Thanks for a great year for the Indie Fixx blog and the Indie Fixx Shop. You guys are the best readers and shoppers ever! As a way to say thanks for a good year, I’m offering 10% off everything in the Indie Fixx Shop to Indie Fixx readers until January 5th.

Just use the code happynewyear at checkout to save 10% off all purchases.

Have a safe, rockin’ and fun New Year’s Eve!

On this last day of the month and of the year, I thought I’d share some of my favorite goodies from the December edition of Poppytalk Handmade. Poppytalk Handmade is an online street fair of indie artists and designers curated by one of my favorite bloggers, Jan of Poppytalk. Each month the featured shops change, so be be sure to check back later in January for the the Valentine’s Day edition.

Here’s some favorites from the December line-up.

I really like the Branch Necklace by handmade JULZ. Made from wrapped copper wire, the center pendant features an original illustration of a tree branch. I’m also loving the Raven Linen Pouch by cedarseven, which is decorated with an original illustration of baby raven.

I really want to buy a couple of these Mushroom Sculptures from swigg to keep on my desk instead of plants….then I wouldn’t have to worry about whether I forgot to water the plants or not.

I’ve featured kim wested ceramics before, but I’ve really fallen in love with this Honeysuckle Vase in Red…it’s definitely on my wish list. I loved the Someday print by Yellena so much, that I bought it! I’ve got my eye on a few more too.

Lastly, but certainly not least, are these Blue Poppy Notecards from Jengs Shop. You know I am a sucker for poppies and I am definitely digging these pretties.

Tomorrow, December 31st, is the last day to enter the Indie Fixx Holiday Giveaway for your chance to win a grand prize worth over $560 & made up of donated goods from 16 different indie shops. (pictured below)

How does it work? Visit the shops who have donated prizes (listed below) and pick your favorite shop. Enter the contest here with your email address & include the name of your favorite shop. You will then be entered into the random drawing. Please note, if you’ve already signed up for the newsletter, you must sign-up again and add your favorite participating shop.

The prize includes items donated by the following indie shops:

Framed print from Wolfie and the Sneak
Jewelry from Kimmchi
Clutch from Becky OH!
Jewelry from Shy Siren
Taggie pillow from Nico & Zoe
Stockings from Daisy Lane Designs
Necklace from Artchestra
Jewelry from Jewelry by Jennifer Casady
Bath & body set from Bramble Berry
Jewelry from .tomate d’epingle .
Cards from Greener Me
Jewelry from Sha-Sha Jewelry
Cards, buttons & earrings from Mau Studio
Cosmetics from Melissa Page Cosmetics
Jewelry from Broken TeePee Designs
Jewelry from A Pretty Rock

Just a note to let you know that the Indie Artist Fixx and Reader Fixx Thursday (with a few changes) will continue after the new year. I’m taking a quasi holiday until after New Year’s…quasi, because I will still be posting, but not as often as I usually do. I wanted to still post a little, because I know a lot of you read Indie Fixx at work and I didn’t want you to have nothing to do during my holiday break.

Hope you are having a nice holiday week, whether you are working or vacationing. I sure am! Did some after Christmas shopping for myself (I’ll share later), went to IKEA (yea!) and I’ve been eating plenty of cookies and drinking too much wine. I will have to readjust after the holidays and curb my three favorite vices…shopping, eating and drinking wine. It’s the holidays, yo!

Here’s the winning entry from Hanna in the contest for the Chronicle Books title Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts! Amigurumi!

Hanna made a really cute jeans bag  to carry around her journal. You can read more about Hanna’s craftiness on her blog. Congrats and enjoy, Hanna. Be sure to share your first Amigurumi project on your blog.

It’s finally over, the holidays are finally over…at least the gift exchanging ones. I had a wonderful fun & family filled day yesterday and received lots of wonderful gifts, including some indie gifts. So how about you, what did you give or receive that was indie this year? Tell me and you could win this gorgeous messenger bag from Gerbera Designs and these dangling Raindrop earring beauties from Wired Originals in the ‘Show Me Your Indie Loot’ contest. Both prizes are pictured below.

To enter the ‘Show Me Your Indie Loot’ contest, just leave a comment on this post with links to the indie product(s) you gifted and/or received as gifts or links to pictures of you gifting or receiving your indie loot. I will pick one random commenter to win the Gerbera Designs bag and the Wired Originals earrings (pictured above). The contest ends January 5th at 11pm EST.

Here’s where I share what I indie gifted this year.

I got some Peach Dry-Oil Spray from Feto Soap for my sister, since she loves peaches and everything peach flavored & scented. I also gifted to someone very special a gorgeous Bolsa Clutch from Becky OH!, which is even more lovely in person and so completely well-made.

I gifted a pair of these Simple Sweet hoop earrings from Freshie and Zero and some lovely Swirlyflower Personalized Notecards by 12fifteen.

Finally, for my friend Lisa I got some Guess What, Chicken Butt cards from Young & Withit Industries and for my BFF Laura a Honey Hiding Notepad from Nut and Bee. Now, it’s your turn to show me your indie holiday loot. Leave a comment below.

For those who have been waiting for Tiny Warbler’s adorable stuffed animals to be restocked in the Indie Fixx Shop, they are here!

Some holiday animal themed goodies for you this morning.

In Winter print by Pencil Shavings, Antler Girl t-shirt by I’m Smitten, Very Merry print by Marmee Craft, My Friend the Moose necklace by Crave Jewelry Design, Sleeping Polar Bears print by Orange Willow, Mule Deer Necklace by PLAY at Moose, Antler necklace by reform jewelry, Forest Fawn Ring by Figs and Ginger, Deer Necklace by Imogene, Photo Opp 4 print by Creative Thursday, Identity Crisis Deer card by 12fifteen, Christmas Reindeer card by Songbird and Wing, Happy Holidays card by Catfish Greetings.

