2015 Martha's Circle Holiday Gift Guide

Check out the Martha's Circle 2015 Holiday Gift Guide, which includes some Gifts for Crafters picked by yours truly.

There are great gift ideas in every category, but I especially like some of the Family Stocking Stuffer picks.

Scoomer Giveaway (CLOSED)

If the etsy shop, Scoomer, doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will.  The owner, "Scoomer" (a nickname since childhood), created her shop from her love of felt and making accessories for her daughter.  Hmm ... she sounds like a kindred spirit!

Scoomer currently sells headbands, hair clips, and the most adorable felt brooches you'll ever see. Each item is completely handmade, and is created in her home studio with occasional help from her husband.  I wonder what her secret is ... how do you convert husbands to crafting?

My favorite item in the Scoomer shop is definitely the pinwheel bobby pins.  Ruby might need a set in her Christmas stocking.  And I might need to borrow them until she has sufficient hair growth to wear them.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for entering!

What's your favorite item in Scoomer's shop?  Check it out and then leave a comment on this post by November 26th, and you could get exactly what you wish for.  Scoomer is offering a lucky winner their choice of any item from the shop!


The winner will be randomly selected and announced on November 29th.  This giveaway is available to U.S. and international readers (yay!).


I hope you know the rules by now:

1. There is only one entry per person.  If you accidentally enter more than once, please delete your duplicate comment(s). 
2. Make sure I have a way to contact you!  Either your profile must link back to a public blog, or you must leave me an email address.  Anonymous comments (with no contact information) will be deleted.

I plan to eat copious amounts of sweet potatoes and a variety of pumpkin desserts today.  How about  you?  Happy Thanksgiving!

little alouette winners

 Congratulations to Jessica and DallasJenn!  I hope you love your handle rattle teethers.

Thanks, Little Alouette, for the great giveaway!

Little Alouette (GIVEAWAY CLOSED)

There is nothing quite as beautiful as a handmade wooden toy ... which means I'm very excited about this giveaway.

There are several reasons I am drawn to Little Alouette.
1) The husband and wife duo, Amy and Joe, are too cute - I loved reading their interview as an Etsy featured seller.   They have a really cute new little baby, Scout, and I am a total sucker for babies.

2) From the limited contact I've had with Amy, I can tell you that her emails are kind of sun-shiny.  So when they say that each product is infused with love and bliss, I believe them.

3) Most of all ... the products speak for themselves (swoon):

So, onto the giveaway ...

Two lucky readers will win a Handle Rattle Teether:

These rattles are the real deal.  They are heirloom quality, satin smooth, and sure to sooth sore, itchy gums.  I love the modern design.  Each 5 inch rattle teether is filled with beans for that Little Alouette sweet shake shake, and finished with certified organic seed oil.

If you'd like to win, browse the lovely Little Alouette shop and leave a comment, telling me what your favorite product is.

This giveaway is open until Friday at midnight.
One entry per person.
Anonymous comments will be ignored.
Please leave me a way to contact you! :)

Just Bunch Designs giveaway winner

Congratulations, Tiff - your comment was selected as the Just Bunch Designs giveaway winner, and you will receive three prints of your choice from the Just Bunch etsy shop.  I'll be in touch!

Stephanie is also offering Homemade by Jill readers a 15% discount on all orders for the next two weeks, using the code JILL15.   Happy Shopping!

Etsy favorites - kids and babies

My mom flew home to St. Louis this morning, and I drove away from the airport feeling pretty sick.  But, my tears have dried, and I managed to get both kids up to the apartment from the parking lot all by myself.  Oscar is sleeping and I can type one-handed holding the babe.  I keep reminding myself that people have been successfully parenting multiple children for thousands of years. I just might survive this after all! 

I have some craftiness in the works, but it is not quite ready to share.  In the meantime, can I share some of my very favorite etsy shops with you? They are each overflowing with handmade goodness. And since I have personal experience with each shop (either through a purchase or from receiving a gift), I feel confident in giving them each my whole-hearted recommendation.

First up, Ummashin's Goodies - I was first introduced to this shop a little over a year ago.  Hannah makes the most beautiful crocheted hats, headbands, shoes and accessories.  Oscar had the blue and brown brim beanie, and I swear - we could not walk 10 feet down the streets of New York without someone asking us about it. 

Hannah was nice enough to send me some hats and a headband for Ruby when I found out we were having a girl (that's Ruby sporting the headband, which she looks delicious in).  I've since picked up a few extra girly items and have a mighty wish list building.

I am admittedly biased with my sister-in-law's shop, Komfort Kids - but she makes really beautiful blankets.  They are soft flannel on one side and satin on the other, with a coordinating satin border.  I especially love the vintage flannels, like the Moon Walk.

These blankets are so addictive ... I have nieces and nephews approaching 10 years old who still can't part with their blankies.

I started buying from Little Sapling Toys when Oscar was a baby.  He loves his wooden stacker and still plays with it.  My favorites are the wooden teethers, which come in just about every shape imaginable, including your home state.  I really want to get the lacing toy for a nice, quiet church activity.

I shop at Clickity Clack specifically for their assorted wooden cars.  Oscar LOVES them, and you can't beat the price.

Ok, just one more ... I have recently become a huge fan of the headbands in the baby and girls sections of Allora Handmade.  I bought two for Ruby and they are beyond precious.

Have I caused significant damage to your pocketbook yet?  Happy shopping!  :)

I have crafty friends

Isn't this headband pretty?  My friend Heidi made it for me (I love having crafty friends).  She recently stared a craft blog called Made by Heidi and has lots of fun projects posted, including how to make these awesome zipper rosettes.  Or you can buy one from her etsy shop!

I'm going to post about some of my other favorite esty shops later this week ... hope you don't mind.  There won't be giveaways or anything like that, I'm just spreading the love.

Speaking of love ...