Sew Darn Cute

I was so sad to read the email announcing the going out of business sale Sew Darn Cute is currently having. The shop officially closes on September 14 & any order placed before then will receive free shipping (US & international) & surprise bonus goodies. This shop has lots of adorable items, including cupcake totes & penny candy bracelets. Visit Jenny's blog for more information.

Marijke's Shop

As we inch closer to fall, I start to think of changing over to my fall wardrobe. Of course, that really means new clothes & accessories! The one-of-a-kind handbags in Marijke's Shop are the perfect transition pieces. I love the contemporary design of the water lily bag which is adorned with hand-cut & hand-sewn felt flowers. The wool raspberry bag is such an eye-catching color. The felt & fabric wallets are adorable, as well. Treat yourself to one of Marijke's pieces for the new season!

BUST Magazine 2007 Holiday Craftacular

CALLING ALL CRAFTERS!!!

The BUST Magazine 2007 Holiday Craftacular is set to happen on Saturday, December 8. As a result of the enormous success of the past two years' craft fairs, this year's shopping bonanza will be more than THREE TIMES as large!

BUST will be handpicking 200 of the most unique and talented crafters from across the country to sell their wares. Warm frosty toes with a beer and a hot dog from Sparky's American Food, and then hit The Pavilion to shop beneath the mistletoe while browsing thousands of handcrafted winter wares including knitwear, jewelry, beauty products, ornaments, vamped up vintage clothing, silk-screened apparel, gourmet sweets, handbags, chic and original iPod cases, funky home decor, books, sassy soaps (for the naughty and the
nice!), cards, the best gear for babies and more. Then take a break from
shopping as the BUST DJs jingle your bells on the Craftacular dance floor!

If you would like to participate as a vendor, applications are now available! There are no exceptions as to who can apply, and every submission with be considered. For a list of FAQs & information on how to apply, please visit BUST's Holiday Craftacular page.

Delight.com

Delight.com is a fabulous site that features a new sale item daily. Today's item, portion control bowls, are a great way to keep tabs on what you are really eating. You can still purchase many cool items that have previously been featured on Delight.com. But, act fast - these goodies won't be around for long. As a special treat to Funky Finds readers, enter coupon code FUNKYDELIGHT when checking out to receive 15% off your purchase. (code good through September) Also, check out their blog to see the awesome Gnome dishes I won through a contest on the HostessBlog.

What Should We Make Today

I don't know about ya'll, but I am in the mood for fall. And with fall we get to decorate for Halloween! In Cari Kraft's shop, What Should We Make Today, you'll find several fabulous home decor pieces perfect for the fall season. The adorable Halloween bat treat baskets are a perfect gift for someone special. There's also polka dot baskets that you can leave out year round. See more of Cari's fabulous projects on her blog.

Sweet Bonny

I love sending cards & really wish more people would do so in this day & age of email & text messaging. The fabulous cards by Sweet Bonny may just be enticing enough to excite people about sending more snail mail. The bright colors are so eye-catching & beautiful. And honestly, what girl wouldn't want to receive a You are a SUPER Girl card? You can even purchase packs of five mini cards. The fabulous me personalized notecards would make a lovely gift for any girlfriend, too. Have a look at all the wonderful offerings Sweet Bonny has created.

Modishoppe

Modishoppe, a terrific shop I've posted about before, is currently running a 3-day, 15% off sale. Modishoppe has tons of great items ranging from tees to home decor. Check back often as the inventory is updated & added to frequently. Enter the code goodbyesum07 at checkout to receive the discount.

Scrapfu

Reagan, whose blog is called Putting the Crap in Scrapbooking (love it!), recently opened an Etsy shop. Scrapfu will feature different scrapbooking kits put together by this talented & creative woman. The first kit, Retro Stir Fry, is fabulous. This kit contains pages from vintage books, a lovely watercolor cupcake, and much, much more.

