Gifts for a Woodsy Wino

As you probably guessed from last week's 366 photos, Andy's Aunt Ruth bought a new vacation home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

Lucky her! (And us, huh?) While she's embracing the log cabin theme with gusto, we couldn't resist getting her some fancy wine stuff to help her remember her roots!

I ordered some woodburned wine charms cut from a fallen spruce tree branch from Etsy seller, The Hickory Tree. I asked her to attach some silver rings for me to insert the charm loop. Then I picked up some earth-toned beads at Caravan Beads for embellishment. Each family member and a few of AR's "Wine Diva" friends received a charm.

My sister-in-law, April, looooves the bling, so her charm had some fancy crystals instead.

I packaged all of the charms in a sturdy gift box from Paper Source that could be left out on a counter for easy access.

That went into a box with an electric wine opener, a bottle of a family favorite wine for special occasions, and other accoutrement that are fun must-haves for any wine-lover on vacation. 

Catching Up: 2009 Christmas Cards, Part 2

After I blew my entire 2009 Christmas Card Cash and Time Budget on my Regretsy Illustrations, I was kind of forced to send out our Christmas Cards with the illustrations of strangers. Also, by this time, Paper Source had sold out of all of the stock that  I needed.

So I ended up with blue Christmas cards containing a cartoon drawing of a man that kind of looks Andy and some hag in a stupid sweater:

All of my Facebook friends knew the deal, but you know that the other 75 people on our Christmas card list were probably thinking "WTF?"

Note to any Chicago girls that might be interested in twine for their Christmas invites, it's not to be found anywhere but Paper Source within the immediate downtown area. Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma will act like you asked them if they sold buzz saws if you call to ask for it. P.O.S.H. sells blue baker's twine.

Catching Up: 2009 Christmas Card FAIL, Part 1

Glancing through the photos on my iPhone reminded me of all of the things that I haven't blogged about in the last 10 months...like last year's Christmas cards.

I've had several Regretsies over the last two years, but I've never blogged about them for the following reasons:

• I know that I have to credit the artist if I include an image, which means that they may stumble upon it through Google Alerts.
• Most Etsy stuff is someone's art and passion, so criticisms might sting a bit.

The Etsy fails that I've had are absolutely hilarious. I so, so, so wish that I could show you the pumpkin cake topper for which someone wanted to charge me $75.00. I knew that my coworker had opened the photo of it when I heard her incredibly audible gasp from two cubes away. (I recently checked the shop and the monstrosity sold. I'd hate to see that wedding.)

Our 2009 Christmas cards were an etsy saga and a half. I submitted an Alchemy request for an illustration of us in Christmas finery toasting with Moose mugs. Oh my. Let's just say that my friends waited eagerly anticipated my daily updates as I fought with not one, but TWO Etsy artists. But this post is getting long, so I'll let the images do the talking.

I can't think of any politically correct intros to this first batch.

So, at this point, Artist #1 was fired. Sadly for me, with pay. I didn't have the Christmas balls to ask for my money back and she didn't offer it back.

Artist #2 was one of the Etsy Alchemy respondents that I had rejected. She gladly stepped up to the plate with only a few days to go. But I think that she was still ticked at me for rejecting her.

First, we were the Ghosts of Christmas Movies Past:

Then we were Precious Moments:

 

Then I aged 30 years in punishment:

 

And then she basically told me to go scratch by sending this image and wishing me a "Happy Holiday."

At this point, I had spent my entire Christmas card budget, so I had to use it. My biggest regret is not sending out an accordion fold card containing all of these images. To refresh your memory, this is what we look like:

 

{Source: Sarah Alair}

Photos of the final Christmas card product to follow. (I need to find them!)

Custom Wine Labels

My friends are planning a June wedding and are seriously considering Volo Restaurant and Wine Bar in Roscoe Village. I found etsy seller DUVAL INVITES while poking around for inspiration for my friend. Pretty cute designs, no?

{All images, Duvall Invites}

I also like this poster-inspired label from April Ink.

{Source}

Etsy Comes Quietly

Is posting etsy finds too 2008? If so, my blog is totally weak. Ain't no denying it.

I'm looking for cheap-but-nice art for the bedroom of our love nest, so I searched for "love letterpress*" on the good 'ole Big E and stumbled upon these pretty poem prints from larkpress.

{Images: Here}

*Are you going to make fun of me for admitting that I etsied** "love letterpress?"
**"Etsied" is the new "googled." I'm calling it.

Damn.

Do I wish that I had never seen these.

{Source: etsy seller Raquel Castillo} via A Glimpse of the Girl Next Door

If When I meet my weight-loss goal, I am buying myself one as a reward. They're killin' me.

Card Collages

Etsy seller Kangarola creates card collages from your old greeting cards. What a cute wedding, shower, or Mother's Day gift for your more sentimental pals. It would make charming Christmas art too. 

{Images: Kangarola}

I threw all of our "keep" cards in a Kolo photo box that I'll probably be too lazy to open. How about you?

Modern Ink Studio

Etsy seller Modern Ink Studio offers full-service paper suites from Save the Dates - Escort Cards, digital files, and printed pieces. I love the clean look of her designs.

{Sources: Invite - Modern Ink Studio, Dresses - J. Crew, Cake: The Knot}

{Sources: Invite - Modern Ink Studio, Dresses - J. Crew, Candeholders - CB2, Cake: The Knot, Shoes: In This Instance}

Moving Announcements - Etsy

I'm still dragging a*s on our moving announcements. None of my own designs are blowing my hair back and none of the pro ones are screaming "Send Me!" Here's what I found on Etsy! Etsy! Etsy! (Incidentally, two of these are similar to ideas floating in my uninspired little mind.)

 

{Etsy Shop:  sweet perversion}

 

{Etsy Shop: shredlines}

 

 {Etsy Shop: annacote}

{Etsy Shop: westwillow}

 

{Etsy Shop: juniperberry}

 

{Etsy Shop: socialcircles}

 

{Etsy Shop:  paperpastries}

 

{Etsy Shop: Squeedles}

mady by hank

I don't know where I stumbled upon the kate henry likes to sew blog, but I totally dig her work. I think that her made by hank clutches would make great bridesmaid or hostess gifts. They sell out fast, so I'd keep an eye on her shop if you're interested. Her new items are usually gone by the time I see the blog post that they went up.

 All Images: madebyhank.etsy.com