1. hi there giraffe onesie from harrilu, $20
2. doggie love long-sleever from makrista baby, $22
3. bad apple tee from mighty politey, $20
4. big wheel fabric applique onesie from wonder threads, $38
5. may you always have balance tee from evoke baby, $22
6. organic animal burst tee from red prairie press, $20
coasters, handbags, t-shirts, belts, pillows, onesies, headbands - these are just some of the items that emerge from this artist's silkscreened designs. her graphics are fresh and simple, and her spectacular sewing skills bring each item into being (not sure about the tees). she strives to create everyday, functional items that are comfortable and beautiful. i think she's hit her mark b/c there's not an item here I wouldn't use - very appealing style! found via poppytalk Indie Designer: Meghan Burch
$23-62 from kaybu
1. men's football watch from refinding, $55
2. keyboard magnet set from acorn studios, $9.95
3. crocheted plastic bag purse from cara taylor, $60
4. vintage kook-whoo necklace from buzz jewelry, $26
5. discarded printer paper notebook from subu, $6
6. rebar fireplace screen from one eighty design, $250
** everyday is earth day **
i think if i donned one of these lovelies, i would never take it off! made from soft jersey fabric that always drapes so flatteringly and rarely ever wrinkles. and get this, it's reversible - each skirt has a solid color you can flip to - a two-fer! bottom edge is serged to create a really sweet ruffle. these sister designers also make amazing messenger and diaper bags (what they're known for). Indie Designers: Mary and Tracy Kruger
$95 from pear
1. spring in a can from dandee designs, $10
2. mushroom pincushion from cathy of california, $30
3. pocket placemats (2) from greener grass, $15
4. wrap-around pants from fatita fa, $99
5. coffee-sack tote bag from sidney ann, $60
6. bangle bracelet from dose of creativity, $15
recently, i've rec'd a spate of the most kind & generous emails from fellow artists and designers with compliments for Scoutie Girl (thank you!) and introductions to their work. this designer would be one of them, and given today's chilly weather in southeastern PA - i definitely think her knitwear is appropriate to post. an accomplished fiber artist, she creates luxurious shawls, cowls, scarves, fingerless gloves, and lots more in various snuggly soft yarns. her use of pattern by color and texture is outstanding. she'll customize, too - many rich colors and yarns from which to choose. thanks for your note! Indie Designer: Elena Rosenberg
$45-160 from tickled pink knits
1. set of 10 blank cards from oh man creations, $8
2. porcelain mug set from Jessica Rust Designs, $45
3. fitted, silkscreened tee from ahpeele, $28
4. "Pale Earth" print from Julie Beck, $24
5. chiyogami candle set from gamiworks, $15
6. glass & wire necklace from photoglassworks, $25
1. vintage-fabric skirt from glamspoon, $34
2. button ring from crazy dreams studio, $24
3. recycled barnwood birdhouse from poppy's birdhouses, $19.99
4. custom fabric from daisy janie, $17
5. mini art quilt from liz plummer, $30
6. collage paper magnet from milkshake crafts, $6
let's not mince words: i'm a t-shirt girl. i've been slowly converting my plain t-shirt stash to designs like these, which feature works of art in graphic design. here, subtle prints that run underneath the main design give dimension, and special inks (like gold) popped in here and there give them a little sump'n-sump'n (aka: interest). you might even find a bit of random decorative stitching on a collar or sleeve. all designs are original hand-drawn artwork! men's apparel is available as well. t-shirts range in sizes, styles and colors...check 'em out. Indie Designer: Sam Trout
$25-40 from sam trout
denim jeans funked up with some fabric collage art. the jeans are yours (so the fit will be perfecto), but the designs are pre-determined by the designer. she mixes and matches her collections, and all are really spectacular! love the bold, punchy statement and the utter originality of the concept. dress them up or dress them down. turnaround time is about 2 weeks from the time she receives your jeans. also available: kids' denim, pretty aprons, skinny scarves, and DIY kits for making kids' shaggy mosaic jeans. Designer: Megan
$160 from creative outlet designs
if you need to have your digits accessible so you can dial, dig for change or drum a tune, these mittens are calling to you (get it: dialing~calling - not so lame, eh?). they are constructed in an ever-so-intentionally ecological way: discarded & salvaged cashmere sweaters are dismantled and refashioned into these functional and tres comfortable mittens. you can tuck your fingers into a hidden pocket for complete coverage. unisex, reversible two-tone, various sizes. they make hats (soooooo many hats!), scarves, cuffs & collars, and select women's and men's clothing. get them while you can - they go faster than you can say, "recycling rocks!" Designers: Charlie and Kathleen Tesnakis
$76 from 'e ko logic
sorry to all the year-round-warm-weatherites out there, i'm shivering my bleeping buns off in the northeast and a snuggly scarf is a must! found these from a note i rec'd about marmalade pink, an online coop of women-owned businesses. individually created from luxurious velvet, every single one will go well with casual or dressy outer wear...how cool (warm) is that?! some are pieced from many different colored solids, some are burnout velvet with a flocked feel...all are soft and cozy. many other pretty, one-of-a-kind sewn goods to see. Designer: Debra Janin
$52-79 from flying needle gallery
there's a little nip in the air in PA, and the first real winter chill is days away. one of these hats would be just the thing! they start with individually crocheted tops in patterns ranging from pageboy to hipster to military-style - then add a funky brim constructed from a salvaged sweater. nice selection of colors (two-tone and mono-tone), and a few choice embellishments here and there. these ladies also feature well-done reconstructed shawls, jackets, sweaters, t-shirts and more. Designers: Jen Neitzel & Kim State
$38-42 from knot ugly designs
i would hope that even if i didn't sew, i would be just as bowled over by the simple beauty found in these tops. asymmetrical lines, incredible patternmaking and meticulously serged seams produce a flattering flow and fabulous femininity. all of her designs are **custom-fitted** so you {might} look as good as she does! most fabrics are quality cotton/lycra. she also has pants, skirts and accessories. don't spend too much!!
