Beautiful cat family gathered for feline holiday celebration

If you relate to Martha, this post is not for you. (Photo Credit: Martha Stewart)

I would really like to be one of those people who makes personal and touching gifts for everyone on my list. But, let’s be honest, I’m busy and not particularly crafty. I mean, 12-years later, a bag full of my collegiate T-shirts is still sitting in my garage waiting to become a quilt! With the odds stacked against any craft project of mine ever being completed, or, if by some miracle it is, that it look good, I’ve found the best way to make a gift for someone is to pay someone to do it for me.

In support of all the girls out there like me, a quick roundup of some of my favorite places to turn when I need a gift with a personal touch, but I don’t want to touch it.

Made by Julene

Our Papercut

A custom, handmade paper-cut by Julene is one of my favorite gifts I’ve ever given. Gorgeous. Personal. One-of-a-kind. You can make it say or show whatever you want. I gave one to my husband on a birthday a few years ago that tells the story of us.

If you want it here by Christmas, time’s really tight because of the time it takes to design and deliver a custom work. But don’t worry, you can also order gorgeous ready-made designs.

Formia Design

A Finished Formia Design Creation

When I was a kid, my dad let my brother and I design custom-framed artwork to give to our mom for Christmas. She loved them and these beauties still hang high in a place of honor above the family piano for all to admire. Flash forward 20(ish) years and Formia Design is building on the idea of turning children’s artwork into keepsakes by turning doodles into jewelry.

No kids? No problem. The Formia Design website states that they’ve worked from all kinds of artwork, logos, even tattoos, to create these custom pieces. If you want one for Christmas, order fast. Last day for regular shipping is Dec. 4 (today!). Express shipping’s available until Dec. 18.

Lovely Little Cakes

Lovely Little Cakes Caramel Apple Pie

Sometimes you don’t need a gift-gift, but want to share a special holiday treat with friends and family. If you’re in the Bay Area like me, turn to Lovely Little Cakes. The owner Sharon bakes up the most scrumptious cookies, cupcakes, cakepops and pies and they’re organic!! The Fawkes household has already enjoyed (scarfed) sweet mince pies and cupcakes this holiday.

The beauty of Lovely Little Cakes work is that the goodies are as professional and polished as can be, yet Sharon’s style retains the charm of coming from your mom’s kitchen. She’ll work with you to customize your order and can even do gluten-free, vegan, dye-free, casein-free, and refined sugar-free sweets. If you aren’t lucky enough to be near Lovely Little Cakes, indulge at a local bakery in your area.

Cat Studio

Cat Studio’s San Francisco Pillow Brought a Smile to My Homesick Face

One of the few things I learned to sew as a youngster was decorative pillows. My grandma taught me when I was 5 or 6 and she soon became the recipient of a stunning, roundish, yellow satin pillow stuffed with cotton balls and emblazoned with “I <3 Ma” freehand embroidered by yours truly with red yarn. She loved it, and not just because of the small pearl button detail and decorative stitch trim.

A number of years later, she and my mother returned the favor and sent their homesick girl away at grad school Cat Studio’s San Francisco pillow. When I got mine 10+ years ago, they were a bit rarer and more rustic than they are today, but they still scream a homemade piece of almost any home you can think of to whoever’s lucky enough to unwrap one.

Blabla Kids

Socks the Fox

When my first nephew was born earlier this year, I really wanted him to have a keepsake from Auntie Rach and Uncle Lee. Naturally, this should be a plush fox that would become his best pal. I searched all over for the perfect foxy friend for B and found it in Socks the Fox, one of many knit pals with personality (his online bio notes he’s a writer for a local newspaper with beautiful handwriting he mostly uses to write lists and love notes) by Blabla.

Socks Also Makes an Excellent Chew Toy

All of the dolls and goodies at Blabla looks like granny knitted or sewed it and most toys are safe for the very youngest babies. I love Socks and his lady Suzette, but there are tons of choices to match your wee one’s fancy.

Handmade Men

Mustache Mania at Handmade Men

I stumbled on this site a few months ago and love that it combines serious manliness with Etsy-like ease of browsing artisan wares. More of a guide than a store, they regularly feature wares like Polar Stones, which add a chill to your man’s whiskey (special for the holidays, put a lump of Whiskey Coal in someone naughty’s stocking), and editor-picked collections, like Mustache Mania, to make manly buying easy on other sites like Etsy.

Of course, you can also use search terms to find the perfect gift. Expect a dose of macho and side of humor with your results.

