Happy Friday! Still looking for ideas for Father’s Day?

Now these are cute. They’re handmade albums which hold 3inch square Post-it notes. At just £2.50 they’re perfect for an ‘extra’ gift. A youngish present, I think. Something for a young girl to give her dad.

The maker is Keep it in a Frame and in addition to these sticker books she creates lovely handmade albums. Visit her Folksy store at www.folksy.com/shops/Keepitinaframe.

These are coasters. Aren’t they lovely? It’s almost a shame to put a cup on them. They’re made from ceramic tiles with a cork backing to protect surfaces. Each one is varnished and completely waterproof.

The artist / photographer is Julie Birkemeier. She describes her customers as ‘people who love to see the beauty in every day life: the shadow in the underbelly of a petal, the contours of a light bulb filament, the dimples of a rock’. In addition to coasters Julie creates prints and notecards, all based on her beautiful photography.

Buy online at www.jbirkemeierphoto.etsy.com.

Where has January gone? On Sunday it will be a month since Christmas Day. And no sooner is Christmas over, we have Valentine’s Day to contend with.

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s gift that’s a little different; something simple but with lots of meaning, you should take a look at Jennifer Squire’s Etsy shop. Her photographs range in theme from everyday objects, to lighthearted, to romantic.

Go to www.jennifersquires.etsy.com for more information.

And the onions? They brought to mind Carol Ann Duffy’s Valentine poem.

I’ve been trying to think of a way to describe the photography of House of Six Cats. Though the subject matter of the photographs varies, from plants and flowers to old buildings and disused machinery, there’s something that binds them all. They have a frozen, dream-like quality that I can’t quite put my finger on. Almost haunting.

Whatever it is, they make compelling and thought provoking pieces of art. You can purchase prints or lightboxes (which can be used in the UK and Europe with the aid of an adaptor).

For information and inspiration go to HouseofSixCats.etsy.com.

Teresa Carnuccio of Temno has produced a beautiful and eclectic collection of photographs. Sold as prints, bookmarks and hand-bound books, her still life shots are beautifully shot with rich hues and texture. But it’s the self portraits that really capture the imagination with their haunting use of masks, veils and silhouettes.

Go to www.temno.etsy.com.

I was really excited to hear from Nadine Harding of Curl Harmony. Over the years I’ve come to terms with my naturally curly hair. As a child I hated it and tried to brush it straight. As a teenager I wrangled with it on a daily basis, trying infra red hair dryers, diffusers and wet look hair gel. It was the eighties! Nowadays I’ve stopped trying to tame it, accepted that I will never have ‘Cinderella’ hair and actually quite like it.

That said, I still find it very difficult to find suitable shampoos and styling products. And this constant humidity makes it frizzy and unmanageable. Remember Monica at Ross’ Dinosaur Convention? (See below)

Enter Curl Harmony. Nadine Harding is a qualified Chemist and has created an exclusive range of natural hair care products, specifically formulated for curly hair. Whether you have loose waves, thick corkscrew spirals, mixed race curls or tight Afro coils, Curl Harmony will coax your frizz into smoother, softer, healthier hair.

Products include hair cleansers, conditioners, styling butters and milks, all of which can be purchased in small samples, allowing you to try them before you invest in larger bottles and pots. Further, everything has been created using completely natural or naturally derived ingredients, without the use of harsh chemicals which strip your hair of natural moisture.

Go to www.curlharmony.co.uk to buy online.

Oh, and here’s that clip of Monica.

Ann Widner’s background is in photography. Over the years she has acculumated a growing collection of images and when she finally ran out of wall space, she began transferring them onto beads and jewellery.

Ann’s little visions now adorn a distinctive range of bracelets, pendants, and earrings. Check them out at www.annwidner.com. Buy online at www.annwidner.etsy.com.

Shelagh Duffett is a photographer, painter and dreamer. She lives in the wonderful province of Nova Scotia surrounded by salty air and blue water and paints almost daily. Shelagh’s work is distinctive with its use of brilliant, vivid colours and cheerful subjects. She paints things that make her happy.

You can buy Shelagh’s artwork from www.aliceinparis.etsy.com and http://en.dawanda.com.

As well as capturing the world around her in paint, she is also an accomplished photographer and sells her photographic work through www.broomhillpictures.etsy.com.

And why Alice in Paris? Alice is Shelagh’s grandmother’s name. She was an enterprising woman who opened a small sweet shop in Scotland while her husband was away at sea. And Paris? Shelagh and her daughter share a love of the city and plan to return one day. . . .