December 2010

Hard to believe that this is the last newsletter of 2010!  Next time you find us in your inbox, it will be the first 2011 edition. 

This month's giveaway will be the last of our monthly giveaways.  In celebration of our first year in business, we had a monthly giveaway, featuring a variety of our products.  December's giveaway is a set of Let It Snow pillow covers.  Since you are reading this newsletter you are already entered in the draw, and you can find the details on our blog, as usual.

Both Cecelia and I are doing our best to have a handmade Christmas, trying to make all the gifts we are giving, or purchasing handmade gifts from other Etsy sellers.  It is more of a commitment than you might expect, taking up a lot of time, but it's fun too.  And with each gift we give, there will be a lot of time and thought and love invested!  Below I've shared a few of my favourite Etsy shops that have some original and fun gift ideas.  When ordering your Christmas gifts, make sure you leave time for shipping -I typed up a guide for shipping times on our blog.

D.I.Y: How to make a cozy neck warmer
I love making stuff and am constantly thinking up new ideas and trying out different ideas.  As a result, there are a lot of things that I try that fail miserably.   I now know from experience that my daughter's dolls will not be sporting one-of-a-kind clothes made by yours truly. Nope, my doll-clothes-making skills have not improved since my childhood attempts.

So of course it thrills me when my schemes and designs actually turn out like they do in my head.  All autumn, I was thinking of some sort of neck warmer for my daughter to wear -one that would fit snugly around her neck, but also cover a bit of her face and down the back of her jacket.  Thetutorial on our site shows what I came up with after a couple tries...

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Facebook Shopping Sale
Between November 15th and December 15th, we are treating our awesome Facebook fans to a 20% discount when shopping at any of our three Etsy shops.  Take a peek at our Facebook page for details on how to get that discount.

NewLeafHandmade:  Home decor and Notebooks from Post-Consumer Materials
NewLeafWear: Necklaces and Upcycled Clothing for Women and Children
NewLeafOpus: Photography Prints, Cards, and Original Artwork

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Original Handmade Gifts
Spreading the Etsy love... Here are some shops I've been enjoying lately:
PoppyChicDesigns -handmade retro accessories
PortugeseVintage -an awesome collection of vintage bottle openers, among other things...
SwanMountainSoaps -yummy smelling and natural soaps, perfume oils, body butters and lip balms
TaraDuff -beard hats...need I say more?
ElementalShop -earth friendly, original, and organic screen-printed shirts

Don't get me started...I could spend DAYS on Etsy, browsing all the amazing shops and goodies...

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Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving (for our American friends), and a holiday season filled with wonder, peace, and happiness.


Sincerely,
Maria & Cecelia
New Leaf Handmade Goods