A Girl Loves A Sale

Here are a few sales from our Wishing Willow Friends:

Simple Me Boutique: 20% off any purchase of $50 or more. Use promo code: friday. Sale ends 12.2.08

Queen Baby Bean: 15% off any purchase. Use code: willow when checking out. Sale ends 12.15.08

Belle and Boo: 20% off all products from now until Monday 1st Dec 9am GMT.

Oh So Sassy: Orders made Nov. 27 to Nov. 30 will receive free shipping!! and any orders more than $75 will receive 10% off!

Whimsy and Spice: BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL! All sampler gift boxes are reduced 15% off till 5pm!

Polkadot Papoose Baby Slings: Celebrate Thankskiving Weekend by Saving 25% on all orders. Use the Promo Code: thanks when checking out. Sale ends 12.05.08.

Helene's Dreams: 20% off the price from 11-25 through 11-27-08.

Moody Girl Aromatherapy: Enjoy 10% off the product price from Moody Girl Aromatherapy. Be sure to mention Wishing Willow to get your discount. Discount expires 12/31.

**Don't forget to enter our giveaways here.**

Happy Thanksgiving

From now until Monday the 1st of December, Wishing Willow will not be posting new reviews. We encourage you to join with us during this time in celebrating God's blessings, enjoying the gift of family and friends, and honoring the importance of good old fashioned rest. :)

Reviving a Forgotten Art

It’s hard to believe there was time long ago, before e-mail, instant messaging, posting and texting swept through our culture like an electronic nor’easter, that people actually sat down and wrote out messages by hand. The evidence is there, of course, in the carefully scripted, exquisitely crafted letters you might find in your grandparents’ attic, but even so, the concept is so foreign to us that letter-writers are now revered as specialists. If Avie Designs has anything to say about it, however, the practice of sending one’s love in longhand will not go gently into that good night. Offering a line of tasteful yet chic cards for any occasion, Avie encourages us all to take that extra moment to communicate with true class, utilizing such designs as the Shady Afternoon, Mayson, and Chevron Valley stationery sets to dress our messages with both flair and care.

In addition, Avie's shop features a number of items that speak volumes about one’s social savvy, with no need to inscribe a single word beyond those printed. For example, an up-and-coming artisan or independent reviewer might announce herself on Flourish Website Cards. A mom who appreciates the value of networking with other moms might carry a few Apple Calling Cards with her, for those squeezed-between moments when numbers are hastily exchanged. Or, someone giving the gift of literature to that prodigious young nephew might personalize it with a Trees Bookplate, and affix a Sparkle Holiday Card to the present. Whatever the occasion, it’s clear that Avie has your image in mind with these thoughtful and inspiring ideas. And as for ideas, entering today’s giveaway might be the best yet. Today's winner will receive their very own Bright Stripes Stationery Set ($20 value.) To qualify, visit Avie Designs, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 12/03/08.

**We have a winner! CutieFruity/TaylorFam who said, "I like the Blue Tiles Stationery Set. It sure would come in handy!"

Darling Babies, Darling Moms

From the Kenyan tribal mother lovingly toting her newborn in a sling as she goes about her daily work to the California socialite strolling the boardwalk with her one-year-old slung to her hip, babywearing is fast becoming a more or less ubiquitous practice around the world. Slipping away are the days of padded, buckled contraptions with Swedish names; replacing these well-intended but complicated devices are simple, lightweight slings that emphasize comfort and imitate the natural feel of the womb. Polkadot Papoose, an independent maker of handcrafted baby slings and matching burp cloths, affirms a belief in the beauty of motherhood by specializing in products that honor the value of practicality without sacrificing an ounce of style. After all, a mom is still a lady.

