The professional shoppers guide to hand crafted, artisan gifts

This season has been CRAZY! But in a good way. I have been invited to do several shows with other women artists which 1) makes me feel special that they asked me and 2) gives me an opportunity to scope out their goods. Because most of you lovely people do not have the time or even the desire to go to every artisan show in Seattle, I have done the work for you and have compiled what I have seen so far to be the best of the best in Seattle artisan, hand crafted goods. All these businesses have 3 things in common. They are women owned. The work is solid, unique, and often gorgeous. And I like them. It was a very scientific approach I took to compile this list for you! Men, I must stress that a gift from any of these artists would most likely be a hit and have you looking like a super star to your lady and all her friends. Because we all know that it is just as important to impress your girl's friends as it is to impress her. We will tell you that that is not true. We will deny that fact until the day is done. But when it comes down to it, it is fact. I can't change basic psychology....but I can help you win in the war against bad gift giving!

#1 Abaloria Jewelry - I met Brandy at the Urban Unveiled Wedding Event. Her booth was right next to me and we instantly fell in love. Her jewelry is GORGEOUS! She has closed down her custom part of her business which means that she will have more time to devote to what she does best ..... creating unique, eye catching pieces that have the WOW factor that every woman craves. It was hard for me not to spend my eldest daughter's college tuition and buy all her stuff. I did, however, buy a pair of awesome earrings (above picture) from her and I have a necklace picked out, copy and pasted to my husband's email. You MUST check her out! http://www.abaloria.com/.

#2 Deanna Dibene - Her hats are to die for. In fact Brandy saw mine and said, "Give that to me right now or die!" Okay, Brandy is really sweet and would never say that to me, but I know she was thinking it. I met Deanna at the Central Chic Boutique. Her workwomanship is almost perfection and all her patterns are fun classics with that extra flare to make it stand out just enough. She has leather wrist bands that I wasn't sure about at first, but wore around a bit and decided that I love the look. I got several for random girls and women in my life. She also has sweet make up bags. You can see how sassy my special hat makes me feel in the above picture! http://www.deannadibene.com/ My hat is a brand new pattern, so if that's what you are looking for, contact her and tell her you want my hat. She will know what you are talking about.

#3 Glass Elements - I felt like I was cheating on Brandy at first when I fell in love with Marja's work. Then I realized that their styles are completely different. Glass Elements hand blows colored glass and then casts them in silver in unique and beautiful ways. You can go bold or you can go subtle. I met her at the West Seattle Art Walk. When I tried my necklace on, it was obvious to both of us that it was made for me and coming home with me. (necklace is also pictured above) While I was calculating my budget in my head, her husband picked up on of my shaving kits and was very excited about my products when it became clear to both of us....trade! Sometimes, I just love my job! She sells her work on Etsy and has a huge following, including me! www.etsy.com/shop/glasselements

#4 True Love Truffles - I know it may seem that I am being bias when I say that Lisa's truffles are hands down the best truffles....EVER! Our daughters are BFF's and we live down the street from each other and I heart her and her family. BUT......I am also very greedy with my money and I won't spend it on just any ole chocolate and I am buying about a dozen boxes from her by the time this season is over. Her truffles are hand rolled and are the oooie goooie kind that need to be kept chilled. You don't find many truffles like her's out there because the logistics of delivering and selling can be a bit tricky. Also, they take a lot of skill to create. But she does it all and they are so worth it. My faves right now are the maple bacon and the coconut curry. My mouth is just watering thinking about it. I bought 5 boxes for a get together that got postphoned and I had to ask her to keep them in her house because I knew I would eat them.....ALL! http://www.truetruffles.com/

#5 Blackett Body Basics - need I say more? http://www.blackettbodybasics.com/ of course I have great gift sets!

I hope that maybe these suggestions give you some fresh ideas on the gift giving list. I love that all my new found treasures are one of the kind pieces that won't be found anywhere else and created by beautiful, lovely, and kind souls!

Tis the season

The holiday season is upon us! For me, it begins with Thanksgiving. Call me old skool, but I think eggnog lattes, Christmas decorations, and Christmas music should be against the law until the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday is what is the mark of the start of the Christmas season for some. I have never been shopping on Black Friday. And I rarely go to the malls to shop for Christmas presents. One year, I think I did go because all my friends and family had about all the candles they could handle (I have been making candles a long time) and my sewing projects did not go very well (I don't know how to sew). Needless to say, I have never returned to the mad house called the mall during the holiday shopping season. CRAZINESS is what I will call that frenzy. Whew!
This year, though, I did sort of participate in Black Friday. I had my own and I called it Blackett Friday. And it was awesome! I didn't have any crazy sale. I didn't have any specials. But I did have coffee and souffle for breakfast and soup and hotspiced wine that rest of the day. I opened my doors at 7am and closed them at 10pm. I invited people into my home to chat, to shop, to eat, and to share ideas. It was a steady trickle of my people all day long up until the very end. The best part was it was so low key. I put on my "good" sweats and hung out in my house with my kids all day long. And people just came to me. Call me crazy or maybe a bit self centered, but I think Blackett Friday is going to catch on! Just you watch. People will be lining up at my door at 5 am, smooshing their faces to my door, chanting "Open. Open. Open." just like the girl in the old Marshall's commercials (I miss those). I will have to have tents up in the front of my house and give out numbers to enter. Yep, I think it will catch on.
But until next year, when Blackett Friday will be another mad house, you can just come by and relax.
One of my dear friends and adopted bachelors (every family has a few I think. I could be wrong. That has been known to happen on occassion), Peter, suggested I have an open house on Christmas Eve....just a short one.....and call it, "Did you forget your mother?" I think I may have to go with that idea. Better come by this year, because you know, as this world totally revolves around me and what I want, next year will be CRAZY!

Getting a foot massage

For the past 3 days, I have been subbing at the gym like crazy and have taught 6 spin classes, 1 ab lab, one boot camp style class, and one strength class. Now, that would not be much for some of the other instructors out there, but I am Laura B. and I am a mommy with little to no time for fitness. I can squash it for one class with the best of em. Even 2 classes are not that big of a deal. But finally, the past 3 days have taken a toll on my poor body and especially my planter fascijackedup foot. My Selah, being the sweetie that she is, saw her poor mommy laying on the bed, on my tummy, spread eagle and not moving. She got one of my lotion bars and proceeded to give me a foot rub. Sweet baby! I kept smelling something divine and it took me a moment to realize it was my arms. I had used a salt scrub on my body in the bath and could smell the Blackett Patchouli on my arms. I then thought to myself....people really need to give patchouli a chance. When it is mixed with vanilla, amber, and other secret scents, it really is a nice, light, and warm fragrance. BabyFara then decided that she needed to jump on me, thus abruplty ending my quiet moment of reflection and my foot rub. I then comforted myself with a vanilla lemondrop and the sweet, sweet place of sleepy time land. But before I fell asleep, I thought about how thankful I am that I really am quite proud of my products, that I like using them, and that they still bring me joy in the craziness of moments. I like having good smelling arms!