Search results (tags) for: "girls"

All Wrapped Up! Holiday Gift Trends from Scoutie Girl Gifts

2009-11-18T16:01:00-05:00

Earlier this fall, I launched a brand new site to make handmade gift giving a little bit easier. Scoutie Girl Gifts not only allows you to find beautiful handmade gifts for everyone on your list, it allows you to create your own "gift galleries" to make gift suggestions for visitors!

What has been most interesting for me is watching the new gift trends emerge before my very eyes. Even though content comes in from all over the world, I'm seeing some very distinctive trends for this holiday season.

Animals have been hot in the indie craft world for quite some time. Instead of the usual woodland suspects, this year's holiday zoological trend has all sorts of animals roaming around! ViviDot featured a gallery of beautiful beasts in her gift gallery, Let's Go to the Zoo.

I love this romper featuring a hippo by planetpudge. $22.

More animals were featured by shellieartist in her gift gallery, Not Your Average Pet.

There's also a great baby koala necklace by shizendesigns. $23.

How about this badger cameo illustration by blackoutwell? On a side note — illustration seems to be a hot gift idea too! $18.

Soft, feminine shades of aqua, pink, violet and grey have also been very popular. Lesley from smidgebox put together a beautiful gallery inspired by aqua skies + snowflakes.

I adore these textile bead earrings from frillsandfray. They're made from a recycled t-shirt in soft green and yellow. I actually have a similar pair — love! $19.

If you miss green grass, blue skies, and beds of blooming flowers, you're in luck: bringing the outdoors in is hot this holiday season! Kimberly from createlovelaugh created a popular gift gallery called Into the Forest. It's focused on moss greens: terrariums, pots of moss, faux moss, and accessories inspired by moss.

This green rose ring by mlwdesigns reminds me of a little succulent plant. It's a great way to wear spring on your finger all year long! At only $9, it makes a great gift for a friend or coworker.

Another curator thinking about all things natural is Diana from dsbrennan. Her gift gallery, For the Naturalist, features more mossy greens and browns.

These wrist warmers would be a perfect gift for someone who doesn't let cold weather stop them from enjoying a hike! By fishermansdaughter, $24.

Another hot trend for this year's gift giving is art and illustration. Art may not be the first thought when choosing a gift, but it's perfect for newlyweds, teenagers looking to spruce up their space, or anyone who doesn't need another "thing" lying around! Art always makes a statement and can be a very personal and emotion-filled gift.

Brittni from papernstich put together this gift gallery of affordable art for everyone, including traditional art pieces, illustration, photography, and even a little sculpture fit for hanging on your wall.

I especially love this photograph by simplyhue. $18.

If you've got kids on your shopping list, handmade is the way to go! Etsy sellers take special care to exclude harmful ingredients and include only the finest of what Mother Nature has to offer.

Sara from busterandboo put together a gift gallery of natural kids' options. From wool to wood to play clay, this list is quite inspiring.

I love the aromatic play clay by MamaKs. Kids get to play, moms get to relax with the pleasant aromas of chamomile, lemongrass, and sweet orange. This clay is even gluten-free! $4.50.

I don't know how some people do it. I never have any luck at yard sales, thrift shops or estate sales. I am a downright terrible vintage shopper. However, that doesn't mean that I don't love the look of vintage! I am always pleased as punch to find great handmade, vintage-inspired goodies — and they make perfect gifts for the thrift-store challenged like me (hint, hint)!

Amy from amybsjewelry put together a tea time gallery including several vintage-inspired goodies.

I adore this custom tea party dress from sohomode. This beauty is available in several fabrics, including wool. It would be perfect for a special fête, modernized with leggings and ballet flats as shown.

Lindsey from ripegoods put together a list of gifts inspired by farm fresh living.

I especially love these hand-printed tea towels by NestaHome — a perfect gift for the holiday hostess! $19.

Buying handmade for holiday gifts has never been easier. Use a tool like the Etsy Gift Guides, your favorite blog, or Scoutie Girl Gifts to find a great jumping-off point! And don't just stick to the sellers and items you see featured. Be inspired by the trends, materials, and techniques that catch your fancy!

If you have an idea for a Scoutie Girl Gifts gallery, go to the submissions page to find out how to get yours published!

Scoutie Girl Gifts | Etsy's Gift Guides | Holiday Gift Ideas Posts

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 5, 2009

2009-11-05T16:00:00-05:00

“This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.” — Dorothy Parker

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has cozy homes, experimental embroidery, skulls composed of yarn and Red Vines, and a fashionable Etsy seller you should know about.

Read on!

Intricate embroidery always captures my fancy, and these embroidered antique photos by Maurizio Anzeri make for a compelling visual interpretation. The old is new again. [Via Today and Tomorrow]

I instantly fell in love with Nadinoo's spring line when I first saw it: the feather prints, bright tights and styling made it all too irresistible. When I discovered her corresponding Etsy shop...that's when I started to hyperventilate. [Via Greedy Girl]

The light and airy homes highlighted in Tim Clinch's portfolio have that neutral-minimal-primitive mix that is always so enticing. [Via Desire to Inspire]

Skulls, gorgeous skulls! The skull artist, Jim, makes these sculptures from a wide variety of materials. I am fascinated by the many cultural and tribal references evident in his works, as well as the licorice looking skulls. [Via Beautiful Decay]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Guest Curator: Scoutie Girl

2009-09-02T16:20:00-05:00

Tara Gentile is a blogger, freelance writer, and creative business consultant. After a wonderful — but dead end — stint as a bookstore manager, Tara took time off to raise her daughter and discovered her love of writing again. Her first foray into blogging came in the form of Handmade in PA, which supports arts and crafts in Pennsylvania. In July, she took over Scoutie Girl — the blog with a penchant for the passionately handmade — from Daisy Janie. Scoutie Girl features exclusively handmade or independently designed products. The blog consists of Tara and seven contributors, who emphasize originality in design, unique materials, and "indie thinking" as well as indie style.

