Inviting Style Designs

Inviting Style Designs features custom books and journals for all of life's special occasions. Custom baby books, pregnancy journals, and wedding planners are just a few of the items offered by designer Danielle Joeckel. These custom, unique pieces can be used as gifts for someone special or as a treat for yourself. Each month there is a different "Book of the Month" making that particular book 10% off for the entire month. When placing your custom order, you will be able to specify your choice of ribbon, cardstock colors, and your choice of font. *Special Offer: Buy any book & receive 10% off another book of equal or lesser value. Include code funky10 in notes to seller to redeem offer. Expires December 20, 2010. (pictured: Custom Bridal Organizer)

SparklePanda Design

Austin-based designer Sharon Binns showcases a variety of one-of-a-kind children's clothing at SparklePanda Design. All of her offerings are made using repurposed vintage and modern fabrics resulting in adorable retro-inspired clothing. All little girls look cute in plaid skirts & Sharon currently offers two in green (pictured) and blue. Another lovely skirt is the multi-colored stripwork skirt made from four vintage pillowcases. And perfect for warm weather days are the various sundresses and wide-leg pants. And don't miss out on the darling yellow & black Baby Ruffle Pants.

Cal&Bram

Cal&Bram is a new company 'where petal meets metal.' Their line of children's clothing is "doing the robot" in a fashion-forward way! Handmade robot applique's, each with their own bio, adorn super-soft 100% cotton garments, sizes infant-6T. The whimsical & modern designs put a new spin on geekery that parents, as well as children, are sure to love. Cal&Bram offers a variety of baby bibs featuring handmade Eco-Fi felt applique robots. Little girls will look absolutely adorable in the comfortable cotton dresses. For the littlest of littles, there's various infant gowns featuring similar robot designs. My personal favorite is the girly robot, Laquinda, featured on a cute pink ringer onesie. All products make wonderful gifts for new parents & children or as a treat for the little robot-lover in your life. Visit Cal&Bram's main website for additional information AND robot bios.

Take Three - The Shops @ Funky Finds

Cynthia Sickler of Demonstrative Amigurumi Bears and Friends has several Amigurumi patterns available so you can create your own funky friends! She has been designing and making bears and Friends since 1992. The Bobbly Wobbly Puppy Amigurumi PDF pattern is pictured above.

A Snails Pace features a variety of hip, handmade crafts created from fabulous recycled finds. I really like the Sweet Shutterbug Pin Up Girl Scrabble tile pendant, as well as the Birdcage illustration print on vintage dictionary paper.

Texas-based Heather Best creates funky decorative lamps using glass blocks. Lamps by HB offers lamps in various themes, including babies - a perfect baby shower gift or decoration!

Jennifer Ladd

I am not a big fan of the cold dreary weather we have been experiencing here in Texas. I thrive on bright sunshine-filled days. That is why Jennifer Ladd's lovely bright creations really caught my eye today. Jennifer creates bags, purses, and baby items that lean toward simplicity, sleek lines, and modern design. The bright colors and bold, hip prints add excitement to each piece. The Christmas Joy baby booties are absolutely adorable! The floral laptop bag is a stylish, yet functional, accessory. And I would LOVE to have the painter's palette clasp clutch purse for myself! The bold & bright clutch purse is another bag I wouldn't mind adding to my collection. If you need a last minute, but terrific gift, Jennifer offers gift certificates in various denominations.

*Don't forget to enter the See Kai Run giveaway before Midnight CST!

See Kai Run - Big Blog Giveaway!

We are thrilled to be a part of See Kai Run's BIG BLOG GIVEAWAY! This wonderful company is generously giving away over 140 pairs of shoes from their current Fall Collection all over the internet before the end of the year.

See Kai Run, popular manufacturer of the perfect first shoe for new walkers, has been running their special event, Share a Pair, this holiday season for children in need. They will match the sale of each pair of shoes sold through their site from November 1 through December 31 with a donation to Soles4Souls, an international charity dedicated to providing footwear to disadvantaged people around the world.

Smaller, the newest member of the footwear family, features soft-soled baby booties that are as stylin' as See Kai Run, but for the youngest among us. Sizes range from 0-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months and 12-18 months.

