Trends Information: July 2010

I was not exactly overwhelmed by changes in gift selections this year, but here are a few notes for your information and more than a few photos for inspiration.

1. Recycling/Repurposing/Reusing. Isn't this what crafts used to be all about? Now we have finished items being manufactured for gift store owners to sell. Guess our industry must really be onto something. Here's a sampling of what I found:

Bags made from soda can pull tabs.

Frames (and other items) decorated with old circuit boards,

rolled paper from books, magazines and newspapers
(note the bracelets in the bucket made from soda cans).

computer keys,

chandeliers from containers and, of course, bags and papers to wrap and put your stuff in, all made from recycled product with a poignant reminder to "Save the Earth".

2. Snowmen still continue to melt our hearts, but looks like the penguins have returned to Madagascar. You can find snowmen decked out in a variety of colors for every decorating style.

The bright and cheery neon colors have found their way into holiday decorating. Check out the Christmas tree photos later in this post.

3. Elves. More and more elves are finding their way into gift stores. A distant relative of the Garden Gnome, they are finding their place in the holiday home. Due in part perhaps to the children's story, "The Elf on the Shelf", but these are much sweeter looking than the one that comes with the book.

4. Fairies. To me, elves and fairies go together like peanut butter and jelly, but I've never really seen a lot of fairies in the US other than Tinkerbell and her friends. I did spot a few this year, hiding out amongst the Spring flower displays.

5. Aprons. Is this trend a part of nostalgia - a longing for the old days....... Whatever the reason they're going to be available everywhere.

6. Fabric, Felt & Knits. Lots of fabric, felt and knitted fabric items for both Spring and Christmas. I asked one salesperson how the felt items were selling. She replied "great, as long as they don't look as if they're hand made". She was referring to a particular birdhouse that looked as if it was a small milk carton covered with felt like kids make.

Fabric covered birdhouses, stuffed birds, cats, hearts and cupcakes.

Whimsical, stuffed fabric animals, etc. Note the "Alice In Wonderland" influence.

Knitted fabric animals and fabric owls with bling!

not so simple felt and fabric birds

and a whole line of fabric and felt for Christmas!

Yes, sock monkeys don't just hang out in coconut trees. You can now find them in your Christmas tree! I also saw Sock hippos, giraffes, rabbits and frogs!

5. Celebrations. Whatever the reason to celebrate there's a decoration for it. Banners, favors, table ware, chair covers and more.........

and lots of "no calorie" cakes and cupcakes. It's all about the decorations!

7. Roosters are home to roost and definitely have something to crow about - again. They're everywhere....... I don't think they ever left. Apparently they were just re-grouping.

8. Fabrics for the Home. Lots of texture and combinations of textures and fabrics including wovens. Color and sparkle from mirrors, beads, sequins, metallic threads, etc. influenced by Asian fabrics including detailed embroidery.

9. Christmas. How many ways can we decorate a tree? Let me count the ways - traditional, contemporary, vintage, colorful, country, icy, etc., etc., etc. Trees are tall, short, fat, skinny growing from the ground up, or hanging upside down from the ceiling. It's all about the tree and whatever the trends may be, every home has their own unique tree that only Christmas can love. Here are more than a few examples.

All things bright and beautiful............. such joyful colors!