Tag Archives: gift ideas

The secret to prosperity in the new year

So what’s your secret to prosperity in the new year? Sauer kraut on New Year’s Day (that’ s my family’s… :))? Orange seeds in the wallet (that was the rule in Guadeloupe)?

I learned this weekend that the real trick is all in what you’re wearing at midnight.

New yellow panties = prosperity in the new year.  For reals.  :)

I learned about the tradition from Crystal, a new customer, and the gal behind Crystal Rose Garden on Etsy.  She ordered some yellow panties for her mom for Christmas, and let me know that giving yellow panties is a tradition in her family. I was fascinated, and delighted to be able to meet her in person where I heard even more!

In many Central and South American countries (Colombia, Mexico, the list goes on…), ladies wear a new yellow pair of panties at midnight on New Year’s Eve in order to ensure prosperity in the New Year. If they are given as a gift, all the better. And if you really want to ensure lots of prosperity in the new year, you’d better put those babies on inside out.  :)

So lots of yellow undies are given at Christmastime. And at this time of year you can find them allover Latin America- from department stores to gas stations, to corner stores. Check out some great photos from Peru here and here. Luckily, I know where you can find lots of yellow undies online.  Where, you ask? Why at La Vie en Orange, of course!  :)  Check out a pair nearly identical to the pair Crystal’s mom will ring in 2012 with:

The tradition is said to root from yellow being closest to the color gold (so maybe green would work well in the States too… :)), and should your finances be in order and your heart looking for more luck in 2012, in Ecuador as in other places, wearing red panties instead of yellow will lead to romance and love in the New Year. So what do you think? Will you be wearing new panties at midnight on the 31st? Comment below :)

Does you have any traditions for prosperity or anything else in the New Year? I’d love to hear about them! Comment below :)

Gifty 2011

What a whirlwind- I can’t believe it’s already December! I’ve been thinking about holiday shopping and trying to ride the fine line between being thoughtful, giving something that people will use, and not necessarily playing into the consumerism of the season. Buying handmade is one way I like to do this.  :)

Below you’ll find some ideas I had, some of what my friends are doing, and some fun ideas/tutorials I found and hope to give a shot :) I’d love to hear about what you’re doing for friends and loved ones for the holidays too- please comment below!

First, exciting things are happening in my studio, at La Vie en Orange! Home screen printing is starting to be successful, and I’ve been printing two fun new motifs:

Is that Rudolph?

Make a statement!

Both motifs are available in multiple sizes and colors in my Etsy shop. The Christmas shipping deadline for in-stock items is December 18, but the custom order deadline is coming up- December 9 :)  (I’m also still looking for fit models for sizes 0, 2, 16, 18, and 20.  Learn more here. :)  And through the end of 2011, for every pair of Upitees purchased, I’m sending a pair to a women’s shelter in the purchaser’s region to help make more merry.  Learn more here.)

A couple of my Etsy friends are doing some really fun things too. Adiya from Buligaia makes the cutest holiday decorations and stocking stuffers.  I love how all of her owls have their own stories:

“This is RudOWLph, he’s a ballet dancer at the Royal ballet academy. His biggest roll at the ballet academy was Drosselmeyer’s nephew, the cursed Nutcracker from the famous “Nutcracker” ballet. Ironically, RudOWLph is allergic to nuts, but still loves the Nutcracker costume.”

Keep the nuts away!

This one was so cute, we had to snatch RudOWLph up!  :)  And I’m thinking about whether some of these pin cushions/key chains might not be a great gift for some fledgling sewers I know :)

Cutest pin cushions ever!

Another Etsy friend, Rachel at One True Mango, has been felting up a storm lately!  I really like the bold colors she’s using in these fun felted ornaments:

So bold!

Necktie + shirt = super cute

Homemade White Wine and Tarragon Mustard

 

And then there’s your not-so-average DIY Christmas.  Do you ever make gifts for folks?

I fell in love with this necktie ruffle tutorial from another Etsyian, McKell, I found on Pinterest (do you use Pinterest?  I just started, but fear I’ll be combating addiction soon…). But I’m not telling who it’s for!  :)

 

 

 

And last but not least! What about the boys in my life? I’m thinking about getting in the kitchen and making yumminess: Homemade white wine and tarragon mustard (we’re doing a test batch tomorrow!).

Seattle’s local food co-op, the PCC, sent out a recent newsletter with this idea.  Yum!  :)

Do you ever make and share food at the holidays?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about these ideas, and anything ideas or gift go-tos you have.  Please leave a comment below!  xoxo

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