Freckled Nest Design Team

I wanted to share some exciting news with all of my wonderful Funky Finds readers. Recently, Leigh-Ann of Freckled Nest asked me to be a part of her new design team. To say the least, I was flattered & honored. This team is a wonderful group of nine creative women who each have something special to add to the team. I have had a blast getting to know more about each DT member & look forward to becoming good friends with all of them. Here's a little more info about myself:



1. My name is Jessica Hood and I am a born & raised Texan. (yee-haw! just kidding!)
2. I am graphic designer who enjoys spreading the word about talented artists & crafters world-wide through my blog, Funky Finds.
3. Friends would describe me as a bit bossy, but loyal. A bit overbearing, but reliable. A tad OCD, but very organized. Sarcastic, but funny. My mom says my dog is "quirky" like me!
4. I love animals, especially my chihuahua Abigail Raine. I enjoy graphic design, scrapbooking, & embroidery. I would love to do amigurumi & to improve my sewing skills. I am inspired by pretty colors, cool patterns, my family & friends.
5. I joined the Freckled Nest Design Team because I admire Leigh-Ann's creative talents, as well as Leigh-Ann as a person. She is a go-getter & that definitely inspires me.
6. My favorite Freckled Nest products (see all in the FN gallery) are the gorgeous photo journals Leigh-Ann creates.

There's an exciting CONTEST at Freckled Nest today. Go enter NOW...the prize is awesome & you do not want to miss out!


Meet all the rockin' design team Chicks:
Leigh-Ann
Inka
Tania
Stefani
Lacey
Alice
Teaque
Molly

Arts N' Craps

Besides having a fabulously funny name, Arts N' Craps has lots of fun felt items to choose from. The felt cherry card would be a great embellishment on any craft project, as would the "aw yeah" speech bubble. And Pierre is just too cute for words. But the clay embellishments may just be the coolest item in this shop. These cuties could be used to spice up so many different craft projects. Have fun shopping at Arts N' Craps!!!

BOGO - Etsy

A big group of Etsy sellers in the Portland area have declared today & tomorrow (August 25 & 26) as BOGO days. BOGO as in "Buy One, Get One" . . . Free! Find links to all the participating Etsy stores here. Happy shopping!

Alice Valentine

My new friend Alice Valentine has a wonderful Etsy shop. Alice creates the most adorable jewelry using polymer clay. I especially love the smores, as well as the banana split. And who wouldn't want a unique pair of taco earrings? If you have something custom in mind, send Alice a message & she will design something especially for you. Also, check back often for original works of art.

nubar - Support the Cure

Yesterday I received a fabulous set of nail polish from nubar, "The Healthy Alternative For Nail Care." Nubar’s non-toxic nail lacquers & nail treatments contain zero Formaldehyde, Toluene or (DBP) Phthalate. Their Collection for the Cure contains four nubar nail products - two beautiful pink shades, a foundation base coat & Diamont Seal & Shine. A portion of the retail price of the Collection for the Cure will go towards St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Cancer Treatment Research Foundation and the City of Hope. Help support education, outreach, research and other critical programs throughout the country while pampering yourself a bit.

A La Mode

My new-found twin Teaque (isn't that the coolest name?) works with a lovely handbag company called A La Mode (another great name!). This wonderful biz offers many styles of handbags & totes. The classic chic bag is adorable & I love the shape of the Go Anywhere bag. And I am nuts about the bamboo handles on the smaller short & sassy bag. The side slings are perfect for the back-to-school season & the diaper ditty is a stylish, yet functional, diaper bag. Don't miss the cute accessories either!

Lusterbunny

Lusterbunny creates durable graphic jewelry using glazed porcelain. The bold skull heart rings are very eye-catching. I love the chandelier pendant which you can choose to have produced in your favorite color. The orange paisley necklace is another stunning piece. You can purchase jewelry making supplies at Lusterbunny's sister shop, Bunnysundries.

Textile Fetish

Most of you are probably well aware of my love for all things monkey. So you can imagine how excited I was to come across the Monkey Hostel at Textile Fetish. These stylish monkeys even come with their own passports! I also like the eye-catching paperback book covers, as well as the bags. My favorite is the Early Blooms bag - love me some ric rac! You'll also find lots of adorable clothing items for that special wee one in your life.

