — so I’ve pulled together some of my favorite picks for each. Enjoy!

For The Soulful Fashionista

[Clockwise from top left: Sailor's knot blueberry leather key fob fromautomaticsweetheart; Rose gold sparkle clutch from Scout & Catalogue; Gold earrings with gemstone from lovejujube; Triangle pendent necklaces fromamerrymishap; Grey poppy silk day dress from byrachelrose; The skyscraper necklace from ISWAS + WILLBE]

This bright blue key fob would seriously lower the risk of losing your keys.

I love this sweet, glittery pouch for stashing coins and business cards.

These simple gold earrings would dress up a simple black top.

Triangle necklace: One of Jenn’s clay triangle necklaces would be a perfect everyday piece.

This silk day dress is like a wearable work of art.

I love the mix of rustic black lava rock with the modern pop of pink in this necklace.

For The Nester

[Clockwise from top left: 2012 trellus calendar from Michelle Armas; Saucer/spoon rest from Dawn Dishaw Ceramics; Winter coats painting from Kiki & Polly; "Love" black lines noteset from NEAPOLITAN; Mid-century brass owl tray fromVieuxDesign; Modern white mobile from AM radio]

Michelle Armas is a favorite artist of mine — her yearly calendar is a way to share the love with all my nearest and dearest.

I like this blue pottery saucer to store rings.

I love the sentimentality of this sweet winter coat print.

These hand-painted love notecards would be perfect for my Luddite letter writing sister.

This mid-century brass owl would look great atop a stack of books.

And I’m a bit obsessed with these artful himmeli mobiles.

For The Naturalist

[Clockwise from top left: 100 succulent plant rosettes from Succulent Designs;Yarrow mound from flores del sol; Cedar spring air plant terrarium from Sea & Asters; Table top forest terrarium from CaptainCat]

I love the idea of pitching in with a few friends to get someone special an over-the-top gift. I think kick-starting someone’s garden with 100 succulents would do the trick, yes?

This sweet yarrow mound would be fool-proof for a green thumb-challenged buddy.

I love these artful, unique takes on a terrarium, and the vessels are just as pretty as the plants.

For The Foodie

[Clockwise from top left: Folded salt and pepper cellars with spoon from Pigeon Toe Ceramics; Winter fruit print from clairenereim; Wood serving board fromTimber Green Woods; Pit-fired tumbler with ceramic glaze from ClayWoodStone;Fleur de Sel caramels from The Caramel Jar; Rosemary tangelo orange marmalade from cupboardcook]

Sculptural salt and pepper cellars are simple enough to mesh with any décor.

I love framed art in the kitchen; the winter fruit print is an all-time favorite.

I’d give this beautiful natural edge wood serving board with a hunk of good cheese.

These gorgeous ceramic tumblers would be perfect for tea and could do double duty as a vase.

Food gifts like fleur de sel caramels and artisanal marmalades are my go-to for holiday hostesses.

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/gifts-for-your-best-friends/?ref=fp_blog_title

Great Idea...Don't Buy It - Borrow or Trade it!

Noted: Collaborative Consumption

Story by chaps676

Published on July 11, 2011 in Read

Photo by Gabriele Quaglia on Flickr

I was recently hit with the insatiable desire to revisit my childhood through the eyes of Nancy Drew. Knowing that the series sits dormant on bookshelves across the country, I refused to plunk down my hard-earned money for a new copy at a book store. I walked to the local library to quell my nostalgia, only to be met by locked doors. (Ah, Sunday!) I found myself wishing there was a tool or app that would show people in my area who have Nancy Drew books available for borrowing. After doing a little research, I discovered I wasn’t the only person yearning for a simple method for efficiently and sustainably locating the goods I want.

Collaborative consumption, a movement recently highlighted by Morgan Clendaniel for Co.Design, encourages communities to monetize their unused goods through a system of borrowing. Zip Car and bike sharing programs are excellent examples of rethinking consumption, enabling people to borrow a method of transportation for the few hours it’s needed. “You might own some tools that you never use, or perhaps you have a backyard that you just don’t have the time to do anything interesting with,” explains Clendaniel. “Today, they can look like revenue streams, not wastes of money.”

Yet more important than making some extra money, collaborative consumption might just free us from the burdens that come along with ownership. “What’s truly important about collaborative consumption is much more world-altering than just supplementing incomes,” says Clendaniel. “If you don’t need to buy a circular saw or a leaf blower just to use them once a year, but can use one when you need it, it could fundamentally impact how we consume.”

Sharing is one of the first lessons taught to children. Can it continue to remain a fundamental tenet in our adult lives?

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/noted-collaborative-consumption/?ref=fp_blog_title