friday link love: December 3, 2010

Hello, swap friends! I feel like I haven’t done a really good link love post in a few weeks… but that all changes now! I have a collection of quality links for you to explore… lots of holiday items because it is that time of year!

• Two simple and sweet holiday tutorials on Creature Comforts: SCANDINAVIAN INSPIRED STAR GARLAND (seen above) & 5 MINUTE TINSEL GARLAND WREATH.
• Lots of us are attending cookie exchanges this time of year. If you need some recipe ideas, check out Better Homes & Gardens’ Cookie Exchange Favorites and Martha Stewart’s Cookie Swap Ideas & Recipes.
• Better Homes and Gardens also has a great group of felt ornament tutorials.
• And speaking of felt ornaments, these mini matryoshka doll ornaments on Sew to Speak are adorable!
• If you are getting started on your holiday gifts already, you may be interested in this lovely, free, downloadable wrapping paper from Mae (an Australian decal/design company).
• Adorable Jenny B. Harris has a free sewing pattern for a Swedish Dala Horse Stocking on her blog today.
• If you celebrate the countdown to Christmas, you may like this homemade advent calendar idea on Between the Lines. Also, Whip Up has a great round-up of over a dozen DIY advent calendars.
• Posty Pals – a blog all about fabric postcards.
• Amazing “Secrets of the Self-employed” by illustrator Keri Smith. She has some great advice for anyone who aspires to be an artist, or simply a creative individual. My favorite tip: “Don’t worry about whether or not you are good (good is subjective and most people are not great judges of their own work), just keep making work.”
• If you are in New York this weekend, come check out the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade in Nolita. It is a craft show organized by The NewNew Etsy Street Team and Swap-bot is a sponsor. The first 200 visitors get a swag bag!

Anything awesome that I neglected to include on this list?