rare bird finds under $20 gift guide feature
Look what our favorite birdies featured… a must have for any glam girl.
Dog Living Magazine Feature
Pampered Pet FramesWhat dog lover doesn’t have an extensive photo collection of their furry best friend around? Your pup will look fabulous in these cleverly clipped pet frames by a.i. paper design…
And on a side note – How adorable are those needle felted dog portraits? What a fantastic splurge for the devoted pet lover. Just amazing!
bowling pins in disguise
Meet Marsha Filipiak of Royal Oak, Michigan. She creates a unique assortment of artful wares and just recently she's branched out into whimsical green goods and vintage flavored ornaments.
I had the opportunity to ask Marsha a little bit about her one-of-a-kind goodies…
What inspired you to start creating your art and how did you turn it into a business?
I love stained glass windows and decided to create some for our own new home. I was hooked. I did glass part-time while holding a full time bookkeeping job and pretty soon I got busy enough to start my own business.
What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
I like to come up with unique ideas for glass and not stick to the traditional. This goes for anything else I make as well.
Take the bowling pins for example… I bought them at an estate sale and they hung around for a year. I was looking at them while I was working in my studio and suddenly I saw a body, then wings and 'BINGO' it was an angel.
Then I turned it sideways and it was a fish. It's fun to take the idea and develop it into something and then have customers enjoy your work.
What is one thing that makes your items unique?
Having original ideas & designs.
Marsha's work is available at our Berkley & Rochester locations and you can also learn more about her by visiting her website.
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how-to-holiday videos
Oh how I love the classic Christmas crafts! Talk about a candy cane with some personality. These guys would be cute package toppers, or fun to hand out at the office or classroom.
And a tasty treat for your favorite neighborhood birds… also a neat handmade gift for the kids to give grandma & grandpa.
And these ornaments are for the dogs… literally. But you better hang them high to avoid any possible Christmas tree catastrophes. Never the less, an adorable goody to pack in your pooch’s stocking.
We love discovering simple ideas that make us smile… what – you too? Then don’t delay and sign up to receive these hip blog posts in your email inbox today!
countdown to christmas
The month of December is always an exciting time for the kiddies as the countdown to Christmas begins! One fun way mark the days is with this really cute reusable advent calendar for $12.50.
Or if you’re feeling more crafty this goody bag garland I found at Kids Craft Weekly is a festive way to lead up to the big day!
You can jazz up some lunch bags with a simple potato stamp and red paint, then fill them with little tiny treats that the kids can open every day leading up to the 25th.
Sound like fun? Click HERE to see some sweet goodies that’ll bring wide smiles.
We love discovering simple ideas & starting new traditions… what – you too? Then don’t delay and sign up to receive these hip blog posts in your email inbox today!
giving more than just a gift
If you’re looking to give more than just another gift this season, consider pairing up a little something with a donation to a charitable organization. Then, when your friends and family receive your thoughtful themed present with a note about the donation you made in their honor to help others with greater needs than your own… you’ll truly be celebrating the real reason behind Christmas.
Here are a few of our clever ideas…
Have fun writing your own wishes while granting wishes of a lifetime to children in need through Make a Wish Foundation. Flying Wish Paper $16.50
Tote your H2O around in these snazzy stainless steel bottles and help dig wells in Africa to provide clean water to communities through Blood: Water Mission. 16 oz bottles $13.95
Bake up some of your famous cookies and package them in a cute flour sack towel while helping feed those who are hungry in your community through Forgotten Harvest. flour sack towel $8.50 (your homemade cookies – priceless)
Add a little sparkle to your window with this handmade wire word while helping create healing environments for children affected by serious medical conditions through the Suite Dreams Project . wire word $22
Trim your tree with sweet ornaments like these while helping out animals in need through your local Humane Society. handcrafted dog ornament $8.95
Add this handmade crystal angel to your tree or window while supporting other angels out in field doing good for mankind through Oprah’s Angel Network. crystal angel sun catcher $13.95
Have fun coloring away with these recycled pencils while encouraging young budding artists to expand their imagination through environmentally friendly programs like Arts & Scraps. colored smencils $14.50
Enjoy the flickering light of this gorgeous led candle holder while contributing to help eliminate the HIV virus through the Light to Unite Organizaion. candle holder $12.50
Remind your sistas how important it is to do monthly breast checks with this oh-so-cheeky boob lube while supporting the efforts to find a cure for breast cancer through the Susan G Komen charity. Boob Lube $14.95
Enjoy your morning cup-O-joe in this sleek thermal porcelain cup while doing your part to help out our planet through the Sierra Club. I am not a paper cup $19.95
These are just a few or our ideas, but I’m sure you could conjure up many more. We’d love to hear some of your suggestions on how to make the world a better place and still have fun unwrapping a special present.
