I Like to Ride My Bicycle

The weather is getting colder and so are my little hands! Well, HandbyHand has an adorable solution. She remakes woolen clothing into fingerless bicycling gloves with a hand embroidered bicycle tire on top. Because she uses used clothing, the sizes and colors may vary so you'll have to check out her shop and see what she's got!



Decorate your walls with bike art...or cloud art, or laundry art, or tree art...by Brenda Rose! Using reclaimed wood and plexiglass, Brenda Rose creates simple 3D deisngs in Portland, OR.

Are your Apples cold?

1. Then they might need an apple jacket! When I first saw these I was biting my knuckles trying to hold back cries of cuteness. I was also thinking, this is the most ridiculous useless thing I've ever seen, until I saw the description and saw that it was to prevent bruised apples....GENIUS! Made by Jacqueline Knits, they come in sizes for pears as well like the one above.
2. I'm not a huge fan of pachouli, nor nag champa, but I do love a good prayer flag. Especially psychadelic prayer flags for knitters. God knows we need those prayers when we run out of yarn on the last row. These prayer flags, by Flederhaus can be custom made in American Sign Language as well!

The Uterus as Art & Craft

Just for fun...here's a slideshow compiled of images I found of uterus arts and crafts from Flickr and Etsy. If I really had it together today I would be able to link them all to their respective craft sites...but I'm not quite there yet. So for now, just sit back and enjoy!

It's Pillow Mania Up in Here!

And by "up in here" I actually mean on my computer right now. I'm feeling pillow crazed at the moment and I'm searching for just the right pillow to adorn my backaching (but oh so cool and retro) couch! Here are the contenders. First, vying for the higher end but still affordable are those in the huge selection at Joom's Etsy Shop. Most of her pillows are bird/plant related and come in a wide variety of colors and mostly large but simple designs, my personal favorite being Love Birds(and ringing up at $28).
Coming in next for the midrange priced pillows, are those select few at Jamric, specializing in unique screen printed images and quad-like retro fabric sewn pillows like this one, The "Maharam Sputnik Star Patchwork Pillow" (ringing up at $25) may not actually match my chartreuse fuzzy couch but there are many others in Jamric's Etsy Store that will! And lastly, but not leastly, are the very few handsewn pillows from vintage fabric that Olive displays in her Etsy Shop window! These pillows are extremely affordable as they are sewn from found vintage fabric and ring up at only $11. Shipping for all shop items is only $4 make this $15 pillow cheaper than anything you would probably even find on sale at Urban Outfitters! I think I've found a winner!

Mutha Crafter

So you think you're not crafty? Mutha Crafter might think otherwise! Made by a mother for mothers...and babies....and fathers...and...well you get the idea. She specializes in a small handful of designs, highlighting the craftiness of motherhood, which she prints on onesies, tees, magnets, buttons, etc. It's the perfect gift for any mother-to-be or to-been! Also, check out her other online venture I Break Plates, filled with tons of jewelry re-made from broken ceramics...

DIY it right!

A few months ago I had the pleasure of being contacted by Heather Mann, editor of CROQ Zine, a publication about anything and everything craft! History of crafts, how-to craft projects, meet people who do crafts, and all other things do-it-yourself are included in each issue (now numbering 10). CROQ is also a great way to advertise your business with affordable advertising space available in each issue. CROQ can be purchased online or in various Portland, OR bookstores like In Other Words, Reading Frenzy, and Powells City of Books.

My Custom Mirror

After browsing around on Cut + Paste, for some bookish crafts yesterday, I stumbled upon a new favorite custom site, My Favorite Mirror. A few artists, in collaboration with My Favorite Mirror, sell their artwork on hand mirrors on Cut + Paste but a plethora more can be found on the actual website. With artwork from Jill Bliss, S. Britt, and Susie Ghahremani of boygirlparty, you are sure to find something you'll like. And not only do that have mirrors, but they have expanded to coasters and mousepads. You can search by item or by artists (of which there are more than 30!).

Mmm...Mmm...Feltalicious...

This weekend at the Handmade Bazaar, I got to meet two friends and prospective consignors for In Other Words. They each have shops on Etsy that sell fabric and yarn based arts. The first one, Mmmfiber, makes loads of creative scarves and maybe my favorite hair accessories of all time, felted birds nest bobby pins. Never Felt Better creates a potourri of buttons, earrings, and charms, as well as knit and sewn bags, and these adorable embroidered rose buttons. Hopefully you'll be able to catch both of them soon at the shop!