My Handbound Books

Rhonda of My Handbound Books creates many beautiful books, journals & diaries. This hardcover coptic-bound journal is covered with a print of a Frank Lloyd Wright art piece. The butterscotch leather journal is beautiful. And I love the very berry leather journal. The ceramic diary is another wonderfully unique design. You can also purchase a beginner bookbinding kit if you'd like to try it for yourself.

Pretty Little Things

Lori Marie does in fact create Pretty Little Things, and that's no exaggeration! If the polka dot panty clutch isn't a funky find, then I don't know what is. I think this is such an adorable design. Lori has also designed a wonderful citrus clutch, as well as a green elephant clutch. Check out all of Lori's uniquely fabulous designs!

Jinny's Closet

Jinny's Closet is full of treasures for you, your pet & babies, too. These ponytail holders are adorable for your little girls this Halloween. I also love the shoe shopping accessories. The dazzling dachshunds bag is fabulous, as are the doggie bandanas.

Sandmaiden Sleepwear

I can't believe that in 17 months of blogging I have never posted about sleepwear. Sandmaiden has everything from luxurious chemises to lounge pants & boxer sets. My personal favorite is the gorgeous Kimono style night shirt. Have a look at Sandmaiden Sleepwear's Etsy shop to see all their wonderful products.

One In Ten Auction

Eireann of Oh Bara is currently hosting an auction to raise money for her mother who suffered from an aneurysm causing a subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding between the brain & skull). She was in ICU for 3.5 weeks, then in physical & occupational therapy (inpatient) for 1.5 weeks. The family was told that by the doctors that one in ten people survive this & very few people are expected to recover. Eireann's mother has astounded her doctors & therapists with her tenacity, her strength, & the progress she has already made & continues to make. She has diminished function in her left side & has lost her hearing in her left ear, but she is expected to make a complete recovery within a year. Although her mother does have some health insurance, a pre-existing condition makes it such that the insurance she does have will not cover things like this. Crafters world-wide have united in donating handmade goods for an auction to raise money to help cover medical bills. The auction will run through August 24th. Check out all the fabulous items that have been donated for this great cause.

Heather Elizabeth Designs

Heather Elizabeth is a New Orleans resident who creates photograph jewelry & accessories for the home. All of her items are crafted by hand from the photographs she shoot around NOLA. Her jewelry line includes many beautiful necklaces, bracelets, & earrings. I especially like the unique belts. For the home, Heather Elizabeth has created nightlights, wine bottle stoppers, and much more. The bookmarks would make lovely gifts, as well. Have a look at all of Heather Elizabeth's fabulous creations.

Nerdbomber

Nerds rule! is this shop's motto. Fellow Texan Nerdbomber has lots of cool repurposed & vintage items to choose from. I love the unique design of the funky spirals wristlet. And the pinkie book purse gives a whole new meaning to the term "book bag." I'm drawn to the starry day earrings, probably because they remind me of my childhood during the 80s. Good times! This shop also features crochet softies, such as Marco the cat, and funky embroidered felt patches. Check out all the nerdy-chic items Nerdbomber has to offer.

Tag it!

I am addicted to tags & have come across lots of great sources for beautifully designed tags as of late. One Bored Girl (love the name!) has adorable heart shaped tags, as well as phrase tags perfect for scrapbooking. The vintage paper embellishments by Pacokeco's Scribbles are divine & you will receive a free gift with every purchase during the month of August. The purple crown tags are a must-have, too. Every Jot and Tittle has lots of colorful tags, including zebra stripes & red and blue flowers. The Halloween tags by Hafa Adai are festive & fun. And Tattered Tags has lots of wonderful designs perfect for crafting and gift giving. I especially love the wings & crowns and the colorful butterflies.
Pictured here are Trendy Girl tags by Every Jot and Tittle

Off the Beaten Path

Off the Beaten Path has many wonderful tote bags perfect for starting the school year off right. The colorful little fawn bag is delightful, as are the hip hop hippos. I really like the new koi fish on the block, too. And be sure to check out the cool coral charms & pendants.

