Five Faves Friday: Ocean Vibes

1. Salacia Rings: Saltwater and Silver | 2. Nauti Tank: Liquid Therapy

3. Framed Shark Tooth Art: Josh Phares | 4. Seashell Hoops: By Love Designs

5. Solar Sands Candle with Shark Teeth: Smell Swell

When you're a Floridian and summertime rolls around, ocean-inspired accessories, apparel, and home goods tend to be a natural part of your existence. I've lived in Florida all of my life and have always enjoyed being near or even on the water, so seashells, shark teeth, nautical symbols, and more just make things feel more like home for me! This week's Five Faves Friday is a collection of some fun ocean vibes items from local makers -- and I even managed to get a husband and wife into the mix! I am also proud to say that I own (or have owned, in the case of the candle that I already burned through), products from all of these businesses.

If you're not already following these businesses, I invite you to check them out!

Five Faves Friday: Reds, Whites, and Blues

1. Southwestern USA Earrings: By Love Designs | 2. Crochet Top: Soho Bohemian Store
3. Admiral's Daughters Apparel: Palms Pantry | 4. Ocean Earrings: Jasper and Elm
5. Macarons: Macarons by Despie
Jacksonville -- and especially Jacksonville Beach -- loves to do July 4th as big as they can. Beach cruisers fill up 1st Street, lots of houses have yard parties and inflatables along the way, and there was even one year when our resident Florida Man™ got arrested for playing "The Star Spangled Banner" on an electric guitar in the street! Because it's such a big day here, red, white, and blue apparel, accessories, and treats are kind of a must. I collected a few items to help you celebrate the day, check the product links below the image above to shop or see where to find them. And don't forget, my patriotic fringe earrings are raising money for K9s for Warriors this month!

Five Faves Friday: Gifts for Mom

1. Floral Suncatcher: Effloresced Designs | 2. Citrus Art: Megan Welch Artworks
3. Incense Holders: Fire and Moth Co. | 4. Knotted Flamingo: Knotty by Kasey
5. Seashell Hoop Earrings: By Love Designs

Mother's Day snuck up on me (I thought it was *next* weekend until Wednesday when I realized the date and made a hasty bike ride to drop off my card to my stepmom), but I didn't want to let this weekend pass without bringing back my Five Faves Friday series that has been neglected since December!

From a floral suncatcher that's just begging to be hung in a sunny window to detailed seashell mermaid earrings from yours truly, these are all local makers who either sell ready-made or custom work (or both), so I highly suggest following them if you aren't already!

Five Faves Friday: Party Host Gifts

 

1. Summa Salts Seasoning | 2. Spoonful Bakery Treats
3. Makes Perfect Scents Candles | 4. By Love Designs Wine Glass Charms
5. Legacy Ale Works Craft Beer

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, gift giving is at the front of most everyone's minds. When doing your holiday shopping, don't forget to pick something up for friends or family who are hosting parties or dinners!

If the event you're attending is hosted by someone who loves to cook, herbs and spices from Summa Salts are a great choice -- and you may even get to reap the enjoyment of these products yourself if the host cooks with them for the party you're at! Attending a dinner but not much of a cook yourself? Order baked treats from Spoonful Bakery and show up with goodies that look adorable and taste amazing. Scented candles are always a great gift that the party host can use during the event and continue to enjoy after, and Makes Perfect Scents has a wide selection of scents, including fall and holiday ones that will get everyone in the festive spirit. Help your party host step up their tablescape game with cute wine glass charms, like these wintery snowflake ones, which also make great accessories for stemmed beer glasses which your Legacy Ale Works craft beer can be poured into!

Whatever get togethers you are attending this holiday season, don't show up empty handed! Buying party host gifts from local businesses not only ensures you have a great gift to bring, but also supports your local community.

Five Faves Friday: Holidays with the Locals

 

1. Christmas Tree Wine Glass Charms | 2. Fleurish Felt Flower Co. Festive Hoop
3. Little Red Cottage Cookies Santa's Helper Cookie | 4. Candleleaf Frosted Juniper Candle
5. Jasper & Elm Reindeer Sweater Earrings

'Tis the season to shop small for holiday-themed gifts and decor, and there's no shortage of amazing local makers here in Jacksonville with festive and fun items! Get your home ready to host friends and family for your celebrations with beaded Christmas tree wine glass charms and a Fleurish Felt Flower Co. felt poinsettia hoop to add the finishing touch to your wall decor, enjoy a cozy night at home with some Little Red Cottage Cookies holiday cookies and a winter scented candle from Candleleaf, and complete your Christmas sweater party look with adorable clay reindeer sweater earrings from Jasper & Elm.

All of these makers can be found at markets this holiday season and throughout the year, so be sure to give them a follow on social media and keep an eye out for them at events! 

Five Faves Friday: Black and White

1. Sun & Song Shark Tooth Makeup Bag | 2. Smell Swell Candle
3. Liquid Therapy Shark Fin Crop Top | 4. Mystic Eye Fringe Earrings
5. Scrumptchie Witchy Eye Scrunchie

What better time than the holiday shopping season to bring back my Five Faves Friday series? (Formerly "Five Etsy Faves Friday," but a lot of us have left that platform for good reason. Do better, Etsy!)

For this week's theme I went with black and white products because I'm a sucker for a monochrome palette. You can create a fun gift set by putting the Smell Swell candle, Liquid Therapy shark fin crop, By Love Designs beaded fringe earrings, and Scrumptchie witchy eye scrunchie into the Sun & Song makeup bag. This not only creates a uniquely packaged gift, but saves money and waste by not requiring the purchase of a gift bag. Win, win!

Happy shopping, and let me know if you have suggestions for future Five Faves Friday themes!

Five Etsy Faves Friday: Magical Clear Quartz

1: Gilded Quartz Coasters | 2: Clear Quartz Cluster
3: Quartz Stone Bangle | 4: Quartz Arrowhead Necklaces
5: Boho Quartz Dangle Earrings

There's just something so magical about clear quartz! I love working with this stone because it can go with so many things. Over the years I've made lots of quartz arrowhead earrings, quartz necklaces with both arrowheads and chunks of the stone, and more. Putting this collection together has me brainstorming some more ways to use this pretty stone ...  

 

Five Etsy Faves Friday: Head in the Stars

 

1: Beaded Star Chokers | 2: Constellation Face Masks
3: Celestial Gemstone Rings | 4: Crescent Moon Dream Catcher
5: Moon and Star Dangle Earrings

Within the last year or so I've started incorporating more celestial pieces into my designs, like the celestial dangle earrings featured here. I've had a love for anything involving stars and galaxies for as long as I can remember, so it was only appropriate to bring a bit of outer space into my designs.

"Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the Universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don't just give up." - Stephen Hawking

Five Etsy Faves Friday: Oh my, Octupi!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Five Etsy Faves Friday: Southwest Style

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Perhaps it's my OCD, Type-A ways, but I just love all of the symmetry and repeat patterns that can be found in Southwest style anything!

Five Etsy Faves Friday: Arrows

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

A collection of arrow apparel and accessories, I love anything Native American-inspired!