Bag It!

I love bags! Maybe you know someone who does too. Wide selection of bags at: Henrietta's Handbags.

One of the sections I took an immediate liking to was the vintage-inspired purse patterns by Monica Poole. Many of them had a classic old-world charm about them, which seems to be a little lacking in some of the more mainstream, mass-produced bags out in the market.

Here's just one of the pretty designs, featuring three uber lovely and psychedelic-looking feline friends. This range is designed by Laurel Burch. Her designs feature colorful animals and show off a sense of style that's uniquely, distinctly hers. The eye-catching colors immediately jazz up an otherwise "safe" outfit you might have.



The section Indygo Junction contains bag/purse patterns and pattern books for you to get acquainted with the craft itself, as well as more intricate specific designs like the Matilda purse or Nouveau Hobo bag pattern.

There's backpacks for practical folks too. Items like the delicate felted purses (using the time honored technique of pounding, agitation, and scrubbing until the natural barbs of wool fasten on to each other) are sure to be noticed if you take one of them out with you on shopping trips.

With the Folded Kimono Purse pattern, genuine vintage Kimono fabric is used. No two kits are alike as all the patterns are one of a kind.

Write Away

Personalized stationery for someone with a home office, or any kind of office, or even no office - it just makes a great gift. I know I'd love to receive some!

Love Bracelet

Tis' Christmas - the season of love. Do something different. Buy a love bracelet for yourself or someone you're close to, and contribute to a worthwhile cause at the same time. Even famous movie stars are buying and wearing these bracelets as a tribute to the brave children. Read more about these children and about how you can help by purchasing a bracelet like the one shown in the picture.

For the Birds

http://www.coolgiftsandtreasures.com/
For someone who loves birds, this bird feeder is just perfect. It's really beautiful with Victorian-styled hummingbirds and morning glories painted on it.

Mama and Papa Bear

Visit http://www.bearsinchairs.com/ and order personalised gifts for a loving family you know. Many designs to choose from like those below. You can even choose the kind of bears you want.

Handcrafted Journal

Before there were blogs, there were journals.

Some stats: at 111, the world's oldest man (Mr. Tomoji Tanabe of Tokyo) upkeeps a daily journal. In a recent scientific study, psychologists determined that putting feelings into words produces therapeutic effects in the brain. Something which practitioners of mindfulness meditation have been doing for millennia.

Maybe you know someone who still journals, the old fashioned way - it *is* more private! Not to mention all the benefits as listed above.

You could get him or her an authentic, beautifully handcrafted journal from Nepal. There are a couple of wirebound journals too for someone with more fastidious habits, whereby they'd prefer ripping a whole unwanted sheet off instead of having a messy, scribbled and re-scribbled page amidst their lokta/recycled papers (the type of paper that SoulfulLiving uses for its paper products).

SoulfulLiving also has unique gift baskets - you can even mix and match items to create your own gift basket. Thoughtful consideration goes into each of their themes and combinations, which are aptly named to the likes of "Tranquil Meditation" (one of my favorites, looking at the colors is soothing enough), "Awakening" (for energizing), and "Om Mantra".

Something funky about SoulfulLiving is that you can select your favorite gift wrapping from eight colorful and fun specialty wrapping papers. These papers are hand crafted in India and Japan.

Towering Gift

Why not give this elegant chocolate tower for Christmas? It's beautiful to look at and it's filled with goodies - goodies like chocolates, pretzels, popcorn, brownies...

Those with a sweet tooth will find themselves spoiled for choice at Presentville. Some of their mouth-watering confectionery creations include chocolate-covered Oreos, giant fortune cookies, and chocolate pretzels (ooh!).

The Pop Art gift tower is another eye-catching set, which is packed full with solid milk chocolates, a decorated star cookie, gourmet caramel popcorn, crunchie nut mix and brightly wrapped fruit flavoured hard candy.

Their novelty items include cookie bouquets, and I think I'd have a hard time finding someone who didn't enjoy them. There's even Happy Studying and Keep Smiling bouquets for school-goers. Even the most studious of us could do with sugary pick-me-up goodliness from time to time.

I also liked the Happy Anniversary cookie basket - truly a great way to treat your special someone that you care for. There's a large butter crème frosted cookie that's iced with your personal message too.

Presentville's corporate and business sets are fine ways to show a customer how much you appreciate them. Some of their luxurious wine gift baskets are hand delivered. Many of them include crackers, cheese, candies, nuts, seafood, confections, teas, or coffees. Salivating yet?