Making the Freeway Safe for the Free Way

Red handbag - the perfect christmas and valentine's day gift

If your lady likes to stand out from the crowd and has a dramatic fashion personality, go for red fashion accessories as it will certainly be inkeeping with the Christmas season and is also very trendy for Valentine’s Day. This poppy red handbag ticks all the boxes for the dramatic personality. It is a bold coloured handbag, it is an original design handbag and it is a big handbag with a somewhat unusual shape. This red handbag is sure to get you noticed.




Team with this red scarf for a unique gift idea. This red scarf is a knitted lambswool scarf, felted and skillfully finished by hand to achieve the scarve's distintive appearance. This timeless creation is a perfect gift at any time of year, not just for christmas.

Leather jewellery for christmas is another unique gift idea and inkeeping with our red theme for christmas, this leather necklace made by hand in the shape of a hibiscus flower widely grown in the Caribbean fits right in. This leather necklace drapes delicately around the neck creating soft dramatic impact and covers two jewellery fashion trends as it is made of leather and it is also flower jewellery. If a red necklace is too dramatic for your lady then this dramatic flower jewellery is also available in gold, white and peach.
Remember to stick to unusual christmas gifts that are both tasteful and classic and by classic I mean unique gifts that your lady can use and will cherish for years to come. This polkadot ring makes an unusual christmas gift and will add a dash of colour to any outfit.

Unusual christmas gifts for her

Gift giving occasions can always be a challenge so here are some unusual christmas gift ideas with her in mind. Have a think about the fashion personality of the ladies for whom you are buying. Ask yourself does she like to stand out from a crowd? Is she a romantic at heart or is she a practical no nonsense person? What are her favourite colours? This you can tell by the colour clothes she likes to wear.



To look as if you have put some thought to gift buying, go for handmade original handbags and handmade jewellery, two popular gift ideas for her. Jewellery gifts are always a safe option as a girl just can’t have enough jewellery. Should you get the latest fashion trend in jewellery – chunky jewellery? When it comes to chunky jewellery you can go for a chunky necklace or a chunky bracelet. If unsure about what colour to get then go for neutrals like this chunky bracelet above.


Clothes and handbags are another popular gift for her. Unique clothing like alpaca clothing makes an ideal christmas gift as it is practical for the season in terms of warmth and you cannot go wrong when you choose a unique christmas gift like this alpaca wool wrap . If your budget can afford it, team with the matching suede handbag and your lady would certainly think that she is special. This alpaca wool wrap she will wear for years to come and will always remember who gave her this special and unusual christmas gift.

Jewellery gifts for her - 4 must have jewellery accessories for your jewellery box

Statement necklace – chunky jewellery is all the rage now and a fabulous piece of timeless chunky jewellery is a jewellery accessory all women should have in their jewellery boxes. It is a matter of taste and style as to what you go for, but statement jewellery is as the name suggests – it makes a statement; and this Clasp Necklace made from black and gold clasps ticks all the boxes. It is bold, beautiful, majestic and eco friendly being made from black and gold hairpins. I cannot see anyone not making a statement when wearing this necklace. People are bound to ask “where did you get that”.


Diamonds - Diamonds are absolutely forever and it is the birthstone for April. But alas they are quite expensive. So if diamonds are outside your budget then go for rock crystal which is used as an alternative to diamond. Rock crystal is a gemstone which has the colourless clarity of water. It has a frosty look like ice and absolutely glitters in the sunlight. Rock crystal and silver is a stunning combination and is lovely in chunky bracelets and chunky necklaces.


Pearls – a girl must have a pearl necklace in her jewellery ensemble. Pearl necklaces are now very affordable since there is huge market of cultured or fresh water pearls. With pearls available in many different colours, sizes and styles, you need not go for the traditional white single strand or double stranded pearl necklace. Pearl choker necklaces are very chic with strapless dresses or tops. If you feel a pearl necklace is too much then go for jewellery embellished with pearls. A previous article on The Pearl Necklace – a must have jewellery accessory offers suggestions on how you can wear the pearl necklace and the different styles available.



Brooch – We have seen Michelle Obama creating a new fashion trend with chunky jewellery namely chunky brooches. Her preference is the floral brooch - the turquoise flower brooch pin by Erickson Beamon being my favorite. Enamel brooches and vintage brooches are very popular. But if you are looking for a unique brooch then leather jewellery and flower jewellery are big fashion trends and so a floral pattern brooch in leather can not only look lifelike but can have you tapping into both these jewellery fashion trends in one jewellery accessory. A leather flower brooch is a perfect jewellery gift for her if you want to be different and stand out from the crowd. Click here for stylish ways to wear the flower jewellery.

Animal print and Cheryl Cole

Animal print has come a long way since Fred Flintsone’s animal print dress. In fact I cannot remember a time when leopard print has not been in fashion. Marks and Spencer has hit the mark with this leopard print dress accessorized with leopard print shoes and leopard print bag. click here to shop this look and make it your own. I do love the accent of the red belt.


The red belt on the dress from Marks and Spencer is reminisccent of the red trim on this leopard print dress worn by Leighton Meester and accessorized with open toe red shoe.
Whether it is a trend that takes your fancy, the animal print trend is here to stay as it is never out of fashion. Leopard print as a part a relevant fashion trend is a must have for any capsule wardrobe. For those who find wearing animal or leopard print a bit much then go for leopard print accessories like scarves, belts, handbags or even handmade jewellery accessories like this feline copper pendant. Feline copper bracelet and copper earrings are also available.

While sequence and glitter is always a favorite christmas party wear, animal print can certainly be jazzed up with accents of red accessories to capture that christmas spirit and still look sexy and glamourous. Below we see Ola Jordan looking absolutely glamourous in leoapard print dress performing a foxtrot with celebrity partner -sports presenter Chris Hollins on Strictly Come Dancing - week 8.



Leopoard or animal print is a favorite with celebs like Cheryl Cole who in thew last XFactor 2008 with Alexandra Burke wore a Dolce & Gabbana Pre-Fall 2008 leopard print ensemble and also accessorizes with animal print handbag and leopard Louboutin shoe boots.

Busy Day Ahead!

It's going to be a long & busy day ahead ~ lots to get finished ~ set up for the show starts today and I am still working on a few things. Some of us are getting a bit tired of it all.....

Miss Frenchie's Holiday Brocante ~ this weekend!

This weekend the second annual Miss Frenchie's Holiday Brocante will be taking place at the Alexander Majors Barn. We have a lovely mix of antique dealers and artisans, so if you are in the Kansas City area, make sure to stop by. Read more about the show and get a sneak peek of some of the vendors wares here.

It has been a busy couple of weeks since I had the Crafty Chicks show last weekend ~ I will post some photos as soon as I get caught up around here! I still have lots to do, but I did get the signs for each vendor completed ~ along with coordinating nametags ~ it is nice to be able to cross something off my list! Now, back to finishing my work for the show and gathering everything together! Hope to see you at the show ~ please stop by and say hi!

{vendor sign for show ~ this is mine!}

{name tags for the show}