The Spotlight: HandPicked

You know the store that you always pass by and say that you are going to stop in one day soon? I have a few and this blog helps me to make the effort to just walk on in and see what I find.

Recently, I did that with HandPicked and picked up the cutest bracelet. A friend of mine picked up a nice necklace for her sister too. Both pieces were different and unique. I was told mine was hot off the presses...an item that had just been delivered to the store. I'm sorry that I don't have pics of those purchases but I do have a few that I might have to go back for. They are:

Antique Coral Earrings (on sale for $16.80)

Pearl Cuff ($26.60)
Antique Tear Drop Pendant ($42.00)

These items are also available online via http://www.handpicked.net/. In addition to costume jewelry, Handpicked carries HP Originals (items made in limited quantities and handcrafted), trendy pieces, sterling silver, accessories and can even monogram appropriate jewelry.

These pieces would be great for a girlfriend and Handpicked is definitely guy-friendly. The staff knows their jewelry and were completely nice. Since I stopped in around the holidays I got to see plenty of guys who had no clue what to purchase their significant others but knew that she shopped Handpicked. One guy said he was purchasing a stocking stuffer. Yes, the holidays are over but gifting is all year! Instead of a stocking stuffer, just lay a cute bracelet or ring on her pillow like a chocolate before turn down service:)

Check out the Handpicked story straight from the source...

From the horse's mouth (i.e. their website):

It began as more than a love of fashion, but a passion for the land and people of Mexico. With a desire to bring meaning to her life and a calling to unite the village markets of Mexico and her home country, HandPicked was born. Through her vision, Melanie Mauldin not only built her own family business, but helped build better lives for the families of silversmiths that have created HandPicked treasures for the past 20 years. And, even today, Melanie continues to work to improve the quality of life for women in those villages.
By offering handcrafted sterling silver jewelry that represents value, HandPicked has evolved from home shows and holiday markets to a family-owned chain of stores in three states. Our company's mission is important - provide a fun environment which helps women express who they are or who they want to be.

source: http://www.handpicked.net/

Experience: Teavolve Cafe & Lounge

Teavolve, housed in Harbor East in Baltimore is a tea house with so much more to offer including live jazz, brunch, desserts and more. It is a tea lovers dream with almost 50 different types of tea to choose from and an atmosphere that urges you to just chill. In addition to tea and the aforementioned items they have house made tea-infused sangrias. Yummy!

This place would be a great experience for a date, lazy brunch with family, or the corporate folk that want to forego Starbucks with all the same amenities.

Gifting-wise, you could invite a friend for an "I appreciate you" night out, start with a glass of wine and take in one of the many local artists that play on Friday and Saturday nights at Teavolve. The genre of music is almost as varied as the loose leaf teas including jazz, soul, rock, funk and the list goes on. Many local favorites play there and is sure to be a fun evening. Also, there are happy hour specials on drinks and food after 5pm until closing.

On a visit with one of my BFF's at Teavolve we chatted up our waitress, Casandra and she told us English Breakfast tea is the most popular tea but also encourages people to try her favorite, Lime Blossom. I'm a pretty plain Jane and I have branched out with my teas and have never had one I did not like at Teavolve!

The first Teavolve located on Eastern Avenue is a small space that is available for special events only. If you had the opportunity to visit that space, it was a treat...felt like you were home listening to Coltrane with a glass of wine. The new space in Harbor East is more than four times the size of the original but has the same great ingredients to make it a success.

Be sure to stop by Teavolve located at 1401 Aliceanna Street.

Gift Tip #24: Calendars

This could not wait until 2010! Yes, it's almost here but I thought I would share this timely gift tip that would be for anyone who wants to keep track of their year and still enjoys the tangible paper calendar. I have a blackberry but it's something about seeing and touching a physical calendar that I still enjoy. For those that you know feel the same, here are a few options I found via Etsy.

via Seller Frogpod

via Seller DirtyBandits

via Seller ModernClassicsPaper

Be sure to pick a calendar that reflects the person receiving it. If you know someone likes nature, the ModernClassicsPaper might be nice, for those that need a laugh the Dirty Bandits calendar may be the right fit or for a person who loves pretty paper, the letterpress calendar may be best.

source: www.etsy.com

HoneeBee Gifts named one of the top 5 gift blogs!

