Shopping

Have Yourself A Merry Etsy Christmas

December 4, 2019 by Anne Sweet 2 Comments

Do you buy Etsy gifts? I love the site for finding unusual gifts that you can’t get anywhere else. It’s also lovely to be able to support small businesses, people who work so hard to make things to sell.

I’m still hoping to open a shop myself, but I’m way behind in making stuff to actually open up so it really gives me an impression on how hard these sellers work.

Last Christmas I wrote a post on some lovely gift ideas I found from Etsy, so I though I’d do the same again this year. I hope you find something you like, the links will be affiliate links which won’t cost you anything extra but may earn me a little money, so thank you and Merry Christmas.

Crystals

Boo, is crystal crazy. She loves all stones and was so excited when she realised that I had a stash myself. I used to buy crystals many years ago as they always made me feel good. Here are some crystal gifts I’ve found on Etsy.

Healing Crystals and Stones Gift Set

This is an unusual etsy gift but it’s perfect for anyone who likes to use crystals for healing purposes.

box of healing crystals and stones. — Healing crystals from Auaramore £22.50

Rose Crystal Planter

I love this unusual gift planter, it’s really eye catching.

Rose Crystal Bracelet

If you prefer to wear your crystals you can’t beat a beautiful bracelet like this rose quartz one.

Crafty Etsy Gifts

Etsy is all about crafts, but maybe you know someone who likes to craft. You can also buy gifts that would please anyone with a crafting hobby. Here is a few unusual gifts I’ve picked.

Stitch Markers

Anyone who crochets or knits always needs lots of stitch markers, and these days you can get such beautiful ones. I love collecting them as much as using them. so this has to be my first choice.

Embroidery kit

I adore this little embroidery kit, but if it’s not to your liking do click through to the shop as the owner has so many gorgeous patterns.

bee embroidery — Bee Embroidery kit £9.95

Sewing kit for kids

Kids like crafting too, and this little bag contains some cute sewing projects for children aged 8 and over.

sewing bag with contents for children — Sewing Kit for kids £9.25

Cheap and Wonderful Etsy Gifts

Do you need stocking fillers or maybe a Secret Santa gift? Here is a little selection of the gifts available from Etsy. Do visit the site for much more.

Wish Bracelet

There are loads of wish bracelets to choose from on Etsy. My eye was caught by this cute rabbit one.

Shampoo Bar

This will not offend anyone, it’s eco friendly, vegan and useful. And it sounds like it will smell delightful. oops! I just put one in my basket.

Gamer Socks

Got a gamer in the house, who hasn’t these days? These are for Fortnite fans but I’m sure you can find others.

Emergency Gin Keyring

Perfect little gift for a gin lover, I love how you can choose to have it sealed and filled with a glue like substance, or left open so you can actually fill it with your own gin, you know, just in case of an emergency …many more keyrings are available and they make lovely presents.

I hope you have enjoyed my little guide. What do you love about Etsy?

Did you know that Etsy have their own gift guide?

Christmas Gifts from Vonshef

November 22, 2019 by Anne Sweet 5 Comments

I have just become an affiliate for the Vonshef website so if you click any of my links and go ahead and buy something, then I may earn some commission. The good news is, it won’t cost you any extra. Thanks for your support.

I’m writing this post because until I got the e-mail I didn’t even know that Vonshef existed and as a lover of kitchen gadgets and such I was instantly enamoured with the site. I hope you will be too and enjoy a few examples that I am sharing with you.

Gifts for Gin Lovers from Vonshef

Gin is really big at the moment and what could be better than a gin related gift. Here are a few I can suggest, check out the Vonshef site for more.

Glass Gin Decanter and 2 Balloon Glasses

Comes packaged in a beautiful gift box. £15.99 (currently on offer)

Gin Infuser Set

Make your own blends and flavours with this infuser set, also gift boxed. £12.99

Gifts for Cheese Lovers

Now I’m a huge cheese lover and I’d be more than happy with these gifts for Christmas.