Do you like seeking out the perfect gift that is thoughtful & heartfelt? We’re happy to assist you in your search with loads of clever ideas. Simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email and you’ll be the best gift giver around!
Gus wishes you a happy howling holiday
Apparently Gus thought his debut as a dancing elf was quite a hoot… or howl that is.
swell stocking stuffer ideas from our very own elves
Need a little help finding the hottest holiday goodies to surprise your friends & family? Our groovy Berkley elves have some feverishly good ideas that’ll make you the hippest cat in town.
They smell so good I could stick them up my nose. Not recommended for people who actually stick things up their nose.
Life is full of distractions – especially if you’re my 16 year old daughter. I gave her this magnet last year and we still joke about it. The words "oh look, a chicken" are not only used by me during a distracted conversation with her but also by her friends. It’s always good for a laugh :)
I’m addicted to these make a wish bracelets. I loved wearing mine for four months and when it naturally fell off I couldn’t wait to make another wonderful wish with a new one!
I have purchased this for a couple friends and paired it with a bottle of wine as a hostess or engagement gift. It’s an easy, inexpensive and useful gift!
I love this bag! I use it for grocery shopping and sometimes as a bookbag for school. It’s cute and colorful and it’s nice to know I’m being environmentally friendly!
Now if you got a Christmas ho down to attend this season, boy-O-boy, our Rochester gals have kicked up some great gift suggestions.
I bought one of these for myself and I love it, it really works and keeps my toothpaste at bay. In fact everyone on my christmas list is getting one.
This was a huge hit at my brother’s Christmas party last year. Everyone gathered around “the fire” and enjoyed their cocktails. It was the perfect way to set the mood without an actual fireplace!
One of my favorite places to be is in the kitchen and I hate it when I’m in the middle of a recipe and realize I don’t have one of the ingredients. But now, with this handy list that has a permanent home on my fridge – that rarely ever happens.
My husband & I really enjoy warm drinks during the winter months so we love this little guy. He makes our hot cocoa extra delicious after he works his magic.
These flipnotes were used as a baby shower favor and made big "hit" with all the women who attended. They come in such vibrant and cool colors, and they’re so sleek looking. Who wouldn’t want to receive this little notebook in their stocking.
And for some classic gifts that’ll never go out of style, our website crew has some swingin’ suggestions that are sure to tickle your fancy.
Bad Girls Book Club Magnet $5.00
I am in a book club with a few friends and the first rule is that you MUST come, even if you haven’t finished the book, started the book, or even attempted to pick it up from the library! What’s important is making time for your girlfriends.
If you are like me, and are always digging through your bag looking for your keys–this item is a life saver! Really saves you time on your way out the door :D
Just a few years ago I had my entire family over and I was planning on doing a little grilling. One problem, my propane tank was running low. Finding a place to refill the tank on a holiday was not easy and created a stressful situation. Now with my new tank gauge, running low on gas will never interupt the party groove.
I don’t see any reason why only people get to snack on tasty chips. These are my favorite t.v. treat when I’m watching Cesar Millan work his magic on the Dog Whisperer.
Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds $3.50
My mom LOVES these tasty little morsels. Since my parents relocate to Florida for the holiday season, I make sure to slip a couple of these in a bubble envelope along with my Christmas card each year. Because who doesn’t love finding sweet surprises in the mail?
Well, we hope you got a few good ideas from our funny elves for your friends & family. For even MORE stocking stuffer suggestions click HERE!
Do you like seeking out the perfect gift? We’re happy to assist you in your search with loads of clever ideas. Simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email and you’ll be the best gift giver around!
catching fireflies on channel 7!
Downtown Rochester flipped the switch on their oh-so-festive Big Bright Light Show this Monday!
Warren Pierce stopped by to see what catching fireflies had in store for the holiday season.
Looks like the Christmas fairy sprinkled some extra holiday spirit on our Rochester gals.
That crafty Megan can sure make a festive headband!
2008 online gift guide features
as seen at marieclaire.com
Tiny hands can easily grasp the handles on these utensils that make mealtime fun. $19.50
as seen at goodhousekeeping.com
Fun and flexible, these nostalgic TV figurines are perfect for any collection. $6.50 each
as seen at redbookmag.com
After a day of fierce shopping, divas can rejuvenate tuckered-out toes with an indulgent lavender foot bath. Just a few pinches turn water into a soothing, fragrant jelly. $21.95
as seen at quickandsimple.com
Personalize this recipe keeper with Mom’s name and signature dishes. Don’t worry — hinged rings let her easily add, remove and rearrange pages. $30 with customization.
as seen at quickandsimple.com