Confession: I have a thing for science fiction. Make that a love affair. And, while you won't find me at conventions, I have thought long and hard about what makes costume design work for the movies and TV shows I love so much.

I think the best sci-fi costume design incorporates elements of historical fashion with futuristic concepts. Renaissance, Victorian, Gothic — you can find elements of each decking our favorite space heroes and their alien counterparts.

For this post, I've boiled my favorite past-meets-future fashions down into three elements: fantastic collars, well-placed ruffles, and asymmetry.

Purple Makes you Prettier dress

I love this purple dress, and it incorporates all three elements! There's a wild, asymmetrical collar and a ruffly bustle in the back. I could see a few of the characters from the short-lived Firefly wearing this one. By sewmoe, $185.

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Oragami Dress CUSTOM MADE

This dress has more of an Asian flair — another popular motif in sci-fi fashion — but the asymmetrical bustle in the back is what really caught my eye! I love how it folds up on itself so cleanly. By AftonRiver, $115.

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Black Lace - Trientalis Latifolia ... Freeform Crochet Necklace

If you don't want to go for a full-on dress in this style, try a collar or bib necklace. You can match this bold accessory with a t-shirt in which you feel comfortable! By irregularexpressions, $108.

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framework beak earrings

Of course, metal is an important part of any sci-fi look! These earrings remind me a bit of molecular drawings. And the fact that the usual circle shape is stretched and pinched into a "beak" is the icing on the Plutonian moon cake! By alisamiller, $160.

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a small tough ruffles zipper purse in two shades of grey

Another asymmetrical ruffle! I love madebyhank — 'cause she's from Philly — and because she makes amazing little bags! $20.

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Ornately draped olive/brown cloche hat

The 1920s is a fashion era that doesn't get quite as much sci-fi love. But this great cloche could accent a number of interesting looks. I adore the wrapping action of the felt! By yellowfield7, $185.

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Birch Top

The structure of this top says space commander, but the well-placed ruffle says space vixen! By LittleHouses, $80.

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NENEEE XL space cadet dress

This one might be cheating: it actually says "space cadet" in the listing. I like how this one hearkens back to a simpler sci-fi time — ya know, before all the nuanced characters and special effects! By neneee, $68.

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Fog Collar No.3

This collar would add a big punch to a simple shirt. The smooth, solid button brings the whole piece into focus. By flutter, $34.99.

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Indian Summer

This clutch features a pod of ruffly ripped ribbon growing out of the corner. By eclu, $38.

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Koro - Made to order

This piece doesn't really fit my three criteria, but I could easily see it sitting in the corner of the captain's ready room! poaplum creates beautiful lighting fixtures out of Japanese paper. $110.

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Square Bamboo Modern Candle Holders FREE SHIPPING

And I could see these bamboo candlestick holders gracing the table of an alien ambassador's dining room. By jalexstudios, $95.

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While I'm not sure if the makers who created these fabulous items had Star Trek or space operas or telepathic aliens in mind when they designed their work, each piece here fits into my vision of science fiction perfection! I hope you enjoyed this tiny glimpse into one of my more guilty pleasures — and I hope you can find inspiration in your guilty pleasures too!

Looking for past Guest Curator posts? Check out our archive here.

Geek Chic Gift Guide | Asymmetrical Clothing | Fantasy Blog Posts

Etsy Finds Vintage: Reduce, Reuse, Reinvent

2009-07-19T10:00:00-05:00

As a vintage lover and treasure seeker, there's nothing more exhilarating than rescuing a piece of history from certain doom in a landfill. While I love to use and display the many objects that I collect (skulls, doll heads, quilts), there are inevitable leftovers that leave me scratching my head. What should I do with my beautiful-but-torn vintage lace doilies? How can I best reuse the antique drawer from an abandoned vanity? I inherited ten Mason jars, but what should I do with them?!

Today's Vintage Finds are dedicated to the thoughtful and resourceful reinvention of vintage objects. This collection is a virtual treasure trove of potential projects, so put on your thinking cap and get creative! Check out Etsy's How-Tuesday series for more inspiring how-to's and projects.

Vintage Fabric and Crochet

Vintage fabric sends shivers down my spine! I love the colors, textures and designs of old quilts, feed sacks, lace and doilies. There are a wealth of embellishment projects that can be achieved with these materials. theblackapple made a scarf out of vintage doilies, and DIY Life has a great how-to on making a crazy quilt pillow with scraps. Decorating on a budget? Spice up your celebration with a pennant banner made with vintage fabrics, courtesy of Sew 4 Home. Here are some vintage treasures to get you started.

Vintage Cutter Quilt Good Retro Fabrics

From frstyfrolk, $85.

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Vintage Lace Trimmed Doily

From teremok, $12.

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VINTAGE HAND CROCHETED DOILY

From sandisstuff, $21.99.

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Eight vintage embroidered towels

From foursquarevintage, $29.

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vintage salt sacks

From ThenAndNow, $6.

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Vintage Embroidered Table Runner

From CinfulOldies, $14.

