Tick Tock Day - December 29th

We all know that with every new year comes the (insert appropriate adjective here) occasion of creating and acknowledging your New Year's resolutions.  But did you know that December 29th is a national holiday, too?  It is Tick Tock Day, so designated that you might complete your previous year's resolutions before it's too late.

So you have two days left to close the loop on things you planned to do this year.  Wanted to learn how to cook that delicious Italian meal?  Decided this was the year you would treat yourself to a tropical vacation?  Now is the time to, at the very least, take the first steps toward those resolutions.

Here is some HVNY Team inspiration to help you close Tick Tock Day with a feeling of success.

Was one of your resolutions for 2013 to have people over, throw a party, or just let loose and have a blast?  Well, if you haven't already fulfilled that wish, now is the time.  Make a plan to go to a New Year's Eve party or look at the calendar and set a date when you are going to have a nice, cozy winter open house in January/February.  Better yet, send out an Evite today!

Harlequin Design Venetian Style Mask by amberhlynn on Etsy

 Did you tell yourself that 2013 was the year you would finally go on that well-deserved tropical vacation, but haven't yet made the plans?  Go online right now and plan that trip.  Book it for later in winter when palm trees and daiquiris will be a nice escape.

Nude Beach Card by Drusilla on Etsy

Was mastering that gourmet dish one of your resolutions this year?  If you haven't already done so, find a mouth-watering recipe online and make that dish this weekend - in time to check it off your list for 2013 and also put smiles on the faces of those with whom you share this culinary delight.

Gourmet 100% Pure Garlic Powder by RockerBoxGarlic on Etsy

Is getting outdoors on your 2013 list of things to do?  Take the last opportunity of 2013 and get outside with your dog for a hike.

Dog Coat in Felted Wool with Buttons By HuzzahHandmade on Etsy

Whatever your unrealized 2013 resolutions are, take a quick review and determine what you can still do to close the loop, take the first step, or complete a lingering project before the ball drops on New Year's Eve of 2014.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

From your friends in Hudson Valley Etsy!

Time To Wrap it up!

With the December holidays and New Year's Eve, there are lots of gifts to give. With the gifts come a lot of wrapping.  As retailers, we know presentation is the key.  You can make the simplest thing sparkle. I like to use gift packaging as a time to use what I already have.

via MarthaStewart.com

Original Artwork

  One of my favorite choices for wrapping are my kids drawings. A stick figure dinosaur with a santa hat -- who can beat that!  I have rolls of drawing paper for the kids to draw on endlessly.  I can find the best patterns and story lines to give people and my kids have fun doing it.  I also like to use watercolors and make my own artwork to wrap up a special gift.

via  Poppytalk

Scrap Fabric or Clothes

Not all shrunken or destroyed, worn out clothes make good rags, some may make great wrapping.  Also scrap fabrics are great for bows and decorations. Over at Poppytalk they show a great tutorial on making a printed fabric for tying up your gift.

via Grey Likes Weddings

You can cut up that moth eaten sweater and sew a gift cozy! At Grey Likes Weddings they show you a reuse of a sweater for a wine cozy. A great way to use the sleeves of your worn out knits.

 A great alternative for those who are not stitchers would be the Japanese Furoshiki wrapping method. It involves tying knots to secure the package in a beautiful way.  Uniqlo has a lovely video on Furoshiki wrapping.

via How About Orange

Simple Everyday Materials

If you look around there is always something you can find -- from newspaper, kraft paper, cardboard, containers -- that with a little paint, thread, yarn, stamping, hole punching, and cutting can become the perfect presentation for your gift.  It's almost a gift on its own.

There's a great tutorial on creating a bow from magazines with newspaper wrapping at How About Orange.


Reuse, Create and Give!
Happy Holidays!

Karen - Lark Practical