With baby slings named for literary figures and authors, and a commitment to ending the scourge of human slavery (a portion of every sale goes toward freeing child prostitutes in India and worldwide), as a brand Polkadot Papoose enjoys a noteworthy uniqueness from many other babywear manufacturers that factory-produce their slings for profit only. With a full range of styles including those as gracefully understated as the Adele; as boldly feminine as the Sylvia; or as exotic-yet-versatile as the Sayuri, that same quality of uniqueness extends to each and every sling as well. And with three gorgeous new styles in the mix (Scout, Holly, and Anita), the collection just keeps growing. If choosing a favorite seems difficult, fret not: Should you win today’s giveaway, Polkadot Papoose will be giving you a Baby Sling and Burp Cloth Set of your choice ($76 value.) To qualify, visit Polkadot Papoose Baby Slings, then come back here to tell us about your favorite style. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. If you're so ambitious to earn a third entry, tell us what kind of products you would like to see more of on Wishing Willow. Contest ends 12/03/08.

Polkadot Papoose Baby Slings is offering a whopping 25% off all purchases made by Wishing Willow readers through 12/31. Use the promo code: willow when checking out.

**We have a winner! Mommy Instincts Reviews who said, "I would have to say the Ophelia would be perfect for me and my new daughter who is due March 2009."

A Rare Bird Indeed

The small-but-growing cult of gocco print artists presents an interesting phenomenon. Could it be the antiquity of the method (dating back to the ancient year of 1977) that attracts so many of today’s most talented individuals? Is there some appeal in the mystique of a process not fully understand by the majority of art lovers? Or is there something intangibly delicious in the very tangible, hands-on aspect of gocco that captures the heart of the artist? Whatever it is, Bridget Farmer of Bridbird is one of those “rare birds” who know how to bring a vision to life through the magic of a Print Gocco machine, be it a pair of diametrically balanced, generously plumed birds bowing, or a classic Victorian house in Melbourne that reflects the inviting earthiness of the Aussie coastal character in olive and apricot tones. Bridget's subjects, at turns as singular and stripped-down as a writhing haddock then suddenly festive as a decorated owl, suggest a thematic approach that respects the power of everyday images, and a practical habit of choosing color with discernment, at times dispensing with color altogether.

Browsing Bridbird’s gallery of images, it isn’t difficult to envision these lovely prints occupying space on your own walls: The Peacock, for example in the living room; Kitchen Utensils, or perhaps I Do Not Think There Is Anything Wrong With Pear Shaped in the kitchen; Three Female Satin Bowerbirds in the sun room, should you be lucky enough to have a sun room. Bridbird prints are instantly accessible, and delightfully conversational. The only question, after bringing one home, is whether you’ll be able to resist bragging to friends about your latest rare find on Etsy. Generously, Bridbird is also offering one free gocco print, of the reader’s choice, to the winner of today’s giveaway. To qualify, visit Bridbird, then come back here to tell us about your favorite print. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/29/08.

**We have a winner! SeahorseLady said, "Very nice work. I like the Gocco Screen Print, Fancy Bird no. 1, Blue the most."***

Postcards from the Age of Innocence

A question to ponder: If, like the scientists who recently figured out how to bring wooly mammoths back from extinction, we could manufacture a product line that embodied all the qualities we loved in our storybook characters, what would these include? The irrepressible optimism of Christopher Robin? The gumption of Curious George? The adventurous spirit of Beatrix Potter’s loveable woodland protagonists? Fortunately, there are certain artists and artisans of exceptional talent who are already in the business of such engineering, a wonderful example being Mandy Sutcliffe of Belle and Boo. Belle, a lively, charming little brown-eyed girl, and her bunny friend, Boo, are oft-appearing subjects in the prints, cards, tags, and other items sold at this delightful shop, but it’s really a community of children in general who inhabit the fluid landscapes of these images, and especially girls.

Consequently, just about anyone who’s held on to any part of the “little girl” in her will instinctively gravitate toward the likes of Serenity Pink and I Like Your Bow, the Belle and Blue Fly a Kite print, or Little Belle Hugs Boo Pink. The object that sends you back to that special place might be something as simple yet precious as a Boo Tag for the birthday party gift you’ve been wrapping, or something as transcendent as My Favorite Place in Winter/Spring/Summer/Autumn. Whatever memory you care to recover, you can be sure the art of Belle and Boo will send you there with a touch as personal as the cup of tea Mandy offers on her Etsy page to anyone who cares to drop by the flat. And to get your collection started, Mandy and Kate of Belle and Boo are offering a set of Meet Me at Mike’s Badges to the lucky winner of today’s giveaway. To qualify, visit Belle and Boo, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/28/08.

