Charlyn Koo

Dorothy Teng and Mono Koo formed the Charlyn Koo design studio. The pair spends their days dreaming up new ideas to make ordinary goods luxuriously fresh & stylish, while creating new twists on tradition. The glitzy & golden floral notecards are beautiful, while the autumn after rain collection is stunningly unique. The birthday card collection is very diverse in design, and I love their take on holiday cards. You can also have custom designed invitations & stationery designed.

Christen Noelle

The handbags by Christen Noelle are unique, funky & fabulous. These bags are handcrafted using various old ties & other embellishments. I love the pink & black tie purse, as well as the large ringed tie purse. Check back for added designs in the future.

Egg Press

Egg Press has lovely, spring-like letterpress cards available for Mother's Day which is right around the corner (May 13). Any mother would be thrilled to receive the beautiful geranium border card. You will also find adorable children's apparel, such as the classic monkey tees & onsies. And don't miss the Let's Stitch Frank kit or the fabulous Pearl paper doll prints. Hilarious! Egg Press has beautifully designed cards for all occassions. Have a looksie.

Note the Spring Special! Get one free letterpress card of Egg Press' choosing with purchase of any Egg Press Favorite Card Collection! Limit one free card per customer. Offer ends May 3.

Tiddlywinks

Besides having a fabulous name, Tiddlywinks also has lots of fabulous toys and other goodies to choose from. I love the fact that the toys are created based on drawings by the designer's children. The Scully blanket bundle is perfect the little rebel in your life. I also love Bess and Estelle - such sweet faces! And I want the monkey bundle for myself. Have a look at all the wonderful creations Tiddlywinks has to offer. You'll have a hard time choosing which ones you want!

Babu

I've never been pregnant, but if I were I would have to have several (if not all) of the funky maternity tees by Babu. The Boom tee is appropriate for the expecting mother with a very active baby. And the cheeky bun in the oven tee is too much fun! Whether you are pregnant or not, the sparkly butterfly tank top and the handpainted butterfly sandals are divine.

Naughty Secretary Club

In honor of Administrative Assistants' Week, Naughty Secretary Club is having a 25% off sale! This shop stocks curios, 4X6 baggies that are a random assortment of crafty goodness. In these bags you might find fun surprises such as single earrings, beads, brooches, charms, flowers, rhinestones and more. There's a wide variety of colors for you to choose from all the way from white to red. Check it out!

Mere Ornament

I recently discovered Mere Ornament, an Etsy shop full of lovely hand-knit clutch purses. The purses are not only beautiful, but the price is a steal. I especially love the red fancy clutch with green embellishments.

Photojojo

I've posted about Photojojo before, but wanted to share their latest cool item, custom-made photo bags. You simply choose a style of bag, upload your photo(s), customize your bag, and wait for your bag to arrive. These will make fabulous Mother's Day gifts, but order quickly. Deadline for Mother's Day delivery is May 1st (via express mail). Check out all the cool products while you're there.

BananaSaurus Rex

Rebecca Thoms Hanley, the creative face behind BananaSaurus Rex, says her shop "features astonishingly beautiful things for post-modern bohemian Mamas & retro-stylish Babies." Doesn't that sound intriguing? Rebecca's items are handmade using amazing vintage, recycled & other rescued materials. The beautiful lavendar sachets are made using vintage hankerchiefs. These will make wonderful Mother's Day gifts! You will also find unique baby bibs that have been created using vintage table cloths. What a wonderful way to recycle! And don't miss the lovely vintage hanky blankies either.

Paper Cloud

Paper Cloud is full of handmade products that are made using various techniques including sewing, printing, painting & cutting. The beautiful pillows are perfect for livening up your space this spring. I especially love the Dandefluffs. You'll find several great journals with similar designs that are hand printed on linen covers. And you definitely do not want to miss the various pieces of artwork that are also printed hand printed on linen.

purplepinkandorange.com

Amy of purplepinkandorange.com recently announced that she will be closing her fabulous shop at the end of May. The products on this site are handmade by various artists & are one of a kind or a part of a small run. The fortune cookie key ring is very cool, as is the Pac Man cuff. There's lots of unique handbags to choose from, my favorite being the squirrel messenger bag. In the home decor section you will find lots of unique items that will make wonderful gifts for a wide array of people. Have a look at the Mother's Day section for more great gift ideas, too. Take advantage of this fabulous sale that won't last long.

