I just got back from NYC last night and the NY International Gift Fair. As I walked the show, I searched for great girlfriend gifts – especially whose inspiration could be recreated in handmade gifts. Here’s a few ideas. I’d love to hear yours!

* Jewelry, of course, is always IN. (What girlfriend doesn’t love to get/wear jewelry?!) The trend in jewelry is large/multi-sized loop chains and fun, decorative charms. Why not try making these? I’ve taken armature wire and made it into shapes, then flattened it by hammering it. (Often using my cement basement floor as the hammering surface!) Then, if you’d like, you can drill holes in the flattened areas and use smaller wire to attach. Add some jewels and other elements to make it totally cool and custom!

* Almost everything in the design world is being influenced by the natural/eco-friendly lifestyle. (No longer a trend, this is now accepted as our lifestyle.) To be honest with you, when I was in the craft/hobby industry there was no motivation to include any project ideas using recycled materials – they didn’t pay endorsements or hire you to demo them. (Someone should change that!) Now, as a creative not bound to those pay programs, I love using recycled materials. At the Gift Fair in NYC, I saw recycled cans made into animals, rolled up paper tubes became picture frames and foreign newspapers were made into decorative gift bags. You’re creative! Look around. What do you have that you could use? Recycled cans, paper, glass. Or natural twigs, stones and fibers. Have fun being a natural (and creative!) girl!

* Other creative inspirations from the show: adhering pieces/layers of silk flowers to walls or surfaces (like frames or clothing), wool felting in all kinds of shapes and designs, glitter on all types of surfaces (like the glitter paint pens I talked about previously from DecoArt) and lots of shells. Sometimes shells were even with jeweled items – like mixing simple shells with Swarovski beads. Sounds a little bizarre but it was gorgeous and very visually appealing.

* Trend shopping finds in NYC: Monkeybiz Beaded animals from South Africa in ABC Home & Carpet are always amazing. Dishes in Fishes Eddy (across from ABC) featured hula girls, silly handpainted dogs and pigs, strange drawings of politicians and bees. From textured pottery (by Jonathan Adler – who got Oprah to try throwing pottery!) to irreverent and intriguing art from Cite like the ’shopping bag’ above and these rose ‘kits’ – it is all interesting and inspiring.

Take a trip to a local city or visit stores you’ve never been to. Experience diversity in your shopping trend inspiration. You’ll be glad you did! (And then tell Girlfriendology about your adventures!)

Stop by to the Girlfriendology Book Club Book Store! May we get you a coffee while you shop?

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