$55-60 from treehouse28 at etsy
this is a bit off the beaten path for me, but i really like the concept and follow-thru on this blog and thought you might, too. three ways to wear vintage is a new blog that does just what the name says: styles 1 piece of clothing 3 different ways...almost like merchandising a store display. you can see from the images above that she mixes it up pretty well, too - so you're sure to find a style idea that fits for you. it's really a great reference for out-of-the-box, quick fashion in general. she sells the featured vintage clothing on her ebay store for about $10 in most cases. shirts, skirts, shoes, dresses...have fun!
$5-10 from beautoria vintage
as Johnny Carson would say, "that's wild, wacky stuff." inspired by all-things odd, this artist creates hand-drawn images and uses heat transfers to add them to cool cotton t-shirts (mostly from Target) - all done with the help of her iron, Ron, and her other friends, Scissor Sr. and Scissor Jr. her website is as well-done and entertaining as her imaginative artwork! other mentionables: site also features jewelry, handbags and one-of-a-kind pieces. Designer: Lala Liu
$15 from lalaliu designs
depends how little you want to go b/c this indie sleepwear designer has some teeny-tinies in addition to the pieces pictured here - all are very tasteful. designed to be beautiful and feminine, pieces are cut with a very flattering line and feature natural fibers like cotton, silk and wool (some lycra in there for shape). straps are adjustable; most camisoles are open-back (very cute). thoughtful details and a lot of variety! site also features lounge pants, camis, chemises, robes, and panties. Designer: Amanda Buchanan
$28-60 from sandmaiden
summer is almost over on the east coast, but this website is still very worthy of a post...just think of it as being super-proactive for next Spring. they are "all skirts, all the time" with a-lines, full-circles, knee-length...you name it. pretty, pretty lines - which make for an extremely flattering style on most body-types. made from 100%, machine-washable cotton in solids, florals, geometrics. winter styles are available. zippers and elastic waistbands are options as well. all designed and produced in the U.S., like all of the items featured on SG. Designer: Craig Cochrane
$46 from skirt spot
when two-piece bathing suits began showing up in stores on separate hangers, you might have heard me cheering from a mile away! there's not a woman i know who fits "just-so" into a bikini where both pieces are the same size! so when i rec'd an email from the owner/designer of Harajuku about her individually handmade suits, i let out another hoorah and threw in a cartwheel. there are sooooo many options from fabrics (over 70 print and solid) to styles (more than 50 tops and bottoms). i work like crazy to keep my 37-year-old bones in shape, so I will be treating myself this evening! i'll post again to let you know the details. prices are very reasonable. (the back streets of Harajuku in Tokyo is known for being a center of Japanese fashion for younger people.) Designer: JoEllen Stooks
$32-56/piece from harajukuswimwear.com
an assemblage of 5 different vintage tablecloths creates these playful, summery skirts. pieces are cut on the bias for a flattering fit. they have a drawstring waist and are super-lightweight. sizes are s/m (fits sizes 4-8). due to the materials used, no two are alike...if you like originality, these are just for you! other mentionables: very cute halter tops and dresses. Designer: Beth Nielsen
$136 from ekochic.com
simple design and no batteries required = totally cool & imaginative idea for kids! after all, they are our true every day heroes! 100% cotton t-shirts with screen-printed emblem & belt, and a detachable cape. no association with any particular cartoon or show, which is great for out-of-the-box creative play...no connotation of violence either! hip-hip-hooray for that!!! let your kids shine. long-sleeve or short-sleeve styles. thank you to my good friend Kristie at Kind Living Designs for this tip! Designers: Jossamber Shapiro and Jessica Wise
$32-35 from littlecapers.com
have you grown out of the baseball-hat phase for your bad hair days? i know i have. these adorable pageboy hats are created from recycled cashmere sweaters! how awesome. saturday morning coffee at your local, outdoor cafe or an evening little league game that goes a little late...perfect venues for this hat! available in adult, toddler and infant sizes. Designer: Faith
$23-39.50 from tillyjane.net
i rec'd information recently about a grassroots fundraiser taking place for fellow indie designer/event organizer/all-around-indie guru, alison gordon. alison had to undergo emergency surgery recently and is without health insurance to foot the bill. some of her indie designer friends put together a shop of incredible handmade items - ALL donated - in the hopes of raising some money to ease alison's financial burden. there's a lovely assortment of jewelry, accessories, stationery, clothing and artwork. so check out the wares, buy something fun and help out in the process!!