Jedidiah's Novelties

Sarah Moyar, the creative force behind Jedidiah's Novelties, recently opened a divine Etsy shop. Dress your child in Sarah's original designs & they will look fabulous. The Dotty Daisy tee will make any little girl smile. For the grown-ups there's the stylish Wings tee. And I love the Gone Fishin boys tee perfect for any fisherman. Sarah also creates the most adorable aprons, as well as other goodies you can find on her website.

Art Post

Etsy is a great resource for finding original artwork that is affordable & available to everyone. The collages at Swallowfield are beautiful, especially the colorful square-ish piece done on a 12" piece of wood. Debbie Egizio of U-Neek also has several intriguing prints to choose from, such as Gentle Soul. If you're looking for artwork that has a whimsical feel, take a look at Print Maker Jenn's work. The mod piece The Bachelor Pad would liven up anyone's space! Creative Thursday is also full of many excellent paintings. Txbluyys is a great resource for wonderful photography works. And the eerie yet appealling artwork by Art and Ghosts is that which is hard to turn away from.

Give Simple

Give Simple has some of the best Mother's Day gift ideas I have seen. The Mom tees are fabulous! I love the Peace Love Mom design, as well as Lucky Mom tee. Other items I am especially fond of include the charming expressions necklaces, the French Bull tableware, and all the gorgeous pajamas. Take some time to look around as Give Simple has gifts for just about everyone & every occassion.

Lucy's Sister

Marissa Spada grew up during the 70s when everyone had funky belts that completed their ensembles. She decided to design a line of belt buckles with interchangeable belt straps that would be a throw back to those days. She launched Lucy's Sister in 2005 & began selling her line of accessories that have a vintage rock and roll vibe, while at the same time are distinctly girly, modern, and fun. You can promote love & peace while wearing the Sienna buckle, or make people smile with the adorable Happy buckle. Mushrooms are hot right now, so snatch up a Summer of 1972 buckle while you're at it. These will look fabulous with the funky hippy straps or Rambling Rose strap which reminds me of the "Jessica" belt I sported as a child. Check out all the awesome straps that Marissa has assembled in her shop. You won't be disappointed!

Relaxation Works Skin & Spa Co.

Kristen Tammaro is a massage therapist & owner/creator of Relaxation Works Skin & Spa Co. Kristen makes bath & body products such as whipped shea butter, solid lotions and body scrubs which she sells through Etsy. I am very intrigued by the New Zealand hibiscus body sorbet scrub. It looks good enough to eat! The moonlight tiki party skin cream sounds heavenly, as well. Custom spa baskets are also available & would make wonderful Mother's Day gifts. Check out Kristen's website for news & specials.

Ference|Kämmer

Leigh Ference-Kämmer, the artist behind Ference|Kämmer, is an American handbag designer currently residing in Germany. All the bags & accessories featured on Leigh's site are her own designs that she created using graphic design programs, such as Adobe Illustrator. The Angela pleated wristlet is a fresh piece that would complete any stylish spring ensemble. I am over the moon for the polka dot Sara shoulder bag...isn't it adorable? The versatile Deborah tote is perfect for your summer beach jaunts or for toting around lots of baby gear. Keep in mind that each bag shown on the site is a one-of-a-kind. If you see a style and/or fabric you like, but it is marked as sold, let Leigh know & she will try to create a bag just for you!

Future Girl

I'm sure that many of you read the Future Girl blog written by Alice. If you don't, you should! Alice is now selling the pattern to her fabulous "Octophrost" stuffie that she featured on her blog a few months ago. I'm assuming that she received so much positive feedback about her creation that it prompted her to sell this pattern. Alice also creates the most beautiful handbags that she sells through her Etsy shop. She has showcased many of the custom designs she has created at customers' requests on her blog & they are stunning.

Sandra Eileen - Artisan Jewelry

In reading Sandra Eileen's profile, you can immediately see that she puts her heart & soul into each piece that she creates. Sandra's artisan jewelry is stunning. The sweet pomegranate vixen necklace is sure to cause passer-bys to stop & glance twice. The Freida earrings are beautiful, delicate pieces. I am also loving the All the Way necklace. Have a look at all the gorgeous handcrafted pieces by Sandra Eileen.

