gift ideas | The Angel Forever

Category Archives gift ideas

Selecting Baby Blanket Yarn

Posted on November 4, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

While I will not be having any more babies of my own, I adore making items for new babies. A special handmade baby blanket is what I usually make for family and friends. In recent years, I have had a favorite chunky yarn that was always my go to for projects. I would knit up a diagonal blanket for the new little one to grow into and use for a longer time. When I was invited to a baby shower for a friend, I started to look around for new yarn. My friend is not going to find out the sex of her baby until he or she is born. This meant that I needed to find a color that would work for a boy or girl. Ideally I did not want too much blue or pink. Enter Bernat Baby Blanket yarn in Little Sunshine.

The Bernat Baby Blanket filled two musts in my mind. It was not wool for sensitive baby skin (it is actually polyester) and it is machine washable. My boys were jealous when they felt how soft it was once I got started on the project. Originally, I had planned on crocheting my first baby blanket, but I did not like the way it was folding up, so I went back to my favorite baby blanket pattern. I also liked how Little Sunshine has peach, yellow and green for a different color combination. When all was said and done, the blanket above was large and the boys helped me to pick out the new baby a little buddy to go along with it.

Do you enjoy making gifts for new babies? I would love to know your go to yarn and patterns for gift making if you knit or crochet.

Handmade Artisan Goods from Heart of Haiti

Posted on October 17, 2013 12:45 pm by TheAngelForever

Almost four years ago, an earthquake forever changed the lives of the people of Haiti. The pictures that we saw on the news never could give us the entire story of the families suddenly homeless and trying to make a living. While at TypeACon in Atlanta, I had the opportunity to chat with Danica from The Everywhere Society. She mentioned a project where they were connecting bloggers to learn and share information about the Heart of Haiti line of products. While I had heard the name before, I did not know a lot about it. Heart of Haiti is a “Trade, Not Aid” initiative started by artist and social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, and Macy’s. I agreed to learn more and was sent a piece from the collection sold at Macy’s to be able to see it for myself.

A little more information about the program for those that may not be familiar:

The Heart of Haiti initiative provides artists with an opportunity to make a living feed their families and pay their children’s school fees. Already, The Heart of Haiti collection has led to employment of 750 artists in Haiti providing financial benefits for an estimated 5,000 people in the country.

The collection features more than 40 home decor items including quilts, metalwork, ceramics, and paintings. The craftsmanship and technique behind these works of art, ranging from papier-mâché vases to hand cut metal frames & wall hangings, is truly remarkable. The collection is made almost entirely from recycled and sustainable items such as old cement bags, cardboard, oil drums & local gommier wood. Sharing a “gift that gives back” is a great way to raise awareness and celebrate artistry and regrowth.

The initiative allows opportunities for artists to work with US designers, helping strengthen international artisan relationships and making their products viable in the US market. The Heart of Haiti campaign pays in excess of fair wage to the talented artisans who create the product, giving them the dignity of work and economic self-determination.

When I received my package and opened it up, it took my breath away. The level of detail, artistry, and skill is beyond anything I had ever seen in metal. I received the Flower Bud 4×6 picture frame. The frame included a little information about the Heart of Haiti program and the artist. Myrta Balan made my frame and she was the first woman metal artisan in Croix des Bouquets. The information states that her inspiration was The Tree of Life, which symbolizes the goodness and bounty of the universe. Balan, along with the other artisans in her village, use oil drums to bring metal art capturing nature to life.

I love that half of the wholesale price of the pieces sold at Macy’s goes back to allow the artisans to care for their families through their beautiful work. My picture frame is just one of the many items available for purchase and I have to admit, I am pretty intrigued by their jewelry items. I know that our frame will be getting an autumn family photo in it soon and I plan on hanging it over our pass through from the dining room to the kitchen. Knowing the history of this piece and the artist will make me smile each day when I see it.

Disclosure: As mentioned above, I received the picture frame from Heart of Haiti to be able to see one of their handmade pieces to share on my website. There was no other compensation and all opinions are my own.

