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One of the highlights of my month is perusing the handmade market for cool things to share.  With Mother’s Day and wedding season and baby showers galore coming up, I thought I would go with a tea theme this time and woo!  Etsy did not disappoint!  Check out what I found below:

+ This mini teacup pouch from Y and B’s Creations comes in a variety of colors and is the perfect size for a coin purse.  Tuck in a few of your favorite tea bags for an easy gift.

+ How beautiful is this “tea time” tea towel from Christine De Carvalho?  It’s almost too pretty to use!

+ This teacup bookmark from Ellie Bug Makes is so creative.  Each is hand stitched with felt and cotton floral prints.  A super cute idea for tucking into a penpal letter.

+ If you’re seeking a candle unlike most options commonly found in stores, look into these teacup candles from Lohalee Candle Co.  They are made with natural soy wax and feature a wooden wick for a cozy, crackling ambiance.  Love that!  I think they’d make lovely favors for a baby or bridal shower.

+ Every gift needs a coordinating greeting card, right?  This afternoon tea card from allie illustrated is perfect and be sure to check out the stickers in her shop too.  Lots of adorable options!

+ NovelTea Tins are a shop featuring tea blends with a literary theme.  The loose leaf tea comes in a lovely tin, which can be saved and reused when the tea is gone.  So cool.

+ Every cup of tea needs a little honey and these honey stirring spoons from Do T Do Candy do the trick.  Made with local Kansas honey, they come individually packed and in sets of five or ten.  A great addition to a tea-themed gift basket.

+ I love a good pun and this tea shirt is just too cute.  Lots of colors to choose from.

+ And last but not least: poetry tea time is a staple in a lot of homeschools.  If you’re just starting out, the guides provided by Tea Time Together are a great help.  “Each month focuses on one artist, one poet, and one music composer. Each week focuses on a specific painting, poem, and classical music piece by that month’s featured artists. Over the month, you’ll explore four paintings from the same artist; four poems from the same poet; and four songs from the same composer. By the end of the month, you and your students will feel like you know these artists and their works!”

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

Springtime is just around the corner and that gets my fingers itching for some cleaning and organization!  Check out these great organizational options from some talented artisans on etsy:

+ I love the green and white fabrics on this small fabric cup from Sea Pinks.  At only 3″x3.5″, it’s perfect for holding little bits and bobs on your desk, supplies next to the sewing machine, or hair bows in a baby girl’s room.

+ This black walnut/oak hardwood tray from Red Oak Road comes in a ton of sizes to accommodate a variety of needs: it can be used as a “centerpiece, catch all, organizer, desk companion, nightstand tray, dresser caddy, groom’s gift, house warming gift or wedding gift.”  Handcrafted in Texas!

+ I wish I had a preschool bedroom to organize so I could use these gingham hanging pods from Feeding Pickle.  So cute and useful too!  The seller has a ton of non-kiddo ideas for this handy bag: “Dog toy bag by the door, school supplies, mail organizer, mitten and hat keeper, office desk decor and organizer, diaper and wipe holder, and keep your make-up corralled.”  Be sure to check out all of the sizes, from mini all the way to giant!

+ Admittedly, this little bunny basket from My Alpaca Studio seems more adorable than actually functional, but look how sweet!  Just the right size to hold change or keys.  I also like the idea of making it a “plant cozy” – that would be such a great spring gift for someone special.

+ I love the look of this chunky crochet basket from Our Little Crochet Shop.  It is crocheted with 9mm Bobbiny braided cotton cord and has a hardboard base, making it soft yet sturdy.  And bonus!  If you happen to crochet and want to try this project yourself, this shop has a ton of materials available so you can make one of your own!

+ Lastly, everybody can use a zippered pouch, right?  I thought this project bag from Salmon Brook Studio was unique and the Rifle Paper Co. fabric was gorgeous.  Be sure to take a look through all of her offerings – she also has totes, pencil cases and even holders for your double pointed knitting needles!

You know how much I love small artisans and I found a new website to share!  The website is called Go Imagine and it’s like etsy, but better.  From their website: “goimagine is dedicated to showcasing handmade goods from sellers who truly love the art of making something with their hands. Building a new handmade marketplace won’t be easy, but the world is ready for a platform that truly celebrates the beauty of handcrafted products.”  They even donate 2% of every purchase to charities focused on helping children in need!  So great.  Check out these winter-related goodies I found:

+ This “Winter Bear” candle from Bear Family Candles smells like strolling through a pine forest on a sunny winter’s day.  Comes in an 8oz. tin, but they also sell wax melts.

+ I love warm socks and this pair from Minnesota Custom Woolens looks super comfy.  The seller says that each pair is one-of-a-kind and made on an antique circular knitting machine.  So cool!

+ If you’re in the market for a new winter hat, be sure to check out the offerings from Milli’s Hook Nook.  Tons of beautiful options for both youth and adults – I love this mountain range one.

