October ... from the first to the last!

     My, how time flies!  Doesn't seem anytime since special days of September were featured, and here we are in October with its own very special days, weeks, and themes for the month.
     This month's celebrations include Adopt a Shelter Dog, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Apple Month.  We hope that many dogs from many places will find forever homes this month.  This watercolor helps remind us that dogs need families, too.

Yankee Girl Art

Dogs come in all sizes, breeds, and colors.  From big to small, we love them all!

Six Sisters Art

Diane Clancy

A serious concern for women and girls everywhere is breast cancer.  October has been set aside as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  There are fund-raisers of various kinds, with proceeds going to research or other organizations that help women who have been diagnosed.  Many wear clothing or jewelry or carry bags that exhibit the pink breast cancer awareness symbol, such as the earrings below.

Meredith Bead 2

Autumn is a beautiful time of the year, with the deciduous tree leaves changing to gorgeous splashes of color throughout much of the country.  We look forward to cooler days and special treats, such as apple cider, and a variety of delicious apples.  Although the apples below won't keep the doctor away, they are delightful to see.

Jewelry by Lone Wolf

Fantasy Creations 1

Beth Peardon Prods

The first week of the month has been designated American Craft month.  Our team has members across the world, not just in America, and every team member is a talented artist/crafter and their work represents a large genre of art forms.  Here is just a tiny sampling of some of their creations.

Stitches by Julie

Pickle Berry Trifles

Zuda Gay

Get Lathered

Peregrine Silk

Whimseys

Nonnie 62

Blazing Needles

The Slip Stitch

Just past the middle of October, on the seventeenth, it is World Greeting Card day.  Just think how happy you can make someone by sending them a card in the mail.  Think how happy it will make you to do something for someone else.  And, last but not least, think how the U.S. Post Office would benefit by such a huge mailing!  There are many talented card makers, and here are two of them.

pfd Original Art Works

Nature in Pastels

And to wrap it all up, we end the month on October 31 with Halloween.  Witches, black cats, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, and all things black and orange.  

Circle in the Sand

Chris 1

Fire Fly Glass Design

CC Valenzo

Van Fleet Street Design

Rural Retreat Vintage

Paintings by Kate Ladd

Enjoy your October, and remember, buy handmade.  And start with the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street team for unique, well made, wonderful selections!

This post written by Pam Todd, whose hand-crocheted items for people, pets, and homes are featured in her Bags and More by Pam Etsy store.  Pam is a proud member of the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team - Bbest.

Pink Day! Really? Yes!

It appears that there is a special day for almost everything!  In June we find days celebrating the egg, donuts, cheese, yo-yos, weed your garden day, chocolate ice cream day, and Father's Day, of course.  Then there are whole weeks set aside for clay and fishing.  And, June is Fruit and Vegetables month and Adopt a Cat month.  I often wonder who decides what we are celebrating on any given day, week, or month.  Is there a place where one can make suggestions?  When searching today, I found that June 23 is Pink Day.  That makes me want to look to see if all the other colors have their own special day!  But, pink is pleasing to the palette, and I've discovered many pink creations among the members of the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team - the BBest Team.  Below are some that would make marvelous gifts for yourself and others.  Enjoy!

This beautiful painting is by Joan from Six Sisters Art.

Melanie's painting of this pink dewdrop  coneflower is from her shop, The Creators Palette.

These cute pink button hairpins are from Rural Retreat Vintage.

Rescued Beauty offers these Czech beads from which one can create their own jewelry.

Yankee Girl paints lovely flowers and other nature art.

This is only one of many fabulous silk scarves by Klaire of Mystic Silks

This lovely pink corsage is from the shop of Pickleberry Trifles.

JN Originals has created this felted brooch.

These pretty pink earrings are from Magdalene Jewels.

Firefly Glass Design has created this fused dichrotic glass heart pendant.

The photography by Beth of Beth Peardon Prods is wonderful.

Get Lathered creates personal care products, such as this hair conditioner.

Pink is not the only color you can find in the shops of the BBest team members.  The talents and handmade creations, along with vintage offerings, and supplies for making your own items, will meet your wishes and needs for gifts for any occasion.  Just select Handmade from the drop down menu on Etsy's home page, and enter Bbest Team to select from hundreds of items.