Novica

Novica is an organization associated with National Geographic that gives artists around the world a place to express their artistic talents. There are artists from all regions of the world who work in a multitude of mediums. Here you will find everything from handbags to paintings. Novica has also assembled the largest online collection of jewelry from artisans all over the world. I especially like the variety of rings, especially the unique cluster style pieces. There's also a helpful Mother's Day gift section which will enable you to choose something unique for the special women in your lives. And if you're looking for something from a specific region, they have set up page which makes navigation very easy. Have a look at all the fabulous items Novica has assembled together.

Wonderland Retreat

Wonderland Retreat is an Etsy shop that has been started by the friends of Alison Gordon who is facing bills for an uninsured hospital stay. Alison runs her own shop, Wonderland Q, and she is also co-organizer of Bazaar Bizarre & works on the Sampler. If you are a crafter who would like to contribute some of your work, please contact Renee Garner at wonderlandretreat@gmail.com for more information. To make a monetary donation of any size, please send via paypal to info@auroraseven.com.

Meowgu Cake Shop and Accessories

Are you looking for appetizing treats without all the calories? If so, Meowgu Cake Shop and Accessories is the shop for you. All of the fimo treats look delightful. I love the bobby pins which feature various treats such as mini flavored cakes and kisses. The vanilla strawberry shortcake brooch looks good enough to eat, as does the mint cake with chocolate icing. Yummy!

Messy Fish

A while back, my blog buddy Susan posted about Messy Fish, a shop that is full of unique softies. These characters, created by Paola Fiorentini, are all lively & entertaining in their bright colorful prints. Don't miss the interesting portraits either (click on MF or BB)!

Jenni Bowlin Studio

I love scrapbooking, ephemera & paper goods. So I was thrilled when I discovered Jenny Bowlin's Studio featuring lots of great supplies for crafters. The black and red label stickers have a vintage feel that makes them very appealing to me. I also love the black line papers & these adorable scalloped chipboard frames. Jenni also puts together monthly scrapbooking kits, as well as Junque Boxes which include a hodge podge of various items. Have a look around at all the fabulous things featured on her site.

The Great Green Room

The Great Green Room is a site which sells tons of products that are all handmade by indie crafters & artists. There are several adorable summer dresses for the special little girl in your life, as well as unique onsies & tees. Grown-ups will also find lots of cool clothes, such as this top by Sally Bee. Other items you'll find in this extensive collection include booties, handmade soaps, and artwork by various artists. If you prefer to purchase unique handmade products, this site is for you as there is something for everyone at The Great Green Room. (noteworthy: US shipping is always free!)

Please vote!

Funky Finds has been nominated for Best Shopping Blog in the Bloggers Choice Awards. I am in great company with many wonderful blogs that I read daily. I'd love for you to take a look & vote for Funky Finds if you think I deserve it. I appreciate your support!!!

Blossom Hill Cottons

The cute little softies by Blossom Hill Cottons put a big smile on my face today. Aren't they adorable little creatures? The tiny deer named Faye is precious, as is the tiny brown puppy Eric. Of course, being the hedgie fanatic that I am, I adore Pudding! Other funky finds include the bird with a bag, the cute girl & bear matching aprons, and the little cupcake pillows. Blossom Hill Cottons is a little girl's dream come true!

Art School Girl

Art School Girl specializes in one-of-a-kind hand made paper goods created by Amy Rowan. There are lots of wonderful cards that incorporate recycled & vintage materials. The in bed set utilizes fortunes that have been freed from cookies. I really like the notesets which include envelopes constructed from vintage picture book pages. Have a look at all the unique items Art School Girl has to offer, including the original artwork.

Kirin & Co.

Etsy is a great source for unique artwork that is reasonably priced. Kirin & Co. is an Etsy shop that features such artwork by designer Lara Cameron. I love the use of patterns in the Armchair Love piece. The digital illustrations, such as Craftree, are also stunning & would be a perfect addition to your crafting space. Isn't Crafty Bits the coolest? Check out all the cool artwork Kirin & Co. has to offer.

Ahpeele

Ahpeele is an Etsy shop that feautres limited edition handscreened apparel. The screened designs range from modern Japanese art to floral designs that are very appealing. I love anything with cherry blossoms & this tee is no exception. I also dig how the happy fun spring tulip design wraps around to the back side of this shirt. You'll also find cool Japanese Koi designs, as well as vintage skull motorcycle tatoo designs that rock. Have a look at all the wonderful designs by Ahpeele.

