Tuesday, November 17, 2009


All That Shopping

It is a commonplace feeling, I suppose. Still, last week, when I mentioned “Christmas” to the shopkeeper who sells Edward’s favourite carrot cake biscuits, his reaction was a bit of a surprise. Always ready with a smile in any sort of weather, he now clouded over, his expression falling somewhere in the range of gloomy to grumpy as he muttered something unintelligible about “nieces, and nephews and all that shopping”. He was relatively easy to tease back into giggles, especially when I brought up the name Scrooge, but I thought as I left what a shame it is that so many people view the holiday season as nothing less than a chore.
I must confess, despite the wonderful opportunity for people watching that they provide, I rarely enter shopping malls. I much prefer those tiny shops with creaky wooden floors, those intriguing haunts with wavy glass windows that look out onto crooked little streets, those cubbyholes with wonders not to be found in the mammoth halls of department stores. And to be truthful, I make most of my Christmas gifts, and even the boxes they are placed inside. I love doing so.
But today, for Edward’s biscuit selling friend who has all those nieces and nephews to think about, I thought I might put together a wee list of finds... just a few of the items that have recently captured my eye. They are mostly from some of those tiny shops, down a few of those crooked pathways....in the land of the internet.
So Edward’s friend can shop in his pajamas.
And, so can we all!!
********************

First of all, the marvelous painting of the Christmas shopping bears above is from a set of Christmas cards by Amber Alexander. You can find them, along with many more wonders in her Etsy shoppe
HERE.

Next, is this just the cutest little hat you have ever seen?? I would have worn this everywhere I went when I was little.
You can find this charmer in an Etsy shoppe called
Swirly Hats.


Etsy is the most fabulous resource for the unique and the handmade.
Just take a look at these
felted slippers...


Or
these magical little creations...


Isn't this
Owl Mobile just the cutest thing ever?


Or this
Owl Pocket Watch


....a perfect fantasy of a skirt from
Anthropologie kids...


Or these from the amazing new
Stella McCartney line for boys and girls from The Gap.
I'm crazy about these, wish they came in my size!




Or, this toadstool ottoman from
Anthropologie!
The perfect accessory for a child's room, don't you think??




And, just look at these adorable dog ornaments!!!
This artist makes these in a variety of dog breeds.
She even creates custom ones!
Can't you just visualize Edward on the Christmas tree!!!?
Visit her shop
HERE.




And if you wish to place on of these treasures in an especially wondrous box......
you might like to visit
Edward's own Etsy shoppe!

This was so much fun, we might just do it again next week!
Perhaps a list of my new favourite gift books!

41 comments:

  1. Thanks, Pam and Edward! ;)
    Those little dog ornaments are adorable!

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  2. WONDERFUL! Yes, again next week please!!
    p.s. Hi Edward

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  3. O...thank you thank you...now the Owl pocketwatch is on my wishlist...Strangely my husband finds it very difficult to find presents for me..not counting the very cute pigglet he gave me a few weeks ago:)Now his problem is solved...I love shopping for christmas...like you in all the old curiosity shops..have fun Dear

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  4. Oh, now for my special Christmas treat I would like the carrot cake biscuits!

    Necky Becky loves the swirly hat!

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  5. I want a granddaughter even more now, to slip that hat onto.

    May I be so bold as to show you my daughter's sweet etsy felt ornaments? She's excited to be at the Astoria Winter Blast in December:

    http://astoriaevents.blogspot.com/2009/11/handmade-designers-and-artists-of_16.html

    I'm sorry if this is inappropriate!

    Ha - word verification: costsnut

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  6. You really could change a scrooge's heart.
    Love your picks!
    pve

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  7. OH MY! Your boxes are really incredible! So beautiful! I added some of these links to my ETSY favorites list. I hope you do this again soon! It's like window shopping! I love it!

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  8. Thanks Pamela! I think that the unique shops are the best and the most fun! I try not to set foot in the mall during the holidays, and it is so much more relaxing that way! Great inspiration.

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  9. I can't even imagine all of the cool stuff that can be found on Etsy! Very good of you to shop for us. I wish that I knew someone to buy that elfin hat for . . . precious.

    p.s. I love Christmas shopping, too. I start thinking about it in the summer. What I hate are all of the January birthdays in our family.

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  10. Somehow those felted slippers seem just the thing for feeding the outdoor cat my neighbor left behind years ago.

    Glad you did this Etsy post, I've been negligent and never visited.

    Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

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  11. What a thoughtful gesture, Pamela.

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  12. You had me at felted slippers.... then, quickly lost me the second that I saw the owl pocket watch. I instantly thought of a very dear friend of mine and quickly clicked to purchase. THANK YOU for showing me something that I was able to purchase that will no doubt mean very much to a loved one. I'm a GEEK for the holiday season!! I love everything about this time of year, and hope for it to go by as slowly as possible. I'm like you in that I love to shop tiny obscure places and find little gifts that will capture the receivers heart. Thanks again!

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  13. I adore this and you, as you know - well deserved, sweetie.

    As for "some of those tiny shops, down a few of those crooked pathways....in the land of the internet" marvelous.

    And what does Pamela want as holiday gift? ;) I might have a word with a certain bearded fellah. No, not him, Frank - my imaginary procurer of all gifts strange and fun.

    On a side note, I came across a fan of the Songwriter and thought "What a small world? I am sort of acquainted with his girl (whom I have never met), she writes beautifully".