This bamboo wood cheese board with a hidden knife compartment is perfect for cheese tasting. It costs £16.99.

Swiss Fondue Set

Who wouldn’t love a Swiss Style Fondue set and when you don’t fancy melted cheese, how about chocolate instead? £27.99

Coffee Lovers Gifts

8 cup Copper Cafetiere/French press

I have a cafetiere already but it’s not as nice or as big as this. I think I paid about the same price for it too. £12.99 for an 8 cup cafetiere with a lovely copper decoration and of course, a beautiful gift box.

Black Milk Frother

No, it’s not for black milk! This frother heats up your milk and froths it, perfect for cappuccinos, macchiatos, lattes and more. £29.99

More Gifts Under £20 From Vonshef

Belgian Waffle Maker

We love our waffle maker and the Little Man is always coming up with new recipes to try. This is a dual one and only costs £12.99

Brushed gold Stemless Glasses

These glasses are unusual and beautiful and would make a perfect gift for only £9.99 for 2.

Wine Bottle Accessory Kit

This handy accessory kit, complete with corkscrew, bottle stop, aerating wine pourer, wine drip collar ring and carrying case comes in a black faux leather case. £8.99

This is just a small look at some of the lovely things you can buy at Vonshef, I hope you like the site as much as I do.

Grab Your Coat! It’s getting cold – An Autumn Fashion Post

October 5, 2019 by Anne Sweet 2 Comments

Autumn is on us and despite the odd peak of sun from behind the clouds, it’s no longer close enough for warmth. People everywhere and grabbing their coats before they leave the house. But what should be we wearing this Autumn and Winter. Ah yes, this is an Autumn fashion post!

My Man likes to look smart, and whenever he goes out it’s more likely he’ll wear something from Suits Men.

I have to admit, I do like to wear a nice dress myself. I guess we scrub up well.

But what do women wear in Autum and Winter? Here’s a few of my picks.

The Dress

I’m a big fan of Joe Browns but in the past I’ve been dissapointed in the length of their dresses. I’m pretty tall and generally have to wear their dresses like a tunic with trousers or leggings. But I found this lovely Joe Browns dress on the JD Williams site and its nice and long.

midi length green floral patterned dress from Joe Brown, perfect for Autumn fashion — Joe Browns midi dress £49

The Coat

I used to wear a coat for driving and a coat for walking. Now, I tend to wear something that will keep me warm and dry in my wheelchair. I adore this lovely oversized coat in fuschia. But I’m not sure I’m brave enough to wear something so bright. Usually, I’m more comfortable in neutral colours like black or navy. Although I do have a nice camel coloured coat.

A model wearing a really bright fuschia oversized coat — Helene Berman Coat in Fuschia £169

Wrapping Up!

The best way to deal with this weather is to wrap up with layers. Then you can keep warm but remove a layer if you get too hot. So how do you layer your clothes, here’s some quick tips for your Autumn fashion wardrobe

Nice warm tights
A blouse or shirt
A quality woolen jumper
A blazer or coat on top
add extra warmth with scarf and gloves
Make sure you have waterproof shoes

As I mentioned before, my husband likes suits, but they don’t have to be just for men. Women look good in suits and they are a great way of layering up and keeping warm.

Here’s a fabulous black jacket from Next that would go with any smart trousers (or even jeans if you can wear them to work!)

A smart, single buttoned black ladies jacket — Black Jacket £45

Skirts or Trousers?

People make a grab for trousers this weather simply because they are warmer. But get the right tights and a skirt is just as warm. I’m a huge fan of The Sock Shop and recently bought my daughter some bamboo tights for shcool which she loves. But they do them in ladies sizes too. Warm legs are no problem in these and you can stick to your Autumn fashion look.