+ For another candle option, look no further than the Desert Sun Candle Co!  The description of this Woodland Snow candle sounds intriguing: “Light our candle and breathe in the fragrance of snow-laden branches, ozone, mint, and eucalyptus. Be enchanted by the blend of camphor, cypress, cedar, and sage plus subtle incense and spice.”

+ Add a little winter fun to your refrigerator with these mini snowflake magnets from WeeCraftyCreations.  They come in a set of eight and are only about 1″x1″x1″ – so cute!  (These might also be a fun addition to tuck into snail mail letters.)

+ Coffee, cocoa or tea will taste even better in this salt-fired stoneware mug from Linda Moeser Ceramics.  I love the blue color, but she also has many unique color combinations in the shop.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

Many of us are pinching our pennies this holiday season, so how about starting a new tradition?  Instead of buying gifts that most people don’t want or need, what if we supported small business artisans and picked out a unique ornament for our recipient’s tree?  Choose an ornament that has a special meaning between you – an inside joke, a special milestone, a favorite memory!  If none of those apply, I’ve picked a handful of generic choices below.

Be sure to check out etsy’s Holiday Hub for more great gifts too.

+ This gingerbread clay ornament from Stone Lotus Pottery is precious and perfect for someone known for their gingerbread houses.  The ceramic clay is glazed in cream and comes strung with a red ribbon.

+ This set of six wooden snowflakes from Werner Creative is made from birch wood and is colored with different stains.  Give the entire set to your favorite woodworker or split them up among various family members.  For just $2 extra, they will even engrave a short message on the backs.

+ I love this miniature hand blown glass ornament from bluejays & bumblebees!  So unique and comes in a variety of colors.

+ For a home with little ones, these felt star ornaments from Everything in Stitches would be a great choice.  The stars are about five inches in diameter and come in many color combinations.  (Look at these adorable cookie ones too!)  Perfect for little hands that love to touch the Christmas tree.

+ Do you or your recipient live by the water?  This hand-painted Santa shell ornament from Petite Prints Studio is so cute and perfect for something who loves the beach.  The ornaments come in three sizes and can also be personalized for an additional fee.

+ I love the simplicity of this “let every heart prepare Him room” leather hand-stamped ornament from The Adopt Shoppe.  Made from raw, full grain leather, making each one unique.

+ No time to cross-stitch your own soft ornament?  No problem!  Avery and Hayes has a ton of great options, including this Santa Claus finished cross stitch ornament.  You can even personalize with a name and year.  Each ornament is made to order, so order fast.  The last day to guarantee holiday delivery is December 5.

+ If you have a friend who loves nostalgic/vintage decor, these crochet Christmas ornaments are for you!  Comes in a set of three.  They are wonderful for the tree but would be equally cute displayed in a bowl.  Fun!

The Small Biz Showcase series is my way to stay accountable to my new motto, “Less But Better.”  I share seasonally the small businesses I found and purchased from.   (You can find the spring post here.)  Sometimes half the issue is that we don’t know any other options, so I’ll share some with you and I hope you’ll share some hidden gems with me!  Here’s what I bought this summer:

1 // JEN OLSON ILLUSTRATION
Someone close to me sadly lost her baby to a miscarriage.  I bought this miscarried baby saint card for her and was really happy with the quality.  Jen’s artwork is absolutely beautiful and I have many more pieces on my wishlist, including these postcards and this print of one of my favorite saints.

2 // THE SPEECH ZONE
Teachers Pay Teachers is a treasure trove of resources for teachers and homeschoolers alike!  I found worksheets and smashmats from The Speech Zone to help TJ with final consonant deletion and they have quickly become his favorite part of the school day.  I love supporting creative teachers.

3 // STEVE SPANGLER SCIENCE
Have you ever watched DIY SCI with Steve Spangler?  My kids love his show, so I was thrilled to discover that he has a website filled with science products.  I bought the energy stick, a geyser tube, and a geodes kit and will use them throughout the year with our science curriculum.  I’m sure I’ll be back for the slime and the botany kit.

4 // JERRY’S ARTARAMA
I needed quite a few art supplies for school, so I was so excited to find this website!  The prices were competitive and they shipped quickly and securely.  I bought a ton of things, but my favorite buys were the DVD curriculum, these colored pencils (comparable to Prismacolors) and these little sketchbooks that we’re using for nature study.


5 // SOUPER CUBES
I like to make my own chicken broth but needed a better way of storing it in the freezer.  Enter this awesome invention: Souper Cubes!  They look like silicone ice cube trays and are separated into one cup portions.  Fill, freeze, and you’re done!  I think this will be perfect for broth, soups, even homemade tomato sauce.

6 // STUCK IN THE MUD POTTERY
Last but not least, I bought this little ceramic hanging pot to hang in my bathroom window.  It’s simple, but so well done and I was so pleased!  I’ll definitely be back soon for a coffee mug or a honey pot or one of these gorgeous plates.