Everybody loves etsy these days. What, haven’t heard of etsy? (Ok, mom, I’ll tell you.) Well, its an online marketplace for handmade items by talented artists, crafters and anymore, anybody who has two hands and internet connection. In this world of digital detachment and mass produced everything, we all seem to be craving the real thing. From organic food to a pair of earrings made by someone, not something. I have to admit, in my world where the last thing I usually see at night is my iphone screen, I’m so right there with the rest of the world. Bring me some good old fashioned handmade SOMETHING.

So imagine my surprise and delight when hopping in the front seat of my friend Gail’s car to start an evening of non-stop gabbing, she hands me a gorgeous handmade scarf, with yarn my husband helped choose, just for me. Look at it, isn’t it gorgeous!?!

Let me take a small break here from freaking out about my awesome new scarf to say how freaking hard it is to take your own photo at an arms length with a DSLR camera. I had the hardest time even getting the scarf in the frame. So I know the photo is more me (and my never ending chin) than scarf, but hopefully you can see the beautiful detail of it. Also, I understand that when taking your own photo it stinks to look in the camera, but when you look to the side, it makes your one eye look cross eyed. (I actually have Tyra Banks, the most annoying woman in the universe, for that fun modeling fact.) I had this one photo where I was smiling really big and reallllly looking to the side and you could barely see my one eye it was so crossed into the side of my face. Yeesh. It was creepy.

So back to the scarf. The thing that makes this gift even more awesome is that it wasn’t even a Christmas gift. Nope, it just took me that long to blog about it. It was just an out of the blue gift from an awesome friend, just because. THANK YOU SO MUCH GAIL!!!!! I absolutely LOVE handmade gifts, especially knitted ones. Especially ones I get to wear. Especially ones from dear, dear friends.

Awwwww, well, I feel all warm and fuzzy now. 🙂 All I need now is to actually SEE and TALK to Gail, or even any of my friends! I have been in TOTAL anti-social mode lately. The holidays are usually full of parties and at least one black tie affair that usually gives us enough of our social life fill until at least Miles’ birthday in February. We didn’t really have that this year. (I guess the economic downturn has finally trickled down to the party circuit.) I kid you not, the last time I hired our babysitter I didn’t even leave the house! It was last week so I could clean the house for Christmas. Miles hasn’t been to preschool since what feels like the dark ages, so I’m feeling a little batty with nothing but me, John, Miles and a house full of toys. Granted, Miles has been crazy adorable and fun lately, but I’m starting to lose the ability to form correct sentences from lack of human interaction.

Sooooooo, friends of Betsy King. CALL ME. Actually, text me. You know how I hate the phone. Kidnap me and take me to coffee. (Ok, who am I kidding, a Japanese restaurant or nail salon would be preferred.) And Gail, I’ll joyfully and squeelfully be your knitted goods recipient as long as you’ll have me. You are the best and always remind me of what a good friend is.

To all of my friends, I hope to be a better friend to you in 2010. Thoughtful gestures like this one keep people going and feel loved. Honestly though, I know this is the year I’m going to need my friends even more. I’m pregnant with my second child, opening a studio portion of my business, my work-at-home husband (who changes poopy diapers) is moving to an office all day (I so don’t blame him) and of course, this new baby will be coming into our world next summer and then all hell will really break loose. In the past I have always gotten by with a LOT of help from my friends and even though this year won’t be any different, I’m hoping I can give back just as much as I take. (I can honestly say it won’t be with a handmade scarf though.)