Cubist Literature


I rarely have the opportunity to post about indie artists who are male, so I was thrilled to discover the work of Cubist Literature. The recycled clothing, complete with hand-sewn embellishments, are all unique & interesting pieces. Skills in Magic is a wonderful celebration of Napoleon Dynamite. You'll also find hand-knit cuffs, hats, artwork, and much more by Cubist Literature.

Tabitha Emma for Kids


Tabitha Emma for Kids is an Australian Etsy shop selling a range of fun bags for young children, or the young at heart. I'm thinking that means me because I would love to carry a bag that is a fabulous slab of cake! The teapot and tea cup bags are lots of fun, as is the ice cream purse. This is the perfect place to find fun, whimsical gifts!

Leafpeople


I was thrilled to come across the work of Leafpeople on Flickr. She creates the most adorable plush doggies & ornaments. Romeo the Pug is precious. And I am dying to squeeze Flora Ballerina! The pooch wearing a vintage apron is pretty darn cute, too. Of course, I am dying to have my own Chihuahua softie!! I know several dog lovers that will be receiving adorable ornaments for Christmas this year. Check back often for updates.

Leak Arts


Lea Keohane of Leak Arts has a funky style that really appeals to me. I love the Super Hero Girl journal that screams "girl power." The hand-drawn elephant pendants are adorable, as is the giraffe. Check out all of Lea's unique artwork today.

Shivika Asthana Jewelry & Cowbell Baby


Shivika Asthana, a jewelry designer in South Carolina, has a lovely website showcasing her designs. I love the apple of my eye necklace, as well as the triple sec piece. And the colors used on the limited edition piece Green Dream are stunning. Shivika also creates baby barrettes which she sells in her Etsy shop, Cowbell Baby. I adore the cherry barrette!

Night Owl Paper Goods


Night Owl Paper Goods features the coolest eco-friendly wooden cards. The gourd nest and button flower cards are beautiful designs. And I love the notecards embellished with wooden buttons. Night Owl also creates lovely notecards for various occasions, birthday cards, and much more. Don't miss the holiday photo mailers and photo easel cards perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

Feckled Nest One Year Anniversary Sale


Today marks the one year anniversary of Leigh-Ann's fabulous shop Freckled Nest. Today only enjoy the Buy Two, Get 3rd Item Free Celebration Sale!! This includes totes, bags, albums, custom banners, & magnets. In other words, EVERYTHING in the shop! This is the perfect opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping. To receive your 3rd item free, enter the promo code *Tweet2007* in the message section during Etsy Checkout. Do not pay until Leigh-Ann sends you an adjusted PayPal invoice on Wednesday.

Feel free to share the news on your blog about the sale & promo code (please link to the FreckledNest.etsy.com shop). Let Leigh-Ann know if you do & she will include a packet of fun buttons with your purchase as a thank you.

Red Velvet Art


Rachel Denbow of Red Velvet Art creates lots of hip, unique goods. My current favorites include the re-make patchwork scarf she fashioned out of old suits & other materials, as well as the houndstooth blank books. There's also lots of goodies for the wee ones, including burp cloths and adorable crib-size quilts. Check back often for fabulous new additions to the Red Velvet Art shop.

Tyramade


I have mentioned the fabulous Susan of Sulu Designs on Funky Finds numerous times for obvious reasons. Recently, Susan directed my attention to another terrific jewelry designer, Tyramade. The bold jewelry in this shop is designed by a New York City public school teacher. Can you imagine having time to make such beautiful pieces? Susan's personal favorites include the Iced Blues pair, Rock Candy Mountain, and Light & Sweet. I wholeheartedly agree with her picks! Have a look at all the gorgeous designs Tyramade has to offer.

Lisa Everett Designs


The hand-painted jewelry by Lisa Everett Designs are small works of art you can proudly wear. I love the bright rainbow flowers pendant, as well as the colorful cat in chair. The black & white graphic pendant is the perfect basic accessory for any wardrobe. Another favorite are the cherries which are adorable. Check out all the fabulous designs Lisa Everett has created.

