Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.
Hello, my name is Kelly Massey and this is my line of handmade wearables, Pretty Penny.
I live in West Hollywood with my husband and fantastic, fun, little girl who is seven. They put up with my piles and piles of fabric and leaning towers of ink jars relatively cheerfully because they are often busy making things too.
Lately, I have been screen printing and sewing scarves and clothing out of bright and soft bamboo and cotton knits.
enjoy
As I feverishly prepare for Bazaar Bizarre, amongst the many other holiday shows I will be in, I have been taking a break to read about fellow crafters partaking in these fairs. I was excited to learn that Alli Coate will be at Bazaar Bizarre, her etsy shop has long been a favorite of mine.
Her illustrations are interesting in that they are a mix of materials. Vintage fabrics are used to give patterns and color to her drawings. In the image above, she used a vintage print to start, then added clouds with applique techniques. I wonder is this boy is taking all the clouds away, or placing them in the sky. Does he want to dream on puffy clouds or keep the rain away?
Alli’s palette and technique are diverse, making for unique illustrations. These flat images are brought to life as Alli layers her skills. Sketched lines overlap fabric allowing for depth and energy. The flower pattern on the birds takes place of shading, giving them life and dimension.
Her attention to detail is amazing. I love how the fabric is cut to represent the turtle’s shell. It takes on the same pattern of shapes as we know his shell should look, but she abstracts the details with floral prints. Alli blends line and shading with blocks of patterns perfectly to create her images.
Of all her work I adore the winter illustrations the most. Maybe it is the delicate lace making up the snow covered trees, or the red birds who stayed for the winter. I love how Alli captures the fragile nature of the season. The horizon is grey and the sky the palest of blue making for a nice contrast to the bright white snow in the foreground.
Maybe it’s just that this palette allows us to best see the artist’s technique. Her lines are minimal, yet just right. Her use of lace is accentuated by the blue water. And the red dress catches our eye and draws us in for a closer look. The hues are subtle, gentle and comforting, just like a wintery day on the ice.
The new fall trends have been announced, and animal print is in this season with leopard print leading the pack. Living in Hawaii, I typically miss out on the fall and winter fashion trends, but this one may be a little easier to incorporate into my wardrobe. Adding a small touch of animal print with the right accessories will instantly make a simple outfit chic and exotic.
A leopard print purse is a quick way to add a little sass to your little black dress, or any dress for that matter. This envelope style option from Hmmm…by Melanie includes a black chain strap, magnetic closure and is lined in black sequined fabric.
A leopard print hat may be a bit fashion forward for most, but this vintage-style cloche hat by The Millinery Shop is just too good to pass up. It is hand blocked, made from long haired felt leopard print fabric, and completed with a Bakelite buckle and hat pin. This would look amazing with a fall cape or winter coat.
Using black, brown, tan, creme and white yarn, this scarf is hand-knit by Crickets Creations to create the look of leopard print. Paired with a fall blazer or winter coat, it is sure to keep you warm and make a statement well beyond this fall’s animal print trend.
This turban-style headband from ChiChi is the perfect get-your-attention accessory for girls who love to be glamorous. Perfect for a night on the town or just pulling your hair back while running errands.
As the weather becomes cooler, embrace this year’s fall trend and incorporate a little bit of leopard print into your wardrobe! I’ll have my eye out for a leopard print bikini!
**The Leopard Shoes fine art print featured at the top of this post was created by Karcharz Photography.
My dog, Molly, has the Nathan collar, and it’s great!
Flying Dog Collars feature a super strong aluminum side release buckle in Brushed or Polished finish. Collars feature a welded Nickel finish D-ring to attach tags and/or a leash, a nickel finished slide buckle and are fully adjustable. These collars are suitable for all breeds.
Flying Dog Custom Dog Collars are made with 100% cotton fabric that is fused with interfacing and then wrapped around and fused to a renewable polypropylene webbing core to give the collar great durability. The are then sewn by hand using an industrial strength sewing machine fitted with the finest quality strong polyester thread. All stress points are triple stitched for durability.
Fall is my favorite time of year. It’s just cold enough to curl up with a blanket and hot tea, but still warm enough to enjoy a walk outside. When I lived in Chicago, I used to hit the pavement every weekend in my favorite fall outfit: jeans, boots, and a cute fall jacket. This year, however, jackets are being replaced with capes, and I, for one, couldn’t be more thrilled. Can you think of anything else so functional and chic?
This short and hooded gray cape by Dainty Things is the perfect combination of simplicity and style. Made of soft fleece, it is sure to keep you warm, and the neutral color will go with every outfit. Dress it up with a sparkly brooch or wear it as is for a more casual look.
I just love the charming plaid pattern, and large wooden button on this sweet cape by Qinliumei. The gray-lined hood and soft wool fabric will block out the cool fall wind, while the cropped sleeves are perfect for showing off a stylish pair of gloves. Falling around the hips, the length of this cape flatters all body types. And best of all, red is in this season.
I couldn’t gush more about this cape by Artlab, which can be made in tan, black or gray. I just love the drama of this piece: the longer front and shorter sides, as well as the lovely sculpted fabric around the neckline. Made of medium weight cotton, it won’t feel too heavy while you’re on your fall walk, and you’re sure to turn plenty of heads along the way.
If I make it home to visit this fall, I may just have to splurge on one of these sweet capes to keep me warm. Every one of them would look great with my jeans and boots!
**The beautiful photograph of rural Illinois featured at the top of this post was created by Lauren Powers Photography.