This Wednesday is Remembrance Day or Veteran’s Day, depending on where you live.  In Canada and England, red poppies are worn to remember those who lost their lives in the different wars.

While these poppies aren’t the ones that are traditionally worn, I think it’s still appropriate to wear them in memory.

This felted poppy necklace is by AVA Original Felted Art and is made using merino wool.  It’s adjustable, depending on how many times you wrap the “stem” around your neck.

These delicate earrings are made using glass bells, flowers and beads, on sterling silver hoops by Canadian jewelry designer Amanda Mackay.

Eight Seasons created this unique wristlet using layers of red leather, shaped to created little flowers, on a base of cream-colored leather.

images: Etsy

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Weekend Etsy Picks

Lingerie!

Okay, so it’s not an accessory that gets shared with the world, unlike purses, shoes or jewelry.  But like purses, shoes and jewelry, a lovely piece of lingerie makes you feel wonderful when you wear it.

There’s nothing quite like wearing something pretty and comfortable… and that makes you feel feminine too.

Sandmaiden Sleepwear makes lovely custom lingerie from organic cotton and natural fibers like bamboo jersey. They hand-dye their fabrics for the best finish.

Tulip chemise with ruffled flounce, made from organic cotton pointelle.

Rayon and organic cotton lace cup camisole.

Rayon and organic lace-trimmed low-rise panties.

When they say “made to order” they mean it – you choose the color, lace color, style and your exact measurements.  You don’t need to guess your size from their charts, they fit the lingerie precisely to your provided measurements.

images: Sandmaiden Sleepwear

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Weekend Etsy Picks

Nest offers the interest-free loans to women who have an idea for a business, but no way to get it off the ground.  They pair up established designers with the women to guide them in creating their own business and products.

The result?

Women who are able to help their families, send their kids to school, empower themselves… and make gorgeous things to sell.

If you’re looking for a cute little clutch for a dressy event, I’d like to suggest these ones from a loan recipient from Turkey, Sevinc Esen:

Each clutch purse is hand-crocheted and comes in your choice of silver, gold or black sequins.  They close with a hidden snap and measure approximately 6.5″ by 4.5″

Or you could go for the colorful multi-colored sequin clutch purse…

images: Nest

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Get Your Sparkle On – For a Good Cause

I was browsing through Etsy this morning, looking for our Weekend Etsy Pick when this gem caught my eye.  Don’t get me wrong – it’s a lot of look, but I love the playfulness and sheer exuberance:

This piece by Big Frozen Melon is a mix between a really skinny scarf and an enthusiastic lariat necklace.  The flower itself is made from felted Merino wool, with stitched bead accents in the center of the flower.  The necklace/scarf is crocheted cotton, and at almost six feet long, has plenty ways to wear it.

Big Frozen Melon also creates felted handbags and hair accessories with their large felted flowers.  They also make some lovely wedding accessories, everything from little flowers to the same style of necklace as the one I’ve shown – just in white.

image: Big Frozen Melon

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Weekend Etsy Picks

Shawl pins have been used for centuries to keep shawls, wraps and scarves in place, as well act as a decorative accent.  People have used metal, wood, bone among other things to create unique, decorative shawl pins.

Steve Elder of Oregon’s South 4th Woodcraft uses local wood to create his lovely handmade wooden shawl pins.  The pins are hand-carved and then carefully finished to create a shawl pin that will last for many years.

They come in some charming shapes as well:

“Heart” pin, made from Madrone hardwood.

“Butterfly” shawl pin, also made from Madrone wood.

And a charming chubby bird shawl pin, made from Manzanita wood.

By the way, to use a shawl pin, drape your shawl over your shoulders (or however you’re wearing it).  Place the large circle piece on top of the shawl and poke the pin through both layers of the shawl from the top.  That anchors the shawl in place.  I wouldn’t recommend using a wooden shawl pin on a tightly-woven shawl though – it may poke holes in it.

images: South 4th Woodcraft

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Weekend Etsy Picks

Things like laptop bags, cellphone and MP3 player cases – all very useful items that lots of us use daily.  If we’re going to carry things like laptops, why not make sure your case is as stylish as the rest of your accessories?

One solution is the “Bunny and Lace” laptop bag from Etsy seller, Track & Field:

Track & Field creates unique, handmade laptop cases, messenger bags and accessories and then hand-silk screens them with their own designs.  The finished bags have a vintage feel, but with a modern esthetic.

This particular bag is accented with a silk screened rabbit and lace doily and was made to fit a 13″ Macbook, with other sizes available.  They also will create a custom-sized laptop bag – at no additional charge!

image: Track & Field

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Weekend Etsy Picks

I’m a sucker for unusual floral purses, and this leather clutch purse is right up my alley!  It’s handmade in Estonia by indie designer EightSeaons:

The “Lavish Summer Blossoms” clutch purse is handmade using cream-colored leather, link with silk.  The blossoms are created with the same leather as the body of the purse, but they’ve been formed and rolled to make soft flowers.  To top it off, the flowers are attached using brass studs to provide a hint of tougher style – a perfect foil for the elegant blossoms.

EightSeasons is quite a new seller on Etsy, but their shop is filled with so many interesting purse designs that I think they’re going to take off in a big way!

images: EightSeaons

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Weekend Etsy Picks

From vintage heels to hand-sewn leather sandals, there are tons of options.

But what if you’re looking for something really one-of-a-kind?

Etsy seller, Craft-Tastrophe makes hand-painted shoes that are sure to fufill even the most quirky fashionista’s shoe wishes.

How about some summery “Tiger Lily” peep-toe pumps?

They’re hand-painted and then finished with a gloss finish to protect the unique design.

image: Craft-Tastrophe

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One of a Kind High Heels

Check out the charming “Monarch Butterfly” headband from Etsy seller, Charm School Design.

These aren’t real butterflies (thank goodness!) but realistic looking butterflies made from feathers.  Wouldn’t this make an adorable headband for a bride or just for summer fun?

Charm School Design can also make this in custom colors, so if orange isn’t your color – you’ve got a rainbow of possibilities.

image: Charm School Design

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Weekend Etsy Picks

But let’s face it, they don’t usually taste all that great, and some of the fortunes can be… less than inspiring.

This little fortune cookie is guaranteed not to let you down though!

The “Fortune Cookie” reversible handbag is a sweet and simple little bag – perfect for tossing a few essentials into and heading out for some fun.

The handbags are handmade by Sheila D and are made from a combination of cotton and corduroy fabrics.  The bags are fully reversible, so you can change the look any time you want.

image: Nest

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Here’s A Tasty Fortune Cookie