Wiggle Waggle Walk for Animals

Jessica Gary of Insurgent Muse & her Chihuahua Fidel are participating in the 9th Annual Wiggle Waggle Walk for Animals to benefit the Pasadena Humane Society. They are walking as part of Team Chi WOW WOW, headed by Elvis & Carolyn, founders of Chi WOW WOW clothing line.

The walk will take place Sunday, September 30, at 9:00 AM at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. You don't have to have a dog to participate in the walk, and you don't have to be a Chihuahua to be part of Team Chi WOW WOW! As an added bonus, Carolyn has offered to donate a free, stylin' Chi WOW WOW tee to any dogs who join their team (sorry, sizes are limited to dogs 30 lbs and under!).

If you'd like to register for the walk you can do so here. Remember to sign up under Team Chi WOW WOW, team leader: Carolyn Paxton.

Jump Up & Down

I have several pregnant friends, so I am now on the lookout for adorable baby apparel & gifts. Jump Up & Down has a nice selection of gift sets that include a decorated onesie, bib, and burp cloth. I especially love the onesies adorned with flower corsages. Don't miss the beautiful dish towels & children's aprons also offered in this shop.

biome 5

According to their website, the biome 5 alphabet project was created by two architectural designers who are inspired by the visual learning processes inherent in all children. Each biome 5 toddler t-shirt has a letter of the alphabet & animal whose name starts with that letter. For example, the O shirt has a wonderful octopus graphic. Each of the tees are made with 100% certified organic cotton in sweatshop-free environments in the USA. The bold graphics & colors on these products are sure to capture any child's attention & imagination.

The Barking Biscuit Company

As most of you know, I am a dog lover (that's probably an under statement). So I was thrilled to discover Sara Harley's venture The Barking Biscuit Company. All of the dog biscuits are made by hand using only human quality ingredients. This is especially comforting after the scare with dog food a few months ago. The cheese breadstick twists sound like something even I would devour! Sara is also involved in Paws For Charity, a collaborative effort of 4 women with dog businesses. Their products (biscuits, collars, coats, and photography) are sold to raise money for breast cancer research. You can read more about the project in this article. You can also purchase Paws For Charity products through Cafe Press.

Nisu Accessories by Cocoon

Cute little stuffies have always had the ability to cheer me up, and the designs at Nisu Accessories by Cocoon are no exception. The sweet little faces are cute enough to kiss! Nisu also has several beautiful button brooches. I especially love the goldfish with matching earrings. Be sure to click through all the sections as you wouldn't want to miss finds such as the two face bunny.

The Small Object

Sarah Neuburger of The Small Object creates the most adorable, whimsical characters. The rubber stamps are my favorite products, especially the little woodland pals set. The smiling acorn makes my heart sing! My sweet tooth is pretty darn loveable, too. You may recognize Sarah's artwork, namely the Little Small Clothespin People. You can also purchase items such as tags, idea cards, and stationery featuring similar characters. And don't miss the limited edition tees. See Sarah's Etsy shop for more Little Small Clothespin People.

4-Legged Art

I cannot tell you how many times this week I have read online about preparing for the "upcoming" holiday season. While it blows my mind, we all know that "it" will be here before we know it. When I discovered Katie Hoffman's custom pet portraits, I immediately thought that these would make perfect gifts for all the pet lovers I know (myself included - hint, hint). You can see several examples of Katie's exceptional work in her gallery. Just email her a photo of the pet your would like to immortalize, choose the size & colors, and wait for your commissioned piece to arrive. Sounds easy enough to me!

Little Evelyn

Little Evelyn is the brainchild of Jill who was fondly given the nickname after her creative grandmother Evelyn. The notebooks, which are covered with vintage record album sleeves, are fun & retro. My favorite items are the vintage stickers fashioned out of magazines, books and record sleeves. Check back for magnets & mirrors that are soon to be added to the Little Evelyn shop.

Paper Farrago

My friend Mary sent me the loveliest journal for my birthday last week. She purchased said journal from Paper Farrago, an Etsy shop featuring lots of great paper goodies. This shop is full of eye candy that makes me giddy! The tiny file folders would make fabulous scrapbooking embellishments, as would the colorful journal tags. And I would love to get my hands on the Amy Butler hodgepodge. Check out all the beautiful goods this crafter has to offer.