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Vintage Drawers and Boxes

Storage receptacles are rife with reinvention possibilities. An old drawer can be reused as a planter, a makeshift bookshelf, or simply break apart the wood for a salvaged wooden frame. (Check out this crafty frame how-to from Bayou Salvage!) Why not use the exteriors of old drawers as clothing hangers? Check out the full how-to on Design*Sponge.

wooden vintage tool box

From bloomingmardee, $120.

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galvanized industrial steel crate.

From everyeskimo, $64.

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Two Drawer File & Divider Cards

From ethanollie, $50.

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Vintage Sewing Machine Drawer

From katecreativesalvage, $15.

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Weathered Perforated Crate

From 26olivestreet, $38.

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Vintage 1936 Wooden Box Crate

From goodbuyannies, $39.50.

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Vintage Letters, Numbers and Signage

Get creative with vintage letterpress pieces, children's alphabet blocks, and miscellaneous signage to spell out anything your heart desires.

Antique Letterpress - 75 Pieces

From TurnersCollectibles, $215.

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Giant Letter M

From tippleandsnack, $36.99.

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Metal Letter- V

By extravirginhome, $10.

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Vintage Wooden Box of Wood Blocks.

From funkeyfinds, $17.

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White Vinyl Sticker Letters-200

From gleancreativereuse, $6.

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BRASS Letter Y

From sweetshorn, $26.

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Vintage Jars and Baskets

Vintage housewares are easy to acquire and work with, so if you're a beginning crafter, these projects are for you! Design*Sponge has a snazzy how-to for making a pendant light with an old wire basket, and Craft Zine has easy-to-follow instructions for making a DIY terrarium using a Mason jar. Find all the materials you'll need to start below!

Vintage Ball Mason Jar and Jar Lifter

From LittleYellowDoor, $10.

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Antiqued Wire Basket in Soft Pink

From moxiesisters, $20.

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lovely vintage green wire metal basket.

By frisee, $22.

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Antique Ink Apothecary Bottle

From solsticehome, $12.

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vintage AQUA BLUE canning jar

From aimeesarmoire, $19.95.

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Vintage egg basket, yellow

From cabinwindows, $32.

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Vintage Toolboxes and Luggage

Old lunch boxes and tackle boxes make the perfect jewelry boxes, and bright suitcases are a great solution for bedside storage, a deluxe kitty bed or a Tetris-style installation. Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club has compiled a master list of suitcase projects that are sure to get your creative juices flowing.

Set of 3 Vintage Mini suitcases - red

From rubyfirecracker, $28.

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Vintage Tin Rusty Green Lunch Box

From NestaHome, $28.50.

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Blue metal tool box/organizer

From kewpiesfarmhouse, $16.

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Vintage International Train case / box

From Shabbylull, $24.

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American Tourister Round Suitcase

By happydayvintage, $47.

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Vintage Metal Tool Box

From epoca, $27.50.

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Unorthodox Display

Who says artwork needs to be in a frame? These vintage components will take any stray prints to the heights of display genius. Looking for more ideas on how to arrange your art collection? Check out Abbey of How Now Designs' helpful tips on the art of arrangement.

3 CHIPPY GREEN Vintage Flower Frogs

From birdie1, $28.

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Vintage Folding Ruler - Red, White, and Black

From foundpaperco, $12.

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Vintage Wooden Pant Hangers (2)

From vintology, $12.

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three vintage wooden pant hangers

From ModishVintage, $16.

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Vintage porcelain industrial glove mold

From beggarsandchoosers, $25.

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Old Expanding Ruler

From tippleandsnack, $11.99.

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You Tell Me!

Here's a wide assortment of vintage odds and ends that still have plenty of life in them. Their potential for DIY projects is off the charts! Perhaps the old garden implements could be used as a jewelry rack, the plastic doily as a stencil for screenprinting, or the balusters as the basis for a new chess set... What would you make? Leave it in the comments!

Victorian Period Wood Balusters

From VintageEmbellishment, $20.

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Chalkboard

By HausProud, $44.

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coal Fireplace cover

From FluffyFlowersVintage, $150.

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Vintage PITCHFORK Found Object

From sushipotparts, $15.

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Vintage Plastic Doily

From ponyparty, $8.

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Collection of 1950s Reels with Movies

From shihtzuwest, $170.

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What's your favorite project that resulted from vintage components? Leave it in the comments!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Vintage Category | How-Tuesday Projects | Search for Handmade Items with Vintage Components

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How-Tuesday: Elegant Parchment Flowers with Jeffrey Rudell

2009-06-23T16:13:00-05:00

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This week's How-Tuesday comes from Jeffrey Rudell, a paper artist, inventor, and engineer who has an eye for simple, beautiful projects and a knack for sharing his marvelous creations. This project makes a remarkably simple and beautiful flower that can be used to make a bouquet, a boutonniere, a brooch, or just about any flowery thing that starts with the letter B.

Materials Needed:

White vellum or parchment — the exact vellum shown is white ink on white vellum, made by US Silkscreen, available from New York Central Art Supply
pH Neutral Glue
Scissors or Xacto knife
Straight edge
18" of pre-cut, straight lengths of floral wire
Floral tape

Elegant Parchment Flowers:

Step One:

Begin with a 3" disc of paper, parchment, or vellum. You can use a 3" hole punch, a compass, or trace the rim of a cup.

Fold the circle in half, into quarters, and finally into eighths, until you have a little triangle.

Once folded, use scissors to round out the the top.

Step Two:

Remove one and one-half petals as indicated and glue flap A to the underside of petal B. This gives the blossom a bit of realistic dimension.

Step Three:

Crimp the edges of each petal — as indicated by the dotted lines — between your thumb and forefinger.