Appalachia


Appalachia is a wonderful Etsy shop featuring handmade felted purses, softies & more. The Ride with Me purse is a wonderful blend of rose & orange. I love the bicycle graphic, too. And the snip snip purse would be a terrific gift for any crafter. Of course I would love to have my own felted bear & bunny, as well. Aren't they adorable? Check out all the beautiful designs & accessories Appalachia has to offer.

Super Fun Pet Stuff


As a dog lover, I tend to be biased & post mainly about products created for canines. But Super Fun Pet Stuff carries lots of great handmade goodies for kitty cats. The catnip canary is filled only with catnip, no other fillers, & is veterinarian approved. And I think the catnip caterpillar is a hoot! Amongst all the fun pet toys, you will find gorgeous raised feeders such as the granite tile feeder that sets on a vintage base. I love the design of the white tile feeder, too.

Hazlenut Cottage


Jan Avellana is an indie artist who creates hand-stamped jewelry created using oxidized sterling silver & semiprecious stones. Her Etsy shop, Hazlenut Cottage, features many touching designs. Born from a scripture in Genesis, the Heart of My Heart necklace would make a lovely gift for a loved one. I really like the blossom necklace, as well as Life is a Journey. Contact Jan for more information about customizable pieces.

Crafty Carnival


Missy Ballance of Crafty Carnival has designed the cutest rubber stamps. I love her doodles, especially the mushroom. And the teddy bear is precious! You'll also find adorable handmade sticky note holders & wonderful mohair bears. See more of Missy's projects on Flickr.

ETA: See more of Missy's fabulous softies on her website Mohair Circus.

Flamestitch


The designs by Flamestitch are truly unique. These edgy handbags are unlike any I have ever seen. The Wounded, the first installment in The Purses of Pain & Misery series, is an interesting design featuring a pouch on the front of the bag. The Black Heart, made of charcoal & red sparkly Naugahyde, is an equally intriguing piece. I love the pink Old Slut bag, as well as the pink & leopard print Landing Strip bag. Have a look at all the exciting designs Flamestitch has to offer.

Scrapbooking Kits


I have been an avid scrapbooker since first being introduced to Creative Memories in 1997. Isn’t that how so many people began scrapbooking? Being a designer & an art student at the time, I found it hard to stick with the simple & clean design of CM’s products. I began using found objects & non-traditional materials in my albums. I vaguely knew a bit about scrapbooking kits that I had seen mentioned online, but had it in my mind that this was another cookie-cutter way of putting pages together. After all, someone else was deciding what products went together & I felt restrained by that. Then I discovered Story of My Life’s July Kit, Once Upon a Time in a Beautiful Forest. This kit contained embellishments & papers I had not seen at any local stores and I had to have the exclusive “Hedgie” acrylic stamp designed by Sara Berry. That kit began my downward spiral of addiction to scrapbooking kits.

This month I have ordered eight kits. Yes, eight. I said it’s addiction, didn’t I? To justify these purchases & the expense, I decided to write this feature and find out what others think about kits. While I like all the kits I purchased, I definitely have my favorites. Note: I have not subscribed to any kit clubs thus far.

The first kit I received this month was from Freckle Friends. I was originally drawn to this kit because it contains several products by Jenni Bowlin, who I’ve featured on Funky Finds before. While I like all the products this kit contained & was definitely excited about the back-to-school theme, I felt like I didn’t get much bang for my buck. However, the kit did contain lots of paper – seven pieces of patterned paper by various manufacturers & three pieces of Bazzill cardstock. Their website also has a shop full of non-kit related items.

Martha Bonneau is a member of the Label Tulip design team & also sells kits through her Etsy shop, OhGrrrs! “It's a great way to get new product if you live somewhere where there isn't a scrapbooking store, or if you are like me, the ones near you don't carry the cool new stuff,” says Martha. “My philosophy is don't feel like you have to limit yourself to strictly the product in the kit, it's a good bone structure to start with, but I always find myself adding bits and bobs that didn't come with the kit to make it my own.” I love the Label Tulip September kit & was impressed that they wrapped the paper separately in butcher paper & with cardboard backing for added protection. Being a big fan of rubons, I was excited that there were several varieties included, as well.

