Gift Guide: Handmade Christmas

I can't fully disclose what I'm making for Christmas just in case any of my family members ventures to the magical bloggy home but here are some of my favourite giftable crafts.

My littlest sister would love this Fox Stole from Tiny Owl Knits.

Pretty wee dishes for pretty girls?

Wire wrapped rings with magical pretty beads

MITTENS!! Everyone wants homemade mittens!

Most of my siblings and I were born in Chicago and maybe a mirror city tray would be nice.

Gift Guide: Stockings Stuffed

1. Horseshoe Hook, $18 2. Sapphire and Floral Post Earrings, $88 3. State Necklace, $42 4. Record CD labels, $9 5. Birds on Wire Paperclips, $14 6. Tim Burton Playing Cards, $5 7. Horsehead Bottle Opener, $15.95 8. Tape Measure, $10 9. Field Notebooks, $7 10. Fauxbois iPod Case, $25 11. Birdie Napkin Rings, $12 12. Pins, $12 13. Fridge Grocery List, $9

Gift Guide: Sisters and Friends

I have three sisters and some super rad friends. They are stylish, glamorous girls with fantabulous taste. Here are a few things I'd love to get them.

The baby sister is now 15 and stylish as hell (despite her desire for 'an ironic panther tattoo'). I feel like she super dee duper needs this Fox Jumper but don't get your hopes up, Bean, it's £125.

I love all of the paintings in this shop and there are prints as low as $15. This one especially seems perfect for the older of my twin sister.

Doesn't everyone want a gold initial bag? Seriously. Only £12.00
The second twin is madly in love with all things robot related. She also drinks a fair amount of tea and, if Mod Cloth would just restock the Robot Tea infuser, she would be the happiest bunny around for only $14.99

I think perhaps my Durham friend who's boyfriend has been on a mission to convince her that comic books are cool could be persuaded by this graphic novel by Lucy Knisley.

I'm one of the sisters, right? I would like these lurvely earrings please. $15.99

Gift Guide: Dudes

I find boys/men exceptionally difficult to shop for. My best friend Mary? Find something shiny! My sisters? They have hobbies with accouterment and also: Forever 21! My mom? Anything related to a horse! My dad, my brother and my husband have no hobbies (drinking? reading? are those hobbies?) and have very expensive tastes in clothing and booze. It doesn't help that my brother is much much cooler than I am and my father is way into yoga at the moment (and I'm boycotting LuluLemon and don't exercise) and my husband really just wants a puppy (and guess who's NOT getting a puppy?) so here are some hobbled together ideas:

All three of the groovy dudes on my shopping list are well dressed and generally down for luggage. Maybe everyone would like $13.95 Gentleman's Travel Shoe Bag and my dad and brother could come visit me?
After my wedding we finally had professional photos of me and my sisters (after 25 years of my parents talking about it) so I framed a picture for my dad of the four of us last year.

I no longer attempt to find music my brother hasn't heard of. Magic Kids is mega groovy though. If you want to be the best sister ever - give my brother's band's CD

I'm all over knitting scarfs this year. Cast on an even number, knit 2, purl 2. Repeat ad nauseum while watching endless hours of telly. Eventually you can say "Here Dad, I handcrafted this for you!" Now aren't you a good daughter!

My dad isn't really a knit tie type (and neither is David, I have been informed) but my brother is mega stylish and this pattern from Lion Brand knits up in like two hours and requires very little wool so you can get some super lovely cashmere.

David grew up in Maryland and would like to fly the Maryland Flag outside our NC house. He knows the Maryland State Anthem and was required to take 13 years of Maryland history at his super weird school. So a vintage map of Maryland seems like just thing.