Step Four:

For the stem, begin with a straight, 10" to 15" length of floral wire. Use needle nose pliers to curl a 1/4" loop in one end of the wire.

Cover the wire loop with a small length of floral tape to create the pistil of the flower.

Gently thread a wire stem through the center of each completed paper blossom until the pistil is seated snugly within the hollow of the flower.

Take another small length of tape and wrap the top of the stem just under the blossom to keep it in place.

Step Five:

Wrap the remaining portion of the stem with an equaling length of floral tape. Pinch the tape at the top under the blossom and while holding the tape taut with one hand, slowly rotating the stem between the thumb and forefinger until the stem is covered.

Step Six:

Lather, Rinse, Repeat, for as many of these gorgeous flowers as you need, and then arrange them as you see fit. Maybe just a few for a boutonniere or for a gift bouquet for a special someone you are hoping to woo. Make a whole bunch for a full bouquet for your wedding or to brighten up any room any day!

Visit the Plants and Edibles & Weddings Categories

Hand-picked Items for Your Big Day

Etsy Finds Vintage: Summer Whites

2009-05-23T11:00:00-05:00

There's something about the turning of the seasons that makes the very touch of a sweater seem horrifying: "Get if off me! Ack, it's so hot and itchy!" If the weather is making you sweat, it's time to put your dark and drab winter togs in the back of closet and get out your faithful summer whites. Nothing says summer fun (and reflects sunlight!) like the bright whites of a freshly ironed sundress, a coy hair ribbon and a smart handbag. Spice up your summer wardrobe with vintage accessories and clothing of the alabaster variety.

Sweet Ruffled Cotton Eyelet Blouse

From edwardvintage, $22.

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Black and White Beaded Leather Belt

From WhimseysVintage, $20.

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vintage FRYE boots 6

From allencompanyinc, $88.

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Winona Honeycomb Knit Sweater Top S/M

From TheEvesLikeUs, $16.

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Chic White Linen Trouser Shorts, Small

From leolucaescobar, $45.

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Vintage Glam White Beaded Mesh Sunglasses

From epoca, $5.99.

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vintage peep toe WEDGE heels DEXTER 8

From secretlake, $34.

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40s White Crochet Dress

From splendidvintage, $52.

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The Nautical Peter Pan Dress, XL

From jessjamesjake, $40.

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vintage WHITE Open Toe HURACHE Sandals

From DearGoldenVintage, $34.

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blanche - 1980s white and tan leather purse

From damamima, $12.

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Eyelet white ruffle vintage dress

From lethilogica, $45.

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cream knit bamboo handle purse

From persephonevintage, $32.99.

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Vintage Sweet Prarie Spring Sundress

From adVintagous, $40.

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Truly Scrumptious. . . . .

From thevintagecloset, $20.

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White Pleated Knee Length Skirt Floaty Fabric

From stephaniegeisler, $21.

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The Veronica Lake Dress

From Thrush, $54.

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Vintage 70s Creme Brogue Lace Up Booties

From revivalhouse, $48.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

More Fashion Posts | Search for White Vintage Accessories | Search for White Vintage Clothing

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Handmade Weddings: It Takes a Village to Craft a Handmade Wedding

2009-05-14T16:19:00-05:00

Jimmy and I got married at our alma mater in Berkeley, California, in late January 2008. I cherish that day and the months leading up to it — not only because I got to marry my superstar sweetheart husband, but for a few other reasons as well. The first? Our wedding was an amazing and unforgettable collaboration of family and friends, which made it that much more special. Second, I really got to thinking that maybe the world of handmade could be the life — and a living — for me!

My last freelance gig as a web project manager ended in October 2007, and I spent the next three months plotting for what I came to see as the uber craft project challenge of a lifetime. Given free reign by Jimmy, I set out to DIY it all: from invites to thank you cards, bouquets to centerpieces, favors to photo booth...to wedding gown and veil!

Credit: Top Left: Jesse Leake Photography, Bottom Right: Nina Lao

Little did my then-fiance realize what this would mean for him: hours of paper punching, sticker adhering, flower assembling and other crafty tasks ahead. Soon I recruited even more unwitting victims — friends and family — to help along the way as well. No one was safe from crafty endeavors, for as I learned, it takes a village to craft a handmade wedding.

Credit: Bottom Right: Nina Lao

About 25 projects and minus ten pounds later (wedding planning is a great method for rapid weight loss), we had our very own DIY wedding! Bridesmaid Clara contributed the tastiest his-and-hers batches of homemade green tea (his) and double-chocolate (hers) cupcakes, topped with our initials.

Credit: Jesse Leake Photography

Big sister/matron-of-honor Christine and brother-in-law Don grew our delightful wheatgrass centerpieces, displayed in hand-stained wooden boxes and bringing bright happy splashes of green throughout our UC Berkeley Faculty Club venue.

Credit: Nina Lao

And the groom's family labored over intricately designed centerpieces made of orchids and bamboo. These were one of the main elements of our wedding day, chosen for their symbolism of longevity, strength and grace.

Credit: Jesse Leake Photography

Bridesmaid Jenn masterminded our slideshow, which she transformed from the traditional photo-by-photo setup and turned into a real deal stop-motion animation film!

Something that still comes up in conversation with friends is our homemade lip balm wedding favors. This was one of my favorite projects, as Jimmy and I each concocted our own recipes (mine was Hot Chocolate Mint and his was Cool Cucumber Melon) and gave each guest a packaged tube of creamy lip balm marked "Please ask about our free lifetime refills." (Make your own with this how-to!)

