I’ve never been a doll kind of girl – not even as a child. But when I saw Jess Brown’s rag dolls in Anthropologie I became a smitten kitten. And today I saw the most perfect one that just had to come home with me.

These aren’t any dolls – they’re one of a kind, hand made, rag dolls. They remind me of the old fashioned ones Laura Ingalls might have if that little town on the prairie had access to black tea dipped reminents and pretty linens.

What I love is how soft and pliable these dolls are; they truly feel like a rag doll. The clothes, the dresses are all made with care (and are unique to each doll). The face and hair also lends to each dolls character and my girl is certainly charming. We are fast becoming BFF.

If you’re looking to give a special gift to a girl of any age, consider one of these dolls. Jess Brown does custom designs so I’m sure she could make something special for you. And since she re-uses materials and dyes with tea and not chemicals, you’re giving something safe, beautiful and handmade all at once.

BUY AT: Jess Brown Design

I travel a lot and 99% of the time it’s alone. And during my travels it’s my job to write and photograph all that I see. I try to make it fun but sometimes an assignment wants a more serious, structured tone. So how to I break that up and put a little fun back into my job and not feel so by myself?

The Travel Kitty!

I forget how I discovered this on Etsy but I’m glad I did because, although I’ve often hated those ‘Gnome in Photo” photos, there’s something so charming to me about the Travel Kitty (along with the blog about where all the kitties go). The creator calls it an “interactive art project” – she makes the art, then you create more art by photographing the art. Get it? Good!

The orange kitten had me smitten and so I placed an ordered and was even more charmed by the packaging of it – professional, fun and completely thought out. My kitty came with the name Suki and and a map which shows she’s instantly ready to travel – no set up required! So now I’m looking forward to taking more pictures and having someone to play around with on those long haul flights and trains! You can see my Travel Kitty photos on my Flickr.

BUY AT: lmdalton’s Etsy Shop

With buying a new travel bag comes the need to buy a new luggage tag. Since my Orla Kiely bag was colourful and fun, I wanted a tag to match. But all the travel stores seemed to carry the same black or neon tags – definitely not what I had in mind. With all the luck I’ve been having on Etsy lately, a quick search turned up Two owls linen and cotton travel luggage name tag by Minmade!

There are several reasons why I love this; the colour combinations, the fact that it’s linen, the stretchy loop to secure it to my handle, the snap closure to put my business card in (and keeping my info private), the fact that it’s unique and handmade and I confess, most importantly, is that it goes perfectly with my luggage!

I’m not sure how it would stand up to repeated uses as checked luggage but for my carry-on pieces, it’s perfect.

BUY AT: Minmade on Etsy

As an artist, I love colourful, unique things and especially love to support other artists. However, I find a lot of gear for my camera is boring black – not creative at all – and generally made by great big corporations. So I was happy when a quick search on Etsy revealed the shop What a Hoot that was selling beautifully made (and colourful!) camera straps!

I was a little hesitant because my camera and lens can be quite heavy so I wasn’t sure if something home made would be sturdy and comfortable enough for my gear. However these straps are made from real manufactured camera straps so they are very durable and a felt backing makes it very comfortable around your neck. I also really like the thickness of the strap (1.5″ wide) and the length (42″ long). The colour selection is beautiful as is the craftsmanship.

So if you have a camera, banish the black and get into some colour!

BUY AT: What a Hoot Etsy Shop

I survive on tea and must always have a cup on hand. It can sometimes take me a fair bit to get through a cup so that when I go for my second (or third!), the tea in the pot has usually cooled off. I’ve searched for years for the perfect tea cosy but since I didn’t want one that had cats, pom poms or was crocheted I seemed to out of luck.

Whilst browsing on Etsy I came across the Lily Crowned Tea Cosy which suited my aesthetics’s and tea warming purposes perfectly!

Lined with an insulating layer of batting and decorated with a vintage image on French vintage linen sheets and stamped on image, these hand made cosy’s are not only pretty but practical. I loved tea before but having this to put on makes it even better (Tip: I put warm water in the tea pot whilst brewing water and put the tea cosy on top so that the pot stays extra warm).

The cosy’s come in a couple of sizes so check the measurements and buy the one that’ll fit your pot the best.

BUY AT: Gloaming Designs Etsy Shop

Please, please do not, and I’m slightly begging here, buy any more Target or Ikea Prints. Just don’t. There’s no reason when there are so many amazing artists out there that offer affordable, beautiful art. And please do not buy mass-printed generic art if you are an artist – support other artists!

And a great artist to start with if you love photography is Jennifer Causey, whose still life’s are so incredible stunning, simple and wonderful in any home or environment. I’ve purchased a print and a set of postcards, both of which have always elicited ooh’s and ahh’s followed by “where can I get that?”

Her work speaks to me in a subtle, beautiful way. It inspires me a great deal to see the ordinary things in a more extraordinary way – and that’s what art should be about. Inspiring your daily life and not just filling up wall space.

Buy at: Photobird

BUY AT: Energymuse

I confess, I do not own this… yet! However, I know several people (both men and women) who have owned Energymuse necklaces and love them. Which is a good thing because when you get it, you’re supposed to wear it nonstop (although you take it off to bathe) for weeks at a time.

Not only are these handcrafted necklaces beautiful, but the actual stones are said to be powerful. Now, I’m not sure how much I buy into the whole “stones will heal you” thing but if it’s pretty to wear and it might do something? Why not!

I’m all about the 4th Chakra one pictured here and had an oppurtunity to try it on once. It’s a bit weighty in that real lovely jewellery kind of way and its long, which I love. There’s different sizes so you can certainly find something that speaks to you. Need help with love? Confidence? Your heart? Energymuse has the stones for you. And if you can’t quite afford a necklace, they make beautiful bracelets, too.

Its said that if the necklace breaks, what you needed to overcome has been done. I haven’t known anyone who has had a necklace break despite the fact they are worn a lot. But, my friends do tell me that they felt something. I think the something comes from so many people complimenting them and not an inner goddess but perhaps if I’ve got one of these around my neck giving me good vibrations I might just change my mind…

Update: I finally got this as it’s as beautiful as I thought it’d be!

It has been a very, very long time since I’ve had cake or icing; a tragedy considering I adore cupcakes. But since I have an auto-immune disease which literally almost killed me and can only be managed by not eating gluten or dairy, I haven’t been able to eat much of anything.

So when I discovered Baby Cakes NYC on the web tonight, I thought very, very carefully about moving to NY just so I could eat a cupcake a day. I confess I haven’t tried this yet so I can’t vouch if they’re good or not but the idea of it (along with my friend Felicia’s fabulous review) is enough for me to recommend it.