Scoutie Girl Gifts

Who remembers this girl?  Her true name was Jean Louise Finch, but to me and countless others she will always be Scout Finch; narrator of "To Kill a Mockingbird."  I've talked about this movie before, but it's not the movie I'm talking about today.  It's the name-Scout. Or more precisely Scoutie Girl Gifts.  I know Scoutie Girl Gifts was NOT named after Scout Finch.  (And if you want to know where the name came from, you will have to go to Scoutie Girl Gifts to find the answer.)  However, I hear the phrase scoutie girl and I immendiately think of Jean Lousie.  No one ever called me normal or said that my brain works like everyone else's. 

What am I really rambling about?

Scoutie Girl Gifts is this amazingly wonderful gift registry that supports and spotlights indie crafters.  We all know that our landfills are overflowing, that natural resources are being depleted, that most of our nation's manufactured goods DO NOT come from the USA.  What to do about it?  We recycle, we try to shop local, we use cloth shopping bags.  But there is so much more that can be done.  One way to start is by buying goods and products that we know are not adding to the landfills, not depleting natural resources and that support the manufacture of items made in the good ol' USA.

That is what Scoutie Girl Gifts is all about.  The crafters and artisans that are spot lighted are people that are doing their best to provide a quality piece of art or clothing, for example.  We all know the "stuff" we buy at the big box, or even the local shopping center is not usually quality made.  It is most likely made in another country in some big factory and will fall apart after a few uses.  The items that can be found at Scoutie Girl Gifts are made by artisans that sell at Etsy and Artfire and other independent online stores.  These are items you can be proud to say were made with love and care. 

Here are a few of the lovely things I found at Scoutie Girl Gifts

What better gift for the guitar-playing rock-music-loving guy in your life?

What about that hard to buy for teen that wants to be cool and different at the same time?

And how about this for the lovable geek/nerd/techie on your list?

I just want to point out that I wasn't paid or compensated in anyway by blogging about Scoutie Girl Gifts.  I have been following this blog for awhile and the person behind Scoutie Girl (Tara) for awhile.  She has another great blog, Handmade in PA that I've been following too.  I believe in what Tara and all the folks at HiP and SGG are doing to promote and encourage independent regular folks kind of crafters and artisans.  Go check them out and buy something if you can.  I know there are a few Christmas gifts I'll be picking up this year that I found through Scoutie Girl.

Fortuna's Apple Harvest Festival

It's that time of year again.  Fortuna's Apple Harvest Festival will take place Saturday, October 3rd in Fortuna, Ca.  I'm so excited to say that for the first time ever I will be taking part in the craft show taking place in downtown Fortuna on Main Street.  Starla and I will be selling our hand-crafted goodies for all to enjoy.  We've been busy putting in late nights to get lots of lovlies ready for all of you.  We are really excited as sometimes the creative juices are flowing so fast and free we have a hard time turning it off at night so we can sleep!  We will be selling LITTLE GIRL TUTUS, (they are adorable, by the way), Starla's gorgeous  BOOK PURSES, my HOLIDAY PENNANT BANNERS,  and LOTS OF OTHER STUFF.  The festival  is a time for the community to come together to celebrate the harvest of apples from Clendenan's, a local apple orchard (96 12th St., Fortuna).  It's also really the start of the holiday craft fair season.  It's always fun to see people after the summer, catch up, and see what other crafters have been up to.  Tractors pulling hay wagons ferry people from one location to another (for free!) since there are different types of activities in different locations around town.  I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and maybe making some new ones.  I hope you will be able to stop by the Apple Harvest Festival and enjoy some of Clendenan's cider.  Look for Starla and me on Main Street in downtown Fortuna. 

 If you stop by and mention this blog post, you will be receiving a special free gift from me! 

See ya there, Saturday, October 3rd!

Starla Has a Blog!!!

Yeah for one of my besties, Starla! She just started a blog yesterday and i'm so excited for her and you! For her, 'cause i've been encouraging her to do it for awhile & for you cause she is giving away one of her gorgeous hand-crafted cards. Her blog is called ReFashioned Threads and you really must go check it out. Her post about her card giveaway is here. Go check out her blog and tell her I sent you.