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.