Giving IndieStyle - Holiday Gift Guide 2013

Hello Hello!

Let's do this again!  

Put your dollars into great and fun gifts for friends, family, or even yourself while supporting independent artists, projects and businesses!

This year we are spotlighting these:

Kcymaerxthaere - Please Don't Connect the Dots

What if I told you I knew someone who had an alternate universe?  Right here, inside our own universe?  And that he's manifesting that universe as we speak?  Well, I do! And the latest manifestation is the Please Don't Connect the Dots activity book!  Yes, this is an IndieGoGo campaign, so technically it's a donation, but check out the awesome perks - and they should all be delivered on time for Christmas!  

Just HURRY - the campaign ends on December 17th!  

Chris Faroe

Chris Faroe is a talented artist and super cool person!  On his website you can listen and download his music, and also check out the amazing gifts he is offering like a 6-month art postcard subscription sent directly to you or your giftee.  You've got amazing mail!

K. Anderson

One of our favorites - K. Anderson has put out a new EP this year.  I love the songs on this - one of them has even inspired a screenplay!  She's also got some amazing merch with illustrations by Joanna Layla!  

Paisley Sockwear

It's no secret I have a thing for socks - I've got friends with great sock collections who won't leave me alone with their sock drawer! - but, seriously, who doesn't like socks?

These are my current favorite --  Paisley Sockwear designs are so fun you won't want to hide them under your pants!  They'd probably make the most amazing sock puppets, too!

More!

Not enough ideas?  Can't find that perfect gift?  Check out the 2012 guide, too!  And the "Partners, friends and community" links on the right have lots of indie businesses, like the Brat Store, Reciprocity, Breathe Bodyworks and more - many of them have amazing stuff!

Our friends at The Conscience Collective have put out quite a dazzling gift guide, as well!

If you're going to any parties (of course you are!) or giving any, check out our posts on being a great guest and Top 10 Tips for Hosting!

Everyone here is donating their time, talent and taste - if you want to contribute to keep the Zestyverse going, there's a handy little donate button on the top right!  Thanks!

Wishing you a warm, lovely, prosperous and healthy 2014!

P.S.  If you're trying to get your script in shape before the clock strikes midnight on NYE - there's a special on script consultations through December 31st - book before the year ends and you get 50% off!  Just check out the Coaching/Consulting page for details!

So What's A Practivist?

Someone who practises practivism!

Practivism = Proactive, pragmatic, promotable activism.  

I think I made up the term; maybe not.  The Zestyverse has been featuring practivists for over a year now.  Some recent profiles include:

• Helping Kcymaerxthaere with it's Abilene project which is going on now!
• Open Mike Eagle who is getting ready for the Uganda project!
• Tara Hardy whose medical fund overflowed it's goals!

Are you a practivist?  Do you turn your talents and energy into helping community, sustainability, youth, equality?  Do you know a practivist?  If so, the Zestyverse wants to feature you - send a message!  

Practivist of the Week - You Helping Kcymaerxthaere Art Project!

Some of the best things in the world come without a why attached to them.  Life.  Love.  Flowers.  Kcymaerxthaere.  Don't trouble yourself with the why of it - just bask in the wonder of it as an entity.  Be glad it exists.

I met Eames about 4 years ago in Edinburgh.  We actually lived about 20 minutes apart from each other for about a decade before, but didn't meet until the Fringe.  I went to his show and was seduced by the genius of his alternate reality.  A parallel but equal universe to our own, with its own history, its own languages, music, art, mythology - all channeled through his vision - reading our world back to us in code, and then concretizing that code into being.  That takes a particular kind of brilliance and an unwavering commitment to art as a concept.  Imagine if Tolkien had actually gone around creating Middle Earth wherever he went, turning all the stories into a new kind of reality, and you'll have some concept of what Eames is accomplishing with Kcymerxthere.

In the last few years, he has taken his project next level - traveling the world to place plaques at significant sites in the Kcymaerxthaere and lately, partnering with local artisans to create art that both supports the local community and tells the stories of the Kcymaerxthaere.

There are only 4 days left to help raise the $4000 dollars it will take to fund a local project in Abilene, TX. You can help make it happen by going to Indiegogo and giving whatever you can.   Actually go even if you don't think want to give - there's a great video and more information on Eames and the project.  I can't believe that you won't be hooked once you learn a bit more.

If it sound a bit out there, a bit confusing - well, it is.  And it isn't.  And I'm not the storyteller.  Eames is - and he's the best person to tell it to you.  So CLICK!