Plushapalooza

Meet Igor. If he doesn't melt your heart then you're probably a souless being devoid of human emotion. Igor is one of the many imaginary Friends that comes out of Zeldaloo Studios

That's right! Stuffed animals are not just for children anymore and many crafters out there are proving it. Another example of this is the creative cats that comes from Sew Many Cats, another handmade plush shop on Lov.li that was the mastermind behind Kanji the Ninja Cats. Check them out, whether your 5 years old nieces birthday is coming up or you just need a friend...

Survival of the Ceramics

I'm not usually a huge fan of ceramics. They kind of all look the same to me. But Circa Ceramics stand out like no other. Their designs are simple but the colors and images stand out. Their images seem to be the sort of thing that shows up on a lot of screenprinted t-shirts these days, but for ceramics it is something completely new. They have anything from simple polka dots and stripes, to elaborate floral patterns, vintage cameras, antique typewriters, bicycles, and skulls. Their prices can be sort of steep, to add one bowl or mug to your kitchen cabinet will cost from $30-$35 dollars. But if you just want to have a token or their craftsmanship, you can buy a decorative tag or magnet for only $8-$10. The work put into each item is definitely worth it.

Hopeful Monsters

I just discovered Hopeful Monsters
at the Etsy Portland craft fair over Rose Festival weekend. You can't throw a rock in Portland without hitting a screenprinter but Hopeful Monsters just has a little something extra. For one they've managed to creat a few specific images that are extremely eye catching, and they also print more than just tee's. Although, this Narwhal Love Tee is definitely tempting! This is one of their signature designs which can also be found on some ecclectic slips and dresses! My other fave has to be the Gingko Wallet which I finally gave in an purchased for myself. Check them out on Etsy!

How To

It occured to me today that after all this talk of "Etsy" shops and "Lov.li" shops, there may be someone out there who doesn't know what this means. So welcome to online Craft Selling 101.
Topic #1: Etsy-The Original
The best thing about Etsy? You don't need to know any html! And we all know how much it sucks to learn html. If you can navigate Blogger, you can have an Etsy store. Here's how it works: it costs nothing to sign up on Etsy and 20 cents to list an item for 4 months. Then, if and when the item sells, Etsy keeps 3.5% of the selling price. For example, to sell a $10 item, it would only cost you 55 cents. You are billed once a month and have about 2 weeks to pay your bill before they automatically charge your credit card.
To actually list items is easy as well. The whole process is just an online form where it asks you for things like a description, tags (words people can type in to search for your product), and a photo uploading form as well. And it get's better! Do you blog, myspace, friendster, or have a website? Etsy can generate a javascript or flash version of your shop that you can paste nearly ANYWHERE, making your shop uber accessible. Sounds great don't it?!

Topic #2: Lov.Li- Bringin' it Home
Lov.Li was recently started in Portland, OR by a local printer named Patrick. It runs pretty much like Etsy except it doesn't cost anything to list an item! Once an item sells, Lov.Li keeps 3.5% but you don't pay until your bill reaches $15.
What's also great about Lov.li is that you can post blogs, joins craft groups, have have "friends" kind of like social networking sites, making it great for diy networking! Also, because there are no listing fees, you can list items you've made that are not for sale but you want to show off.

Both of these sites run in conjunction with Paypal accounts, similar to Ebay. So get crafty and get selling!

You Cast a Spell on Me

I tend to not be a huge fan of handmade jewelry. I can really appreciate it, but personally I am more for the gawdy ridiculous colorful gold and plastic kind. However, KSpell may have changed my mind. And her jewelry is even more amazing in person although her Etsy shop is beautiful!
I am fortunate to have Kristin Spellman's jewelry for sale at In Other Words and to also see her again at the Lov.Li Fair on Sunday and trade for some great hair pins beaded with colorful green and red vintage metal and glass beads. Check out her shop!

Be There in PDX!

The Machine Stops Here.

Handmade clothing gone wild! Machine Machine is going to revolutionize women's clothing . The clutch belt. Dance dance without holding our clutch the whole time. Maybe it's only one step away from being a fanny pack but those could potentially come back right?

...okay...well, besides that, there are oodles of microcosmic mini skirts, mish mashed shifts, and actually clutches, (in case you aren't into the whole fanny pack thing).

In any case, even if the clothes aren't made to compliment real women's bodies, at least they make great eye candy...

