earrings! a sampler

moonrox's blast earrings in crystal quartz and shell

it's late, so here are a tiny sampling of delicious earrings i've been hoarding for just such an occasion -- each is linked to its respective store. enjoy!

invitapaperstudio: thank you cards

thank you! very much. folded set of 6 cards

seriously. thank you! these sweet cards are hand printed both inside and out, with lovely matching envelopes, and can be purchased in multiples. lots of lovely choices! more at invitapaperstudio.etsy.com

ah yes. where was i?

hello friends -- am back! after many travels. hope all of you u.s. readers enjoyed your thanksgiving holidays -- i headed straight for my sister's, now that she is respectably married, and "helped" in the kitchen. by staying out of it, that is. she made pies from scratch. mmm.

and, since she's not a reader, i can tell you all i managed to scrape up enough to get the artisan stand mixer i wanted to get them for the wedding but couldn't swing at the time. hooray! wrapped for xmas and in her guest-bedroom even now. yuppie registries, unite! here's to many more delicious thanksgivings to come.

i could tell a number of heart-warming holiday tales -- interventions, 4 a.m. mall outings, etc. -- but will skip it and head for the goods, which is why you're here. right!

my sincerest thanks for everyone's well-wishes and patience while i took time off. here's my sister in her element:

gamiworks: chiyogami coasters

branching out: chiyogami and glass coasters

here's a lovely housewarming or shower gift -- beautiful, feminine- without-being-frou-frou chiyogami paper and glass coasters, which could also double as ashtrays were your hostess so inclined.

gamiworks makes a fantastic range of equally lovely giftables:


more at gamiworks.etsy.com

with thanks

hello etsy wedding fans -- a little note to first of all thank *all* of you for reading and for supporting all the amazing indie designers and crafters on etsy --

and second, to let you know i'll be taking a bit of time off over the next week or two. my boyfriend and i have just called it off after two turbulent but great years, mostly long-distance after i had to move for my job. and while i'm certainly not down on love or angry -- we still love each other very much -- i plan on taking a break from weddings for a bit.

i started this blog by accident. partly because my sister was getting married and i couldn't believe how much bad wedding crap was in the world (!), and partly because i was so inspired by what etsy folks had to offer and saw a connection to be made -- i *love* highlighting the community and trying to spread the word --

but i have continued it, to my surprise, because i like the sense of hope and love and promise, and the thought of so many people embarking on brilliant new adventures together. joy can be addictive that way.

here's one more post for now. i'll be back.

bombalurina+enso: jewels

perfect storm earrings: kyanite and sterling

bombalurina is my first of a series of jewelry highlights, not just because she makes *gorgeous* things -- she's also a two-for-one, with complementary etsy stores divided into "more is more" and "less is more" aesthetics.

bombalurina features funky, colorful, often ornate costume jewels with sass. those pictured below are some of the more conservative pieces:



her "modernist alter ego" store enso is stripped-down simplicity, slightly more luxe, still with an eye for color:



more at bombalurina.etsy.com and enso.etsy.com

foundling: poppy pins

recycled silky poppy pin in ivory

wow. i *love* this shop! came across foundling while looking at vendors for the handmade market in raleigh (took place today), which i applied to but didn't get in (no sour grapes!) -- everyone's stuff is so inspiring!

betsy of foundling makes treasures from vintage + repurposed/recycled materials, a pastime very close to my heart -- the poppy pins above come in a glorious range of colors (love the idea of a red one on the big white dress, or red bobby pin poppies in the hair). (or one at the waist to jazz up plain bridesmaid dresses.) plus there's beautiful delicate resin jewelry using vintage papers and maps. so, so lovely. le sigh. wish i could have seen them in person today!

more at foundling.etsy.com or check out thefoundling.com

myhodgepodgerie: tissue cover

my favorite sneezies pocket kleenex case

here's a little thing, but so sweet: fill with a pocket pack of tissues and give to a mum or mum-in-law (or overbearing bridesmaidzilla sister who sniffles through your entire wedding video) (...er, sorry, april!) for the ceremony. a sneezies. even the name is adorable. i know, i've gone soft.

more overwhelming cuteness at myhodgepodgerie.etsy.com