Two pairs of tights modelled on upside down legs, both pairs of tights are black — Ladies bamboo tights, 2 pack £20.99

You can also add a pop of colour, these tights come in 6 different colours and are currently just £4.99.

one pair of red tights modelled on upside down legs — Ladies colour tights

So you are not restricted to trousers, so how about a skirt? This pleated skirt from Next costs just £19 and comes in a wide range of colours, or plain black if that’s your thing.

A pleated grean floral patterened skirt on a model shown from the waist down with silver shoes — Pleated Skirt £19, other colours and patterns available

I used to be a jean person, but now I find that denim makes my legs tingle even more, so my trousers have to be picked carefully. I like to put comfort first, but these tapered trousers look smart and feel comfortable, so they are a winner for me.

black tapered trousers modelled from the waist down wtih red shoes — Tapered Trousers £15

Wardrobe

We have just bought a new wardrobe (As in the actual wooden type, not the huge pile of clothes) and now is the perfect time to sort through and get rid of all the clothes I won’t be wearing for a long time (or never, in which case, they will go into the charity bag.) Then I can focus on updating my clothes with the new season Autumn fashion.

Have you bought any new clothes lately? Do you have to dress formally for work? And my biggest question..would you wear a bright fuschia coat?

Previous Fashion Posts

Disclosure: Thanks for reading, please be aware I’ve included some affiliate links in this post and links to other sites that I cannot be held responsible for.

My New Avon Venture and a Give Away.

August 29, 2019 by Anne Sweet 3 Comments

Recently, I became an Avon Representative. It’s not new to me as I used to be one before we moved house six years ago. I had my regular customers that I would visit in their homes and take brochures and orders. I got to know them well and we would often stop and chat for a while. One old lady I visited would always have a handful of sweets for my little girls.

I gave it up when I moved house, we moved into a building site and it didn’t seem like it would work at the time.

quote box; butterflies can't see their wings. They can't see how truly beautiful they are but everyone else can. People are like that as well.

Starting Again.

Then a recruiting representative knocked on my door and asked if I would be interested. I told her I used to love it, but now I can’t go out alone because of my mobility issues. I wouldn’t be able to go door to door like I used to.

But, she convinced that it wouldn’t be a problem because I can do most of my selling online! Yes, I can get customers from anywhere at all in the UK and sell to them with the deliveries going direct to their door! So, I decided to give it a try.

I still have some local ladies, neighbours and relatives that I can sell to. But with the online option it means I can open my Avon shop up to anyone. As always, it’s a struggle to get going online. The Internet is huge and it’s hard to get seen. But I thought if I popped a few details here then maybe my lovely readers would be willing to share and maybe pop along themselves.

Facebook Avon

I have set up my own Facebook page especially for Avon.

AnneSweetAvon Facebook

Here you will find regular posts about products, including podcasts, news, beauty inspiration, and competitions. I’m currently running a give away where you can win a lipstick for yourself and your friend just by tagging someone in the post.

Instagram Avon

I also have an Instagram account which is also hosting a giveaway at the moment.

AnneSweetAvon Instagram

Plans

I’ve got lots of ideas for my Social Media accounts so I really hope that you will follow me.

I’m hoping to host online Avon parties with quick give aways and interaction. There will be loads of information on all things make-up, skincare, jewellery, clothing and household items.

And don’t forget, Christmas will be coming soon!

My online shop can be found here

Remember, you can order anywhere at all in the UK and it will be delivered directly to your door. There is usually a small fee for this but each month you can avoid the fees by ordering a certain amount or entering a code, so keep watch on my Facebook page for information on these.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for any sharing or purchasing or joining my Social Media sites.

Shop the Unique, My Pick from the Etsy Design Awards.

August 12, 2019 by Anne Sweet 2 Comments

Etsy Design Awards

The Etsy Design Awards are Etsy’s first-ever global award program. Honoring the work of creatives from around the world, #TheEtsies will highlight the best of Etsy and celebrate the talented people behind the winning products.