We couldn't do it without a photo booth, so we rigged our own setup with PVC pipes, some free software, a borrowed DSLR camera and a remote control. We loved how creative our guests got with this, and we came home with boatloads of memorable shots.

Credit: Left: Jesse Leake Photography, Right: Don McKee

Then there was the gown, which was by far the biggest and most stressful project. I sketched out a look based off an assortment of gowns from ripped-out magazine pages and online bridal sites, then found an out-of-print sewing pattern that somewhat resembled my design. I was having the hardest time fitting it on myself, so Mom came up from Los Angeles and made me a wacky replica of myself via a duct tape dressform. (Here's a how-to from the folks at Taunton publishers.) I spent an entire three months on my gown, veil and wrap, and ultimately considered it a relief and a success when nothing fell apart as I walked down the aisle or as Jimmy flung the veil from my face.

Credit: Nina Lao

Once we danced the Hustle for our first dance (which you can see a part of in this mini-commercial made by our dance instructors), we costume-changed into our traditional garb to round out the night: Jimmy in his traditional Filipino barong tagalog and me in my Taiwanese chi pao. Luckily Mom talked me out of making my own chi pao, and I found the perfect one online instead.

What are the lessons I learned from having a DIY wedding? One thing I'd say is that even if you CAN make it yourself, that doesn't mean you should! In retrospect, there were plenty of projects I probably should have outsourced or de-prioritized. I can't say I regretted any of them, but I probably could have saved myself a few moments of panic had I turned elsewhere — like all of the talented sellers on Etsy! — for them.

And two of the best pieces of advice I got? Not everything's going to turn out the way it's supposed to on your wedding day. When that happens, don't even think about it! This is just one day in a lifetime of days ahead...and no one else is going to notice anyway. Also, accept help from other people! Don't try to do everything on your own.

In the end, it was our perfect wedding. Handmade or not, we were together and surrounded by loving family and friends in a beautiful venue, and were even blessed with a bright sunny day in the heart of an otherwise rainy winter month. We couldn't have been happier. And that's our story!

Credit: Jesse Leake Photography

Further Resources:
Wedding Bee
Rebecca Thuss
Style Me Pretty
Martha Stewart Weddings
Absolutely Beautiful Things
Oh Joy!
Etsy Labs Dress Form Tutorial

Looking for more wedding content? Try these links:

Handmade Weddings | Weddings Category | Weddings Showcase | Curated Items for your Wedding

Thank You for Being a Friend, Bea Arthur

2009-04-27T11:30:00-05:00

Bea Arthur passed away this weekend at the age of 86. To those that know and love her, Bea's contributions to the world of television as democratic dynamo Maude Findlay and teacher-cum-Brooklynite Dorothy Zbornak will not soon be forgotten. This woman epitomized dolman sleeves, oversized tunics, pantsuits, and a fashion sense very directed by gold lamé. (Who else could pull off a mint green velvet suit, complete with bow tie?)

In short, Dorothy owned her style and her attitude. She stood up for a different kind of woman that conventional television audiences had never encountered. Her dry wit and zingers always left Golden Girls audiences laughing. Bea made aging seem not quite so scary for women, and her performances as Maude and Dorothy were groundbreaking and memorable.

Here's to you, Bea! Thank you for being a friend! Here are some of our favorite items inspired by Bea and the Golden Girls gang. See you on the lanai!

Pretty in Pink: Prom Dreams

2009-04-16T10:00:00-05:00

Ah, prom: What a memorable experience! When I think back to my senior prom, I'm reminded of the many sweet details that made it all come together. I had a dress custom made with a vintage pattern from the 1950s (tres Rita Hayworth!), vintage black satin gloves and blood-red lipstick. I was a Goth vision! (Did I mention I was as pale as fresh fallen snow? Yowza!)

If your prom is approaching (or any other formal event, for that matter), make sure to make it a night worth remembering with handmade and vintage details. Here are a few of my favorite pieces of jewelry, clothing and accessories to get you started.

BABYDOLL PARTY DRESS

By kelseygenna, $68.

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Mustard Tone Stitched Bow

By Dagworthy, $38.

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Raspberry Perfection Dress

By sarahseven, $495.

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Vintage Gunne Sax Black and White Ballgown with Neck Bow

By adVintagous, $130.

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Regency Earrings, Emerald

By laralewis, $29.

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Ms. Peacock

By eecouture, $50.

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Custom Lolita Dress

By rubypearl, $325.

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Dorothy's Red Ruby Slippers

By SweetLoveVintage, $34.

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Black Satin and Lace Cocktail Dress-Made to order

By decadentdesignz, $299.

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Cream And Hot Pink Flower With Cream Stretch Headband

By PbbFLowers, $12.95.

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zephyr

By whichgoose, $60.

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Oh! A few more tidbits of post-prom wisdom: Duck bowling just isn't quite the same if you're not wearing a ball gown. Also, make sure to visit the late night buffet for me!

Posts about Dresses | Prom Fashion Gift Guide | Search for Items Tagged "Prom" | Teen Posts

Survival Kit for a Springtime Adventure

2009-04-03T17:24:00-05:00

The beginning of spring always gets me itching for a nice long adventure, and for good reason! The pleasant weather has a knack for stirring up nostalgia. I'm missing that sense of exploration and the skinned knees from tree climbing that I came to know so well as a young'un.

It's time to come out of hibernation and hit the nearest park. Don't be afraid to veer off the beaten path — you know how Robert Frost would feel about that. I've gathered some handy essentials for your journey. Good luck!

Vintage Italian Straw Fedora Hat

From snowchild, $22.