I was out last night picking up a few gifts to fill in the one or two holes on my Christmas list and I, of course, went to my favorite local indie store, Bloom. I did buy something for someone, but that someone reads this blog, so I won’t be sharing what it was.

However, I can tell you that I did totally fall in love with the new pieces from the Hotcakes jewelry line. I almost walked out of there with a Christmas present for myself, but I exercised a little restraint and I figured I’ll be getting some Christmas cash that I will just have to spend at Bloom. What I was eying at Bloom are the Hotcakes carved resin necklaces. They are chunky, funky, inspired by vintage Bakelite and belong in my jewelry collection.

Looks like their site is not e-commerce, but you can check to see if their designs are in a boutique near you. It looks like you can also email for pricing and shipping info if you are unlucky enough to live someplace without cool shops.

You may have already seen it, but I just got a catch to see the video by Annie Leonard called The Story of Stuff. In the video, Annie describes the linear model of goods production and distribution and all the hidden costs. Hidden costs like the alarming rate of destruction of the world’s natural resources, the health of workers who produce goods made with toxic chemicals, the collective shallowness we feel as consumers buying so much throw away mass-produced crap from mega MCcorporations.

So, watch The Story of Stuff and pass it around to your family, friends, coworkers and think about the stuff you buy, where it comes from and where it goes when you are done with it. Leave some comments too with any thoughts you have after watching the video and checking out the website.

My friend Laura and I went out for dinner, drinks and to exchange Christmas gifts last night. I got her some cute Nut and Bee stationary and a matching print, a felt flower and some other cool little gifts. She got me the cutest elephant stationary set that’s made from poo…yes, I said poo. Elephant poo to be exact. Mr. Ellie Poo’s products are made from elephant poo from Sri Lanka. Elephants produce about 500 lbs of poo per day and since an elephant’s diet is all vegetarian, the resulting poo is basically raw cellulose. Thoroughly cleaned and processed, the cellulose is made into beautiful acid-free linen-like textured paper.

Mr. Ellie Pooh is partnered with Maximus and their goal, through what is called the Project Peace Paper, is to help reduce the Human/Elephant conflict that currently rages in the rural areas of Sri Lanka. One way they are trying to do that is to develop ways in which elephants can become a sustainable economic resource…and elephant poo may be the key. You can read more about ellie poo and saving the elephants of Sri Lanka at Mr. Ellie Pooh.

These hand felted merino wool brooches are just beautiful. Felted from thick and thin merino wool in gorgeous colors, they are then filled with glass beads or semi-precious stones to complete the flower look. They would look just stunning pinned on your coat, scarf, hat or bag! From Made in Lowell and discovered via the Etsy homepage earlier today.

****UPDATE**** We can no longer guarantee delivery by December 25th. You are still totally welcome to place an order, but just know that we can’t guarantee you will have it for the “big day”. Stay tuned, we will be adding some new goodies tomorrow!

There’s still time to shop at the Indie Fixx Shop for gifts for the holidays! Tomorrow is the last day to order with guaranteed delivery before December 25th. Orders will be upgraded to free Priority Mail. Sorry, these offers are only valid for domestic continental US orders.

It’s hella windy outside now—seriously windy, like 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. The kind of weather us girls with long hair need help to control our tresses in. I put my hair back in a ponytail when I ran out earlier today, and my ponytail kept smacking me in the face and getting stuck in my lip gloss. I wish I owned one of these super chic and very cool silk charmeuse scarves from Yseult Designs. I love the bright bold patterns and at 36″ x 36″ & 40″ x 26″ they are large enough to use to cover your hair or to use as a scarf, wrap, skirt, dress or whatever you can dream up. I just love ‘em and have since I featured them for the first time last year.

For those who like interesting factoids, a little tidbit about the designer, Sean Yseult, is that she is the bassist for the band White Zombie. Cool, right? I just think she is one fabulous and talented designing chick.

The Creative Cupcake is a cute boutique offering ribbon & fabric belts, headbands, key fobs and hair clips for both adults and kids. Perfect for yourself or for gifting, you’ll find a wonderful selection of ribbons & fabrics including French Damask, preppy ribbons, vintage trims, paisley and more.

**Sponsored post**

Mintd is an online community that allows users to buy, sell and style items they have made or modified themselves. It’s easy to set up a shop and allows beginning indie businesses to get their feet wet or can be another marketing tool for more established businesses. It’s a great site for shoppers too. Products range from jewelry and accessories to homewares and art.

**Sponsored post**

There are so many people that I could send this postcard to….it’s not even funny. Somehow, I’m sure you can relate.

Check out these spot-on and sometimes witty and sometimes biting postcards from Max Mead Cartoons. There is a card for pretty much every sentiment you have ever wished a card existed for…both the good and the bad. For only $20, you can pick up a Stocking Stuffer Variety Pack of 33 different postcards. What a great gift for your friends and family with a sense of humor!

The Craft Mutiny Collective presents its 2nd annual Holiday Booty Market! This super fun event will be your last chance to find that perfectly unique handmade gift before the holidays. Check out this indie craft event in the heart of Washington, D.C. Admission is free. Music and snacks provided! All you have to bring is your shopping list!!!

When: Saturday, December 15th, 12-6 pm
Where: Hilda’s Giftshop on the lower level of the National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, Washington, DC

New work by artist Hadley Hutton can be found in the Indie Fixx Shop. I’m drawn to the etheral quality to her work and love her blend of both Asian and Victorian influences. There are three giclee bird and tree themed prints available and I hope to be adding more in the future.