In the U.S., tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a day of reflection and gratitude. The holiday is supposed to be about being thankful for what you have and spending time with loved ones (and let’s not forget eating favorite foods), but it has also become the official start of the winter holiday shopping season. I dislike crowds and rampant consumerism, so Black Friday sales and doorbusters are pretty much the total opposite of my idea of a good time.
Especially during this time of year, it’s important for me to support small businesses. Here’s my version of a Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday shopping guide highlighting some great small businesses I’ve encountered with over the past year. (Oh yeah, and there are some discounts, too.)
Shameless Self-Promotion
I’ll start by saying that I’m offering a 25% discount in my Ravelry and Etsy shops with coupon code shopsmall13 through 11:59 Eastern on Monday, December 2, 2013.
In my Ravelry shop, you’ll can purchase any of my self-published patterns for instant download. All of these patterns are included in the Indie Design Gift-a-long on Ravelry, where you can win great prizes from indie designers and yarn companies.
You’ll find the same patterns in my Etsy shop, along with bamboo Tunisian crochet, crochet, and “knooking” (knitting with a crochet hook) hooks. If you’re looking for a fun crafty gift, I sell a Tunisian crochet gift set with 5 Tunisian crochet hooks and my Beginner’s Guide to Tunisian Crochet all wrapped up nicely with a gift card.
Other Gift Ideas for Crocheters and Knitters
- Even the crocheter who has it all would be delighted to own a handmade tapered crochet hook by Sistermaide on Etsy. I ordered these two with an Etsy gift card I got for my birthday, and they have made crocheting bullion stitches much more fun! You can find more unique hooks on my Pinterest board for yarn bowls, hooks, needles, and notions.
- One of my favorite new-to-me yarns is Molly Girl Chart Topper, a machine washable, hand dyed Merino wool yarn. (You can buy Molly Girls yarns here on Etsy.) I particularly love these two skeins I bought at the North Jersey Fiber Arts Festival last year. They are featured prominently in my 2013 Temperature Scarf. You can find links to other cool indie yarn companies on my Pinterest boards for indie yarn companies or yarn CSAs and fiber clubs.
- Earlier this year, I spent the day at the farm of the Long Island Livestock Company, which was amazing. (I’m still working on writing up a blog post to do my visit justice!) If you’re in the Long Island area this Sunday, you should absolutely check out the open house at the farm, where you can buy her gorgeous llama yarns, rovings, and skin care products. (And don’t forget the cat toys, which my cat gave 5 stars.) You can find more details on her Facebook page. Click on the flier to enlarge it.
- I recently finished reading Sweater 101, an amazing book by Cheryl Brunette that is produced by an indie/small publisher. If you have a friend who wants to try out knitting (or even crocheting, because there is a lot of general information) their own sweater, this would be a fabulous gift. You can find more knitting and crochet books that I’ve reviewed here.
- And if you’re looking for other ideas for the knitters and crocheters in your life, check out Marly Bird‘s frequently updated compilation of Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales on her blog here. You can find links to discounts on patterns, yarn, needles/hooks, bags, and all sorts of other goodies there.
Big Ticket Items
And in case you’re in the position to splurge (as a gift, or for yourself)…
Last year, I injured my back and spent most of 2013 in constant discomfort. A few months ago, I was referred to Jenny Hall, a Licensed Massage Therapist. I always thought massage was a frivolous luxury, but Jenny’s approach to massage isn’t about spending a day at the spa to pamper yourself, but being aware of your body and working on it as part of a long term plan for your health. Visiting her office has been one of the best decisions I’ve made and is truly money well spent. For those of you in the New York City area, Jenny offers competitive rates, including discount packages.
If you live elsewhere, Jenny recommends looking for a reputable massage therapist through the American Massage Therapy Association, or by reading reviews in a local Yelp search.
My long time readers already know Carlota Zimmerman, the Creativity Yenta (interviewed here). Carlota is a creativity coach, and was instrumental in helping me make a career transition this year. With the New Year around the corner, booking a series of appointments with Carlota for yourself, or as a gift for a loved one, may be the inspiration needed to kick off a career or other creative transition. And Carlota’s offering a special discount for my readers!
Get. Started. Now.
Ready to make 2014 the year you achieve your goals? Ready to start creating a life you love? This package is for people who are looking to change their lives, but are not exactly sure how to get started, given how overwhelming the process can be. Many people have very manageable goals, but they find that the actual mechanics of starting something new are, frankly, terrifying.
Terrifying… unless you hire a coach with a Type-A personality who loves to create detailed, step-by-step plans to get people started, and is comfortable holding clients accountable. (Oh, you lucky people.) Over these six weeks, we’ll organize your goals, and craft a realistic strategy based on your personality and experience, allowing you to start creating the life you’ve always wanted.
Get. Started. Now.
So many people find that the hardest thing is knowing where and how to start. I’ll get you started, and then I’ll help you create the long-term habits necessary to maintain and grow your success. At the end of six weeks, you’ll have an exit strategy to keep moving forward, as well as the skills necessary to keep creating the opportunities you need. $575
This package is specifically for friends of Underground Crafter. It will expire on December 31, 2013. To take advantage of this package, please email me at carlotazee AT gmail DOT com, and become a fan of my business Facebook page.