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Vintage Binoculars

From AntiNu, $40.

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Who Wants to Be a Girl Scout Camping Gear

From madoniabotanicals, $10.

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tuesday morning - navigation compass necklace.

By ohhellofriend, $13.25.

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CU TEA deep moisturizer and natural sunscreen with cucumber peel and green tea extracts

By MeaCulpaBodyandBath, $6.

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1980s Anne Klein Sunglasses Turtle Effect

From mellowdayss, $24.

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Goodie Goodie Girl Scout Necklace

By kellyisnice, $38.

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Vtg Black Leather Lace-Up Hiking Granny Ankle Boots 9

From apocalypsevintage, $36.

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Scout Pack

By warsaw, $165.

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Pocket Travel

By monjojo, $15.

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Gardening and Horticulture Gifts | Spring Fashion Gift Guides

Read Thoreau's Walden with Us for the Etsy Book Club!

High End Etsy: Fiber Arts

2008-10-09T16:05:00-05:00

What does one gain from raising one's own alpacas? Bonnie Samuel aka bonniesamueldesign.etsy.com knows the value of homegrown fiber, the material she works with to create unique knit and woven pieces. "My knowledge of the nature and structure of natural fibers — from the impact of animal husbandry on quality production to the end product — gives me a unique understanding of certain fibers in design." But it's not just the intimate knowledge of raising animals — she has also trained in how to sort and grade her annual clip. "Working with natural fibers brings the beauty of nature's palette and textures to your work."

Bonnie approached Etsy's blog, the Storque, with her story and with those of other high-end fiber artists on Etsy. These artisans steep their fibers in their deep skill and knowledge, and their high-end items' price points reflect that. We invited them to explain what's behind the drape of a sumptuously woven shawl or the details of a painstakingly crocheted art necklace.

[Jesse James & John Brown, two of Bonnie's alpacas]

Etsy offers a grand opportunity to both emerging and established fiber artisans. Since its inception, Etsy has evolved through layers of quality each in turn attracting buyers at the emerging level.

Truly talented fiber artists – weavers, dyers, textile designers, skilled knitters, art quilters and those reviving traditional fiber crafts in new dimensions – are now establishing shops on Etsy. The traditional “art” market is out of reach for many artists because of costs to enter the market of galleries, agents and promotion, while Etsy, however, offers wide internet exposure for little cost. Indeed, this trend may be changing the way art is marketed and sold as Etsy increasingly becomes the place to find and purchase unique and finely crafted, high quality art pieces in many mediums.

We’ve chosen just a few fiber artisans of the many talented on Etsy to showcase here...

Hedda Vatter aka HeddaVatter, who lives in Rapina, Estonia, creates wearable beauty in crochet.

As a romantic, I love crocheting and lace. I learned to crochet in school when I was eight years old. My favorite materials are high quality cotton crochet thread, linen and worsted for the woolen lace.

I am inspired by Irish lace in all of its richness and beauty. I try to bring the elements of the old lace into modern day using the lace for accessories and jewelry. I also add beads to Irish lace which makes it even more gorgeous. I have added felt, Irish lace and mond stones to my jewelry – the result is an interesting contrast. Red mélange crocheted necklace (pictured above) is inspired by Irish lace. The cotton thread is hand dyed, making the necklace unique.

As I was studying in art school, textile was my favourite subject. After graduating, I studied three years of calligraphy and two years of decorating. I acquired my higher education in library science. Most of my life I have worked as an artist. The last three years I have worked as a self-employed entrepreneur/artist. I have sold my work in Finland, Sweden, Italy, Germany and in France. And of course, I have made handcrafts for myself, my three children and for my home.

Scarfguy on Etsy is Fred Ullom, who is an accomplished weaver from Ohio.

As a career mathematician and computer scientist, my initial interest in weaving was as a science. It is, after all, an exercise in applied binary mathematics. When you look closely, all cloth is "pixelated". Beginning as a diversion from the stress of a high-tech career, I soon discovered that creating something tangible with my hands was much more rewarding than the abstraction of creating lines of programming code. There is no greater enjoyment than to take an idea and turn it into something real: a piece of cloth, a scarf, a garment that stands on its own, and provides warmth, softness, and pleasure for its owner. Unlike most fiber "artists", who are artists first, my greatest struggle has been to allow my creativity to flourish. I retired early from the high-tech world and now weave full-time (although at a leisurely pace). I don't often take inspiration from my surrounding as many do.

[Scarfguy at the loom]

My structures are usually just mathematical "play" with twill progressions. My color combinations are usually spontaneously sparked by fondling through my yarn inventory. I have a passion for exotic natural fibers. I'm always searching for the finest Merino wools, cashmere, silk, yak, and the elusive arctic muskox (qiviut).

Artmixter is Marion Barnett’s shop on Etsy, which features imaginative fabric art.

I am Marion Barnett, a Scottish artist living and working in Norfolk, England. In creating my art quilts and other fiber works, I work predominantly with lutradur, a non woven polyester fabric that is versatile and easy to use. I even wrote a book about it, 'Lovely Lutradur', with Dijanne Cevaal. I have a passion for layers and texture; as lutradur is semi transparent, it is an ideal medium for such work. Most of my work has pattern and texture combined over several layers of cloth, with some areas of cloth cut back to show clearly what is lying underneath. Colour, too, is an essential part of my art; I dye or paint much of my own cloth, cottons, silks and lutradur, and use a wide range of paints to get the effects I want. It’s very rewarding when people are drawn to touch the work; textiles are a very tactile medium, and I encourages people to pat and stroke the cloth and the finished works.