Tasty Jewelry

Fellow Texan Diane Petkoff has created a funky & fresh line of jewelry. There are lots of wonderful pieces to choose from at Tasty Jewelry. Some of my favorites include the mod open ring trio earrings, the cool geometric mod teardrop earrings, and the daisy print earrings. You can find coordinating necklaces, as well as a few different designs such as the mod flower rings which are perfect for spring. And don't miss the super cool hair accessories and rings.

Divine Papers

Besides having a super cool name, Delaney Gates also has a fabulous Etsy shop, Divine Papers. Her creations are indeed divine. The newestest of Delaney's collections, Filigree Fun, debuted today. I especially love from an Etsy addict and I don't do cooking. Other fabulous designs include the thank you for your support notecard (super cute!), single girls are hot, and the delicious jot it down in style tags. I would love to incorporate these into my scrapbooking! I have several friends in mind, including my sister, who seriously need the note from a princess cards, too. I'm so jazzed about this funky find. Can you tell?

Heather Grandmont Jewelry

Heather Grandmont is a very talented jewelry maker who has a very clean, contemporary design. The Beauty earrings are one of many examples of Heather's beautiful work. I love the modern feel of the Shooting Star earrings, as well as the stunning necklaces. And wouldn't any gal be lucky to receive the Flower Child bracelet? Have a look at all of Heather's fabulously designed jewelry.

Linda Woods

Linda Woods, co-author of the bestselling book Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos & Altered Books, has an Etsy shop in which she sells her fabulous mixed media artwork. Reveal is one of my favorite pieces, as is the bright Temptation piece. Namaste is a nice, soothing piece. You can learn more about Linda's artwork on her blog, Journal Revolution, which she writes with her sister Karen. Check it out!

The Crafty Wino

The Crafty Wino is the perfect resource when looking for gifts for wine lovers. Here you will find lots of innovative ideas which incorporate the use of wine corks & other materials. I especially love the large corky trivet and the wine cork coasters. There are lots of beautiful wine glass charms to choose from, including these adorable turtle charms. I love the girls night charms, as well. Other cool products include the Bunch of Grapes message board, the cardinal birdhouse complete with corky roof, and the corky keychains. Also of note, free shipping until April 27th!

LilyGirl

Sisters Denise and Lori founded LilyGirl, a unique and artful jewelry company, in 2004. Made simply with their hands and produced in limited quantities, their pieces are reflections of their own style and personal commitment to quality. There are many gorgeous chain necklaces to choose from, as well as beaded necklaces. The charm bracelets and earrings are also beautiful. I'm most impressed with the unique handcrafted wire jewelry pieces. I love the hammered heart pendants & the curly wurly earrings. Have a look at all the terrific pieces created by these sisters.

Old School Acres

Laurie of Old School Acres is such a delight! She creates the most adorable plushies that I originally discovered on Flickr. Today I received one of her plush cosmetic sets in the mail & was thrilled. They are beyond cute & very well designed. These would make great gifts for the little girls in your lives. I love acorns & Laurie has created the cutest acorn pincushion that comes with vintage glass bead pins. Check out all the wonderful items at Old School Acres, and bookmark Laurie's blog, too. She is now doing monthly giveaways of her fabulous creations.

Full of Craft

Full of Craft showcases a very unique sense of style. Being a big fan of paisley, I am loving this ring made out of shrink plastic. The bracelets are also very interesting pieces. The eye chart ring is sure to catch your eye, as well.

Modishoppe

Jena of Modish recently opened Modishoppe, a shop featuring products by a variety of designers that have appeared on her blog. There are currently 19 designers' goods in the shop with more to come. I love the animal glass pins by Happy Owl Glassworks, as well as the beautiful glass night light by Amy Burhoe. The tops by All-Mighty are absolutely adorable, as are the tops & scarves by Alena Hennessey. Jena has chosen paper goods by several of my favorite designers, including Young & WithIt Industries and Dog & Pony Show. Have a look at all the fabulous items featured at Modishoppe today!