you go girl! old t-shirts are dyed, ripped, cut, printed, patched and stitched with an artful & stylish authority. in this example, a vintage doilie is silkscreened back to life. the cut is form-fitting with a princess waist (yay for length!) and capped sleeves. she also re-works sweaters into felted scarves, swackets (her word), hats and vests...very attractive and creative. it's still cold enough here in PA that i might place an order for some of her patchwork woolens! Designer: Vanessa F.
$75 from moira & obbie
a cute, tailored tank top with a flattering cut that ties in the back - yeeha! hex signs abound where i live, which is why i fell in love with these tanks - one is very reminiscent of the other. inspired by polish folk art, each top is lovingly made from scratch by one designer. from developing the artwork to dying fabric to making the screens to printing the fabric to grading the patterns to cutting and - finally - sewing! if that's not enough, she has a smorgasbord of other fun & sassy tops and skirts. they really are something else - must see! Designer: Hannah Kopacz
$42 from madewithlovebyhannah.com
if you're in tune with the indie design world and you've been waiting with bated breath for this announcement, well, wait no more...the modishoppe is officially open for business!! jena {blogger supreme at modish} sent a note today with the wonderful news, and i'm happy to pass it along! modish has become a trusted resource in the land of indie design b/c jena brings an immense amount of enthusiasm, knowledge and devotion to the indie designers she writes about. it looks as though that will be equally true with her modishoppe...lucky designers! so go check it out. all the groups are well-repped: accessories, apparel, bags, home goods, jewelry and paper goods. little bit vintage, little bit bohemian...all handmade and hip. use code "conrgats44" until 4/11 to get free shipping on orders over $75. way to go, jena!!
from modishoppe
it's never too early to teach your kids how to be and what to strive for. if they have these traits down, they're destined to be good, happy humans. plus, when you have to look at your sweetums all day in one of these t-shirts, it's a good refresher in what IT is all about. these screenprinted designs are heat-pressed one-by-one. onesies and gift sets available, too. member-1% for the planet. found these thought-provoking t-shirts on classy mommy today. Designers: Julie & Mark Kramer
$21 from evokebaby.com
scoutie girl works out year-round, regardless of temp or wind-chill. this hat with a ponytail hole is just the thing...the revolutionary design will keep your head warm and your hair in check. no velcro or buttons. technical moisture-control fabric. patent-pending! available in a variety of colors and fabric weights. march is still in like a lion in PA...
$20-24 from poneactivewear.com
g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! look at that line. beautiful. and there are no seams! i cannot be effusive enough here...scoutie girl is in love. hand-dyed, hand-felted jacket made from 100% falkland wool, which is soft enough to be worn next to the skin. all sizes, many colors and many styles, including shrugs, boleros, and the most amazing dresses. made to order. if you know what goes into felted wool, you will really appreciate this art. Designer: Horst
$140 from there-she-goes.com
ah, the flattering a-line dress. nice to see, isn't it? spring has not yet sprung, but this dress will span more than one season if paired with the right shoe. bodice/skirt are hand-appliqued and embroidered in a vine-leaf pattern. limited edition, preshrunk, colorfast. other equally lovely dresses available. Designer: aelisheva
$100 from funkyutopia.com
lightweight, feminine sweater wrap can go from school drop-off straight through to girls' night out. longer body if you're not into the crop scene (yay!). soft polyrayon/spandex mix. designer specializes in yoga clothing. Designers: Kimberly Wilson & Norissa Giangola
$72 from tranquilitboutique.com
hand-crocheted scarflette in soft wool/acrylic blend. warmth without the bulk of a wrapped & knotted scarf. turquoise and gray available, too. vintage button will vary. get one before scoutie girl's sister buys them all! Designer: Georgia Hadley
$22 from augustlately.com
sibi totique literally means for oneself and for others. these t-shirts stand up to that and make a statement in more ways than one. revenue generated will make a direct impact on the life of an individual with physical challenges by donating a handcycle or racing chair to him/her. scoutie girl loves this website! Designer: Matt DiCintio
$13-25 from sibitotique.com
and scoutie girl loves PA right back! babydoll-ringer-tee in yellow cotton. fun website...and, yes, other states are available!
$15 from mr. pickles