Visit www.belleandboo.com to view the full collection.

**We have a winner! windycindy who said, "Hi, I love her site. The "Ella and the Now Dove" Tags are adorable!The "My Favourite Spot in Autumn" Picture is also a favorite of mine!"**

Hopes and Hearts Adrift

The subject of Seafaring Heart stares impassively, her mind absorbed in a world none of us can see. Her look is classic enough, a 1920’s bob haircut and a dark, nondescript dress accentuated by a green bow; in expression, however, she is the anti-Mona, mouth and eyes conveying neither mischief nor humor but only a disconcerting vacancy, leading us to wonder if we’ve even a right to be privy to the moment. This, like the path of the blood-red cardinals that flow like corpuscles from her ship brooch, past the sentry fox and into the hazy coastal horizon, is the flow of Sarah Blank’s work. The women refuse to betray their own hearts through some slip of the tongue, and yet seem to trust the artist to tell their stories for them. While in some of Sarah’s paintings, such as Wandering Heart, the theme might seem to be a childhood memory, a forbidden love, or both; in others including One Misty Morning the direction is less clear but the emotion perhaps more telling (in this case, a wistful, almost painful longing for something out of reach).

Sarah Blank can haunt us with macabre compositions the depth of which would give Edward Munch chillbumps, as in The Bear, Moth, and Ghost Wolf; she can cleverly amuse us with rich ironies, as when The Bumblebee Sisters Buy a Bird; or, given the chance, she can move us to sighs with the power of her own personal visions, as she does so capably in Heart Strings and Woodsy Things. Mostly, however, she simply inspires us to minimize our diversions while maximizing our horizons, the message of her endless ships and birds and finger-waved curls seeming to be that meaningful life is lived not along the information superhighway, but in the wild, inexhaustible possibilities of a trolley in the snow, a fox in waiting, a cryptic stare, a book. And here’s a bit of good news that might even make one of Sarah’s stoic ladies lose their sobriety: The winner of today’s giveaway will receive his or her choice of one of the following prints: Seafaring Heart, One Misty Morning or Wandering Heart. To qualify, visit www.sarahblank.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite print. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/27/08.

**We have a winner! Deb who said, "So unique and evocative!! I really like The Bumblebee Sisters Buy A Bird. Adorable!!"**

Sass Meets Class

There are two schools of thought when it comes to designing and sewing children’s clothes. One is that the perfection of a child, like the perfection of a pearl, needs no dressing up. Designs from this school are simple and functional. The alternative school, however, argues it is no crime to craft a clothing piece that honors the beauty of children with a little beauty of its own. Michelle of Oh So Sassy, obviously a graduate of the latter school, believes so strongly in the importance of hand-stitching her love, her playfulness, and a generous dose of “sass” into each Whimsy Dress, Little Abigail Apron, and Oh So Dapper Tie she makes that it’s very possible you’d find yourself cooing in admiration over the pieces alone, even if no children were in the picture. Incidentally, children are in these pictures, however, and the photographer’s success in capturing them in moments of natural innocence is positively praiseworthy, proving once again that an Etsy shop equals exposure for more than just the seller.

Not to be outdone by the likes of the Sassy Flower Hair Clip, Adri Michelle Dress, or Pink Dahlia Dress in her collection, Michelle also delves into the world of accessories with great aplomb, turning out gotta-have-it items such as the Dafina Bag and the Sassy Strings Apron, both of which feature decidedly grownup-friendly prints. Her Sassy Diaper Clutch, another favorite, is day-trip sized and dashingly discreet. One of her sweetest creations of all, however, the Splash of Red Boutique Dress, is also the one most immediately accessible to you (in your choice of sizes 6mo - 6T), should you be lucky enough to win it in today’s giveaway. To qualify, visit www.ohsosassy.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/26/08.

