Modish

Eco-Friendly Find: BananaSaurus Rex

BananaSaurus Rex is a vintage fabric lovers dream come true, as everything, and I mean everything in the shop is made from vintage, recycled and reused materials: vintage tablecloths become carryall bags, vintage hankies are turned into yummy lavender sachets, ugly old vintage ties become pretty flower brooches! 

The creations are simple, feminine and endlessly functional, from wine sachets to grocery totes, and all are created with the Earth in mind.  BananaSaurus Rex is creative recycling at its best!

Como se llama? LAMA!

If you want some color, some spice, some Latin flavor for your home, look no further than brand spankin' new shop, LAMA!  Filled with wonderful handmade and small-production designs by Latino artists from both abroad and the US, LAMA (which stands for Latin America in the Modern Age) is a fantastic shop filling a much needed niche.

From ceramics and pillows to paper goods and comfy hammocks, LAMA's style is vivid and vibrant.  It brings much deserved attention to Latino independent designers, helping them reach an audience that some of them may not have had access to before.  Although many designs embrace traditional handicrafts and imagery, everything on the site has a distinctly contemporary feel, bringing the beauty of Latin heritage and art right in line with modern style.

I am head over heels with this shop, I wish I could show you everything, but alas, you'll have to check it out yourself.  Christine you did a great job!  Congratulations!  LAMA, te amo mucho!

Grab your Ray-bans...

...because these goodies are so bright, you gotta wear shades!  Raeburn Ink is a little slice of highlighter heaven, brimming over with hot pink, laser lime and electric yellow.  Their goods just ooze the feeling of summer, young, fun and oh so colorful.  With humble surroundings in tiny (but oh so cool) Eureka, CA, Raeburn Ink's style is international, an eclectic mix of hippie chic and a late night Tokyo arcade.  Saiko! (that's Japanese for "awesome!")

I was introduced to Raeburn Ink by my partner in crime, Renee, who just bought one of their tee-shirts and says it rocks!  Bring a little rock into your own wardrobe, and home, with Raeburn Ink!  Chobegu!! (you'll have to look that one up :)

Moose turns two! Special deal for you!

One of my favorite shops to find indie designers from Australia, Moose, turns two years old today!  And to celebrate, they're offering you modish lovelies a special 15% off deal, valid on everything you see on the site from today thru Monday, July 15th.  Just use the code "modishmoo2" at checkout to redeem your discount!  There's soooo much good stuff at Moose, and the collection just keeps getting better and better.  Congrats Moose on turning two!  Way to go!

Bang Bang, You're Thread

I couldn't think of a post title better than the actual name of this new shop, Bang Bang You're Thread, featuring the works of the lovely little lady illustrator and overall talent, Allison Cole! 

From notebooks and planners, wallets and totes, artwork and buttons galore, Allison's goods are adorable in the kind of way that actually puts a smile on your face.  Clouds and trees seem to be dominate designs throughout the site, but I guarantee they're just the cutest, happiest little clouds and trees ya ever did see!  Take a closer look at them and their companions at Bang Bang You're Thread!

Freaky Friday- You be the blogger!

I had a thought last night as I was falling asleep.  Yes, just one... it was, "I wonder if my readers would like me to shut up now and then (instead of blabbering on like I am now) and just give 'em what they're really looking for, the eye candy."  So that's what I'm giving you today, the eye candy, with no commentary except to say...

I declare today Freaky Friday, ya know like the old (and new) movie where the mom and daughter switch bodies?  We too are going to make a switch- I'll give you the fodder, and you be the bloggers- leave a comment telling me what you see, how you would describe it, what you think of the work- pretend you're the one blogging about it!  You can leave just a couple adjectives or write a treatise on the exceptional struggle of form vs. function, I don't care, the words are up to you today!

So here you go, enjoy the work from Irregular Expressions...it's just begging for some description!

Happy Summer!

Yay!  It's the first day of summer and it's sunny, beauuuuutiful and warm (but not hot!) outside- a perfect pacific northwest day!  Plus, it's Friday!  And I feel rested!  It's a great day so far, and a wonderful time to celebrate with some summery accessories that I found this morning, all from etsy.  Stay cool out there and enjoy the sun, wherever you are!

