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!

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.

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.

****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.

I’m a big kid at heart. In fact, I’m still waiting to feel like a grown-up…no, not really, I secretly like feeling like a kid. I gotta tell ya, life is a whole lotta enjoyable when you can still have fun like a kid, but you have a bank account and can drive. So, forget the kids, here’s some toys from Mahar Dry Goods for all you big kids out there!

I suppose you could share a little and get a few things for your nieces and nephews…you can still play with them when the kids open them.

Paper Dolls from the Black Apple, Castle Building Blocks, Donut Box Set, Colors and Critters Coloring Book and a Yeti Shadow Puppet.

I’m still feeling like a truck ran over me today and I just can’t seem to shake this cough that rattles my brain around in my head, so posting will be short and sweet today. I’m going back to bed for a little bit.

While I’m resting, be sure to visit Papa Stour for unique Scottish made gifts for guys. You will find stuff for the Anglophile who is into Scotland and who already has everything else you’ve thought about gifting him.

Btw, the concert was awesome last night!

I know plenty of you are starting to do the countdown to the holidays…only 14 more shopping days to Christmas. Well, if you still need a few gift ideas, it is not too late to shop indie and to shop online. Visit the Indie Fixx Holiday Gift Guide for plenty of ideas and plenty of coupon codes too! You’ll find ideas for gifts for girls, guys, pets and kids too.

There is a 30% off sale going on over at Kelly Meeker Designs. Use the code joy on all jewelry, excluding made to order pieces, until December 16th. Kelly creates some really intricate and dramatic designs. My current favorite is the White Freshwater Pearl Vine Necklace…now that would really make a statement with your New Year’s Eve dress! And, for 30% off! OMG, I’m going shopping now!

I just had to share this card–it totally made me smile sitting here watching the snow outside my window. It’s a little early for snow around here…we usually don’t get much snow until January and I doubt there will be enough to make any snowmen or snow angels, but here’s to wishing.

By C&A and make sure to check out their very cool letterpress calendar too.

Here are the remaining ‘12 Days of Indie Holiday Shopping‘ winners!

Congratulations to Caro who won the Indie Fixx Shop prize, Lisa who won the 3-pack of Sweet As You Please candles,  Karen for winning the Kailo Chic bag, Kate who won the dejarnette New Orleans necklace and to Kate for winning the Casto Creations earrings.

Thank you all who entered and thank you to all the wonderful sponsors who donated prizes. Make sure to visit them and take advantage of those coupon codes that are still active.

Don’t know what to get your kids’ teachers, your neighbor that your friends with, for the secret Santa at work or do you need a good hostess gift for you friend’s holiday bash? Megan Auman’s stunning pressed copper and steel ornaments are just the thing you have been looking for. Perfect as a gift on their own, as a gift topper or even tie one to a bottle of wine. They can be hung on the tree, in the window or anywhere else in the home that needs a little love.

Megan’s ornaments are available in the Indie Fixx Shop and I just got a bunch of new ones in stock, so head on over and take a look.

Saturday’s Holiday Heap indie craft show in Baltimore was amazing. I was there as a vendor for both Tilting Swiftly and the Indie Fixx Shop and I was so busy with customers all day long that I almost didn’t get a chance to go shopping. Luckily, I got away from my table because I had my eye of Imogene’s Fox necklace from before the show and I knew I wanted to pick one up. I also got some Honeycomb Fingerless Gloves from itknits. I’ve featured them before on Indie Fixx and after talking to some peeps at the show (Shawna from Pink Kiss) about ‘em, I decided they were just the thing I needed to help keep me warm in my cold studio. I’m using them right now while I type this post.

Overall, it was a great day. I sold a ton of stuff, met a lot of cool shoppers and vendors, bought myself some early holiday presents and I also met a few designers who I hopefully will be carrying in the shop in the future. Thanks so much to the Charm City Craft Mafia for a job well done. You guys really know how to show a girl a good time.

This is it folks, today is the day that I feature the last shop in the ‘12 Days of Indie Holiday Shopping‘ and that honor goes to Casto Creations. Casto Creations offers elegant & contemporary jewelry styles and is just the kind of jewelry to stuff your favorite jewelry diva’s stocking with. The Chinese Character Pendants would make for a meaningful jewelry gift for your close friends. While, the Long Links Necklace and the Fashion Chunk Link Necklace would be perfect for any women on your list who likes to make a bold statement with her jewelry. Plus, the stunning Musical Bracelet is one gift that I imagine would be really, really hard to give anyway.

Add a little something to your own jewelry box or make someone on your list very happy this season with a gift Casto Creations. Use the coupon code INDIEFIXX07 for free shipping until December 31st.

Leave a comment below for your chance to win a pair of Fine Fusion Earrings from Casto Creations. One random commenter will be chosen to win and this contest will end December 1 at midnight EST. THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED.