**We have a winner! Abigail who said, "I love all of them, but the Whimsy Dress is my favorite!"**

Orwell’s Animal Charm

One hasn’t truly explored the outer regions of irony until she’s tucked her capitalist credit cards and currency into a shiny dog-shaped leather clutch named for the novelist of history’s most famous satire of Communism. Of course, George Orwell was a clever Englishman, not a seer, and though the latter suggests he’d have had no idea that decades later Tsurubride Arts & Crafts would celebrate his legacy in leather, the former quality assures he’d have found such humor deliciously rich. And here’s something else that’s rich: finding a world of offbeat, lit-smart flights of fancy, a world occupied by ipod cozies with gaping monster mouths, whales and snails who swallow business cards, and whatever else crosses the capacious imagination of the maker.

Don’t have time to appreciate the literary value of Tsurubride’s line? No need to fear the thought police. Just tuck your Silver Kitty Purse under your arm knowing that you’ve done something to further the cause of independent crafting. And by the way, a little birdie tells me Tsurubride will customize by animal or color for the right price, so don’t be afraid to let your own imagination run wild. While you’re at it, imagine this: The winner of today’s giveaway will receive one cute’n’compact Silver Whale Curiosity Card Holder free from Tsurubride. To qualify, visit www.tsurubride.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/25/08.

**We have a winner! Roberta who said, "I love the sad panda change purse - adorable!"**

Another Little Piece of My Heart

“Silver threads and golden needles can not mend this heart of mine,” Austin, Texas native Janis Joplin sang. There may be truth to the lyric, but most ladies would agree that silver and gold make rather nice pick-me-ups when blue days come calling. In today’s economic era, with shopping malls closing their lights to all but a few elderly mallwalkers and the cleaning crew, lovers of handcrafted accessories tend to fill their “shiny object” needs online, browsing the virtual aisles of independent jewelry artisans like Chris of Carolina Bleu to locate something truly special. An Austin native herself, the craft professional behind this unique business lures the eye with the subtle graces of her work, as in her Full Circle earrings, their shape emblematic of life’s cyclical loves and losses. She inspires the spirit with neckware made to dangle, like promises, close to the heart, exemplified in the Loved Ones locket. And she stirs the soul to imagine its possibilities with captivating crystal the likes of Petite Champagne Billy.

In fact, if it’s true, as Paul Simon wrote, that there are “fifty ways to leave,” there must surely be fifty ways to love as well, and at least that many choices of ways to express it through the Carolina Bleu catalog. Our favorites would have to include those of the Economic Crisis Sale, a line of tiny, delicately charming jewelry priced at a mere ten dollars per item. And speaking of affordable, Carolina Bleu has even agreed to go one better: The winner of today’s giveaway will receive one free pair of beautiful Amy Earrings, courtesy of the artist who conceptualized them. To qualify, visit www.carolinableu.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/22/08.

**We have a winner! Shauna who said, "I love the abundance necklace. Its definitely a piece that needs to be added to my collection!Love the paul simon comment as well...its so true"**

Resistance is Futile

When it comes to desserts, I like to think of moderation not so much as an angel on the shoulder reining in our lower nature, but figuratively as a prudish aunt rationing out her cake in wafer-thin slices and serving each with a tiny dollop of whipped cream. If you can more readily identify with the uncle who carves up for himself a colossal wedge of the same cake, buries it in a mountain of ice cream and tops off the formless mass with a cascade of hot fudge, the ethos of Delectable Delights is for you. Located in Kansas City, Missouri (an underrated venue for gourmet sweets), this is one business that puts the devil in delicious, tempting us with, among other vices, a patented line of one-pound-weight Sundae Cupcakes in drool-inspiring flavors like Cherries Jubilee, Cinnamon Apple, Boston Cream and something called El Pastel de Reyes that looks like it fell right out of the ecstatic three a.m. vision of some raging chocoholic with a culinary license.

