Handmade Gift Guide: Quaint Charms Jewelery

I love discovering a new place to shop for quirky jewellery and Etsy certainly has no shortage of it- particularly handy at this time of year when looking to shop for gifts that stand out from the crowd. I’ve only recently been introduced to Quaint Charms Jewelery but it really made an impact- specialising in handcrafted luxurious yet affordable pieces I was really taken with, well, most of the shop if I’m honest. I was very kindly sent a beautiful necklace and matching earrings so I could see just how well executed the products are but I thought I’d also turn this post in to a bit of a wish list/gift guide too…
How striking are these pieces? Although quite simple in themselves the combination of the beautifully coloured stones against the gold settings really captured my imagination. I’d say these are definitely on the more subtle side of what Quaint Charms has to offer yet they still manage to make a real statement. Both pieces are incredibly well made and just look “quality” (for want of a better word, what I mean is they don’t look like bog standard cheap costume jewellery) and I can see them standing up to the test of time.
As you can see from the selection above there is definitely something to cater for all tastes- there are personalised options available, the ability to request custom pieces and some really gorgeous birth stone necklaces as well…I could have quite easily have popped the whole shop in to this post but then that would leave nothing to the imagination would it?

Pop yourselves over to Quaint Charms Jewelery and let me know which piece most catches your eye. Next on my list are these amazing gold flower and jet earrings.

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Items gifted for blog post consideration, opinions are all my own.

Handmade Gift Guide: Clorty Cat Crafts

My list of favourite sellers on Etsy grows larger quite literally by the hour at the moment and for the next installment of my handmade gift guides I am showing off yet another of my fabulous finds. Actually when I made a purchase from this particular shop- Clorty Cat Crafts it was for something entirely different (and something I can’t show on the blog this side of Christmas). I was so delighted with it that I decided there and then that I wanted to contact shop owner Shannon about featuring her on the blog and it was then I discovered the exciting news that she was releasing a line of enamel pins- a.k.a. my new obsession and THE perfect stocking filler gift.
I was so taken with the pins (current range of six designs shown, but watch this space as there are more on the horizon which I’m super excited for- my bank account less so!). I’ve had the David Bowie pin and the Purple Rain cloud on pre-order since they were first announced and can’t wait for their arrival which should be any day now.

Incase it had somehow escaped your notice enamel pins are big news right now and the ones on Clorty Cat Crafts are definitely on the reasonable end of the pricing spectrum. I’ve seen them go elsewhere for £10+ or have extortionate p&p (Shannon charges a very fair £1.50). I’ve pretty much finished with my Christmas shopping now but I am kind of wishing I had held back a little bit as I know I’m going to want to buy any new designs from the shop as soon as they arrive. This could work to my advantage though, surely if I don’t need to buy anything else for anyone else I can justify a gift or two for me?

Have you caught on to the pin craze? What designs would you like to see next from Clorty Cat Crafts?

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Etsy Obsession- Ladybird Likes

My blog reading obsession led me to my latest Etsy Obsession feature. I first discovered Ladybird Likes well over a year ago and have been stalking the website and instagram page ever since. It’s one of those shops that sells something to suit all tastes, from the quirky to the motivational…personally I’m rather a fan of it all, but especially all the cats!

(all price and product details available by hovering over image)

Ladybird likes is created and run by the super-duper talented Zoe, who you can read all about right here. I’d love to spend a day inside her brain just to experience how she thinks up such creations. Her range of greetings cards with badges are genius- I love the Breaking Bad one almost…well, almost as much as I love Breaking Bad.
To see everything that Zoe has created take a gander at the Ladybird Likes Etsy Shop and don’t forget to leave me a comment letting me know which piece(s) are your favourite!

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Etsy Obsession: PrintKitchen

I love how so many of my blogger friends are also talented crafts-people. It means guilt free shopping in my eyes, I mean it’d be so rude not to support a pal from time to time right? I might not be in a position to shop at the moment but that hasn’t stopped me compiling a big old wish list for when I can. Right now the target of my obsession is the lovely Karys’ shop on Etsy- PrintKitchen
I love the look of all the prints by Karys, there is something about the style that is so endearing. My favourite has to be the little grey cat (hover over the images for price details) although as she also does custom work I may well be requesting one of Mae in the future!
I asked Karys for a bit of information about herself to give you a better picture, here’s what she said:
I graduated two years ago from university with a degree in Fine Art where I specialised in print and illustration.
I now work as a Print Technician for a University College beside the sea which is great fun – I get to aid students with their projects and set up exhibitions along with experimenting with new techniques and materials whilst maintaining the facilities.  
I am enjoying being creative again after working an office job following graduation before getting involved within the art sector again. So I decided to set up an Etsy shop with some of my prints to help me maintain my creative passion outside of work.
I always make homemade gifts for friends and family (including hand making the wrapping paper!) I enjoy being crafty so much I thought I would expand and start selling my creations!
I mainly use the medium of Screenprint which gives a great bold design however I hand draw my stencils to give them a more illustrative aesthetic. Recently I have been experimenting more with linocut and watercolour, and I hope to keep adding to my shop frequently.
As it’s a bit of fun for me I have priced my prints very affordably with free UK postage and have only made a maximum of 2 to 5 of each design, so they really are a bit unique! 
I am also keen to work on some commissions and make custom artworks so feel free to contact me through etsy if you have any requests!
Let me know if you have an Etsy shop I should check out, and which of Karys’ prints is your favourite.
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Etsy Obsession: Coco & Bloom

Etsy has long since been one of my internet obsessions. Back in the day I was crafting mad (although not especially talented at any one area) and used to spend hours on Etsy searching for inspiration. These days I browse the site for things to buy, having pretty much given up on making anything of worth to anyone. Recently I’ve come across Coco & Bloom who make the most beautiful notebooks; they also score bonus points for being made exceptionally local to me.
Lavender Hills CollectionLove Blooms CollectionTempting Fate Collection
I’ve let Jai introduce her shop in her own words as no body can sum up hand made goods better than the maker can they?
Coco & Bloom is a fabulous book boutique created by Jai Taylor from Bristol, England.  As a qualified Journalist she loves to write but, her biggest love is being creative. She was always running out of notebooks and struggled to find a beautiful notebook or journal to inspire her creative jottings. So, she let her creativity take over and hence Coco & Bloom was born. She calls herself ‘the Book Artist’ and loves the freedom of creating the most beautiful books that inspire you to write. Stunning florals and deep Turquoise is among some of her favourite patterns to use and she loves using the luxury of satin ribbon tied in a beautiful bow. A gift for yourself or a friend – Coco & Bloom Handmade Books will always be the perfect present.  Prices start at just £3.95 for a Mini Book. See her and her fabulous designer books at her next event at Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare on the 19th and 20th of April 2014.  You can also visit her beautiful book boutique at www.cocoandbloom.etsy.com
I’m a massive fan of cute and quirky stationary and I have several of Jai’s books on my wish list. I’m also hoping to pop along to her next event on the 20th of April to say hello and make some purchases.
Fellow etsy fans, got any sellers to share? If you’re a seller yourself send me links!