Sparkle Power

Candace Todd's Etsy shop, Sparkle Power, features tote bags that will be perfect for the upcoming school year. I love the pretty yellow, pink & brown floral tote bag. And the bag made out of bright vintage floral fabric is so cheerful! The hand-stitched drawstring bags are also a must have.

Designed by Donna

Donna Goodrum is as sweet as she is talented. I know this because we attend the same church & I have seen her wonderful designs firsthand. Donna's eBay shop, Designed by Donna, is full of affordable, handmade jewelry. I love the tiger stripe and TuTu Pink earrings. And aren't the red bird house earrings adorable? Donna also creates jewelry to spice up your cell phone. My sports-loving family will love these! Have a look at all of Donna's fabulous designs today.

Catching Fireflies

I always got excited about shopping for school supplies before the start of a new school year. I would have been beyond excited to have smencils, scented pencils, as a treat. Catching Fireflies has lots of unique items ranging from memo boards to glassware. The coffee good, morning bad sign certainly sums up my feelings most days. There's also great gift ideas for dog & cat lovers alike.

Sepia Art Studio

Don't you love when your excitement for crafting is renewed? That recently happened to me, so I was thrilled to discover the Sepia Art Studio boutique. I've expressed my love for colorful twine before & you can purchase red and green twine here. I also love the colorful admission tickets & vintage envelopes. And who wouldn't want one of the cute decorated chalk boards? Check out all the great notions this boutique has to offer.

Minty Print

As I sit here eating my breakfast, I think it's only natural that I'm so drawn to the pink felt donut magnet by Minty Print. It looks good enough to eat! This delightful shop also has quilted log cabin pillows & beautiful baby blankets in a variety of prints. The stationery and sushi magnets are among my favorites, as well. Look at the wasabi!

Bonnin Designs

Today I received an email from Shari Bonnin of Bonnin Designs informing me of their 60% off sale. Shari says the sale "has taken on a life of it's own." Check out all the fabulous steals. I want the Pow earrings! And don't forget, Bonnin offers FREE ground shipping in the USA, always.

Angelina's Cards & Paper Boutique

I seem to be on more of a vintage kick than usual as of late, so you can imagine how excited I was to discover Angelina's Cards & Paper Boutique. Angelina Mast creates the most beautiful cards using vintage materials & images. All of the baby cards are precious. You will find gorgeous cards for all occassions, including weddings, thank yous, and birthdays. I love the cupcakes! Don't miss the fabulous fashion boutique that is full of divine products.

One Hundred Wishes

One Hundred Wishes is a delightful shop that just opened up. Here you will find lots of great vintage paper products, fancy notions (one of my favorite words), and miscellaneous trinkets & treasures. It didn't take long for most of the lovely charm bracelets to sell out. I love the bold bright colors of velvet ribbon, as well as the unique German trimmings. Have a look at all the wonderful offerings at One Hundred Wishes.

Red Shoes

I'm sure many of you have heard about the popular fairy doors, which you can find at Red Shoes Home Goods. These little cuties can be placed anywhere you like and include a little bike & fairy dust. Because of my upcoming birthday, the birthday garland caught my eye, too. You'll also find lots of beautiful pieces for your home, including the beautiful ceramic bee bowl by artist Jill Rosenwald & the adorable little dessert plates. And don't miss the owner Catherine's work.

Buzz Jewelry

Kristen Billings of Buzz Jewelry creates cool pieces from vintage & recycled materials that are modern, classic & totally wearable. The Daisy Bell necklace featuring glass leaves & a plastic flower is perfect for any spring & summer wardrobe. And I love the adorable vintage lucite & glass charms used on the Hollywood and Vine bracelet. Don't miss the fabulous earrings or the unisex section.

MissWi t.net

MissWit.net is the go-to shop for witty & humorous tees. The I Can't Stop Googling Myself tee is perfect for our
technology-driven society. There's also beautifully designed tees available, such as theDotsie & Misswit color bird tees. MissWit also offers custom designs and logo printing for any occassion. Please note that ten percent of Dotsie & MissWit purchases is donated to the National Scoliosis Foundation.