For those of us who eat and drive at the same time (not recommended, by the way), this dream factory of desserts also offers a number of more easily handled treats such as Red Velvet Cookies, traditional Sugar Plums, Russian Tea Cakes and Chocolate Pecan Bars. Lest you think these goodies are served up on the end of a pitchfork by someone hell-bent on destroying every dietary resolution you’ve ever made, rest assured there’s a very real human behind these amazing creations, who humbly profiles herself as “a young single mom” (but fails to mention her supernatural ability to make mouths water). We’ve sampled a couple of the products made in her kitchen, and we can vouch for the fact that they’re every bit as tasty as the names would suggest. Next step: figuring out how to keep my family’s car from heading in her bakery’s direction this weekend…

A Fragrant New Frontier

We’ve come a long way since Marco Polo. Today, with the same flourish that the proud Italian must surely have employed in showing off his “exotic” Eastern wares to an audience unaccustomed to cinnamon, cloves, fennel, and anise seed, not to mention noodles, our modern bath alchemists manipulate ever-bolder blends of flavors in their quest to create an original, irresistible body-pampering product. Some, such as uber-spice girl Dana Eskes of Moon Maiden Soap & Sundries, have plunged further along the bath merchant’s trade routes than others, as evidenced by her serendipitous discovery that goat’s milk soap works quite wonderfully in off-the-map flavors such as Turkish Mocha and Basmati Rice, lip butters with the essence of Gingersnap and Almond Biscotti, and body lotions in Kumquat and Coconut Lime Verbena varieties.

For all her adventurous offerings, however, it would be unfair to say she strays too far from the homegrown goodness of breadbasket America. Anyone who uses free-range goat’s milk fresh from her neighbor’s farm, and remembers to pay tribute to our collective Main Street memories with childhood flavors like Dreamsicle and Gooey Caramel, clearly hasn’t forgotten her roots. Shucks, there’s even a Candy Corn-scented candle in the mix. In summary, then, the Moon Maiden avatar is two parts aromatherapist, one part alchemist/adventurer, and 100% agreeable. And speaking of agreement, I’m certain we can all concur that those things which are free smell sweetest, which makes the following announcement all the more exciting: one lucky winner of today’s giveaway will be receiving a sample box of goodies which includes: one 4-ounce jar of the Vanilla Sugar Satin & Silk Body Cream (incidentally, one of the most luxurious substance we've come across) ; four 1-ounce bars of Goats Milk Soap in any scent; one 2-ounce bottle Shea Body Lotion in any scent; and one tube of Lip Butter in any flavor. To qualify, visit www.moonmaidensoap.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/20/08.

**We have a winner! Starshine3 who said, "I would like to try the Dragonsblood Goats Milk Soap. Thanks for the great giveaway!"

Pinning a New (Fashion) Statement

A brooch is something like the maraschino cherry that completes a classic ice cream sundae: It may seem extraneous at first, but once it’s been added, imagining the ensemble without it is impossible. In American culture the lapel area is a virtual battlefield, with causes from breast cancer awareness to patriotism constantly competing with traditional jewelry for the same three to four square inches of pin space. In Europe, apparently, the brooch is not so much a statement piece as it is a thing of gratuitous beauty, the madly appealing brooches handcrafted in Denmark by Mette of The Brooch Boutique serving as a splendid case in point. "Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity," said Plato, but don’t tell that to Mette, who with a few sequins and glass beads can turn the cut remnants of Indian saris into an accessory so marvelously textured and complex that passers-by are unable to resist taking a closer look.



Aristotle’s quip that “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work” is probably more apropos, considering that examples such as Mette's Chocolate Crochet Flower Bobby Pins and Ivory and Fuchsia Crochet Flower Brooch demonstrate such a patient attention to detail that a love of craft can not be far behind. Really, once one has spun through this gallery, encountering the spring-soft hues of Chic Chiffon, the crocheted floridity of Baby Pink or Beaded Ivory rising like "puffs of colored smoke" (Hemingway), the soothing comfort of Strawberry Vanilla or the upturned optimism of Yellow and Turquoise to name just a few, resisting the urge to fall in love with this craft right alongside the crafter will likely be futile. And where love is concerned, here’s something you’ll love even more: The winner of today’s giveaway will receive an Ivory and Cream Crochet Flower Brooch courtesy of The Brooch Boutique. To enter, visit www.thebroochboutique.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Wishing Willow subscribers earn an extra entry; be sure to let us know in a second post if you’re a subscriber. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/19/08. Good luck!