Today’s featured shop for the ‘12 Days of Indie Holiday Shopping‘ is Kailo Chic. Kailo Chic offers a wide selection of designer bags, accessories, jewelry and skirts from designer Kara Whitten. Kara’s clean & contemporary lines, coupled with the bold fabrics and patterns she chooses, make her designs a bold statement and would be sure to please any of the fashion conscious women on your holiday list.

I think the Detachable Strap Wristlet, Hand Clutch, or the adorable polka-dotted Pleat Clutches would make a great choice for your friend who likes her bag smalls. The Hobo, Laptop or the Tote Bags would be a fabulous choice someone who needs a larger bag. Also, choose a “big on taste, little on size” stocking stuffer from the Jewelry, Wallet, Belt and Headband styles. The fabric & pattern choices are just incredible and you can choose from bold prints, fine polka-dots, retro-inspired prints and classic styles too.

Use the coupon code SAVE20 for 20% off your purchases at Kailo Chic.

Also, leave a comment below for your chance to win one of Kailo Chic’s gorgeous and unique Hand Clutch in Blue Damask. One random commenter will be chosen to win the bag. This contest ends November 30th at noon EST. THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED.

All you folks in the Baltimore/Washington corridor and vicinity are in for a real treat this Saturday, December 1st. The Charm City (Baltimore) Craft Mafia is putting on their 2nd indie craft show, the Holiday Heap. Their first show, Pile of Craft, was a blow-out success and the Holiday Heap is sure to follow as another smashing success for the group.

Indie vendors include some of my favorites, deNada Designs, Tigerlily Shop, The Candy Thief and Little Flower Designs among others. I’ll be representin’ too with some Indie Fixx Shop and Tilting Swiftly wares. There will also be some good food from local eateries and tunes from a dj all day long.

The Holiday Heap event is free to the public and will be held indoors at St. John’s Church, located at 2640 St. Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21218, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

Plus, bring a canned good or two to help those less fortunate than yourself for a collection for the Maryland Food Bank and receive a free raffle ticket for a chance to win one of several amazing gift baskets.

Sweet As You Please is today’s ‘12 Days of Indie Holiday Shopping’ featured shop. Offering the sweetest soy candle scents in a variety of sizes, Sweet As You Please candles are made from high quality 100% natural soybean base and fragrance & essential oils. They are sure to bring a smile to the face of your gift recipient when they burn these sweet smelling gifts.

The Travel Tins would make the cutest smelling stocking stuffers and the Scent Pots would be nice for anyone with young children worried about leaving a candle lit, but who still appreciates the gentle wafting of delectable fragrances. There are also larger round and square container candles available. Good holiday fragrances include Cappuccino Bruleé, Ginger Fig, Icy Peppermint, Spiced Cranberry & Gingerbread.

Use coupon code indiefixx for 15% off at Sweet As You Please and fill your home and/or your gift recipient’s home with scent this holiday season.

Leave a comment on this post to be entered into the contest to win a 3-pack of Sweet As You Please Travel Tins in Carrot Cake, Blackberry Sage & Cinnamon Swirl. One random commenter will be chosen to win and this contest ends November 29th at 2 pm EST. THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED.

I thought this might be the opportune time to share my interview with Hilary of Crafty Robot with you. Hilary makes and sells all sorts of sewn accessories and housewares, but it’s her Monster Stockings that have made her shop so well known and one you must visit this holiday season.

Read my interview with Hilary for the Indie Artist Fixx series below.

1. What’s the name of your business and what do create and sell?

My business is Crafty Robot. I make sewn accessories and household goods; most are one-of-a-kind and many use vintage or recycled materials.

2. How did you get started with your craft?

I have been interested in sewing for as long as I can remember, but didn’t pursue it seriously until a semester abroad in college, when I used my copious free time and the patient instruction of a fellow exchange student to begin sewing clothing, by hand.

3. How did you get started with your business?

I stumbled into business with Monster Stockings, which began as a one-time gift for a friend. It was so well-received that I refined the pattern, added two more designs, and offered a handful for sale in 2003. Much to my surprise, the stockings sold out quickly, and almost before I knew it I had a viable product line on my hands!

(Continued)

I’m now carrying Subversive Cross Stitch patterns in the Indie Fixx Shop. Be subversive in a totally socially acceptable way and embroidery your subversiveness into art! A modern day take on the embroidered samplers of the past, this is cross stitch for girls (and guys) with a little attitude…this ain’t yo momma’s cross stitch.

Each basic kit contains: pattern, instructions, cross stitch fabric & pre-bundled DMC embroidery thread. Empower you innermost diva with some snarky embroidery. Perfect for gifting to your snarky friends!

Choose from Happy F**king Holidays, Do Not F**K With Me (my personal favorite and hangs in my office), Thanks for Sharing, Beeyatch & Candy Ass.