Etsy

Etsy, The Super Collective of Artists and Artisans

When all-else fails, turn to the super collective of artists and artisans, Etsy. Search by category, i.e. jewelry or tech gear (yes, there is crafty tech gear), or by interest. Because, like me, you aren’t creative, you’ll be surprised and amazed what crafts “golf,” “dance” and “rockclimbing” inspire from those touched by the muses.

Our first stop on shopping day was to The City Quilter. The store wasn’t even on my initial list of places to go because I thought it was too far from our hotel. But after talking to my mom before we left, I knew I had to see it. We walked the 20 short blocks from the hotel, since the weather was so nice, and it really wasn’t a bad trek. At least on the way there.

The shop was much larger than I would have guessed for Manhattan. And it was filled with wonderfulness (see photo above). I loved the little cubbies they had for the fat quarters between the shelves of bolts.

At the store I saw the Liberty of London fabrics for the first time in real life. Lovely, although I ended up buying one only after I had the idea of pairing it with some graphic shark fabric for a skirt for my sweet niece, Stella, the shark-lover. Here’s the selection of fabric I ended up buying.

I also liked that the store had a nice selection of New York-centric fabrics. I am a nerd, and I like to pick up fabrics unique to the areas to which I travel. And they carried the Cat Studio tea towels that I collect, too. My goal is to someday make a quilt of towels from all the places I’ve visited.

The employees at the shop were all very helpful and friendly. It was really a fun place to shop (although they could probably use another  husband/boyfriend chair).

The next stop for the day was Mood, the fabric store featured on Project Runway. I have never actually seen the show, but my sister and her nine-year-old son are fans, so we decided to go. Of all the places in New York that we went, this was the most New York. It had a crazy elevator with an attendant, the employees were fashiony and brusque (although some were very friendly), and it was bustling.

I have to admit, I was pretty intimidated and overwhelmed. My plan was to go there to find a wool with which to make a winter purse. And I did end up with a nice piece. But I think I selected it a bit too hastily. It doesn’t match any of my winter coats. Not that that should really matter, but it kind of does. Anyway.

The selection of trims was amazing, too. I loved looking at all the varieties, but I don’t use a lot in my sewing, so I ended up not getting any. This shop did have a table for husbands/boyfriends with a copy of the New York Post, so Greg was very entertained as I wandered.

Our final stop was the Tinsel Trading Company, a trim store that has a beautiful book titled French General: Treasured Notions. I didn’t take any photos at the store, but it was beautiful, glittery, vintage.

As we walked back to our hotel through the Garment District, we peered in the windows of many, many more fabric, trim and bead shops. And, I’m happy to report, I did see a few people wheeling carts loaded with bolts of fabric down the sidewalk. New Yorky!

Next time, I’ll share some photos of the things that inspired me visually as we walked around the city.

The draw of this area is undeniable. From beautiful beaches, to vineyards, to farms, to restaurants, and quaint hamlets nestled between the Long Island Sound, Peconic Bays, and Atlantic Ocean, the East End has it all. I am lucky to call the East End home.

I am sure that some of you share a particular fondess of a Northeast island or coastal town that is your favorite vacation spot or a place you call home. Perhaps Block Island, Shelter Island, Nantucket, Fishers Island, or Martha’s Vineyard, to name a few. I have visited many of these wonderful coastal towns and often like to bring back a special mementos of my visit.

I love incorporating decor from the places I have visited into my home. It reminds me of memories of my trip, and definitely helps me get through cold winters dreaming about summer days to come! These decorative items also make great gifts for your favorite island loving friend or family member. Today I’d like to share three great island inspired home decor/gift ideas from Cat Studio, SarahPfau, and NauticalCharts.com.

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Cat Studio makes a variety of geographically themed pillows, towels, bags and more. I was given the “Nantucket” pillow several years ago as a housewarming gift and adore it. Each pillow highlights the landmarks of the region which it represents, and is a constant reminder of the places on Nantucket I visited and enjoyed. Cat Studio makes pillows for almost every state, island, some countries and even national parks. There’s bound to be one for your favorite place. Here are a few of my favorite pillows from Cat Studio:

I came across SarahPfau on Etsy.com recently and just had to share. Sarah is a jeweler from Brooklyn, New York who makes beautiful island pendants. Her original designs are handcrafted of sterling silver and come beautifully gift wrapped. They definitely make a great gift…even for yourself!

 Finally, I love the idea of hanging nautical charts in your home or office. I also think these make great gift (think Father’s Day!). I’ve found a company called NauticalCharts.com, where you can order custom framed charts for your home. There are a variety of frame and matte choices, as well as various charts from waterways around the country.