**We have a winner! beartifix who said, "So romantic and pretty! I like the sparkling ivory crochet flower brooch. Thanks for the great giveaway!"

Wooly Whimsy

whimsy (hwim’-zee), n., a fanciful or fantastic device, object, or creation especially in writing or art

Strictly speaking, of course, the above definition is not usually the one intended when craft artists such as Anne, the creator behind Murdock Designs describe their work as having in it a touch of “whimsy,” but in this case, it works as beautifully as does the art itself. Our six-year-old, Aedan, himself a fanciful/fantastic creation, confirmed the elusive “it” factor, the magic, of Anne's vibrant handiwork when the Blue Leafy Super Bug became his favorite wooly appendage from the first moment he snatched it away from the three-year-old brother for whom it was intended, but by no means is the Murdock Designs charm lost on adults. Just the opposite: while critters the likes of Dotty Super Bug or Diagonal Busy Bear might hog the spotlight with their heroic costumes and disarming smiles, the mod-magnetism of accessories such as the Periwinkle Appliqued Linen Tea Towel and the Blue and Red Button Magnet Set is rather arresting in its own right.

If you’ve been in the market for pillows, you might not find a more adorable, versatile set than those found in the Murdock Designs shop. With varied themes from factories and antique bombs to cashmere suns and stars, these pillows strike the perfect balance between bold style and accessibility. In other words, you won’t be able to help showing them off, but you certainly won’t mind your guests enjoying them, either. In keeping with the “whims” of the designer, Anne's repertoire also includes wool felt hair clips and flower pins, a lovely messenger bag, and a number of other items. Whatever your preference, however, one thing we can all agree on is that nothing tops free, and free is exactly what the Red Flowery Busy Bunny will be for the winner of today’s terrific giveaway. To enter, visit Murdock Designs, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Wishing Willow subscribers earn an extra entry; be sure to let us know in a second post if you’re a subscriber. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/18/08. Best of Luck!

**We have a winner! ThreadBeaur who said, "Dotty Super Bug is so cute. The linen tea towels are also fantastic. I like the red and the orange ones. Great shop, thanks for introducing us to murdock design!"**

Ceramic Serene

Think about this question: When that now-distant moment finally arrives to surrender your best-loved knick-knacks and odds’n’ends to the next generation, what will you give? Vinyl shower curtains and plastic laundry tubs? The microwave that facilitated so many unforgettable minute meals? Your collection of six “24” episodes on one great DVD? Come on. Isn’t there something a little more meaningful in your home, something built to last? If you’re not sure of the answer, Rae Dunn’s boutique might just be the place to begin collecting hand-crafted ceramic items that will stand the test of time by virtue of much more than their chemical properties. Although her manufactured line might be a little better-known, it's through her line of 100% handmade items that Rae wages a kind of artistic war against the commercial "cloned" craft industry; from her proud declaration that no two items of hers from this line are exactly the same, it's plain to see that her gifted hands are the weapons of that war.

It might be the pig-emblazoned soap dish to which you take a shine. Perhaps the napkin rings, etched with simple words reflecting the secrets of domestic tranquility, will inspire visions of a family somewhere in the future settling down to a home-cooked meal that’s all about together. Or, it could be the pourers, humble bird images underscoring a farmhouse modern aesthetic, that bring to mind the love a patient cook pours into her cooking and ultimately into the hearts of her table guests. Whether it’s something as understated and soothing as a Home Sweet Home Plaque or something as fresh and stirring as a Ceramic Painting, the works of Rae Dunn invariably spell contentment, and it’s hard to imagine a better vibe with which to infuse the home you cherish. (And as for “24,” your kids won’t care much for it anyway). To view a lovely gallery of these ceramic creations, visit www.raedunn.etsy.com.