Rebecca Burgess' fiber art and skills fulfill a mission. Her Etsy shop is ecologicalartist.

My work, my passion, lives within the relationship between restoration ecology and sustainable art materials. I seek to create art whose strength lies within its process: a process that is restorative for the native plants that I harvest for dyes, for the women ranchers I buy my wool from, and is, most importantly, restorative for me as the composer and creator. I use local natural resources in a manner that supports the thriving and regenerative cycles of those resources. The end product is equally important for me, in its quality, attention to detail, and how well it functions.

[ecologicalartist at work with some natural dying]

I envision a growing world of artisans and interested folks, making beautiful art from naturally dyed yarns and batts, and wearing naturally dyed organic clothes. As this happens, our culture will become both aesthetically and ecologically richer. While I enjoy the larger vision, I personally am restored by the feel of soft angora moving through my hands and onto the spinning wheel, or counting my warp threads in preparation for my loom. The value of having one more happy and restored person on the planet is an immeasurable gift in itself.

designbynihan is the Etsy shop of Nihan Altuntas, a very creative designer and handknitter from Istanbul, Turkey.

I’m Nihan Altuntas, a 27 year old Turkish woman, whose passion is creating and designing. I’ve been crafting since I was old enough to pick up a crayon. My favorite childhood toys were boxes, yarns, pieces of cloth and all kinds of paints… I should add that I’m thankful for the support of my family. When I converted my jeans into bags or painted my canvas shoes, they never said a word!

I majored in cinema studies with a minor in marketing. During college, I got back to knitting to relax and to express myself. I never liked pattern books or reproducing brand sweaters. I would design authentic knitwear by improvising with needles, sometimes not even knowing what the result would be. The appreciation and approval for all of that hard work is the basis of my motivation to improve myself in this field.

I’m inspired by almost everything, even a simple button. I can suddenly decide to knit a sweater suitable for that button. My favorite material is cashmere, but the most important thing is to be able to discover the perfect match of the yarn and the pattern.

“Design by Nihan’s” success on Etsy is a combination of my talent, marketing and business knowledge and my personality too. I try to bring customer preferences and original patterns together. All “Design by Nihan” customers have an opportunity to choose the color and material, since all of the products are always knitted according to the customers' measurements. Each item is totally unique to its owner.

Dottie Scher, aka ccdzs, whose excellent crochet skill reflects her heritage.

My mother was an old fashioned Southern Lady who taught me the age old art of handcrafts as we were growing up. I started knitting when I was five and needlepoint, embroidery, tatting, pottery, sewing soon followed. When I was 15 I found a book of crochet motifs and I was hooked, literally. I love the way the work flows and how quickly something can come together in my hands. This is an art that has been passed down through the generations of my family.

I work "during the day" as a Child Protective Services In Home Services/Foster Care Supervisor. My days are long and quite hectic. When I get home, after homework, supper, baths and smaller people's bedtime, I can sit down with a hook and thread and just shut out everything else. Crochet is my refuge, my special place where everything is simply the hook, the yarn or thread, the colors, the texture.

When I'm designing my own patterns, it's all about texture and counting stitches. The doilies are designed with their appearance from a distance in mind. So much of the design is not apparent unless you look at it from across a room or down a hallway. I love the symmetry and the geometrical design. I have been heavily influenced by Patricia Kristoffersen, a renowned crochet artist. Many of my framed pieces are based on her designs. But I also feel I learn from anyone's designs and thus can bring my own ideas to bear, such as my two nautical sunbursts.

Constance Rose aka constancerosedesigns

I have been a textile artist since the early 1970s. Prior to becoming a weaver, I was a custom clothing designer, silk painter, papermaker, beaded jewelry designer, knitter, crocheter and handspinner. I've had a lifelong interest in fabric and thread/yarn, so I've explored any number of ways to create them and work with them. I started college as an art major, then veered into and graduated in psychology. Making art, although my first love, was always something "else" to do; that is, until I retired, recently, from the work world as we know it to focus on my art. Although I've taken an art class here and there over the years, essentially I am self taught, propelling myself toward whatever felt like the next technique for me to learn.

I've always been inspired by nature, as well as art of other times and places — including the florescence of Art Nouveau and Victoriana, the stylized and repetitive geometrics of Art Deco and ancient Egyptian designs, Native American and ethnic tribal patterns, and the Arts & Crafts and Craftsman styles in functional and decorative arts and architecture. My recent work creating woven shibori has been a way for me to pull together all of these design genre.

My work today is about TEXTURE — the tactility of cloth and fiber surfaces, what textiles feel like in your hands, as well as visual texture, the orchestration of patterns and colors that your eyes see. My work is also about PATTERN — line, shape, form, and directionality inherent in the woven cloth or imprinted or dyed onto the fabric. And it is about COLOR — how color lays on or becomes part of the cloth, how colors interact together, the patterns that areas of color create on a piece. My textiles explore the fusion of these components on handwoven fiber structures. Most recently I have begun creating Art Cloth — non-wearable fabric, wall and space hangings — combining loom-controlled and handstitched shibori, and surface design techniques on handwoven fabrics.

Thanks to bonniesamueldesign for putting this post together! If you want to find more great fiber work, check out items tagged EtsyFAST team. You might also want to read more Storque posts tagged "Fiber".

Fresh Shops: vintagegreenpeas

2008-07-24T14:06:00-05:00

I consider myself extremely lucky to have both a son and a daughter. While there are plenty of differences, there is one that I wasn't expecting at all : people LOVE to buy clothes for girls. My son was born first and plenty of friends sent us gifts; we expected fewer gifts when my daughter was born. Um, no. People came out of the woodwork to buy her dresses, hair ribbons (despite her middle-aged man pate), skirts, and skin-care (ok, maybe not).

