Valentine Day Gift Idea

Christmas has passed so we have come up from air after all the hard-work of selecting gifts for family and friends. You walk into the store and you soon realize it is time to start thinking about Valentine's Day!

Whether it is picking something special or just a small token to make someone know they are special, a handmade gift is always a great option.

Special Meaning Gifts

Many houses are full of t-shirts that take up space in our closest and dressers. Some we collect overtime and we put into a box to donate to charity or it ends up as a rag. There are the other t-shirts that have a special place in our hearts, connected to a memory in our past. Grab that t-shirt and contact Strawberry Auburn! They can turn it into a pillow. Do you have a large number of t-shirts? How about a quilt?

Tshirt Memory Pillows 

Tshirt Quilts

Gifts for Pampering

Another way to show your affection is to pamper your favorite person (or give them gifts where they can pamper themselves)! Check out Seasons of Love for ideas on relaxing in a hot bath or treating yourself! So many wonderful scrubs, scents, bombs, and essential oils to choose from. Why not get one for someone special and one for yourself?

Lavender Shower Steamer 

Men's Hand Scrub  

A Little Something

Sometimes the smallest packages contain the best gifts. A small reminder for a bad day or an inspiration for a goal that we are pursuing. Studio 31 an help you find a a special stone presented in a a one of a kind setting. Find one that speaks to you or for you!

"MACK" REVERSIBLE OVAL STAINED BULL'S HORN AMULET PENDANT

"ARIEL" RED CORAL AMULET RING

Still not sure? Haven't found something that speaks to you yet? All that really matters is that it comes from the heart!

Summertime Memories

Summertime brings holidays, lazy days, and many times crazy days. It is a time for making memories or trying to slow down the clock in order to enjoy life and the little things we sometimes overlook.

When I think of summer it brings me back to my childhood with lighting bugs, tag with the neighborhood kids, and the sounds of crickets as the streetlight start to turn on, signaling it was time to do inside.

Handmade in KC artists can help provide pieces of memories for the next generations childhood!

I remember making toys out of some of the simplest things laying around the house, whether it be a shoe box that we turned into a bed for our barbie doll or scrapes of wood for furniture. Simple things help your imagination soar. I love these wooden toys made Creations by M and J . They take me back to a time where toys were the starting point to a story (and the story had not been created yet but a movie or film.)

When you are creating your stories, you always need a central character (or two) in order to help bring the story alive. I remember the blue whale I had as a child that would go on adventures with me. The Little Wing can help you provide that special friend who is a key player in a child's adventures for years to come!

As we know, the start of any story comes from a simple inspiration or idea. It could be a song that we make up about bugs or fairies. The idea could come from a dream we had about traveling to distance places (like grandma's house) or a dream where the grass is made of cotton candy and the flowers are made of chocolate. A simple picture can inspire a child to dream and create an adventure that lasts a lifetime through memories. Violet's Buds can help inspire the adventure though images of travel or play!

What memories do you have from days of summer, long since past? Is it having a tea party with your blue whale and little sister? Building kingdoms out of scrapes of wood and conquering the world? What memories will the next generation come up with and what will inspire their imaginations?

Celebrating May!

April in Kansas City has been full of showers. Like the saying, "April showers bring May flowers." May starts off with May Day with baskets full of lowers but also brings many additional occasions for us to celebrate heritage, family, and ones we have lost. See how Handmade in KC artists can help us in the month of May with touches of themselves and their handmade pieces.

May Day encourages us to create May Day baskets for our neighbors or participate in a May Day celebration. (May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival. It is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures in Europe.) 

Fill a heart shaped basket to hang on the door of a neighbor or the one you love from Demeter's Charisma!

Cinco De Mayo
Whether you celebrate Cinco De Mayo because you need a reason to drink margaritas or Corona's or your heritage takes you back to Mexico and you understand the meaning behind the celebration! (Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for "Five of May", the holiday is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín.)

Attend a Mexican fiesta or have a celebrate with friends while wearing this upcycled keychain from FabTabulous!

"This is a totally unique, upcycled keychain made from pull tabs of post consumer aluminum cans, a 1 1/8 inch key ring, and black leather cord. It features a post consumer black and mustard gold Corona Light beer bottle cap which has been woven right into the design." ~FabTabulous

Mother's Day reminds us to say thank you to those who have helped raise us or have helped us when our mother is no longer there to do it herself. (Mother's Day is a day to honor the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.)

 Taking time to show our appreciation and love can be as simple as giving her a Spa in a Jar from Seasons of Love!

"This spa sets contains all the basic spa materials and a few other deluxe items. So take some time and enjoy a long bath with your bath bomb, exfoliate dry dead skin with a moisturizing sugar scrub, or lather on some whipped body butter to leave your skin soft and smooth. Spa sets are a great way for you to sample a variety of items as well. " ~ Seasons of Love

Memorial Day

Spring is also the time for baby showers and dressing little ones in outfits allowing them to show off their patriotic spirit as they help pay tribute to those who have fought for their freedom! (Memorial Day in the United States is a federal holiday established to remember the people who died while serving in our country's armed forces.)

Dress up your little one or share with a friend with this patriotic ensemble from Handmade by LoloZ

"Adorable set in coordinating red, white and blue stars and stripes prints. Open back top has ruffle trim and snap closure. Bloomers have three rows of ruffles and elastic legs and waist. Sandals have elastic. Available in 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-18 months - specify size when ordering."~Handmade by LoloZ

Whether May means celebrating spring, Mother's Day, Mexico's victory, or recognizing those who have fought for freedom, it is a month full of hope and thanks! Handmade in KC has numerous artists who can help you find a unique way to show your support or love!

Wedding Season

I can tell wedding season is fast approaching as I have my fourth order for woven reed hearts this week! Weaving, painting, dyeing, and shipping. Here are just a few of the ones I have created lately!
The heart reed baskets are great for flower girls or even a different look for bridesmaids, but what about the BRIDE!




Check out some of the things being made at Vintage Wedding Gems.

Located in Kansas City, each creation is handmade based and can be custom made. Utilizing vintage lace, ribbons, and gems, each piece carries a little bit of history into a very historic event! What a great way to add a personal touch to a memorable event.

This Purple Venise Lace Headband is such a pretty addition! It would compliment the purple heart basked carried by the flower girls perfectly!














Want something a little more unique?
Check out this Unique Bridal Fascinator!






Every bride needs some jewelery to put the finishing touches on her look. 

Check out Nuggets of Goodness for some great pieces to add to your collection and to make your wedding day special. 

Nuggets of Goodness creates unique handmade jewelry made from recycled vintage baubles and beads. Retro / Indie style for your modern life!   

A pair of Plum Drop Earrings  is the perfect finishing touch to a purple accented wedding.

Elegant with just a touch of color, for either the bride or her maid of honor!





It is so exciting to check out what others are creating. Don't forget to check out other Kansas City area artists at http://handmadeinkc.wix.com/home!

Kansas City Handmade Sellers

Arm Knitted Scarf

It is always nice to be able to purchase handcrafted items for either myself or for others as gifts. Knowing someone put time into creating a piece makes it special.

Check out some of the artists in the Kansas City Area. In the months ahead I will highlight various artists and their creations. It is always exciting to see what others are doing and be able to take some of their excitement and turn it into my own inspirations. Pictured are some of my latest projects inspired by others ideas.

http://handmadeinkc.wix.com/home