We have just added a giveaway! Rae Dunn has graciously offered to giveaway a wonderful Soap Dish to the winner of today's givaway. To enter, visit www.raedunn.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Wishing Willow subscribers earn an extra entry; be sure to let us know in a second post if you’re a subscriber. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/15/08. Good luck!

**We have a winner! Christina who said, "I love the Home Sweet Home Plaque, with the lovely queen bee!"**

Felt and Fancy

Hypotheses abound as to why the fabric we tenderly, almost affectionately refer to as “felt” gives us the warm fuzzies. Is it the spiritual echoes of Sunday School lessons animated with floppy characters slapped up against feltboards? The unburdened memories of a childhood decorated with fall cutouts, perhaps, of pumpkins and scarecrows our first-grade teachers strung around the room? The wistful recollection of a favorite blanket? Whatever it is, we can’t help but smile at the mere mention of this wispy, wooly material. It’s a savvy businesswoman indeed, then, who can tap that well of warmth and turn out a grown-up line of felt brooches that any lady with half an ounce of personality would be proud to wear. When Heidi of Pink Sparrow isn’t crafting unique necklaces, earrings, buttons and other jewelry items, she pours her enthusiasm for color into images on felt that are beyond cute, venturing well into “that…is…aDORable” territory.

Sleepy apples, starry-eyed owls, smiling skulls; the subjects of Heidi’s work would be considered relatively eclectic save for the fact that each has a charmingly organic quality in common with the others. The visual texture of the lovely Prism Flower wool felt pin, for example, sends so many different color signals to the eyes that the effect is almost hypnotic, and yet the material is so accessible and natural that one can almost smell in it the sweet breeze of summer. The point of these brooches is not craft a less-expensive version of something mass produced by factory drones, but rather to celebrate the singularity and exceptionality of something original and completely handmade. And of course, it goes without saying that a Pink Sparrow brooch accessorizes one’s outfit like nobody’s business. If handcrafted jewelry is a subject you love to “brooch,” you’ll find this next bit of news especially exciting: Heidi will be giving away (are you ready?) THREE floral brooches similar to the ones pictured here, here & here to the winner of today’s giveaway. To enter, visit Pink Sparrow, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Wishing Willow subscribers earn an extra entry; be sure to let us know in a second post if you’re a subscriber. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/14/08. Best of Luck!

**We have a winner! Berry who said, "My fave is the MOD OWL wool felt pin, any of the three colors!"**

Culinary Charisma

The campaign season may have concluded for a certain pair of weary politicians, but for the rest of us, some debates will never end. For example, is the crafting of the perfect pastry an art, a science, or like jazz a beautiful fusion of both? Mark Sopchak and Jenna Park of Whimsy & Spice have dedicated their considerable talents to uncovering the answer, and fortunately for the rest of us, the culinary runoff from their Brooklyn kitchen has been sufficiently delicious to render the question moot. Take the Espresso Brownie with Dulce de Leche, for instance. Theoretically, we could try to describe the perfect brownie: firm but springy, dense but a little cakelike, glisteningly moist and chocolate-sweet yet not quite as rich as fudge. Or, for time’s sake one could just take a bite of the aforementioned espresso-laden variety, because clearly this is how a brownie is supposed to taste.

Against the canvas of Sopchak’s passion for spices, the picture of what this company is all about becomes even clearer as concoctions tagged with irresistibly complex monikers such as Honey Lavender Shortbread Cookie and Chocolate Chili Cashew Biscotti reveal Park’s stylistic paradigm and set our minds to wondering what they’ll think of next. Meanwhile, the layered delight of the Hazelnut Chocolate Whisky Sandwich Cookie appeals to our multi-tasking instinct by combining multiple flavor favorites into one, while the marshmallows…well, let’s just say that anyone who knows how to make Homemade Caramel Marshmallows to perfection ought to have a cabinet post in the new administration. The Kitchen Cabinet, anyone? But whatever your persuasion, we don’t need a pollster to tell us you’ll love this: The winner of today’s giveaway will receive a package of Espresso Brownies, courtesy of Whimsy & Spice. To qualify, visit Whimsy & Spice, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/13/08.