Categories:
gift ideas real world news

Unique Gifts from Sweet Lil’ You Boutique

Posted on October 11, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

While I love making gifts for family and friends, I also adore finding unique items and helping out artists on Etsy. I met Sarah Bouvier of sweet lil’ you years ago at a hockey rink. She and her friend had season tickets for the Albany River Rats near by my season tickets. We would often chat before and after games. Years went by and suddenly I “bumped” back into Sarah online thanks to Twitter. I saw the amazing wedding that she planned via Facebook and was blown away with her creativity. Then, I watched as she started blogging about becoming a first time mother and being adopted. Her way with words in posts about her daughter, heading to Disney, and crafting always impress me. Still, there is more to Sarah.

While staying at home with her beautiful daughter Avery, Sarah has started an Etsy store called sweet lil’ you boutique featuring several different items that she makes. The first time I saw her personalized wood block pieces I feel in love. If you are not sure what I mean by these, check out some of her beautiful creations below.

Wedding gifts, gifts for a new home, or something special for a teacher. Sarah’s boutique has something for everyone, or she will work with you on whatever you are looking for. Here are some items that she has for the upcoming holiday season:

I have seen Sarah’s work in person. While she was brainstorming on possible items for a store, she sent us one of her examples that has already been gifted. I loved how the blocks were just the right size, able to be stacked differently, and were made to fit the personality of the people needed. Seriously, just look at this photo of one Sarah made for her own family. I think you may be able to figure out one of her favorite sporting teams.

So my question to you this week:

What would you love to have Sarah of sweet lil’ you boutique create for you and why? Yes, we are calling this pre-holiday brainstorming.

Disclosure: None – Sarah is a friend and I asked to feature her beautiful work on my blog. Friends support and toot the horn for other friends.

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this Friday fun. These days, Pamela at A Renaissance Woman is reviving the fun Friday Meme. Head over there to link up and join in the fun.

Aloha Friday by Kailani at An Island Life

Aloha #257

Categories:
Aloha Friday friends gift ideas

Holiday Cards and More from Tiny Prints

Posted on October 7, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

The leaves outside are almost finished turning colors here in New York State and I am already thinking about the holidays. Why? While Christmas is always on December 25, Chanukah is the earliest I can recall. We will be lighting our menorah during Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgivukkah is actually something people are talking about this year and making fun recipes to work on. Thanks to a wonderful sponsored campaign from Tiny Prints, I will be able to work on my 2013 holiday cards and personalized photo gifts before things get too hectic. These are just a few of my most recent purchases from Tiny Prints.

While I will probably stick to sending out New Years cards to family and friends, I love being able to have choices. With Tiny Prints holiday card selection, I can make some for Chanukah, Christmas, or New year 2014 wishes. I literally could and probably will spend hours looking for just the right cards. This year, you can also add trim options that include square, rounded, bracket, ticket, and scallop. Contemporary, Classic, Vintage, Full bleed photos, All That Glitters, Bold Expressions, Simply Chic, Woodland Wonder, and The New Tradition are some of the new design styles included this year. In addition to this, Tiny Prints offers matching address labels and envelope lines.

Some of my favorites designs this year are the Dreidel Frame, Best Hopes, Fun Cut Outs, and Wondrous Season.

Of course, I can also shop for personalized gifts found on the Tiny Prints website. My photo mug, pictured at the top, is a wonderful size and gorgeous. I adore how it shows a magical adventure to Walt Disney World with my family. In addition to this, I adore the custom notebook that I made and think that would be perfect for a special teacher. I know I will be spending more time checking out gifts for family and friends because I can trust the quality of Tiny Prints from previous experience.

Giveaway Time:

Thanks to this Holiday campaign with Tiny Prints, one reader (US or Canada) will receive $50.00 off your total order at Tiny Prints (plus free shipping). Imagine the fun you will have when ordering some new items for the holiday season, whether it is cards to send out to family and friends, or some personalized gift items.

Rules for Giveaway:

MAIN RULE – Head over to the Tiny Prints Holiday Cards page and comment below on your favorite card.

The following Bonus Entry may also be done. Please be sure to leave separate comment each time you complete this item.

1 Bonus Entry – Visit Tiny Prints Holiday Cards and pin your favorite card to Pinterest. Tag #TinyPrintsCheer and leave a link to your pin in the comments below.