My favorite kit that I purchased this month was the debut kit by Scarlet Lime. Founder Christy Tomlinson says the thing that pushed her to create her own kit club is that she loves having “someone else's perspective inspiring me when I feel burnt out on my own creativity.” She also mentions that it's a great way to get an assortment of products that mix & match, without having to spend lots of time at the store or online searching for stuff you might put together. “I also like the fact that most kit clubs are actually a pretty good deal, meaning the retail price of the products included in the kits are more than the price you are actually paying,” says Christy. Her debut kit included two exclusive stamps, another bonus to purchasing kits.

Many of you are probably familiar with Scrap In Style (SIS) a site that combines scrapbooking, education, web-based shows, and much more. I purchased the Sonora High, Class of '79 Collection featuring an exclusive line of paper designed for SIS, Scrap In Style's Tube O'Bling with green & topaz rhinestones, & much more. I also upgraded to the annual Premium Membership which included a 12x12 Leather Anthologie album, a "SIS TV" fleece satchel, the option to reserve the Designer Collections one week before they go on sale, and more. While this is a very cool & unique kit, I have had trouble finding ways to incorporate all the pieces into scrapbooking & other projects.

According to the Sweet Spuds site, the September kit is “funky, it's fresh, and it'll make ya wanna dance on the ceiling. So go on, get down whicha badself.” I really like this kit because it contains lots of cool papers, rubons, and embellishments. It is in fact a funky & fresh kit that is lots of fun to play with.

The remaining two kits I purchased were “Reform School” by the Red Velvet Kit Club and “Study Hall” by Story of My Own. Rachel Denbow, one of the creative minds behind Red Velvet, said, “I think your own blog's philosophy of finding unique pieces & bringing them to other people's attention is similar to our own at RVKC. We want to show people how to use non-scrapbooking products to create surprising layouts.” She elaborated by saying that they strive to include products from other artists, not only to support their work, but to provide creative options for their customers & to showcase the talent of other scrappers. Red Velvet also puts out monthly project kits. I purchased the July embroidery kit & had a blast with it.

All in all I agree that purchasing a kit put together by someone else is an exciting way to step out of your comfort zone. Scrapbooking is a very creative form of expression & way of preserving precious memories. By using items found in various kits, you are exposed to products & ideas you might otherwise never had seen or thought of using. There are hundreds of kit clubs available online, so anyone interested should find plenty of options to suit their taste & style. Happy scrapping!

Stunning Details


The new fall collection by Rhonda Reagan of Stunning Details is fabulous. Rhonda's gemstone jewelry has been very popular amongst celebrities & it's no wonder. The olive quartz leaf necklace is stunning, as is the red jade cascade necklace. And I love the unusual color of the Chalcedony cluster necklace. Rhonda also designs gorgeous coordinating earrings, my favorite being the blue apatite cascade earrings. Don't miss the unique bracelets & anklets which feature Rhonda's recent foray into metalworking and soldering.

Polka Dot Parlor


Candice Carpenter, the creative force behind Polka Dot Parlor, has cooked up lots of great Halloween project kits. The Scaredy Cat Party Hat kit comes with tons of fun goodies, as does the Halloween flags kit. The Merry Halloween embellishment kit includes the most adorable vintage image tags. Don't miss the other fabulous kits perfect for creating any time of the year.

Hey Pretty Cupcake


Vanessa, the owner of Hey Pretty Cupcake, wanted a place to showcase indie artists who were in the need of further exposure. Her shop features artists from different countries, enabling consumers to get the best selection & shopping experience possible. The current featured artist is Brittbrew who creates a variety of artistic goodies. You'll find all kinds of jewelry on this site, including adorable pendants by Jelene. You can also purchase the silver scissors tee that has been all over blogland lately by Circular Accessories. And the witchy cap-sleeve tee by Juror2 is perfect for Halloween. Check out all the cool products Hey Pretty Cupcake has to offer & support a number of indie artists & crafters.