**We have a winner! Aisling who said, "I can't pick a favorite, but I'd love to try the Chocolate Orange Cardamom shortbread cookies."**

Dreams Reflected

Nature is unrivaled among muses. From Bierstadt’s misty visions to the grandeur of Hopkins’ verse, from Monet’s mottled ponds and lilies to the gorgeous, almost lyrical elucidations of Cormac McCarthy’s southwest, creative minds of every kind and in every age have gone to the “source” when inspiration was demanded, and rarely has nature ever failed to inspire. Helene of Helene’s Dreams, as far as her themes are concerned, is a kind of modern-day incarnation of these naturalists, with one notable difference: where most artists interpret the world in verse or color, Helene gathers the view outside her window and molds it into handcrafted jewelry. Some of her earring sets, such as Golden Light or One, would best be described as lovely and enigmatically simple. Others, the likes of Oregon Rustic Berry Bouquet and Silver Ice Bells jingle with a bit more festive flair while still keeping a safe distance from gaudy.

The ornate pastels that color Picasso’s Friend, and the elegance of the hanging-lantern Queen Olivia set, embody the more distinctive elements of Helene’s designs, but really, even at her most daring Helene finds a way to keep in place the all-important quality of wearability, and knowing that a portion of each sale is donated to charity lends just that much more peace of mind to the purchase. It would be a dream, of course, to live amid the pine-dressed splendor of western Oregon, as Helene does, but for those of us who don’t, we can enjoy the dream’s reflections in the smiles this jewelry brings. And to further illustrate the fine character of the artisan, Helene will be sending a beautiful pair of crystal Oregon Sunset Earrings, champagne-hued and shimmering like a mountain stream, to the winner of today’s giveaway. To qualify, visit Helene's Dreams, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/12/08.

**We have a winner! micaela6955 who said, "I love blue so the Oregon Rain Drops are such a beautiful shade of blue, and they are my favorite!"

You Dropped a Balm On Me

The mechanism that made Pavlov’s dog drool at the ringing of a bell and all of us salivate at the smell of fresh-baked pumpkin pie is proof positive that the five senses are inextricably linked. Small wonder, then, that a moisturizing cream instilled with the essences of universally-loved flavors such as Birthday Cake and Black Cherry would create such a scintillating fusion of sensory experiences that the proprietor would have to put a warning label (Do Not Eat) on the container. To sample a Bunny Butt Apothecary product, like listening to opera by candlelight or sharing dinner on the beach, is to create a moment of escape from the realities of life that leave us wearied and worried. The whipped creams, distinguished by clever titles like Currant Obsession and Sucre Bleu, are among the most unique creations in the shop, but with offbeat hits like Apples and Twigs Shaving Bar Soap, Honeymoon Mineral Lip Tint, and Aromatastic Perfume Oils in the catalog, Michael Buble’s ballads would be censored for their edginess before Bunny Butt would ever be accused of producing anything remotely commercialized.

Compelling as all these offerings are, however, it’s probably Bunny Butt’s Lip Balms that steal the show. Beginning with relatively traditional flavors including Fresh Mint and Clover Honey, the pyramid rises toward more and more unconventional flavors such as Chocolate Truffle and Pomegranate, with fare as exotic as Mojito and Lychee (it’s apparently a fruity flavor of Asian origin) at the top. As many of you ladies know, these balms aren’t just for cooling the burn of a bad chap, but are also wonderfully useful for causing a good chap to remember the mysterious taste of your lips. But whatever your use for such an item might be, you’ll be glad to know that Bunny Butt is giving one Smoochy Bun Gift Set, which is a choice of any three lip balms in an imprinted muslin pouch, to the winner of today’s giveaway. To qualify, visit Bunny Butt Apothecary, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/11/08.

**We have a winner! Congrats to Jenifer who said, "The Mojito and Lychee Lip Balm sounds delicious!!**