November seems to be moving along much slower than the past ten months did. Which leads me to question why the rest of the year sped along, but now that it's getting chilly things are slowing down. Slowing way to far down to be honest. But that doesn't mean we have to stop going forward.
Winter will be here soon enough. So let's enjoy what time we have left and enjoy the chillier fall days we have left.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler : Pressure
AM Kidd : Somebody Special
Bonnie Mckee : Sensitive Subject Matter
Dana Glover : Thinking Over
Death Cab For Cutie : I Will Follow You into The Dark
So when we're out and about going to various events we have the pleasure of seeing all kinds of amazing acts. Musicians, artists, and actors. This is sometimes frustrating because when we see amazing shows we want to share with people we care about. This particular film is an example of this.
Clan Tynker is a family circus group and they have been performing at the Sterling Renaissance Festival now the past two seasons that I attended. While sometimes it's easy to keep your group together this year the part of the group I really thought would enjoy Clan Tynker, got distracted after lunch and missed the show.
So being a good aunt, I purchased this movie figuring they will enjoy it just as much. And while the kids have yet to watch it, I HAVE watched it more than once, and I find it very enjoyable.
Unlike the live show which has a much more circus like approach, The Dream Train is more steampunk. Not a bad thing at all, as it's also something we enjoy. And since the kids in my life LOVE trains more than most things, I know they're going to love this video.
There are a few moments where there are flashing images on the screen, and those didn't sit to well with me, but it's not the fault of the artists. I' just acknowledging it because I know other people have a sensitivity to it as well. The flashing images are infrequent though, they were just unexpected.
I HIGHLY recommend this video. It's creative, as well as inspires the imagination of the viewers. A great video to watch with your family.
Small shops are amazing options for locating unique gifts for your friends and family. They offer a variety of unique items that you won't find in stores, where mass produced items are the majority of offerings. Many small shops are ran in people's homes where they spend their time working on their crafts to create the pieces that they offer to the world at large. Many of these shops offer some meaningful gift options that may take the artist some time to create and match the demand. So you should keep this in mind when you think about ordering items to get them on time.
So today I want to share a few smaller business with you that I think you should consider looking at for collecting pieces for the holidays, and even birthdays that pop up yearly in your life. Please remember, since these shops make each item by hand, the earlier you order, the easier it is to be sure it will arrive in time for the holidays. Also, it's polite. Art takes time.
Fandom inspired gifts tend to be a hot commodity around the holidays. After all, nothing makes someone smile like a gift that clearly shows you've taken an interest in what they're interested in. Or at least have tried to. Violet Phoenix Designs creates everything from gorgeous fandom inspired aprons, to ties for any occasion. You might even be able to find a christmas stocking for that hard to shop for loved one.
Looking for a hard to find animal for a difficult child? The Yarn Ball Creations can help with that. Specializing in amigurumi, she has a menagerie of animals available. She can even create dolls to look like the people in your life. This means, not only is the gift personal, but it's destined to become a favorite.
Maybe you want something that's knit? How about a pair of thrums? They're warm, unique, and from the reactions they get desirable. They're also fashionable, and can be made in a variety of colors. I have an amazing pair made in a scrap colorway that's unique just for me. I call them my weasly mittens. Rieshaw Knits does most of her work by commission to you can always ask if there's something you're interested in having made as a unique gift for a loved one or yourself.
Have someone in your life that has a metal allergy? I know a number of us have people we love that can't wear rings that we can easily gain access to due to the mixed metal content. And let's be honest, silver and gold can get really expensive to purchase around the holidays. So why not look at this gorgeous wooden rings as an alternative?
I hope that you're feeling inspired. Because I know the closer the holidays get, the harder it is to find a meaningful gift. I have a few gifts left to find myself. But that's what makes looking into shops like these so much fun, they frequently offer unique options not carried in our local stores.
Where has this year gone? In some ways it's a relief that 2017 has sped past in the way that it has. But there are some things that have happened that have made it a bit hard to swallow. But hey, that happens right? But it's monday again meaning it's time to think about music to get us off for a great start.
This week I think we're going to go with some older music because it's inspiring me lately. Notice the key word, this is the music inspiring me lately. Let that sink in a little. I hope some of it inspires you and that you have a magical week.
I have to get something off my chest. I finished the majority of my holiday shopping before August. Seeing as my list is around 42 people long, I have found it beneficial to spread the shopping out over the whole year, so when the holidays roll around, and now I only have 5 people to shop for, the sting isn't as painful.
But what about all the people who are starting holiday shopping now?
Well they're likely going to be watching for sales, but there are other options as well. After all, whole people may enjoy a video game or new tie, you can get them a more meaningful handmade gift instead, and often times for a similar cost.
Now, it is true that many people seem to be of the mind that a hand made gift is cheap. They're quite wrong, because these gifts require both forethought, shopping, and time to create. Or if you are going to purchase the gift from an artisan, it takes them time to create as well as ship your item.
So here's my warning shot. Christmas is now about 2 months off. In the next two weeks I'm going to be sharing a few gift ideas that you may find useful for some of your more difficult to shop for family members or friends.
I look forward to sharing the work of some amazing artisans and crafters with you, and I hope you'll find some inspirations in the works they create.