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  14. Oh Pamela! How lovely they all are! That little hat, those cute little slippers, the skirt from Anthropologie, and of course, the toadstool are must haves. Thank you for finding these little treasures. I'm getting them for my little angel who will love them just as much as I.
    Yes, please make a list of your favorite books. And one of your little treasure boxes for me, to keep all my darling little treasures.

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  15. You rock my world! I love, love, love this list. That Stella McCartney jacket is showing up everywhere I go, and I adore the swirly hat and, really, your whole list. Please do it again next week!!! I'm with you about the funky little shops with the creaky floors, by the way. I avoid the mall completely this time of year! xoxo

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  16. This is all so adorable, but no little child near right now...those little elf sock slippers are so cute and that hat!
    I am going to see on Etsy what I can find!
    Thank you for your kind words on my blog, I am so thrilled to have found yours! Such treasure, last night I spend a good part of an hour to read back to your beginnings last year....

    Dearest: Being tagged: Please link back to my blog, once you have come up with 10(!) things about you and find (7) new people to tag...have fun, I hope it's not a chore...

    XX
    Victoria

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  17. Wonderful! It's all wonderful!

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  18. I love that illustration, just great...lil bears!
    Leslie

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  19. What amazing finds, Pamela. I love them all and will be checking out all of the Etsy shops. I love Christmas...I love buying the presents, wrapping them, always have to have a real Christmas tree, mistletoe ...oh I could go on and on.
    Enjoy your preparations as I know you will. XXXX

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  20. oh no!!!!!
    that military jacket is for kids ?

    i want one, i need one. i would love it with jeans and red sneaks.

    xx

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  21. I am in complete agreement about the MALL-just the sounds sends me running- and I pride myself in saying- it has been years( at least 4 since that tragedy!) love etsy for the handmade- off to shop a bit(felted slippers too much!)la

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  22. Love the picture at the top! I am just the same, I prefer little unusual shops too. I love the owls! suzie. xxx

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  23. I wish you were here to write my Christmas list for me Pamela! BTW I love Edward's best friend.

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  24. Hi Pamela-


    All of your blog posts are magical and fantastic now...going into this season.
    Lots of magic.

    I hope you will hop over to The Style Saloniste today--as a dog lover you will adore the post on a dog portraitist...
    cheers, www.thestylesaloniste.com

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  25. Oh Pamela! I don't think there is a single item here that I didn't instantly covet...

    And I agree wholeheartedly with you about the little shoppe's (love that!) and hand~making your gifts. I don't have nearly as much time as I'd like for making, tho. But I do what I can.

    Thanks for such an inspiring post!

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  26. wow..I had no idea of all that you can find on Etsy..

    There are truly some crafty and talented people out there. I love the items you featured. The sergeant
    pepper jacket I'd like in my size.. thanks

    All my best,
    Elizabeth

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  27. Your finds are wonderful but, my favorite is the little dog ornaments.
    Too cute! Edward would be adorable
    for sure. Thank you.

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  28. Such amazing finds!
    Love to go shopping in out of the way places too.
    I'm knitting most of my gifts this year. Gives me a little freedom from too much screen time.
    ~ Elise

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  29. Wonderful as always and please Santa send me a swirly hat and those deletable socks...

    I am always saddened to see people rushing about with scowls on their faces doing either their food of gift shopping for Christmas.

    Christmas is about joy and well chosen gift giving and happy smiles all around.

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  30. Splendid choices, Pamela and Edward! The fun you had shines through! Hope you will do it again next week. Oh, to be able to wear swirly hat! And your boxes are amazing. Etsy is so wonderful...I can easily get lost in the winding pathways there!

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  31. The internet will be my handy shopping place this year...plus my favourite little shops. I must start thinking now ......

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  32. wonderful delights, i adore the wee hat, so cute! I too love to shop in the small places, x

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  33. I hate shopping malls and try to do as much of my shopping in town to support local merchants. I find shopping a chore but worth it for the big smiles. Wrapping presents does get me in the holiday mood. I love your bear painting and that toadstool. Cute gift ideas.

    I love how you ended your previous post with just the right Shakespeare quote. Your blog captures the time of year so well. I feel so welcome here, like a guest to your cottage.

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  34. Hello P&E,

    You sound like MY kind of shopper - looking off the high street! You'll find me just round the corner. Pity we don't sell online!

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  35. What a lovely list Pamela. I would have died for that little skirt from Anthropologie when I was a child. I love the swirly hat too. She has so many lovely colours.

    You are right about Etsy. It is a virtual shoppers paradise and so much of it is very reasonably priced.

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  36. Pamela, I just wanted to thank you again for the inspiring ideas in this post. Just got back from Anthropologie where I purchased that sweetest skirt you featured, for my 3 year old daughter. It's absolutely lovely!

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  37. OMD!I am in LOVE with those ornaments!:)

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  38. What wonderful finds Pamela, many thanks for sharing all these wonderful ideas with us.
    I love them all.
    Christmas is so much fun and I think the build up and preparations are exciting.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  39. I had to show daughter the toadstool hat and fairy socks. She loved them all. I find it hard to find stuff on Etsy ...sorry let me rephrase that- I see so much I like on Etsy but not usually what I want to find when I'm looking for something in particular. Thanks for finding those gorgeous items. Son loves tiny owls.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!