This week seems to be turning into a Yellow/Orange kind of week. Whether it's home-made apple jelly, a roll of embroidery thread i found in a charity shop, perfect for  finishing a project i'm working on of a lovely, yummy cake brought round by a freind to accompany our gossip session! 

What about you what colour of week are you having?

One day this week  i got a copy of a gift catalogue through the post and after drooling over the many lovely items in it i began to wonder how it compared with Etsy. After looking up similar items on Etsy it became apparent that not only could you buy something very similar but hand made on Etsy  but often the price was considerably lower. 

I don't want to mention the name of the company since

 i really do enjoy their products too,

 but i though it would make some interesting  comparisons, clearly the items are not exact matches, (that would be odd!) 

but still, you get the idea.

(The images on the left are from the catalogue and the one on the right are from etsy shops).

The Union Jack Flag cushion is by KimberleyDawnCushions

The white button wreath is by fjordscape

The Sweet Dreams pillowcase is by Urbanomic

The Snowflake Decals are by Verdigrisdye

The all natural guest soaps are by Krugsecologic

The Sparkle Dust Wreath is by Ivyandell

The Virginia Toile Door stopper is by DesignerCushions

I  know that things are pretty tough, financially for most of us all right now and with the festive season coming up, perhaps we  have less to spend than in previous years, 

although i know we are truly blessed to have anything spare at all for Christmas presents, 

so it seems to me if ever there was a time to shop at Etsy this is it. And not just for financial reasons but also the ethical reasons for supporting artisans, crafts people and small businesses.

I think what I'm trying to say is...

i heart etsy stickers by TudorDesigns

I took the handmade pledge

Okay i promise that's my rant over : )

I was lucky enough to trade recently with the wonderful  zukzuk. After some confusion, down to me, we traded two print for two prints 

(kinda of).

Any way i am now the fortunate recipient of these two lovelies in return for my two prints. 

(sorry Helen;)

3 Things i'm grateful for this week.

This week saw the release of Sex and the City the film on DVD here in the UK and true to form we had a girls night in watching the film drinking cosmopolitans and being fabulous! the DVD came with a key ring (all part of the story, i won't spoil it for you) and the gal's voted to give it to me, since i am the only one in the group still lookin for...

thanks girls : )

Also i won a competition this week, out of the blue i got a set of  "Tweezerman" tweezers through the post! They are wonderful and PINK, who could ask for more from tweezers? I was delighted, although my sister assures me it is a little alarming how very easily pleased i am!  

 : D

And this morning i was lucky enough to snag a treasury. It's theme is "Sleepy Hollow". Feel free to show it some love 

What about you? I'd love to know what your grateful for at the moment.

On Sunday morning my nine year old niece and i went scrumping!!

Okay that is not strickely true, in fact we had permission from the local cottage hospital to pick any apples we wanted, but there is something, kind of,  "Huckleberry Finn" about scrumping.

We picked a basketful and took them home to make apple pie. 

Clearly there is no picture of the pie but it did not last long enough, we all tucked into it with delight!!! There are still plenty of apples left so jam and chutney to follow.

These are a pair of felted slippers that i am experimenting with making for Christmas pressies,(not this pair). They are not yet finished since they have no soles nor any pretty decorations but, my niece assures me they are cooo-el. Which i am sure you'll understand is praise indeed!

I am lucky enough to have been awarded this wee shiny prize by fellow blogger, fancypicnic. 

I am absolutely thrilled and so feel the need to pass it on to ;

felt at home

laura baillie designs

zukzuk

and Raining sheep.

(don't be miffed if i did not pass it on to you, next time i promise)

Fancypicnic has the most wonderful etsy shop called,

 yep you guessed it,

  fancypicnic full of the most wonderful textile jewellery, 

try to find the time to visit if you possibly can  : )

One of the things i like best about the front page of etsy is the interview with the artist/craftsperson/seller, not least of all cos i like studying the image they included of themselves in their work space. I have this fascination with looking at other peoples homes and the things they gather around them. I  think it tells so much  about a person. 

( that is just an elaborate way of saying i am nosey!!!)

So incase you too are "fascinated by the stories peoples possessions tell", (nosey) then, in the spirit of fair play, this is my work space  : )