Daisy Janie

Jan DiCintio, the owner & designer behind Daisy Janie, now blends her painting background into fabric & handbag design. I love the custom designed Bridge fabrics which is used on a variety of handbag styles. The Fancy Pants handbags are the perfect size for every day use, while the Roxy wristlets are ideal for a night out. The Zoey pouch & coordinating mirrors are fabulous, as well. Jan has also designed lovely headbands & key fobs in lots of different patterns. Have a look at all of the wonderful designs at Daisy Janie, as well as the sister site Scoutie Girl.

Blooming Lily

Laurie Warshawsky is a Cleveland, Ohio, based jewelry designer who has an Etsy shop called Blooming Lily. Laurie's jewelry collection is handmade in one-of-a-kind, limited edition quantities using semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, and artisan glass. I love her use of bold colors in unique styles, as displayed in the Rock Candy necklace. The Aloha and Spring Fling earrings are perfect for spring & summer. And the Bright Pink Splendor necklace is sure to brighten anyone's day! Have a look at all of Laurie's fabulous creations, as well as her blog.

Elsiecake

Another well-known scrapbooker, Elsie Flannigan, recently opened an Etsy shop of her own. Elsiecake showcases Elsie's wide array of talents. Her style is one that is funky, fresh & fun and her items display this sense of style well. I love the retro bird collage that is on canvas, as well as the fun hello collage. And how cool is the red button necklace? Be sure to check out the Red Velvet Art blog which Elsie participates in as well.

AnthroPoMorphCo

AnthroPoMorphCo, whose simple mission is to make everything your friend, has classified the "friends" they have created in three categories: mental vegetables, gourds of goth & holly jollies. You can purchase fabulous gift sets, such as the Beet It set, which includes a notecard, one 1" magnetic button, one folding bookmark, & one 1" button pin. There's also lots of terrific stuffed veggies to choose from. The Gourds of Goth may well be my favorite, especially the bobby pins. Grab a set of the Holly Jolly cards so you are well prepared this winter. Don't miss the sale section either.

Reminisce Heirlooms

Tabetha Sullens of Reminisce Heirlooms custom designs the coolest pendants. In her quest to create timeless heirlooms for each of her clients, Tabetha incorporates a cherished photograph on one side and a quotation, Bible verse, names, dates, or initials on the other. Of course, she's happy to include whatever you prefer on your special piece. These one of a kind keepsakes make a fabulous gift for new moms, newborn babies, graduates and brides to name a few. I would think that just about everyone will enjoy a custom piece crafted especially for them. You can see lots of unique work on Tabetha's blog, where you can also contact her directly for more information.

*ETA: Tabetha's pendants are typically $25 each; however, she is offering to create them for readers of Funky Finds for $20! What a steal!

American Red Cross

The Dallas chapter of the American Red Cross is in desperate need for funds. They are currently operating in the red due to several large apartment fires they recently responded to. In order to raise funds for tornado season, the American Red Cross is holding its first eBay auction. Items being auctioned off include 50 one-of-a-kind, autographed & authenticated sports collectibles. The ebay online auction will launch on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 9:00am CST with items listed throughout the week. Find more details in this press release. The American Red Cross is a very important organization which responds to any and all disasters in each of our local areas. Please let all the sports nuts in your life know about this important auction. Check out the wonderful Red Cross store, too.

Manhandled

One of my favorite scrapbookers, Emily Adams, gave me the heads up on her husband Matt's Etsy shop, ManHandled, which opened today. Don't you adore the name!? Matt's been struggling to quit smoking and has decided to turn to crafting to relieve some stress. I love this concept not only because it's fabulous that he quit smoking, but also because he's replaced a bad habit with a good one! Emily does some of the design, but Matt does 100% of the construction. I love these books! The Bingo book has a very cool vintage vibe, as does the cool Harley Roadtrip journal. And the sparkly gems on the Bird in the Hand journal adds just the right touch of girliness for me. Of course, I am also digging the graphic boldness of this limited edition spiral journal, as well. Check out all the fabulous items from this powerhouse couple!

Little Red Pear

I never cease to be amazed at all the talented crafters out there who design such wonderful plushies. One such fabulous crafter is the one behind Little Red Pear. This Australian, who shares my birth date, has created adorable plush cutlery perfect for your wee one. I really love the adorable characters, such as Agnes and Polly. Of course, I would be more than happy to provide a home for Edna, Edie & Mavis, too! Check out all the terrific items Little Red Pear has to offer.