This post written by Pam Todd, whose Etsy shop, Bags and More by Pam, features hand-crocheted items for people, pets, and homes.  Pam also welcomes custom orders.

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It’s a Party!

“Omigosh, Sally!” I exclaimed. “I’m so happy to see you!”

“How did you, Jill, and your Mom enjoy your trip? Sally asked.

“Omigosh,” I answered. “It was a whirlwind, but wonderful! Nothing like being able to celebrate our oldest granddaughter’s sixth birthday with her.”

“You’ve told me before,” replied Sally, “that her mother is extremely talented at creating special parties for Kayti.”

“Yes,” I smiled, “And this was no exception. Kayti loves music, peace signs, and girly things. So, the theme was Miss Kayti’s Rock and Roll Day Spa Birthday Party. The 17 girls got mini robes when they arrived, flip flops, and sat down in rows to first play Musical Toes.”

“Whatever is that?” asked Sally.

“The music begins, and each girl passes a bottle of nail polish to the girl next to her. When the music stops, each girl paints one of her toe nails. Needless to say, everyone’s toes were colorful and fun when the game was done!” I said.

“Well, what else did they do to top that?” Sally continued.

“They had canvas bags to decorate with their names using foamy stick on letters, and added other shapes such as musical notes, guitars, stars, and more. Then they each made a name bracelet with added colorful beads. And there were three stations: nails, makeup, and hair. With nails polished, they moved to the hair stations where they got brightly colored feathery pony tail holders and neon hair extensions clipped to their hair, and then to makeup for eye shadow, lipstick, and face painting – again with a rock and roll theme.”

“My goodness,” said Sally. “They must have been so excited!”

“Oh, it was so much fun, I can’t tell you!” I replied. “They ate a bit of lunch during the middle of the party time. Then they each had a picture taken holding a blue inflatable rock ‘n roll guitar. And to top it off, Kayti came up to me and said, ‘I just told my Mom we are going to have a fashion show!’ That wasn’t part of the original plan, but that was the last activity before singing happy birthday and eating cupcakes. The girls lined up (the party was in the clubhouse where they live) in an adjacent area, and came out one at a time, posed, and had another picture taken. All the parents had stayed, and so the girls had a great audience with lots of applause.”

“That sounds like so much fun,” Sally said. “And, also, that Kayti may be following in her mother’s footsteps with party ideas since she decided on the fashion show!”

“Oh, it was,” I smiled. “And no doubt she is because she is a very creative young lady, too. But, the best part was that Kayti whispered to her Mom shortly after the party began, ‘Thank you, Mom. This is the best party ever!”

“So, are things calming down for awhile for you now?” queried Sally.

“Not a chance,” I said. “This time of year our family has multiple birthdays to celebrate, plus Mother’s Day and Father’s Day! So, you and are I going shopping for some gift ideas……for kids, men, women, and pets and pet lovers!”

“Can’t wait,” smiled Sally. “I love shopping with the Boomers and Beyond Team and their wonderful creations!”

For the kids…..

http://www.theslipstich.etsy.com/

http://www.stitchesbyjulie.etsy.com/

http://www.lilbabythangs.etsy.com/

http://www.kimbuktu.etsy.com/

http://www.bytheby.etsy.com/

http://www.blazingneedles.etsy.com/

For the guys…..

http://www.scottieacres.etsy.com/

http://www.nightskyjewelry.etsy.com/

http://www.jnoriginals.etsy.com/

http://www.fantasycreations.etsy.com/

http://www.buttondivas.etsy.com/

http://www.ajscountrycottage.etsy.com/

http://www.attackofthevintage.etsy.com/

http://www.susanelkin.etsy.com/

For the gals…..

http://www.vanfleetstreetdesigns.etsy.com/

http://www.pfdoriginalartworks.etsy.com/

http://www.imaginuity.etsy.com/

http://www.sixsisters.etsy.com/

http://www.mysticsilks.etsy.com/

http://www.birose.etsy.com/

http://www.circleinthesand.etsy.com/

http://www.katzskreations.com/

http://www.chris1.etsy.com/

http://www.altheap.etsy.com/

http://www.theclaycenter.etsy.com/

For pet lovers…..

http://www.nonnie62.etsy.com/

http://www.dianeclancy.etsy.com/

http://www.yarrow1.etsy.com/

http://www.backroomtreasures.etsy.com/

Fabulous, as always,” sighed Sally.