Scoutie Girl

refind (and refined) handbags

this lady is going places! she deconstructs, cleans and restores discarded leather apparel and upholstery and recycles it into these flat-out gorgeous handbags! every item is completely unique. concerned about the disposable mentality of our current culture, she found a way to reduce waste and beautify the world at the same time. a wide variety of styles and leathers, including a kids' "WOOF" pack that's absolutely adorable. i hope she'll be able to keep up with the demand...these are certain to sellout fast. you can even send her your own old leather coat/garment, and she'll refashion it into a stunning new handbag for you! Indie Designer: Anita Hopper

$185-250 from refind originals

edesse journals & notebooks

i rec'd a nice note from this designer about her journals and notebooks. i've seen her work around the blogosphere before, mainly for her hip tables shaped like eggs and puzzle pieces. i wondered how much of it she actually did on her own - so i asked her. turns out her father was a furniture maker, and she grew up cutting, assembling, painting and staining - and she's quite adept at making all her designs with her own hands. for the notebooks pictured here, she starts with her own photography, decides on an image and goes from there with the assemblage of each book. i'm very, very impressed with these! so sleek, original and refreshing - they definitely say, "use me!" (i don't like notebooks that look like they're just for show - and these are not!) notebooks come in small, med and large with blank, unlined pages - but you can swap out lined pages for a tiny fee. laminated for durability. lots of other lovely journals and dayplanners, too. Indie Designer: Erica Walker

$6-10 from edesse designs

solidio belt buckles

here, nature's bounty and sleek design bring forth unmatched elegance and simple distinction. these gorgeous buckles are created from stainless steel and various woods found in western PA (hooray for pennsylvania!), including walnut and silver maple. knots in the wood are an added bonus in some of the final pieces b/c they are filled with turquoise. inspired by their reverence for nature, this couple switched gears amidst their successful careers to find something they could do that was less-throwaway and more-back-to-basics. i'm glad they jumped in with both feet b/c it really shows! buckles come in small and large sizes, fitting belts that are 1-1/2" to 1-3/4" respectively. (you can add a belt to you order as well.) Indie Designers: Julie Graf and Mitch Richardson

$50-90 from solidio

birthday loot

my birthday was dec. 23rd, and i was one lucky chica this year! seems a blog about fabulous handmade goods is akin to a grade-A, spit-polished birthday list...not bad! these are items or designers i've featured previously, and i am so happy to be their proud owner now.

wool felt and fabric rings from greigh's layne. just what i need to keep my fingers warm on this frigid morning! the handstitched needle work is unbelievable. to see creativity and perfection take such a tiny, tiny form is very inspiring! see original post here.


etched and oxidized silver necklace from please bloom. the detail is striking. i love this design my husband picked b/c it reminds me of my family: papa bear, mama bear and baby bear (who is now 10!). and i love being reminded of the "circles of life." good stuff. see original post here.


glazed stoneware from liz kinder. my photos don't do her work justice, but - trust me - they are lovely. the strokes and palette are bold but harmonious. a signature style for me. my MIL was kind enough to peruse Scoutie Girl to find my post about liz's work, and she purchased these bowls at redelephantgallery.com. what a score, if truth be told - thank you riva!


letterpressed thank you cards from deluce design at modishoppe. i purchased these myself in anticipation of sending out a few once my bday and the holidays had passed (glad i didn't jinx myself). first letterpressed item i've ever owned - i don't know if i'll be able to go back to the land of lasers! see original post here.