New BlueQ totes, bags, boxes and more

We love the stuff made by BlueQ, a U.S.-based company with a sense of humor and social consciousness.

See all the BlueQ on our site here.

They make really cute, really useful bags and boxes.
They credit their product designers and don't rip off artwork from artists.
They use post-consumer plastics in many of their products.
They employ developmentally disabled adults at their packing facility here in the U.S. and their boxes always arrive perfectly packed.

Plus, their bags make us all kinda go squeely when we unpack them. Check this one out:

It's Teacher Gift Time

Do you have children who have teachers? If so, you know that spring means Teacher Gifts. Now, before you rush off to Rite Aid and get a teddy bear holding a coffee cup filled with stale caramels that says 'I luv my teacher', please reconsider. This person taught your child. They were there on the days you kinda-mighta-sorta thought that your child was a bit sick but sent them to school anyway. They were there when your child was bitten by the classroom lizard. They were there when your child peed their pants during the presentation of the 'what I learned about paramecium' unit. They have been thrown up on, ignored, adored and laughed with all year.*

They deserve better. Heck, they deserve the best.

I have written about this before, but honestly, it's a good topic to revisit.

Give those teachers really nice handmade gifts. It doesn't have to be a hand-knit cashmere sweater. It doesn't have to cost a lot. It should say 'hey, I noticed you all year and appreciate what you do.' This year, I'm in favor of the casual bracelet. Everyone is wearing them right now and teachers do tend to be pretty casual most days. Plus, bracelets are a great summer accessory so they can wear them NOW.

Here are some suggestions from our Tutorials Page, you can click the picture for the instructions.

That first one is a bit more classic, the second one can be customized with a special charm that is perfect for the specific teacher. That last one is a larger-scale and can be for a guy. Actually, the light blue one on the bottom WILL be for my husband on Father's Day. Don't worry, he never reads the blog.

Are you too busy to make a gift? No, no you are not. You don't want to have to bring the lizard home for the summer, do you?

*Note: my daughters would want me to tell you that these things did NOT happen to them. They are made up examples. Fictional, as the girls would say!

Valentine's Day? Meh.

Really, I like the red and the pink and the chocolate and the being nice.

I like love.

I like hearts. And treats. And chocolates.

Wait, I said that chocolates part twice.

But still. I do like the whole idea of being nice, and sweet, and giving little gifts (sursees*, if you are in the South) for not much of a reason at all...

It's just the forced nature of V-Day. The give-me-roses-or-else nature of the whole Hallmark card shop circus that the holiday is. I've been married for 24 years and every morning my husband makes me coffee. That seems more real than a card or red roses, tied up in a bow. He feeds my chickens when the weather is nasty. Really. THAT'S love.

So I'm skipping the expected expectations for this holiday.

The parts of the holiday I like, the colors and the gifts-to-friends, I'm embracing those. I'm sending cards (handmade and kinda amateurish, if you must know!) I'm giving chocolates. I made some jewelry for friends I thought would like it. I tied all of those things up in red and pink bows and I'm giving them out on Thursday.

Happy Valentine's Day.


*check it out, sursee, or sursey, or circe