How did this year go so fast?
So maybe in this holiday season you need a gift or two for someone else or maybe someone who loves you needs to buy you a gift?
I don't want to be all food blog where you're just all get to the fucking recipe already, but I have stories, so I warn you in advance. Since I have a lot to say, I'm going to kind of tell this in story form based on things I own, use, wear, benefit from, love.
You know how to scroll if you'd had enough of the blah blah, so I'm not worried about you.
Here are representative suggestions of their wares, but really, you should visit their sites and browse and revel.
---
Earrings from PamChamJewelry
The link above is to her Etsy shop, but you should also follow her on IG, because she posts a lot there that she makes for local markets and so they don't make it into her Etsy shop. Also, if you message her with something you have in mind, she will make it for you.
Pam has a phenomenal sense of humor and her creations have a lot of whimsy and she's an incredible human on top of it all.
I lucked out with this jelly bean ring. A friend saw me wearing it, and Pam didn't have the exact same stone, but a very similar one, and now my friend has her own creation. So.
I say this because a friend thought I meant an addiction center or something of the sort. And while there's no shame in that, it's not what I mean.
So, I lived like six blocks away in another group house, and I spent a lot of time at Maude's. This was before I discovered antidepressants, and so I likely spent a lot of time languishing, moping, or openly weeping at Maude's.
And still, Pam liked me enough that we're still friends and I get to see her every summer when we head up to Maine, and sometimes I get lucky enough to stay with her family.
Last summer, post-vaccination, Maude and I both stayed there, and I hadn't laughed that hard in years.
---
Stabby chicken mug from freemanclayworks:
Andrea ships a lot of her pottery to stores and doesn't yet have a personal website, but look her up at freemanclayworks on IG (linked above. That's where I contacter her when I learned (through Pam, because they are friends!) that she makes these awesome stabby chicken mugs. I had to have one.
And because the world is an odd and sometimes magical place, it turns out that she lived in Nepal in her youth and we have common dear friends. I love that.
Look at the back of the mug. It's perfect. Whoever Georgia is, I love her.
Whimsical, stretchy, comfortable clothing from Jordan Piantedosi (who you should also follow on IG)
And look, it's not all athleisure suits-- here's my mama in her lovely possum scarf.
And then I laughed out loud. It felt good.
India and I started doing Jordan Piantedosi photoshoots around the neighborhood. We had a blast.
Jordan and I started messaging about clothing, and then moved to sharing memes, and honestly, and aside from being an incredibly talented artist, she's just a really great human.
India and I met up with her for an afternoon in Boston last summer. The three of us wound up doing a photoshoot. This is possibly my favorite photo from it.
Jewelry, perhaps a bespoke name bangle or necklace made by English Norman at ESN artisan jewelry
I met English through Wendy. First we were in a workout group together. The group morphed into a work out but also talk about everything else that might be going on with our bodies or minds group.
And then I got to spend some time with her in person. I love English.
Look at this bangle stack. I have one, but stacked is really cool.
English is, in addition to being an incredible mom, hilarious person, and creative artist, a beekeeper, chicken keeper (chickener?), dog and cat rescuer. She rents goats to clean up her garden.
When she finds insects that are already dead, she incorporates them into jewelry. I sent her a bunch of cicadas recently. I'm interested to see them in adornments.
---
And finally, for something lovely you can give or recieve nownownow if you don't have time to wait for shipping.
An energy balancing session from Alexa de los Reyes
I've written before about Alexa, and how she has helped me with her energy healing. I recently had a phone session with her and while I don't understand it, I know it's helpful. She says it's not like Eleven going to that dark alternate plane, but she goes somewhere and connects with your body there.
I can't understand it, but I do benefit from it. Like how I explained to Nick, when I was trying to talk him into acupuncture, saying that you don't have to believe for it to work. Acupuncture works on animals, for example.
And then he was all hilariously, "Animals don't believe in acupuncture?"
And he wonders why I joke about stabbing him.
Anyway, to get back to the topic at hand.
Alternative treatments such as these aren't covered by insurance, sadly! But what a lovely, healing, calming gift during the stressful holiday period/endless fucking pandemic.
It's been fun to write about women I adore who create beauty and goodness in the world. I hope these are helpful.
Love to all, and to all a good night!
(Happy shopping/browsing. No stabbing.)
ABSOLUTELY loved the quote on the mug! Happy holidays to you and your family Lisa! That blue jumpsuit is soooooo calming and yet cheerful.
ReplyDelete