I've recently moved into a new house. Lately, I've started to unpack my treasured objects from creative, talented Kossacks--all obtained via the Kos Katalogue. Let me give you a short, personal tour of just a few of the ones I use the most.
One of the first items I'll hang on my living room wall (soon, I promise) will be my gorgeous painting by asterkitty, Azalea #1. Isn't it beautiful?
Azalea #1
Please take a look at asterkitty's
website for other wonderful creations of hers. She is very flexible and accommodating, and is always delighted to see her work in a happy home.
A box I just opened today has almost all my Fineena scarves in it. (All except the blue one that I was wearing for events pre- and post-move. ;) It is delightful to greet these beautiful adornments again, now that I have made them room, more or less. Besides, when is it a better time to wear orange? Then again, when it gets colder, I'll be wearing one or the other of the woollen cowls of hers, particularly the blue and silver one that my husband commissioned as a gift (hint, hint--to anyone who has a special someone to surprise).
I'm in the middle, between sydneyluv and ICanDoThis, wearing one of my favorites--in orange, of course.
For a while, I couldn't locate the box in which I had oh-so-carefully packed my jewelry. I persisted, however, and now my anxiety is allayed since I can put my hands on my lovely earrings from
edrie, my elegant necklaces from
Lorinda Pike, and my magnificent necklace from
Wings: Hands on Silver, my WhiteHawk (designed by Aji). My husband has been enjoying his great belts from
Rocky River Leather Company, run by Kossack meagert. (In fact, he liked the first one I gave him so much he requested a second.) I am sure I am missing some from this list, however, so my apologies in advance for any unintended slight.
The most distinctive piece of jewelry I own, WhiteHawk by Wings--a Secret Santa gift from several years ago.
As
Avilyn mentioned in her diary yesterday, the Secret Santa tradition is a sweet way for us to recognize Kossacks we care about. A nomination is made for a particular item through one of the Kos Katalogue participants. (The request/suggestion can be made by the intended recipient or by someone else on their behalf; the one making the nomination may remain anonymous.) Then the item is posted in subsequent Kos Katalogue diaries, so that donations for the gift can be solicited from the community at large. Eventually, the intended recipient comes into possession of it--and let me link to
remembrance's thank you diary from early this year to show you one example of just how meaningful these gifts are. It's a win-win: a wonderful surprise for the recipient, and a boost to the Kossack who created it.
Please join me after the jump for more promotion of the Kos Katalogue vendors.
My mother hasn't changed residences herself for many years, but she is becoming more forgetful, alas. So she was in a panic the other day when she called me to ask if I knew what had become of her quilt. (All ended well; her grandson had put it away in a new place when he had visited the other day.)
Not just any quilt, it was a message quilt created to my specifications by the quilt sisters, Sara R and winglion. All of the children and grandchildren supplied messages, some sweet and some silly. One of them lists the street names for all the houses my parents had lived in during their 70-plus years of marriage. Another lists all the names of their cats and dogs. The fabric and motifs were chosen in consideration of my mother's favorite colors (red, turquoise, and black) and her beloved cardinals. This is how it turned out:
"A Mother's Heart," by the quilt sisters, Sara R and winglion
It was a really fun experience for me to collect the messages from my rather cantankerous family, who entered into the spirit of the thing more enthusiastically than I had expected. And now my mother has a wonderful, tangible reminder of us and how much we care about her.
Most if not all of the Kossacks can provide custom orders. Any would be happy to discuss the possibility with you, I feel confident in saying, even if it proves unworkable. But in the more likely case that it would be doable, it takes time. Especially when, at this time of year, artisans and artists tend to be gearing up for this sales season.
Speaking of commissions, here I will make a shameless plug for one of the more unusual of the possibilities listed in the Kos Katalogue. My husband, ProvokingMeaning on the site, is a gifted and inventive composer for voice and/or instruments. Check out this link for his work. He is always available to create a new piece of music, texted or not, for a special event, milestone, or circumstance. Feel free to contact him via Kosmail if you are interested.
When you are considering your shopping for the holidays, whether for others or for your own wish list, please start with perusing the Kos Katalogue for possibilities. Part of the fun is in looking--but whatever you choose, I promise you won't be disappointed.
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Kos Katalogue: October 2014
The Holiday Season is almost here! Please consider buying your holiday or celebration gifts for friends and family from the Kos Katalogue.
Kos Katalogue is an online catalog of businesses owned by people who cherish and promote liberal values. Handmade or original gifts include pet supplies; fine art; quilts; jewelry; children's department; arts and crafts; stationery; books; clothing; craft supplies; electronics; food and drink; household sundries; yarn, knitting, crochet, and weaving; freelance services; software and webdesign; sporting goods; and music.
Below are four examples of these handmade or original gifts. Thanks for your support.
Community Quilt Project David M Bowman Studio
Wings: Hands on Silver Laughing Coyote Woodworks
Please remember to republish these diaries to your Daily Kos Groups. You can also follow all postings by clicking this link for the Kos Katalogue Group. Then, click 'Follow' and that will make all postings show up in 'My Stream' of your Daily Kos page.
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