See Kai Run's sister company, Eleven, offers the perfect next-sized shoe for every occasion. Eleven's shoes are perfect for toddlers through early school age children (age 3-8) as they offer independent styles and forward colors and feature soft leather uppers with flexible, durable rubber soles for superior traction. With no break-in period, the shoe's cushioned insole makes each step a comfortable one, and all shoes feature easy on and off.

GIVEAWAY: We have FIVE fantastic pairs of shoes to giveaway! These shoes are so cute they almost make me want a baby of my own (notice I said ALMOST). To enter, visit the See Kai Run website & leave a comment on THIS POST noting your favorite pair. Please mention the shoe size you would like to win. Giveaway ends at Midnight CST, Friday, December 19.

For an extra entry, mention this giveaway on your blog or website & leave the link in the comment section. Below is a list of the shoes up for grabs.

1. Julie Boot in Pink - Limited Edition - Size US 4
2. Paul Trainer in Blue - Limited Edition - Size US 3
3. Brian - Blue Suede Shoes - Size US 7
4. Jake Trainer - Cream & Brown - 9-12 months
5. Monica Mary Janes - Red with hearts - 6-9 months

Polkadot Papoose Baby Sling Winner

The winner of a baby sling from Polkadot Papoose is....Rosie and Derek! Congratulations!

Saari Design

Regina Saari is the hard-working & talented mom behind Saari Design. In business since 2001, Saari Design offers unique, high-quality handmade gifts that are reasonably priced with each item being made to order. Many of Regina's designs are perfect for babies, such as the booties and bibs. I love the rockin' red vinyl glitter bib! There's also great items perfect for your beloved pet like the faux fur beds. And while you're at it, why not treat yourself to a stylish faux fur apron? I'm also digging the Christmas stockings available in a variety of cool patterns. Custom orders, special sizes and wholesale inquiries are always welcome at Saari Design. Receive a 15% discount with coupon code funkyfinds. Expires November 15.

The Stork Store

The Stork Store is a fantastic shop specializing in baby items & gifts. The personalized nostalgic wood room signs feature vintage illustrations & can be personalized with your child's name and favorite saying. Wall letters are another great way to decorate a child's space. If you are looking for a unique gift for a child, have a look at the personalized step stools & chairs. I love the hanging wall plaques, as well.

Rose & Duke

Jessica Fields Dunlap learned how to crochet and embroider as a child during summer programs in the public school system in New York. Jessica began selling her handmade jewelry and painted t-shirts as a teenager on the streets of New York City's East Village. She now has her own business, Rose & Duke, named after her great aunt and uncle. I adore the trees & little deer onesie that is appliqued using Japanese fabric & vintage ric rac. Jessica's embroidered designs are all fabulous, as well. And I would love to have a tasty pink popsicle tee for myself! You can also purchase pieces customized with your child's initial or name. As you can see, Rose & Duke is a premier place to find unique & fabulous children's clothing & accessories. Many thanks to Jessica for donating a gift certificate for the children's goods giveaway!

March Children's Goods Giveaway

Today kicks off our March children’s goods giveaway! I received an overwhelming response from designers & have well over $1,000 worth of merchandise to give away. Fifteen lucky readers will receive three items each! Thank you to all the generous artists & designers who have donated their wares this month.

Giveaway Guidelines:

Visit the businesses listed on the March giveaway page that have donated prizes. Leave a comment on this post including a link to one of your favorite items. You may enter multiple times - up to 45 to be exact - by linking to a product by a different designer in each comment. Be sure to leave your name and email address or website link so I can contact the winners.

This month’s contest begins Tuesday, March 25th & ends at midnight CST Monday, March 31st. Winners will be chosen on April 1st by using a random number generator & will then be notified by email & announced on Funky Finds.

Etsy Dallas Trunk Show Recap (and giveaway!)

Saturday Joe & I had the pleasure of attending the second Etsy Dallas trunk show. After a rocky start to the morning (ie: car accident), we arrived to find tons of terrific vendors displaying their fabulously funky designs. We caught up with previous Funky Finds including Patti Haskins, Designing Diva, Harrilu, & Tefi Designs. It's wonderful to see these designers regularly, giving us the opportunity get to know them & their work. We also met many new designers who are definitely Funky Finds!