Please follow the rules above within the comment section. For additional ways to win Tiny Prints items, be sure to check out the #TinyPrintsCheer Pinning Party™ taking place on October 8 at 2:00 PM ET. My giveaway begins October 6, 2013 and ends October 21, 2013 at 10:59 EST. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but must leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you once the giveaway is over. I will select the winner using random.org and contact you via e-mail. You will have 24 hours to claim the prize. If there is no response, another winner will be selected.

Additional Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a Global Influence campaign where I will be receiving credit for a future order at Tiny Prints. As noted, we have already purchased several Tiny Prints products before, and the opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Categories:
gift ideas giveaway holidays sponsored post

Tiny Prints Back to School Giveaway

Posted on August 1, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

August is here and for many across the country that means Back to School month. We actually do not go back until the week after Labor Day, so I have a little more time to get the kids ready for school. Of course, that does not mean that I have been waiting to get supplies. I posted about our list recently and we have slowly been working on it. The other night we went hunting for some composition notebooks. I handed TechyDad the list to begin shopping with the boys while I went to the craft store. When I met back up with them, our school supply list had vanished. Since I did not have the complete list and forgot to look at my own website (ooops), we grabbed the notebooks and called it a night. To finish up with getting our supplies, I am going to add the list onto an app on my phone so I will not forget the paper or misplace it. Then, this week, I am going to have the boys help me to organize each of their items into their cleaned backpacks for storage. If everything is ready right before school, labeling them will be quick and easy.

When I was recently asked to participate in a Tiny Prints Back to School giveaway campaign with Global Influence, I jumped at the opportunity. I am a big fan of their products and customer service. Personalized items, unrelated to this post, that I ordered a short time ago arrived in less than a week. Thanks to this, I have confidence when sharing their latest Back to School selections.

Organizing for Back to School routines is not an easy process. Tiny Prints can assist you with their stylish items that are ready for you to personalize so you have them when the time comes. Parents can look at their planners, calendar notebooks, play date/emergency cards, and personal stationary. In addition to this, you can buy your children fun stickers to use on their school supplies so their know what is theirs. Lunch box notes to brighten their day and allergy cards are also available. If you have older children, do not fear because Tiny Prints has items for teens or college kids heading off to school including lined notebooks, contact cards, dorm art, and moving announcements. As a teacher, I love their selection of items that would make great welcome back to school presents. Say thank you in advance to the person that will be spending a large amount of time with your children. Tiny Prints has teacher stationary, classroom wall art, thank you cards, mugs, as well as iPhone and iPad cases.

Giveaway Time:

Thanks to this Back to School campaign with Tiny Prints, one reader (US or Canada) will receive 5 sets of 24 gift tag stickers, 1 – 5×8 lined notebook, and 100 – mommy/play date/contact cards. Shipping is included for winners in the US, but should the winner be in Canada, they will need to add international shipping costs. This prize pack is the same item that I will be receiving for sharing this information.

Rules for Giveaway:

MAIN RULE – Head over to the Tiny Prints Back to School Page and comment below on your favorite product

The following Bonus Entry may also be done. Please be sure to leave separate comment each time you complete this item.

1 Bonus Entry – Visit Tiny Prints Back to School Page and pin your favorite product to Pinterest. Tag “Back to School” and leave a link to your pin in the comments below.

Please follow the rules above within the comment section. Giveaway begins August 1, 2013 ends August 20, 2013 at 10:59 EST. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but must leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you once the giveaway is over. I will select the winner using random.org and contact you via e-mail. You will have 24 hours to claim the prize. If there is no response, another winner will be selected.

Open to US and Canadian residents only (please see the note above about shipping to Canada).

For additional ways to win Tiny Prints items, be sure to check out the #TinyPrintsSchool Pinning Party™ taking place on August 5 at 2:00 PM EST. Be sure to RSVP at Resourceful Mommy’s page where there are additional details. In addition to this, reader can win even more prizes with the Back to School Pin It to Win It Pinterest sweepstakes, taking place from August 5 – 28.

Additional Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a Global Influence campaign where I will be receiving a prize package like the giveaway winner. As noted, we have already purchased several Tiny Prints products before, and the opinions expressed are 100% my own.