Julie Garland Jewelry


Julie Garland, a fellow Texas resident, creates the most beautiful gemstone jewelry. I love the branch design of the royal blue earrings. And the autumn glow earrings are perfect for the changing seasons. The float like a butterfly pair is another unique & intriguing design. Julie has also created many fabulous necklaces, such as the lovely leaf, and bracelets. I love the colorful nuggets used on the Santa Fe piece. Have a look at all of Julie's fabulous designs.

Lindamade


Autumn has made a brief appearance this week. In Texas that means temperatures below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This has caused me to daydream about cooler fall weather & my fall wardrobe. The crochet hats by Lindamade are the perfect accessory. Created by Linda Permann, who was the founding Craft & Decorating Editor for the fabulous magazine Adorn, these caps are simply adorable. I love the unique flying hearts and cherry on top hats. Linda also creates gorgeous crocheted earrings. Learn more about Linda's ventures on her blog.

Crafters for Critters


Crafters for Critters has raised close to $20,000 for animal rescue over the past few years by selling handmade goods created by various indie artists & crafters. Help this wonderful organization continue raising funds for animal rescue by shopping their wonderful site. You'll find fabulous gifts for friends, family & yourself. The best part is all proceeds go directly to the organizations working to give animals in need a better life. Check out all the newly listed items here.

Keyka Lou


Woodgrain is very popular in design at the moment. I saw this woodgrain wallet on Flickr today & had to share. I love the color combo used by Keyka Lou on this piece. And I adore the floral clutch made out of vintage fabric. This shop also features adorable passport sleeves & unique luggage handle wraps that make finding your items a lot easier.

The Ryde


The Ryde is an art driven clothing line founded by Mike Figueroa and Matthew Allen of California. What appeals most to me about their designs is the vintage feel. The women's bird tee is one of my favorites, as is the Speak Love tee. And Road Trip is the perfect send off for the end of summer. There's also lots of cool surfing designs, such as the Bank tee featuring the company name. Check out all the cool designs featured in this unique shop.

Littlebird Studio


Littlebird Studio features lots of wonderful vintage-inspired jewelry. Each handcrafted piece is made using sterling silver, semi-precious stones, and pages from vintage books dating back as far as the 1800s. I love the pairs of chosen words seen on each set of earrings. The charm bracelets are also beautiful. I could spend countless hours studying each charm. And don't miss all the gorgeous necklaces which come in a variety of styles.

Karen Hilton Designs


Karen Hilton Designs, an Etsy shop based out of London, is a wonderful place to find unique handmade home decor. There's several Union Jack pillows that come in a wide variety of color combinations. Of course, I love the two greyhounds & the adorable hound dog cushions. Have a look at all the bright, beautiful designs Karin Hilton Designs has to offer.

Ethelcat


The dog & cat feeders by Ethelcat are nothing if not unique. The mosaic feeders are like modern art for your pet. I really like the design of the flower power poodle feeder which is also ceramic. Perhaps the most humorous designs are the waiter & chef feeders. You can see more of the exceptional feeders on the At Your Service website.

Oracle Organics


Oracle Organics recently sent me a generous box of their organic vegan products to try out. I have been using the foaming body wash, bloom mask, rosemary mint body butter, & soothing lavender soap for a few weeks & have been very impressed with the quality of these products. All of the products smell divine, transporting me to a place of serenity & relaxation. The light smell of spearmint in the body wash is a wonderful treat at the beginning & end of a long day. Oracle Organics believes that no living being should have to needlessly suffer for our luxuries; therefore, all of their products are vegan and NEVER tested on animals. Also, they are not one of the many companies partially or minimally using organic ingredients in their products. All of the ingredients are either organic, wild harvested or cultivated without the use of chemicals. Other products that sound equally fabulous are the bath crystals, massage oils, & herbal oils. I urge you to treat yourself or someone you love to a few of these wonderful products. You are sure to pleased!

