gift ideas: guest post at under the sheets shhh

Today I'm doing a special guest post over at Under the Sheets Shhh. Laura lives in San Francisco and recently became engaged, so I thought she and her readers might appreciate some unique wedding & birthday gift giving ideas. Here's a copy of my post:

With so many friends getting married, having babies and celebrating birthdays these days, I’m always on the lookout for that special something… a gift that speaks to someone’s personality and gives them a sense of surprise and delight. When possible, I like to support independent business owners too, which is what brought me to the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco last weekend. Here are a few favorites of the many fabulous items I discovered…

For your next wedding or bridal shower, consider Whitney Smith’s beautiful pottery. Her bird cake plates and lotus nesting bowls have captured my heart. What better way to highlight your prettiest meals than by serving them up with a work of art?

Dee & Lala are a perennial favorite of mine for their darling letterpress cards. What I didn’t know is that they also make prints. For a mom to be, a set of 4 framed woodland critters would make a sweet addition to the nursery. Or, how about a ‘peaclock’ for that stylish girlfriend? A fresh and modern addition to her home office.

For the crafty DiY’er, turn to My Imaginary Boyfriend. This tree stump pin cushion actually makes me want to learn to sew, and the make your own birch log kit is hilariously irreverent. It also makes a great gift for your earth friendly pals, as does the pretty purple tote bag if you want to dress up her next trip to the farmers market.

For a milestone birthday, how about a journal to record the year from Jill Bliss? She carries a solid line of feminine notebooks, stationary and prints with sketches of native flowers in warm, modern colors. The fabric covered notebook is extra handy for crafters with storage to hold your pencils and scissors. Also, I just love her latest addition of dainty floral fabric necklaces.

Last but not least, Bird Mafia has a wonderful assortment of cute gifts for kids. The animal themed blocks, menders (I don’t know what they are but I like them) and accent pillows are all handmade and stitched. Unfortunately, their etsy store seems a little low on items today, but check back after the holidays because there were lots of clever kid and home goods in their booth at the fair.

Thanks for taking the time to let me share with you today. I hope you found something that fits the bill your next gift giving occasion! Also, if you live in the SF area, I highly recommend a visit to Renegade when they head back to town next summer. It’s free to browse and there’s definitely something for everyone.