{Mermaid brooch by fleur fatale  :: Navajo print bikini by Harajuku swimwear  ::  Kelly necklace by Luxe Deluxe  ::  Radiant daffodil earrings by Clementine  ::  Soliel purse by  mishi ::  Sketch collage handpainted slip-ons by design equals love  ::  Garden party hairpins by Modrocks}

Good timing for a good egg

You've heard that as one door closes another one opens, and in the case of indie shop doors, that appears to be true!  As I prepare to close the Modish shoppe, a brand spankin' new shop to find handmade goods has just opened its doors- goodEGG!  Good timing!

Run by Laural from Thimble and Jen from the Toronto Craft Alert (teaming up! A good idea!) goodEGG is packed full of hand-picked, handmade designs by a wealth of talented Canadians, including designers you've seen in my shoppe before (Anatomy of a Skirt and Bookhou), designers you've seen highlighted on this blog before (Nightjar Books and Rikrak) and other skilled designers that I'm pleased to have been introduced to.  I'm glad to know that goodEGG will be around to serve some of your handmade shopping needs after the Modish shoppe is gone. 

You are indeed a good egg, uh, goodEGG, and I wish you much luck with your wonderful new shop!

Warm your heart, or your head!

Monica Burnett, creator of crazy fabulous knit goods here in Portland, OR, has just launched a new website for her wares! 

It looks great and features the wonderful hats and headbands that she's become known for, as well as scarves, hairclips, pins, gloves and more!  There's lots of warm wares available for those of you south of the equator where it's starting to cool off, and cool accessories for those of us up here where it's starting to heat up!  And Monica was kind enough to offer a special deal just for modish readers, cause she loves you all so much: use code "modish" at checkout and get 15% off you order!  Thanks Monica!

Sister, sister!

It appears that creativity really does run in the family as Christine, the sister of the talented Jennifer behind Starving Artist Bazaar, has just opened up her own etsy shop: Crixmix!

Crixmix carries "flowers for the people" in the form of lovely bracelets, hairpins and rings!  Each combines different fabrics with semi-precious stones for unique little accessories that are perfect for spring and the coming summer.  Take a peek at the entire new line and find something adorable to adorn yourself with.

Hip Handmade: Scarves

Those big box stores are calling your name with cheap deals on hip clothes and accessories, home goodies that you just can't live without, beckoning you to become part of the latest fashion trends of the moment...it can be hard for the indie design world to keep up!  But, they do keep up- it's just sometimes a little more difficult to find the hip handmade goods that rival the big box stores' goods in style, but far surpass them in quality, creativity and uniqueness!  So, I'm here to help, taking a cue from the now defunct box vs. indie blog, and Renee's awesome "if you like...., than you'll love...." posts around Christmas time, and helping you find hip handmade alternatives to the big box store stuff that you so covet- hopefully you'll see, it's easier than you think to shop consciously and stay stylish at the same time! :)

First up for the hip handmade comparison, I bring you the fashion accessory that I see popping up everywhere in catalogs, tv shows and on the streets: summery scarves!

big box: hot pepper scarf from Anthropologie- imported, cotton- $48
handmade: acid green & mulberry striped scarf by Karen Richards- hand woven, cotton/wool- $45

big box: silk peony wrap from Banana Republic- imported, 100% silk- $68
handmade: apple blossom scarf by Sylvie & Elizabeth- hand painted 100% silk crepe- $35

big box: guaze buffalo plaid scarf from Urban Outfitters- imported, cotton- $28
handmade: brown & orange woven scarf by heartisans- handmade by co-op in Guatemala, fair trade- $15

big box: batik print scarf from Banana Republic- imported, 100% cotton- $49
handmade: purple grey scrolls scarf by Margot Bianca- hand dyed & batiked, 100% silk- $45

big box: full fringe scarf from Free People-  lurex- $48
handmade: garden of earthly delights scarf by Adventures of Jessica Rose- hand knit, pure cashmere- $45

big box: daybreak scarf from Anthropologie- imported, cotton- $48
handmade: poppy woven scarf by Cyberoptix- hand silk-screened, fair-trade woven silk- $44

Well, there you have it!  What do you think of the hip handmade options- are these fair comparisons?  Do you prefer the big box choices, or the handmade ones?  And did you notice all the handmade items are less expensive than the big box ones?  Pretty sneaky, eh?

If you'd like to see this kind of post continue as a regular feature, please let me know!  Also, if you have item/item types you'd like to suggest for a future "hip handmade" comparison post, leave a comment or feel free to email me!  Thanks much!

New goodies in the shoppe!

I haven't posted about new items from the modish shoppe in a loooong time, and since it's well overdue and I happen to have lots of wonderful new items in for spring, I thought it high time to show some off!

