Magical Holiday Blog Hop

If you are anything like me you have a difficult time dealing with holiday shopping crowds. Well, if you are anything like me you have a lot more problems than that (I have the number for a good therapist if you need it), but crowds easily overwhelm you. I just can’t take it! I always start out with good intentions. I never go shopping without researching first and calling stores ahead to make sure what I want is in stock and having them hold it aside for me if at all possible but even then holiday shopping is an ordeal at best.

My husband keeps a rather lengthy mental list of my crimes against humanity and I would be willing to bet that a good 75% of those crimes were committed in a panic to get out of a crowded store during the holidays. It is way too overwhelming for me. The artificial lighting, the smells, the noise… oh the noise! Small children shrieking… people talking on their cell phones about potential gift sizes and colors just a little too loudly… piped in holiday music meant to bring cheer that really only makes you want to find and shoot the device responsible for you having to suffer through listening to thirty versions of “Silver Bells” in one day… rude people… bad service… it is all just too much and eventually something in me just snaps. One minute I will be causally browsing and the next I am tripping a small child with my cane or ramming an old woman with my cart! Anyone between me and that door when the fight or flight kicks in is considered collateral damage in that moment.

Of course this can all be avoided by shopping on line, which I do. The only problem with that is the fact that I would much rather shop with small businesses than give the giant chain stores my money. Also, being a “starving artist” myself, I really love shopping the holiday arts and crafts markets for unique gifts while giving my financial support to my fellow artists. If only it were possible to accomplish this while sitting at home in my favorite pink jammies with a cup of coffee in hand and a purring kitty in my lap. Wait! Unlike most situations in life, there is a way to have your cake and eat it too where this is concerned. Etsy!

Yes, you can shop small business and support your favorite artists all from the comfort of your own home! As I am sure you know, Etsy is an online handmade marketplace where artist and craftspeople can sell their wonderful creations and where you the consumer can go to shop for virtually anything under the sun; the possibilities are endless.

In an effort to promote the idea of shopping small businesses and supporting artists and craftspeople (and having a little fun) I have invited a group of my artist friends from the Magically Mixed Art Community group on Facebook to participate in the first annual “Magical Holiday Blog Hop”. This event will run from Friday, November, 25^th through Thursday, December, 8^th; every day you will see a selection of our favorite items from each other’s Etsy shops… you might win prizes or get cool some cool deals and have tons of fun in the process!

During the Magical Holiday Blog Hop you will get 13 days packed with holiday shopping ideas, prizes, and discounts, plus that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with supporting small businesses run by artists and everyday people you might see in your own community (and shopping in your pajamas)! You will find the schedule below. Each day will hold new discoveries and goodies so make sure to drop in for all of them. You don’t want to miss out on any of the fun, do you? I will be kicking off the festivities on “Black Friday” turkey coma or not so I will see you all then!

Magical Holiday Blog Hop Schedule

November 25^th – Katie Cahill 

Blog:http://katiecahillart.wordpress.com/

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KatieCahill

 

November 26^th – Wini Dougall

Blog: http://www.artloveandjoy.blogspot.com/

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/artlovejoy

November 27^th – Nolwenn Petibois

Blog: http://www.inner-voices.net/

Etsy Shop: http://InnerWorlds.etsy.com/

November 28^th – Kristi Parker VanDoren

Blog: http://kristiscreativecafe.blogspot.com/

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BKDesignStudio

November 29^th – Emily Cline

Blog: www.emilyclineart.com

Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/RubyShea

November 30^th – Jennifer McGee Urbanek

Blog: http://urbanekdesign.blogspot.com/

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyArtistWithin

December 1^st – Alicia Caudle

Blog: http://alteredbits.wordpress.com/

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/digit13

December 2^nd – Tracey Verdugo

Blog: http://artoftracyverdugo.blogspot.com/

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CasaCantamar

December 3^rd – Nancy Perennec

 Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nancyperennec

Blog: http://littlebitwired.blogspot.com

December 4^th – Sun B Lewis

Blog: www.sunshinebarlowe.com

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sunblewis

December 5^th – Angela DiGiovanni Kemp

Blog: http://AngelaDiGiovanni.com/

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AngelaDiGiovanni

December 6^th – Sharon Rowland

Blog: www.alicessecretdoor.com

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AlicesSecretDoor

December 7^th – El Tsamp 

Blog: http://apinkdreamer.blogspot.com

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/eltsamp

December 8^th – Katie Cahill

Blog: http://katiecahillart.wordpress.com/