Cindi Albright's Christian-based company, Rustique Art, features beautiful hand-crafted crosses. The vintage beaded crosses are stunning (pictured). Cindi is more than happy to create custom crosses to match any specific color scheme you request. Rustique Art also features barbed wire crosses, steel crosses, and more.

It was a pleasure visiting with the mother daughter team that is Moon's Harvest. This dynamic duo creates a wide array of bath & body products, including bubbly bars & dry oil mists. I will be reviewing many of their products later this week. Also, don't miss the fantastic one-of-a-kind hand-crafted jewelry designed by Erica Jean.

Susan Bradford of Sadie's Things creates beautiful antiqued brass jewelry. Using her own methods to speed up the aging process, Susan works in her "lab" to create a unique look. I was determined to treat my mom (and myself!) to some of Susan's earrings, but it was not easy choosing from all the gorgeous designs. (pictured)

We had a wonderful chat with two charismatic women who shared a booth. Mary's Madness features cool charm bracelets, vintage button jewelry & much more. This designer also has another Etsy shop, The Altered Black Sheep, showcasing unique pieces such as the silverware jewelry. Booth-mate Ellen Bennett of Ellen's Treasures is a delightful bundle of energy. She designs handbags (pictured), & children's items, such as burp cloths & bibs. I loved the Let's Meet for Coffee bag.

Christy Robinson was another jewelry designer I enjoyed visiting with. Christy actually has a studio located at the site where the trunk show was held. It was interesting to see the space where she designs & sells her designs on a regular basis. Christy strives to create unique jewelry that is hip & affordable. Her hand-stamped designs were among my favorites, as well as the rings.

We also met Cherry of Cherry's Creations & Tamara of TP Designs, both of which are participating in upcoming funky giveaways. Cherry designs jewelry which features recycled & repurposed elements. The wire wrapped pendants are exceptionally fabulous! Tamara is a talented photographer & artist whose work would be a great addition to any space. (pictured)

Good Scents Bath Company offers a variety of products designed to pamper you from head to toe. I purchased some of the Luscious Lips ultra moisturizing lip balm & I have to tell you this stuff rocks! Created using Shea Oil, Natural Vitamin E Oil, & Sun-bleached Beeswax this lip balm stays on forever. Good Scents now offers Luscious Lips Tints, as well. Check out the sale section for lots of great deals.

*GIVEAWAY: Please visit these vendors' sites. Link back to a designer or product you especially like & you will be entered to win a grab bag from the Etsy Dallas Trunk Show featuring coupons, samples, etc. Feel free to enter more than once. Contest ends Wednesday, February 13th at midnight CST. Winner announced on Valentine's Day!

Girl Land

Girl Land is a happy place for all the girly girls of the world to escape to. This shop's banner alone makes me giggly & happy. The product designs are equally charming, especially the sweet little suitcases. These are perfect for storing or transporting all sorts of goodies. This shop also has trinket boxes featuring images reminiscent of one's childhood. I especially love the baby onsies & bibs accented with vintage images. Have a look at all the vintage-inspired cuties Girl Land has to offer.

Keep Calm & Carry On

Based upon the British World War II propaganda poster, Mark Coop's products encourage you to Keep Calm and Carry On. The message still resonates today in our hectic world. You can find these simple, but meaningful words on a wide variety of items. The tees are available in many eye-catching colors. Other products include tote bags, children's apparel, and my favorite, retro flight bags. Have a look at all the cool products & don't forget to Keep Calm & Carry On. I myself think that's a great mantra!

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!

Rainbow Swirlz Kids

The children's tees by Rainbow Swirlz Kids are divine. My Entire Life is Being Blogged is a fabulous tee for any blogger's child. I love the smart aleck baby fat tee, too. There's also a great deal that allows you to order six onsies for one low price. Have fun shopping!

Three Green Apples

The minute I saw the stylish & functional pursonal by Three Green Apples, I knew I had to post about it! Other wonderful products include the SafeSpex case, the open pocket bibs, and sweet elephant Nina. Of course I love the porcupine (hedgie?) print on this pouch and the cute whales. Mom's don't miss the binky pocket blanket for your wee one either.