Fabulous Local / USA based companies/gifts

-

 


In this holiday season, many of us are trying to keep our money local, or at least some part of gift giving must benefit a local store,  artist, or company, and at the very least be made in the USA.

Here are a few gift items that I have either bought, or would love to own.

From Hudson Valley artist/author Paul Keskey, is a fabulous book for all ages titled Chrysalies. The book is reminiscent of some of my favorite fantasy illustrators: Brian Froud, Alan Lee, Edmund Dulac, Arthur Rackham. The nature slant to the book is educational as well as fascinating. I have a 7 year old niece and granddaughter who are very good readers; I suspect they will spend many hours pouring over the artwork as well as the text.  20.00 BARGAIN. (he takes paypal..and you can order the book under the book link and then "limited edition prints".)  Previews of the art and the book are on the website.


Next is something for us ladies who need to be on our feet in comfort. I had major surgery from a tri-malleolar fracture six years ago. I still sport the metal plates and screws, and can no longer wear many shoes comfortably. But the closed back clog is perhaps the most comfortable shoe, along with my winter boots. I don't have a pair, but I com coveting this hand painted pair. I wear a size 38 .....(woman's size 7) if any of you win the lottery and want to buy me a gift......from Seattle based The Swanx.




If you can't get to Yarmouth Port, Cape Cod any time soon to visit the museum and shop,  you can shop online at the Edward Gorey Store.  Calendars, mugs, books, prints, jewelry, lunchboxes, and more.  I have a lunchbox, a large figure for my art room, an address book, a few of his books, and I think I will shop for a few things here before the night is out. However I don't know where the items are made, they could be made in China;  I will check the next time I head up there.

Off to bed to nurse a cold with a hot ginger tea toddy by Larry.   Ms. P.
 

Comments

Anonymous said…
I ordered a few books, I am so excited to get them and look at them first...thanks for the shopping help.

I think I saw those clogs in pegasus in woodstock once. They definitely carry sarita brand. It may have been at Ameribag! kss
9:23 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

La Cucina

-
Image
Tonight my house had the aroma of olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and candles. Keith Jarret was playing in the background, and I had just opened a nice bottle of reasonable red wine. (Osborne Solaz, 2004 Temranillo/Cab- 7.00) I needed it for the sauce, so why not have some while cooking! I took good care of myself all weekend, and felt like cooking for the first time in what seems forever. I am an excellent cook. A collage cook one might say, or better yet, a bricollage cook. I take what is in the house and make a dinner out of it. I think about flavor, texture, color and variety. Most of the time I would rather put this creative energy into visual arts, but on occasion I will push my fine art aside, and the art of the evening is cooking. Candles, music, wine, and a lovely table. I must think more like Monet, and not only make the meal art, but somehow make it my visual art too. The best I could do was a photo of the beginning of the sauce. It looks rather bizarre if you ask me,...
Read more

I Don't Want to Get Any Older - I Want to Stay Just the Way I Am

-
Image
Such words of wisdom in the kitchen between Larry and Alanna yesterday. "I don't want to get any older Yiyi, I don't want to be a mommy, I want to be just the way I am." Funny that a four year old should be thinking of such heavy matter during the Christmas Season. I sat for a few moments, going back decades, digging deep in the vault of my childhood memories, remembering what it was like to be four. whooooossshhhhhhh I am watching our black and white TV, and I flash between visions of the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz and the bogeymen from the March of the Wooden Soldiers. I am looking out the window into the dark inky sky of Christmas eve, believing that if I concentrated hard enough, I could make Santa and his reindeer appear flying between the twinkling stars. (ps I used that concentration when I fished all those years ago with #1 - to get the fish to come to MY lure....) I am lying in bed trying to go to sleep on Christmas Eve. I feel like I am on speed,...
Read more

Sunday Ramble

-
Image
In yoga today my teacher talked about acceptance of life and of self, something which is a challenge to both the young AND the old. I was thinking about that yesterday when I was passed by my new full length antique mirror which leans against the wall in my hallway. I pass it from the shower to the bedroom every morning. Sometimes I stop and look and remember when I had the body of a runner, when there was no inch of pinch, or bulges, or dimples. Now, I look and chuckle, noting the attack of cellulite, the bumps, lumps, scars, spots, and veins, though if I squint my eyes and keep the light off, I can still see the framework of that runner’s body. I chuckle now because I am comfortable about my body. It took 50 years…many wasted with negative thoughts about my self which were so crazy. Part of my acceptance might also be the unconditional love that I have in a man who loves me for who I am and never says a thing that isn’t kind. (sometimes I hate that Larry..because it makes me loo...
Read more