Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

StellaMerle

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StellaMerle: Over the years, I’ve discovered something about myself–I have to be creating something. Whether it is writing, wedding cakes, crafts, or in this case, designing and sewing interesting clothes.

I acquired a love of sewing from my mom and grandmothers–Stella and Merle. In my shop you’ll find original designs, attention to quality and details, beautiful new fabrics often mixed with vintage treasures. I love old buttons, linens, and fabrics.

When I design its about the little, sometimes unseen things. I never leave raw seams. You’ll find flat felled seams and french seams. Every garment is of the highest quality. I’m a skilled seamstress with years of providing beautiful and unique clothing to satisfied customers.

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Apericots

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For every baby who’s ever looked down at what she was wearing and thought, “Disney princesses again? Geez, Mom, I’m way more hip than this,” there is Apericots. Apericots is a handmade clothing shop for wee ones that offers a fantastic assortment of tees, onesies, and some of the cutest bibs I’ve ever seen, for those who are just as cool as they are small and pudgy.

The shop offers two basic lines, the Organic Line and the Eco Line. Priced a little higher, the Organic Line features 100% Certified Organic Cotton garments printed with eco-friendly water-based inks, while the Eco Line features 100% Cotton garments printed with the same non-toxic inks as the Organic Line. Tees and onesies are all available in sizes newborn, six months, twelve months, and eighteen months. And, all are machine washable and made to look good after several cleanings. They do offer a bundle purchase option for their organic onesies. Nice little price break there.

Don’t you love it when you can be good to the earth, while still looking totally rad? I also laughed out loud when I saw that they defined the word “rad” in the item description for this shirt. One of the definitions is gnarly, which I believe is just as old a slang term as rad.

This one might be my favorite, since I remember with fondness the LL Cool J era. Whose house? Say what? Run’s house! Plus, extra style points for the turntable graphic.

I’m loving the whole retro vibe with this one. This one looks so Danny Partridge. Now all baby needs is a tiny pair of burnt orange bell bottoms.

I applaud you, Apericots. Brown plaid baby clothing that is not a pair of little boy pants with a matching vest and polo shirt. Bravo.

Changing the world one purchase at a time

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Holy cow, how have I never heard of Nest before? It’s a non-profit group dedicated to giving micro-loans to women in developing countries so that they can create businesses with their crafting and art. Wow! What a fantastic idea!

“One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something.” – Henry David Thoreau

Nest is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the lives of women in developing countries. The mission of Nest is to support women artists and artisans in the developing world by helping them create sustainable entrepreneurial businesses. To do this, Nest provides micro-credit loans to be used for the purchase of the supplies and materials necessary to begin and/or maintain art or craft-based businesses.

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The funds for these loans are generated by selling a unique line of clothing, accessories and merchandise for the home produced exclusively for Nest by a group of artists and designers. The Nest line also includes ceramic pottery, women’s clothing and other items with the Nest logo. In addition to these exclusive items created by well-known designers, the recipients of Nest loans in developing countries also make their crafts available to Nest as repayment for the micro-credit loans. These items, too, are incorporated into the Nest line of merchandise. In this way, Nest draws together artists from across the globe into a cooperative network with a shared vision of mutual support. more…

There are so many ways to get involved in Nest. You can host a trunk show featuring work from loan recipients, help Nest with an event near you, apply for a limited spot selling your own goods on their site, donate money to help fund loans, and much more.

Amazing — check them out.