Pomegranate Inc.


Pomegranate Inc. has produced beautiful table linens, kitchen accessories & much more for over 15 years. Their products have been available in over 2000 specialty shops, department stores, and much more. And recently, Pomegranate Inc. launched their own online shop. The light blue Provence tablecloth is beautiful. There's also a wide variety of linen napkins to choose from ranging from sea turtles to bamboo, my personal favorite. The gorgeous quilted tote bags would make a lovely gift for any special woman. Don't miss the beautiful embroidered items either. Enter promo code FFPOM97 when checking out to receive a 10% discount.

Cutique & Loungeluxe


Two new additions to the i shop indie family were recently launched, Cutique and Loungeluxe. Both shops promote handmade and indie goods; however, each one features products with slightly different styles. Cutique features items with an indie aesthetic, such as home decor & paper goods, while Loungeluxe focuses on items with a more mainstream feminine appeal. This is the perfect place to look for unique gifts for girl friends, moms, sisters, etc. There's everything from handbags to lingerie by Sandmaiden, a shop I recently featured. Take a look at all these wonderful shops & support many indie artists & crafters.

Pear


Pear was founded by twin sisters & sewing enthusiasts Mary and Tracy Kruger. Their creations come in bold, beautiful color combinations. I can't even choose which messenger bag is my favorite, because they are all fabulous! I also love the wristlets which are each adorned with a vintage brooch. The pink & green Iris wristlet is just too wonderful. Pear also features stylish handmade diaper bags & other accessories.

MamaRobot


MamaRobot has so many fabulous items, I don't know where to begin! All of the featured original artwork is by Amanda Baehr Fuller who is super talented. I absolutely love the holiday bunny, as well as the bears reading the paper. There's tons of cute onsies for the wee ones, including the silkscreened giraffe & robots. You can choose three of four cards to create your own set, which is especially nice.

Gracie Designs


I came across something I've never seen before at Gracie Designs - an ice cream cuddler. If you eat lots of ice cream & hate freezing your fingers in the process, this is the perfect item for you! You can cuddle your coffee, too. Gracie Designs also features lots of fashionable fabric headbands, jewelry, wallets & much more. Have a look at the diverse collection of goodies this shop has to offer.

Sunshine Designs, Etc.


I was going to promise to quit talking about Halloween related goodies for a while considering that it's only September 5th. However, I came across Sunshine Designs, Etc. today & had to share. Heather Noblitt is a multi-media collage artist who creates lovely collage pendants. I love the Boo Kitty collage necklace, as well as the Black Cat Game necklace. The colorful Pink Art Girl pendant is also very eye-catching. Heather also creates lovely aprons, clutches, and charm bracelets. Have a look at all the wonderful offerings Sunshine Designs, Etc. has in stock.

Dime Store Daze


Terri Ventura creates lots of interesting jewelry that can be found in her Etsy shop Dime Store Daze. The Everything but the Kitchen Sink bracelet is a fascinating collection of various found items. I love the sterling silver Batman charm bracelet, too. Terri also creates intriguing pendants using dominoes and dice. If you are looking for a fabulously unique piece of jewelry, this is definitely a shop to check out!

Quince & Clover


Since I've had fall & Halloween on the brain, I had to share these adorable pumpkin onsies by Quince & Clover. This Etsy shop has lots of terrific baby goods, including the little princess onsie and burp cloth sets. You'll also find adorable bibs & diaper and wipe bags that make wonderful baby shower gifts.

Katsai


Tired of shopping at chain stores & seeing tons of people wearing the same outfit you just purchased? If so, check out the made-to-order unique pieces by Katsai. I love the hand-printed heart flowers halter top, as well as the tie front cardigan wrap. And the edgy asymmetric shrug is sure to set you apart from the crowd. I think my favorite apparel piece is the red & black top - adorable! Katsai also offers wonderful hand-printed tote bags, such as the swirly flower bag.