I must say that this extreme generosity was not guilt-free for us. There were lots of great clothes, but they were mostly only to be worn once. Sure, we gave away whatever we could, but there's still some waste.

I mentioned this phenomenon to Ashley and her eyes lit up: "I have the perfect shop for that!"

vintagegreenpeas, who opened up shop in May, makes adorable skirts and dresses from vintage pillowcases. It may only be worn once by your daughter, but it's had plenty of use before!

See more Fresh Shops and say hey to a new seller!

Handmade Kids Series | Special Kids Showcase | Baby Gift Guide | Children Gift Guide

Etsy Finds: Getting Suri Cruise's Look

2008-07-02T09:26:00-05:00

This week, gilbea and I collaborated on a special "Get the Look" piece: Suri Cruise! Undeniably one of the world's most well-dressed toddlers, the littlest Scientologist is already following in mom Katie Holmes' fashion footsteps. We've found a collection of Etsy Finds that allows anyone to achieve Suri's look for your own little one...

Get Suri Cruise's look!

I know all kids are really cute in any outfit, but, have you ever wondered how to dress your kid like a superstar? Well, here I bring you some items that the Cruise couple would surely buy for their cute daughter. Take a look!

Custom Boutique Dress Michael Kors Red Fabric GGC DBCB

This is such a beautiful little red dress, who could resist? By georgegabrielle, $69.99.

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ROCKER BABY ROCK ON TRENCH

Suri always looks like a little fashionista-in-training. This trench would look cute on both wee ones and grown-ups alike. By rockerbaby, $46.

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BABY LAYETTE Sweater, hat and booties

Classic pieces like this hand-knit double-breasted sweater by KnitKnacksOriginals are essential, $35.

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Cotton Byrdie Pinny Top Size 1T, 2T, or 3T

This top would make any toddler the style envy of her preschool class. By byrdieclothing, $29.

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Cream felt flower headband with pearl button

I love this simple & girly felt headband. By louandlee, $13.

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Peek-a-boo Dress -Laura Ashley -esque Roses

This tiny floral-printed dress is similar to ones we've seen on Miss Cruise. By RaeGun, $29.50.

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Red Robin - Cranberry Baby Booties

Adorable mary janes by pedrosprout, $25.

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Chambray summer dress - girls size 2T- 6

Sweet, yet classic summer dress. By foil, $22.

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The Penelope-baby booties

Suri always looks impeccable down to her shoes. These booties would match the other items in this Find perfectly. By AureliaandAnnalise, $16.

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Etsy Finds: Drawings of Girls With Balloons

2008-04-08T11:12:00-05:00

Hello, dear readers. Today's Etsy Find is all about drawings of girls and balloons, in a variety of combinations and permutations. Also, it is Buddha's birthday today. Happy birthday, Buddha!

Balloon Girl Print

Drawing of a girl with an animalhead shaped balloon. By LaurenMinco $15.

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Waiting

Print of a girl with a white balloon. By sarahjanestudios, $24.

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The story of the sleeping red balloon (blue)

Drawing of a girl with a red balloon, and a sort of birdcage-y torso. By Lilymoon, $13.

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Giclee Print - Untitled (two girls and bunny - watercolor)

Watercolor of two girls, a white balloon, and a bunny. By mimidoodles, $15.

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birthday love

Painting of a girl and a red balloon, wearing a little red hood, with a bear. By creativethursday, $35.

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Swing Girl Original

Drawing of a girl on a swing, with many balloons. By SoCalCustom, $45. (Really!)

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Parade

Drawing a of red(haired) girl with a ballon for a head. By MultiplePersonality, $18.

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We all float

Print of a girl with a red balloon for a head. By calobee, $17.

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Fly Away

Print of a girl lifting off the ground, presumably by balloons, and floating off. Yay! By carambatack shop, $18

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Etsy Finds: Ain't that America?

2008-01-30T09:29:00-05:00

Thanks to Pounce's new fangled ability to spotlight some of Etsy's undiscovered sellers, I stumbled upon a very talented Etsy photographer named Mary Haggerty, aka PhotoAmerica.

In her Etsy shop, you'll find a wonderful series of portraits that provide a window into the diversity and ecclecticism of American culture. From a beauty queen on Mule Day in Benson, NC, to a drive-in Spiderman in Poughkeepsie, NY, all of her work presents "slices of American Life" in a way that is completely modern, yet reminecent of Walker Evans and Robert Frank.

I am particuarily fond of Xesia and her Dog, a photo of a quintessentially American girl eagerly awaiting a quintessentially American St. Patricks Day Parade.

$95, 6.5" x 10" Archival Ink Jet print, signed limited edition of 50, from Haggerty's self-published book, American Journal.

Gift Ideas: Daughter, and Some for the Mother too

2007-11-27T07:41:00-05:00

Here are some wintery holiday gift ideas for that sweet little girl in your life (and a couple ideas for mom thrown in there too!).

Gift Ideas: Girlie lil Girls

2007-11-16T05:30:00-05:00

You feminists out there (myself included) may not want to overly gender-ify your young daughters with the types of gifts you give. But people, here's the thing: some of our lil girls want to be straight-up girlie. Tutus, unicorns, tea sets, fairies, and lots and lots of pink. This "phase" strikes at ages 4 to 7 especially. So we may as well embrace it.

Next "Gift Ideas" piece from me? Tomboys!