CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!!

Christmas is right around the corner. Can you believe it?! In an attempt to encourage everyone to plan ahead and to avoid the chaos of the malls and big stores, I thought it would be fun to plug some of the smaller businesses that we like.

As long as the business sells something suitable for gift giving, then it doesn't matter what kind of things it sells - big or small, ready to wrap up and stick under the tree or perfect to tuck in a stocking, consumable or keepsake.

The first rule is that you are not allowed to toot your own horn. We're only sharing the places & people we like doing business with as customers, not advertising our own companies.

The second rule is that you can't link anyone whose product or service you've never used or experienced yourself, regardless of how great you know they are. Fair enough?

I'll start ... and hope I'm not forgetting anyone.

It's Annmade For You: website - Ann's site has a variety of hats, but you can show her a picture of any hat or describe what you want and she'll be able to make it perfectly. She recently made a custom hat for Naomi, based on the things Naomi liked in hats she saw online, and it's super cute!

Knittin' Peace: etsy site - Robin can sew, knit, felt, etc. I have a quilt she made for Naomi & a bag she made for me. I've also purchased aprons from her, both off the rack and custom orders. Everything has been fantastic.

Ocean Breeze: etsy site, blog, Facebook page - Linda's jewelry is beautiful and affordable. She's great at making custom orders and is willing to tweak items already on her site, such as switching from silver to gunmetal.

Smarty Bars: website, Facebook page - Elisha makes some gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, vegan and raw snacks. They're bite-sized and super tasty!

The Blissful Stitcher: etsy site, blog, Facebook page - Heidi can embroider just about anything, can sew some items if what you need can't be found anywhere, and makes cool, woven monograms. She's been great to work with each time I've ordered a custom item, both for personal use and for an event I co-planned.

The Custom Soap Shop: Facebook page - Michelle makes a ton of different soaps (standard bars and fun shapes), body butters, lotions, etc. that I've both given and received as gifts.

Now it's your turn. Leave a comment with the name of the business, website, and any information you think would be good to add for those who are ready to do some Christmas shopping. You don't have to have a Blogger or Google account to leave a comment, so everyone can join in the fun.