I am so surprised and excited that my baby, HoneeBee Gifts has been listed as one of the top gift blogs by Networked Blogs. Click here to see the list! There are 50 blogs listed and HoneeBee is #4 on the list!

I would like to THANK everyone who clicked "allow" when I sent you a message about my blog via Facebook or went directly to the blog site, http://www.honeebeegifts.blogspot.com/ and became a follower.

I really do appreciate your support and I hope that I am assisting with your gifting needs.

I am brainstorming new blog posts and hope to start 2010 with a bang! Please be on the lookout for the latest gift buzz:)

If you have not signed up yet, please do so via Facebook or visiting the HoneeBee Gifts blog.

THANK YOU!

Happy Holidays from HoneeBee Gifts

I hope everyone has gotten their gifts and are wrapping them perfectly for Santa's arrival tomorrow! I am off to spend time with family and friends. I can't wait to see my BFF's, my cute nephew...and maybe snow.

Merry Christmas and look for more fab gift ideas in 2010!!!

Gift Tip #23: Subscription to Netflix

I love getting something besides bills and circulars in the mail and Netflix is the solution! This gift is for movie connoisseurs, aspiring actors/directors and those rainy nights at home when shaking it at the club and shopping just won't do.

Here are the perks that Netflix has to offer:

• 100,000 titles to choose from
• Receive dvd's in about one business day
• Monthly rentals for less than a martini (It's only $13.99 for one of the unlimited plan )

When packaging this gift...bring some popcorn along to really make the impact!

Gift Tip #22: Original Art

Art can really make a difference in any space, large or small. While it's not like paint, it is a close runner up to changing a room in an instant! I recently got the guts to create a wall collage and am so happy I did so. I am currently looking for artwork to place in the frames. Right now, I have some placeholders (i.e. postcards, magazine ads, stationary, etc) because I am taking my time to pick out pieces that reflect my style.

Art is a tricky gift to give- you really need to know what the giftee likes (watercolors, oil, ink, etc). One way of finding out is visiting a few galleries or art museums with the giftee and remembering which ones he/she resonated with.

Also, art does not have to be expensive but you should be picking pieces that the giftee will love to see displayed for years to come.

Here are some tips when picking out art:

Be patient.
If you’re interested in a particular piece, ask the artist for a photo of it or a link to the artist’s Web site so you can think about it for awhile. Sometimes deliberation will help you avoid the bad impulse buy.

Shop solo or with a trusted sidekick.
Larger festivals can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have all day to browse. You may prefer to shop with a trusted friend, someone who knows their taste and can lend some back-up willpower – to buy or not.

Picture the empty wall.
If you have a particular corner of the house in mind, know the dimensions of the available space. Keep an eye out for surprises, too. You’ll find a place for it if you like it.

If you like it, really really like it, then buy it.
You can find good artwork for a few hundred dollars, and often much less. For the price of a fancy dinner or tickets to a show, you could own a painting or sculpture that you’ll enjoy for much longer than a night on the town.

Study the artist’s biography. Knowing some fundamental information about an artist can help you gauge their potential for growth and will often provide a deeper understanding of their work.

Look for dedication, not education. When looking for a great doctor or lawyer, academic accreditation matters. When looking for great art, however, it is not as important. Artists whose work appreciates the fastest exhibit a strong work ethic and a lifelong dedication to producing great art. Picasso, for example, had no formal training past the age of 16, but was the most prolific artist of the 20th century.

Interact directly with the artist. This allows you the opportunity to augment the information provided in an artist’s biography, and helps ensure a smooth transaction- especially when buying online. It is also advantageous to get a feel for the artist’s personality and stick-to-itiveness.

Negotiate. If you find an artist whose work falls well within your budget, offer to buy multiple pieces at a discounted price. Alternately, you could suggest buying successive pieces over time for a predetermined amount.

sources: contemporaryquiltart.org, streetdirectory.com, flickr.com