Tiny Bebes

I just discovered Scissorstitch on Etsy and yesterday she brought some items into the shop to sell. And they are even more beautiful in person! She uses vintage and retro patterned fabric to created bibs, burp rag sets, tissue holders, and even skirts and scarves for mom! Her bibs are machine washable, but also wipe-able! The burp rags come in sets of two and are also completely washable. Her items range from about $10-$15 and make great new bebe gifts...

Boys Wanna Be Her

So I'm kind of straying from the formula on this one but found these products quite noteworthy. I'll start with the "handmade" ties from Cyberoptix TieLab on Etsy. I'm not quite sure how handmade they are but these silkscreened ties are beautiful and perfect for a hip spin on the traditional Father's Day gift. Most of the ties are $30.00 with a few as high as $50, so at least they're in the same price range as the Rush limbaugh Tie Collection at Gottschalks.

And now for those of you on the opposite side of the gender spectrum wanting something a little different, here's The Original Girl Tye. Girl Tye makes narrow ties specifically for women in a wide array of colors and small patterns. These ties range from about $12-$18 making them extremely affordable.

Craft Out.

Today I had a great craft out with my friend Rushie so I thought it would be the perfect day to plus her new Etsy shop. Especially since she just jumped on the Etsy bandwagon. Rushie and Sarah can prestty much take any ole thang and make it the most amaznig thang you've ever had. So here is is:

mullet love

And I think I have room for one more plug: daisy ink
mandy takes all sorts of random images and papers she finds and creates 3D diorama's which she then photographs from different angles and turns in to prints. GENIUS!Portland ladies know how to get the craft out...

Doo-Dads & Ricka-Racka

A couple weeks ago, while my friend Bryn and I were out on a craft field trip, we discovered this amazing store on NE 75th & Glisan called the Knittn Kitten. The Knittn Kitten is, get this, a thrift craft store! Now I was expecting to have my work cut out for me, much like going to the Goodwill Bins, but I was so amazed that the shop was so organized! There was a section for everything under the sun, fabrics, lace, ribbon, buttons, embroidery supplies, earring backs, everything. The place is run by this adorable woman who is so devoted to crafting and supporting local crafters! If you're having a craft sale, I highly urge you to go by their shop and leave them flyers, they would be happy to oblige. I know 78th is a little bit on the verge of no-mans-land, but I can guarantee you, the Knittn Kitten is well worth the trip!

Super Crafty to the Rescue!

Portland may not have it's own craft mafia but these ladies come veddy close! PDX Super Crafty is made up of 4 crafty ladies who have helped revolutionize the craft & diy culture of portland. They each have thier own online business of handmade wares and also sell their goodies in many stores around town. They have published their own crafty book called "Super Crafty" and Crafty Wonderland, their monthly craft fair in the basement of the Doug Fir Lounge is now nearly into it's second year and has been listed as a must attend event in Spin magazine.

Meet the Extended Family

You've met the Austin Craft Mafia, now meet the extended family. Craft mafia was started by the ladies of the Austin Craft Mafia. Find the craft mafia in your city or start one of your own!

Austin DC Houston Detroit Round Rock Lafayette, IN Philadelphia St. Paul Omaha Anchorage Boston Grand Rapids Toronto Baltimore Sacramento Glasgow, UK

Chicago Denton Louisville Richmond Fort Lauderdale Vancouver Pittsburgh San Antonio Kansas City, MO Seattle Albuquerque Charlottesville, VA Pleasanton Leeds, UK Tulsa Lubbock, TX

Cincinnati New Orleans San Francisco Atlanta St. Louis Dallas San Diego Minneapolis Nashville New York City Wilmington San Jose Charlotte, NC Burlington Hollywood, FL Knoxville

In Other Words

I have the great fortune of being a volunteer at In Other Words Women's Books & Resources, a nonprofit feminist bookstore here in Portland. I get to find local crafty ladies to sell their wares at the store on consignment. I'm really excited because we got some new vendors last night including Superpheobe from Lov.li whom I highlighted in the last post. She brought in some kitten library cards as well as her new adorable Robot Library Cards and some of her hand screen printed felt pins. Also we have a couple of new Tit Totes on sale now!
And now for my new favorite: Mimi & Ginger, or rather Andrea Wyckoff who makes an amazing array of affordable vinyl pouches and wallets. She also has them for sale inside of Frock, a great handmade/vintage boutique which just moved into it's new location on 14th and NE Alberta Street in Portland.