First off, I'd like to introduce a new artist to the shoppe, Stephanie DosReis!  I feel honored to carry her wonderful mixed media prints and (my favorite) her adooooorable plush houses made from vintage fabrics, they're each one of kind!

There's also beautiful new jewelry and a pretty new color of poppy pins and hairpins for the summer, by foundling:

Also, back in the shoppe, Mood Swing's wonderful reversible storybook charm necklaces- you get two necklaces in one!

There's also lots of new prints by a modish favorite, Swallowfield- they're all so colorful and cheery!

There's a lot more new goodies on the way to the shoppe too, including new tees from wenifnotnow, plates by New Work, jewelry by Odd Bird, new bags by Jenna Rose and Queen Puff Puff, new jewelry from Mollie Dash, and more more more!  Check in often and remember, you can use the code "modish" for free shipping!

De Colores

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!  Today has become a day to celebrate Mexican culture in the United States- although I'm sure you'll see many examples of the capitalization that has made Cinco de Mayo so popular here ($1 margarita happy hour anyone?), I hope you'll also find celebrations of the Mexican heritage, art, music and culture that have helped make America what it is today.  To help celebrate some of that talent, here are some handmade goods by Mexico based artists and crafters that I found on good ol' etsy!

{cyrano doll, set of 5 cards by Cara Carmina :: Pink strawberry charm by allen! ::  hedgehog march notepads by micasita house}

{Fungi print by Rosie Music :: tulips wallet by ziazia :: Mexican embroidered bag by That Retro Thing :: Mexican embroidered tunic by Aida Coronado}

{filigree flower and bird earrings by tutarubli :: city lights necklace by Colibri Dreams :: seashells box by Sea Debris :: "remember" print by Geninne}

Eco-Friendly Find: Pouch

Today's eco-friendly find is a little shop called Pouch, hailing all the way across the pond from Bristol, UK.  The entire shop is filled with handmade bags, belts, stuffed owls and much more all made from vintage and re-purposed fabric.  They're fun, fresh and affordable in colorful designs and recycled from found materials- they're eco-rific!

From garbage to gorgeous!

Well, let's just continue with the eco-friendly trend all week long as I introduce you to Garbage of Eden Design, creator of accessories made from up-cycled plastic- her pieces make use of the garbage that we would otherwise throw away everyday like plastic newspaper and grocery bags- sweet! 

The results are fresh and exciting, in bright bold colors that are fun for the spring in an eco-friendly wrapper that's fun for everyday of year!  Check out more designs in the Garbage of Eden shop, and check out their featured artist on etsy interview this week to learn more!

Eco-Friendly Find: Re:made

Continuing with our weekly eco-friendly finds (which I try to post every Wednesday, just fyi), I discovered this new artist on today's front page on etsy- Re:made.  They make old things new again crafting skirts, dresses and tote bags out of pretty floral pillow cases, and making cute leather bracelets from old belts.

Everything they create is made from something else, reusing and recycling with vigor to bring new things into the world without using up anymore of earth's resources.  Re-make yourself over with a pretty new diddy from Re:made, and keep your fashion eco-friendly!

New goodies in the shoppe!

I just added some fun new spring things to the modish shoppe!  Take a peek!

New glass animal pins by Happy Owl Glassworks- collect the whole menagerie!

And new neckies by Marinade in some bright, fun, spring colors!  Most of which are made with re-claimed yarn, so they're earth-friendly too!  Perfect for chilly spring mornings!

And introducing a new artist to the modish shoppe, Eclectic Eccentricity!  This line of re-vamped vintage goodness is made by the lovely Lucy from England- her designs are cheery, feminine and so cute!

There's more new stuff to come in the next few days (and weeks!) and a BIG day to celebrate next week- stay tuned!

A slow and breezy afternoon

When I think of spring I have this idyllic image of riding my bike with my boyfriend thru the neighborhood: there's a slight and lovely breeze in the air as we ride through streets scattered with pink petals from the blossoming trees above us, and we're laughing and counting all the kitties (last time we saw 12!) and daffodils we see along the way...ah, what a nice day it would be... And always in this little daydream (or when I ride my bike in general) I'm wearing a hat; a hat like one of these from Piper & Paisley!

These hats are so cute in kind of a modern newsboy cap style in light and airy, perfect for spring fabrics.  Find one to suit you at Piper & Paisley and stay stylish in your spring daydreams too!