Selected from thousands of entries received from around the world, 160 global finalists are in the running for the $15,000 USD Grand Prize or the top prize in one of five categories: Inventive Decor, Signature Style, Festive Celebrations, Earth-Friendly, and Creative Collaborations.

A selection of items that have been selected for the Etsy awards, personalised pictures at the top, in the middle, a girl with a handmade frock, a smiley colourful armchair, a miniature painting of three houses, on the bottom a swall decor with plants, a wedding and engagement ring and some glass straws. — *Some Etsy Design Award Entries*

My Picks from the Awards

Where do I start? There are 160 items to choose from and I don’t envy the judges one bit!

I’m going to pick one from each category and then a few more (Because I’m not a judge and I can.)

Inventive Decor

This was the most difficult to choose from. I loved so many items but I guess the one that stands out the most for me is the Smiley Armchair, Scarlet Love

You have to admit it really does stand out with it’s vibrant colours and patterns. It’s lovingly made with vintage fabrics and red velvet. It would definitely be a talking point in any home. But most of all, it makes me smile and it’s so inviting, I’d just have to sit on it.

Signature Style

Again, such wonderful pieces to choose from but this one caught my eye. It would be perfect for any pasta lover or chef. Farfalle Pasta Necklace Sterling Silver by Delicacies Jewelry

It’s so pretty and unique, I’d definitely wear it even though I’m not a big pasta lover. Other pasta pieces of jewellery are available from the seller.

Festive Celebrations

From printable wedding invitations to backdrops and dresses. This selection celebrates weddings. There are some lovely items but I fell in love with this unusual ring set. UNGLEICH & Rosé – Engagement ring wedding ring

Now, if only I was not already married!

Earth Friendly

I’m all for sustainability and we were only talking the other day while eating out, that it was good the straws were paper, but what a shame the coffee cups had plastic lids. It’s something we need to think about so I loved this section of sustainability made finds that look great and help the planet.

My choice has to be this lovely Bee Hotel

Not only is it pretty, it offers a lovely safe place for the bees visiting your garden.

Collaborative Creations

These are a selection of personalised hand crafted goods, made to order. Again there is so much to choose from but the one that I have chosen is this lovely family portrait made from paper cuts. Personalised family portraits.

I love the detail that’s put into each one, and they can be made for any family with details and photographs provided. You can tell a lot of care has gone into making them special.

Bonus Choices.

Personalised Love Stories illustrated Maps Imagine having your story lovingly presented in a map form with adorable illustrations. Magical!

2020 & 2019 DIY Printable Typewriter Desk Calendar How cute are these! And you can print them off and make them yourself. I’m so, so tempted.

Kids Doodle Design Dress Oh my, how adorable. This lady takes your kids drawing and reproduces them as decorations on a pretty little dress.

Do you Etsy?

I could spend hours (and I do) browsing the Etsy stores. There is so much to choose from and so many things that you just wouldn’t find anywhere else. I love shopping for those difficult to buy presents, those relatives that have everything already. But most of all, I love shopping for me, in particular the jewellery stores.

The girls are Etsy fans too as it’s a great place to buy the most unusual and fabulous slime creations. I don’t think they will ever grow out of slime. I have a ‘slime’ shelf in the fridge which is probably not like any slime shelf you would think of. (Yes, they all have their own little containers, they are not just dripping all over the food 🙂 )

I am working on some products myself so I can stock my own Etsy shop. I’ll let you know when it’s open and maybe you can take a peek. I can’t wait to join all the other creative Etsy shop owners.

In the meantime, please do take a look at this years entries for the Etsy Design Awards and let me know in the comments which you would vote for. (n.b. sorry but our votes don’t count.)

Disclosure: I am an Etsy affiliate and the links in the post have my affiliate codes.

See my previous Etsy Posts here: Gift for Mums from Etsy and Christmas Shopping with a Difference from Etsy

Subscribe to blog via Email