Photo courtesy of Cat Studio

This vintage caned sofa by Spruce Austin was stylishly reupholstered in a small blue chevron pattern.  It would look great in a sun room or living area.

Add a couple of Madeleine Weinrib block-printed pillows to give the room some contrasting color and pattern.

These nautical striped floor pillows were custom-made in jersey fabric by casual T-shirt maker Splendid.  Throw a few on the floor in a bedroom for a great reading nook or in the family room where most of the late-night movie viewing is taking place. Buy the fabric and have a local seamstress or upholsterer make one or more custom versions for you.

This graphic reproduction of the Philadelphia “love” sculpture by Robert Indiana was found at a local boutique Beach Bungalow in the charming village of Sag Harbor.

These thick, colored, jute boucle rugs from West Elm are a nice neutral way to anchor a room.

A driftwood mirror like this one from Crate and Barrel is affordable art and would be dramatic in an entryway.

Hollywood interior designer Marjorie Skouras makes a line of beautifully crafted chandeliers including this turquoise empire version.  Try it in a traditional place like the dining room or hang it in a master bath to give it a little more sophistication.

Roberta Roller Rabbit in East Hampton carries these bohemian nesting boxes perfect for holding the latest edition of Hamptons magazine or some sandy bathing suits.

How about adding a pop of color to the kitchen, painted in white of course, with these graphic pear and lemon-lime prints both found on etsy.

It wouldn’t be the Hamptons without a cozy lounge in the backyard that included an impromptu outdoor theater and globe string lighting.  Photo courtesy of whippedstyle.com

Better book your house soon or you’ll have no place to summer.  Happy hour at Ruschmeyers anyone?

Graphic, bold prints are a great way to start.

Girl with a Beach Ball by Roy Lichtenstein is a classic that is housed in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Luckily for us, prints can also be purchased either framed or unframed for a nominal cost.

San Francisco-based fine artist, Jorey Hurley, creates fun, cartoon-like digital prints that capture nature at its best such as her Swimming Pool Water.

Her String of Lights is reminiscent of a late summer beach barbecue

San Diego-based Orange & Park create graphic versions of the best surf spots up and down the California coast including their clever California Coastal Counties print.

Try a similar modern typographic look by Ork Posters who visually recreate what they call ”the most beautiful city neighborhood posters” in various bright colors like this one of Los Angeles.

CAPow illustrates maps and geography featuring each county’s name in the right place and shape of that county.  Love this one of California.  Prints are also customizable!

Add a little sparkle to your home with multi media art by Camomile Hixon, a New York-based pop artist who works in large scale glitter art.  If you live in Los Angeles (and you’ve misplaced your invitation to the Grammies this weekend), starting Sunday, February 12, you can see her work firsthand at her new exhibit at Frank Pictures in Santa Monica.

Jeff Canham’s art may look like it appeals to the younger crowd but his whimsical play on words and images would work in a kitchen, bedroom or family room.  He created a  special series of flags and pennants for the Standard Hotel.  According to them, “each represents a different letter of the alphabet, referencing traditional nautical flags in the artist’s distinctive graphic style.”

And Cat Studio makes embroidered dish towels and other textiles such as this one of the Hawaiian Islands that could be framed and used as art.

Their playful take on famous beach towns such as the Hamptons and other destinations remind us of the long days of summer and a blackberry-less, iphone-less vacation.

Remember those days?

See us December 10 in Arcadia for Kat Knappers Cat Club’s It’s Feline A Lot Like Christmas TICA All Breed Championship and Household Pet Cat Show.

Show Flyer - December 10, 2011

Poinsettia City Cat Club presents
Cats & Hats
a Cat Fanciers’ Association All Breed & Household Pet Cat Show
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2011 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Glendale Civic Auditorium
1401 North Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA 91208

We’ve added an enrollment page for those who wish to pre-register their cats for photography and we’re looking forward to meeting many new feline friends.

We’ll be donating a portion of the furtography profits to KittenRescue.org just because we like what they do for cats. Come out to Glendale to support show cats and household cats cause they’re super spiffy, cheer them on in the ring, buy stuff from vendors, meet adoptables and cats for sale.

My sister-in-law read about the towels in the Sundance catalog and bought one for me for my birthday. And then a few days later, I posted about how I wanted the Lake Tahoe pillow. How funny is that?! Total coincidence. My sister-in-law said she screamed when she read my post and apparently scared the crap out of my brother (which might actually be more rewarding than my present).

Photo credits: Cat Studio