Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.
Glossy and vibrant. Mad and inviting.
Karrie Welborn’s photography compels you to examine it more closely. With her sharp sense of style and great eye for detail, you’ll be rewarded when you do.
At $15 to $40 and up, you can get several and make lovely pairings and groupings on your walls.
The Zipper end – Steampunk Choker
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Welcoming Spring Crochet Hat
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Swarovski pearl and crystal spray Bridal Hair Pins
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A fabulous new online magazine has just published its first issue on Handmade Fashion, and you really must check it out. VivaLaModa is a stylish, well-designed look at indie designers and trends, and it is a great and lovely read.
See what I mean? Contributors for this first issue are Aster, Kay Tse, Lori Ward, Randi Eccleston, Lora Dégraff, Karina Gallo, Diana Rajchel, Estefanía Nava, and the Editor is Ainhoa. Go stop by and tell them I said hello. I can’t wait for issue 2.
The upcycled purse above is from Sparky Jones
Sometimes I get my greatest inspiration from other bloggers. This week was no exception – when I visited Going Home to Roost to see what Bonnie is up to these days I came across a post she had written recently on shopping ethically. I know this isn’t always the most popular topic, even amongst those of us in the handmade community, and I’m sensitive to that. At the same time it seems to me that the blogosphere is a great place for us to write about these types of things, and to learn from each other and share our thoughts openly. I hope that these virtual discussions can enlighten, encourage and challenge us. From week to week Bonnie gives us a glimpse into her world and shows us the joy that can come from living more harmoniously with the environment and exploring our creative passions.
Bonnie’s post on shopping ethically included a great checklist – questions that she asks herself before making a purchase:
– do i really need this?
– will i be able to use this for long time, then recycle it?
– how far did this have to travel to reach me?
– who made it and how were they treated?
– is it labeled honestly or with clever marketing?
Key rack above is from Half Pint Salvage
The issues surrounding these questions are actually what led me to blog in the first place, so reading them in point form on Bonnie’s site was refreshing. As my friends and family know – I love design, in any form – from a candy bar wrapper, to fashion, home décor and everything in between. But at some point I realized that my love of design and “things” was contributing to systems that reward unethical treatment of workers in foreign countries and hurting the environment.
Napkin holders above are from A Remark You Made
I can’t say that I’d give myself an A+ now as a conscious consumer, but I know over the last couple of years I have managed to reduce my consumption and now buy more goods that are made in ethical conditions. My heroes are the individuals who have really taken it to the next level, and I hope that these are areas I’ll personally continue to improve in.
iPad case from Chicken Willow
Today, inspired by this post, I’m taking my hat off to a few Etsy artists who do a wonderful job of upcycling and recycling. I hope you enjoy what I’ve found and as always I’d love to hear your thoughts on these issues!
With the cold weather almost behind us, the spring trends are starting to emerge just in time for the warm weather. This season the nautical trend is back in full force featuring classic strips, preppy pants and boat shoes along with anchors, lobsters and any other sea animal that comes to mind. While most of us don’t have a boat upon which to enjoy the sunshine, you can still look the part in a few of these great handmade finds.
A great spin on the classic horizontal striped shirt, this navy blue and white top by tsifca features both vertical and horizontal strips for a preppy, yet modern look. Featuring a comfortable fit and wide elbow-length sleeves, this shirt is perfect for lounging, but could easily be dressed up for a night out. The light weight fabric will keep you cool during your time out at sea.
These forest green pleated summer shorts by Eleanor Rot are just perfect for enjoying some time out in the sun. The preppy pleats and cuffs fit perfectly with the nautical trend, but the unexpected color and large gold button keep them modern and a bit edgy. These shorts are the perfect compliment to a striped shirt, but be sure to tuck it in order to create a clear waist line.
This blue, red and gold-toned anchor necklace by Debbiecarroll Designs is the perfect way to add a little bit of nautical into your everyday wardrobe. The gold-toned anchor features a touch of red and is nicely complimented by bright red lucite beads, Swarovski crystals and other gold-toned vintage components. This necklace is a great way to add a bit of vintage glam to your striped shirt or dress up an otherwise plain outfit.
The digital sailboat print featured at the top of this post was created by JC Arts.
