A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Contrary to popular belief, the twelve days of Christmas actually begin on December 25 and end on the evening of January 5 (The Twelfth Night).  In the Christian tradition, the feast of the Epiphany on January 6 commemorates the presentation of gifts by the three Wise Men to the infant Jesus. In Latin America and Spain, this is the day when gifts are exchanged. Other countries celebrate this occasion by eating a King’s cake or drinking ale or wine. It is also the custom in some countries to give a gift for each of the twelve days.

But here in the U.S., we often spend the period after Xmas taking down decorations, returning unwanted gifts and roaming the malls in search of more things to buy at deep discounts. Don't get me wrong; I like to shop for and exchange presents. I just wish that we could tone the commercialism way down and ask Santa to deliver more good cheer than gifts. I also tire of seeing merchandise that looks more or less the same at every store wherever you go. It seems that I am not the only one who is on the lookout for unusual, one of a kind items. There is a real movement underway to create a new economy that offers consumers alternatives to buying mass produced goods and shopping at large chain stores. An ecommerce company called Etsy (http://www.etsy.com) is leading the effort to create a new marketplace that supports buying and selling handmade goods and artisans from all over the globe who create them. Although its primary focus is on crafts, Etsy also sells vintage items as well as art and craft supplies.  Established in 2005, Etsy’s stated mission is to “enable people to make a living making things and connect makers to buyers”. This thriving online business brings together a community of artisans from over 150 countries and encourages relationship building between buyers and sellers.

On a whim, I visited Etsy to see if I could find a gift that matched each one of the gifts given in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. Much to my surprise, I found a unique handmade gift for every single day. So, if you are still in the gift giving spirit during these twelve days, here are some gems from Etsy that are bound to woo your true love.  

1^st day – silver partridge bird (minus pear tree) long drop earrings, $4.95 by Antiqueinspired

2^nd day – two turtle doves’ necklace, $20.00 by stacysdesigns88

3^rd day – three French hen necklace, $28.00 by ds2pom

4^th day – four calling birds ornament, $7.50 by macerations

5^th day – five gold filled rings around a silver band, $55.00 by claychic

6^th day – flying (not laying) geese brooch, $38.00 by ShadyGroveStudios

7^th day – seven swans a swimming ring, $7.00 by helenapuck

8^th day – eight maids a-milking sterling silver necklace with fresh water pearl, $25.00 by stacysdesigns88

9^th day – nine ladies dancing necklace, $20 by stacysdesigns88

10^th day – ten lords a-leaping hand beaded ornament, $10 by dwolfe103

11^th day– eleven pipers piping ornament, $7.50 by macerations

12^th day – twelve drummers drumming Xmas cards, $2.00 by teeheeproductions.  




 





 


 













 





 

The Comeback of Dapper Tie Accessories

AMC’s award winning series, Mad Men, has definitely left its mark on the fashion world. Dresses with waistlines, full skirts and demur high heels are gracing runways and mall stores everywhere. Men’s jackets, lapels and trousers are narrowing and the fedora, once a sign of stodginess, is now the must have menswear accessory. And yes, the tie clip has even resurfaced. If you are under the age of forty, you may not have the slightest clue what this is. But for us older folks, the sight of a tie clip conjures up memories of our dads, Chevrolet Impalas and Lucky Strikes.

The tie clip or clasp consists of a slim bar attached by a hinge to a metal fastener with ridges. Quite simply, you slide the bar portion over the flat surface of a knotted tie and affix the ridged portion behind the shirt. This handy device was invented to keep ties straight and prevent them from flapping about or falling into ones food. There are tie clips to fit every budget and style sensibility. You can find them in metal, silver and gold and tie clip styles range from simple and streamlined to ornate and jewel embellished.

When worn properly, the clip rests  between the fourth and fifth shirt button or approximately 1/3 of the way down the tie. Ideally, you should be able to see the clip when the suit jacket is buttoned. Another important rule is that the clip should always be narrower than the tie. Although traditionally worn straight, you can also position the clasp at a jaunty angle. Dance and fashion icon, Fred Astaire, is credited with having popularized this trend (www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-tie-bar.htm). An original dresser, he was also known for wearing his bold colored ties as belts!

So, if you are lacking in gift and stocking stuffer ideas for the men in your life, then think no further. The metal tie clip is the perfect gift for the fashion forward gentleman who enjoys wearing a suit and tie. I found some handsome and reasonably priced ones by Kenneth Cole on http://www.kennethcole.com/ and J Crew carries a sterling silver clip for $60. If you love the vintage look, then check out eBay as well.