New spring shoppe goodies

Speaking of spring, I just added some springy new goods to the Modish shoppe!  New wallets and gadget pouches by sewer extraordinaire, Blissful!

And some beauties from Sprout Studio- earrings, hairpins and brooches that are perfect for spring!

I also compiled an assortment of my favorite spring finds from the shoppe in a handy dandy "spring picks" category- finds some gifts for Easter, Mama's Day, weddings, birthdays and happy spring wishes!

All Things Original

I received an email today from All Things Original, a pretty new webshop from across the pond selling, well, all things original!  Handmade items from 50 British indie designers, from accessories and art to bags and jewelry.  I especially like the revamped vintage jewelry (or should I say jewellery :) by Pipnstuff:

and by Denaz:

There's a lot lot more to discover at All Things Original and it's a pleasure to find another fun consignment shop for European buyers!  Yay!

Cover your head

You won't find me in a hat often, not because I don't like them, but because it usually just doesn't occur to me to wear one of the many that I have...but if I had one of these hats hanging around, I might remember to wear it! 

Made by Shara Lambeth (top row) and Heating and Cooling (bottom row) these hats will ensure no one will see your bad hair days again- plus, they'd be perfect bike riding hats with the short bills :)  Find them all at Orange Button.

Feltastic!

I don't remember how I stumbled upon the littlest bean, but I do remember that I was instantly smiling when I did- colorful, fun, simple and inspired things lift my spirits instantly, and the littlest bean is full of them!

From earrings to brooches to hairpins, the littlest bean's goods are all handmade with loving detail- they're simply feltastic!  There's tons more to see on the site- check it out!

Eco-Friendly Find: prix-prix

Style, utility and earth-friendliness all come together so nicely when left to the hands of prix-prix.  The prix-prix label is home to wallets and business card cases made from vintage neckties that have seen better days, giving them new life to enjoy. 

They also create lovely hand block-printed notebooks, using the underside of cereal boxes as the covers, and filling them with 100% post consumer recycled paper.


The results are unique and stylish and a great example of how you can "up-cycle" everyday things that may be in your closet, or in your cupboards, into useful creations.  Find many more designs at prix-prix!

New stuff in the shoppe! And one week left!

Happy Valentine's Day!  This is really just a Thursday for me, but it's the Thursday exactly one week before the Thursday that we'll be hitting the road with all our stuff and moving up to Portland!  I have one week left!  Oh my gosh! 

That means that starting this weekend I won't be around due to packing/moving/internet-connection-losing.  That also means that orders in the shoppe will be delayed in shipping until I can get my office and internet set up again up there.  But, I've added so much new stuff lately (over 60 items!) that I just have to show you anyway, and have to offer you a special deal for the patience you will exude in waiting for your orders to ship: so, use code "smoothmove" at checkout for FREE SHIPPING and your order will ship out as soon as I'm able (hoping by Wed, Feb 27th) and will also include a FREE GIFT!  I have lots of pocket mirrors, earrings, pins, cards and other good stuff that will find their way into your packages...

In the meantime, here's a glimpse at all the new goodies in the shoppe- get yourself a little "spring is coming and I deserve something nice" gift, hmmm?

Like some of this beautiful jewelry by a newly added designer, Ole Lukoe:

Or maybe some of these hand-dandy felt fabulous cases from Suezybees:

Or these wonderful, eco-friendly, wood-block art pieces by Rebecca Tolk:

Perhaps you'd like some modern, screen-printed dinnerware by New Work:

Or a new cute purse or tote from Prickly Pear:

Or maybe some fresh art on your walls by Swallowfield or Wolfie and the Sneak:

Or some pretty gemstone jewelry by Prismera to usher in the spring:

This is only a small sampling of all the great new items that are in the shoppe!  There's also a lot of sale items left, so nab what you have your eye on before it's gone!

I <3 you

Seeing hearts?  Here's some heart themed handmade gifts for you for Valentine's Day, yes, but also just because I love all you readers, so very much.  <3

row 1: for the love of baking by Thea Coughlin ($20), eyes for you card by Kaching Design ($6),  so happy together by Chromatics ($70)
row 2: bleeding heart blue by Anna Ruby King ($10), heart vinyl and sterling necklace by Nature vs. Machine ($50), brass heart fobs by Bonbon Oiseau ($50)
row 3: heart on your finger ring by  ehmeglass ($56), darling bag by Oprikka (70€)
row 4: sweetheart necklace by Nek ($50), love hurts cactus pincushion by Sheasy ($10), heart of glass II by Nanopod ($32)