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Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Dave’s Turnings

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Since it’s getting to be close to Fathers Day, I’ve been thinking about my Dad. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in my dad’s wood shop (with my shoes on – the cardinal rule of observing in the shop, you can’t come in barefoot). So appreciating the natural beauty of wood was ingrained (pun intended) in my head at an early age. Even now I have a difficult time painting anything wood. So when I came across the new shop Dave’s Turnings I was drawn to the beautiful wood. Seems Dave agrees with me that the natural essence of the wood contains its beauty.

I’m influenced mostly by nature. I’m always awed by the beauty in natural wood; its grain, color, the natural defects. It’s always different from one piece to the next and I try to bring out that beauty and preserve it.

Based in New Mexico, Dave uses mostly local New Mexico Aspen in his lovely bowls. He started turning on a wood lathe at about the same time his wife opened a small and successful home decor store in St. Charles, MO 7 years ago. The shop has since closed, but you can still find a few of his pieces in a couple of shops in northern Wisconsin.

My pieces are all one of a kind and I take special care in making each one. If someone is looking for something unique and special that will last a lifetime I hope that they buy something from me. Also I think it’s important to promote American small business.

Dave is currently an air-ambulance pilot living with his wife in Gallup, NM. He spends much of his time while on-call and during his time off working at the lathe.

Graphically bold pillow covers

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Hitomi Kimura is the designer and screen printer of kalla Design, textile and surface design studio based in Ibaraki, Japan.

In 2007, after studying graphic design and working for a publisher in London, England, Hitomi started her own small business in Japan, selling her screen printed matters.

All the printed products are hand screen printed with water-based eco-friendly inks and then some of them are carefully machine sewed by the designer herself.

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Sweet Dixie Designs

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Green Painted Photo Frame

Jane of Sweet Dixie Designs began painting furniture as a creative outlet after graduating college 25 years ago. With a degree in Textile Design, painting furniture began as a fun outlet. She painted rocking chairs and stools to give friends as baby gifts and then it just grew into a business. Her experience ranges from painting large items such as armoires to smaller home accessories and she has sold them through craft shows and stores. After taking some time off from painting while her children were little, she wanted to get back to being creative. She found Etsy and opened her store selling photo frames in November. These frames are a great way to add color and pattern into your home decor and to showcase your special photos. Isn’t the little scalloped detail along the edges sweet?

Multicolor Photo Frame

Jane is inspired by what she sees happening in home decor magazines and even fashion magazines. You can definitely see her textile background in her fabric-influenced patterns.

I have always loved color and pattern and like the idea that at first glance it may look like the frame is covered in paper or fabric and then you realize that it is paint. My style isn’t really modern or traditional, I just like what I like.

Dixie Photo Turquoise Frame

Jane is a mom of three and her fourth child is her “Sweet Dixie” a rescued greyhound, her shop’s namesake. She enjoys finding new patterns and colors and hopes to add a variety of items to her shop as time goes on.

I think buying handmade is so important. After being out of the craft market for a while coming back into it I now see how many people make a living from their art. The time and care that goes into each item cannot be duplicated.

Aqua and White Photo Frame

Sweet Dixie Designs frames would make great gifts for that upcoming baby shower or wedding. Go visit her shop, there are tons of great designs and color schemes to choose from!