Hephzi Creations + Mi Bazaar Latino

In March, we had the pleasure of meeting two gals from Los Angeles. Angela of Hephzi Creations & Claudia of Mi Bazaar Latino drove halfway across the United States to participate in the 4th Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling we hosted in Fort Worth, Texas! Both are so sweet & friendly (a perfect fit for Texas!) and they had one of the cutest booth setups I've ever seen. I was ready to forward my mail, because I planned to move right in to the lovely space they had created!

Both Angela & Claudia have an aesthetic that perfectly suits me. It's a combination of vintage & kawaii, a perfect marriage in my opinion, and their products are nothing if not girly. The Hello Kitty & flower Swarovski iPhone case is a perfect example. Angela has been posting lots of updates on Facebook as of late & I have fallen head over heels in love with the embellished vintage bowling bags & boots.

Claudia of Mi Bazaar Latino also offers a large selection of lovely jewelry & accessories. The vintage flower corsage bracelet is one of my favs & I LOVE the coin purses. My bestie, Tamara, treated me to an Oh Deer brooch similar to this one & I wear it as often as possible. So fun! And both of us purchased a Hephzi Creations tee at the event. I love the graphic & the fit is great, but what really drew me to the design is the scripture from Isaiah 62:4 stating, "HIS delight is in YOU," which inspired the name Hephzi Creations.

Both designers are participating in a quite a few shows in California this summer, so be sure to stop by & tell them hello if you happen to be in the area. I promise you will be happy you did...just be sure to bring along your spending money!

(Pictured: 1. Booth Setup at Funky Finds Spring Fling; 2. Vintage Bowling Ball Bag; 3. Oh Deer Brooch)

SizzleStrapz

SizzleStrapz offers a variety of colorful fashion camera gear, including camera straps and bags. The handmade straps are padded for extra comfort and made to be used with DSLR Nikon, Cannon, and Sony cameras. I especially love the bright purple blossoms strap. The camera cases are handmade in the USA with extra padding using waterproof & weather-resistant materials. They have been quoted as "stylish, funky designer bags which are light and compact for the modern woman and man". The large Fantasy Garden bag is gorgeous. SizzleStrapz also offers "leather-ized" straps (straps with genuine leather ends with riveted accents), including a great houndstooth design (pictured), and custom DSLR camera bags. They also welcome custom orders.

Red Delicious

Emma Roscoe, artist and owner of Red Delicious, creates bags that look good and work even better. The Red Delicious Annual Winter Warmer Sale is currently in effect through Sunday, January 31. Selected bags are 40% off as long as supplies last. This is a great opportunity to pick up a stylish damask clutch or a unique & colorful Chopstick handbag. Emma also creates messenger bags available in a variety of sizes. The Mini Messenger is perfect for toting essentials while the Large Messenger allows you to carry lots of stuff with ease and comfort. If you miss this sale, remember to visit Red Delicious Bags on Etsy, Emma's online outlet store. There you'll find the best deals on discontinued styles every day. Check out the Red Delicious blog for announcements and other pertinent information.

Super Duper Things

Louise Evans creates Super Duper Things, including jewelry, bags & miscellaneous gift items. Diamond in the Rough is a unique rope necklace featuring a giant sparkling (plastic) "rock." Of course, moustaches never fail to be humorous & the Lush Leather Moustache necklace is no exception. I also like the leather animal silhouettes that are available framed in vintage frames & embroidery hoops. And, if you're feeling a bit woodsy yourself, you may want to sport a pair of antler-shaped leather earrings. Check out Louise's blog for more information and images.

Back to school!

1. I love the fun Be Yourself notebook from Rock Scissor Paper!

2. Take notes in a vintage Bingo Card Sketchbook by Crab Apple Designs.

3. Ditch the plastic baggies & utilize reusable sandwich bags by Britgal Designs.

4. Carry your books in a Funky Finds tote bag this year!

Jayda

Jayda, a previous find, recently launched their newly designed site that now serves as the portal to all their brands. JaydaWedding is the place to find eco-friendly wedding & shower invitations and favors. JaydaBaby has a wide selection of green baby announcements & shower invites. Order your baby announcements from the Classic or Luxe collection & you will receive a free matching baby bag. And JaydaEvent covers just about every other occasion you can think of, including moving, birthdays and holidays. Don't miss the eco-chic gift bags complete with rewritable gift tag.

hu.made

New Mexico-based hu.made creates beautiful hand-made bags and accessories. The Malt Shop handbag is a beautiful bag constructed of recycled robins egg blue twill with contrasting red stitching. The Hot Cold wallet constructed of tough, recycled, teal raw silk would be a great compliment to this bag. I also like the Berry Bud Bag that is lined with a colorful, recycled floral print cotton fabric. And pick yourself up a handy Crumb bag that is perfect for holding cash, cards, coupons, receipts, crumbs, and much more!

Private Treasures

Private Treasures is a great place to find beautiful lingerie and jewelry bags that make wonderful gifts. Patricia Funegra uses exquisite imported silks, shiny crystal beads and soft linings to create pieces that give women a way to take care of their private, intimate and most prized possessions. The Oscar Pair is a luxurious set of bags named after designer Oscar De La Renta. I love the feminine floral print used to create the limited edition Purple Garden lingerie bag. And the Radiant Bride set is the perfect gift for the blushing bride you know & love. Of course, if you're a bit on the wild side, there's something for you as well. Don't miss the fabulous Simply Leopard set!

SugarLust

SugarLust features the work of Portland-based artist Christina who likes to work with reclaimed and vintage material. I love the funky vinyl accessories that are embellished with cute appliques, such as the bright octopus coin purse. The vinyl messenger bags are durable water resistant pieces that you can carry anywhere and everywhere. There's lots of great designs to choose from ranging from a cute squirrel to cut out robots. Notice that the bags are all lined with coordinating fabric that adds a punch of color. And, if you're looking for a unique men's gift, treat your guy to a reclaimed tie that is detailed with unique vinyl designs.

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!

Goody Green Bags

Goody Green Bags are reusable bags for the style conscious and environmentally friendly shopper. The bags are made from non-woven polypropylene - a coated, water resistant material that is lightweight, durable, fire resistant and washable, and are available in a variety of eye-catching patterns. Goody Green Bag was selected as the official "loot bag" for the American Music Awards in November & were distributed to over 100 VIP Celebrities. They will also be part of the 2009 Oscar and Golden Globe pre-parties as an effort to encourage celebrities to take a simple step towards saving our Planet. I really like that these bags fold up nice & neat making them easy to stow away until you need them. Products are currently discounted by 15%, so grab yours quickly!

hotSACKS

It seems now more than ever people are conscious about replacing plastic bags with reusable bags. Of course, you don't necessarily have to sacrifice style to be eco-friendly. hotSACKS, a company conceived by photographer Diana Nethercott, features a line of affordable, re-usable bags that incorporate cutting edge fashion while respecting the environment. The bags are available in a variety of shapes and styles ensuring that shoppers are sure to find one that fits their needs. The best buys are the ultimate sets that include five bags. This is great for those who need more than one bag when shopping or the sets can be split up & shared with others. You will also find Meshy hotSACKS, strong reusable produce bags. hotSACKS are a great eco-conscious gift you can be proud to share with loved ones this holiday season.

Eco-Kids

Eco-Kids creates products that keep kids safe from artificial dyes, metals and chemicals. The all-natural art supplies are made from plant, fruit and veggie extracts so parents never have to worry if it happens to go in little ones' mouths. The eco-dough is non-toxic, gluten, soy and dairy free. They also do not dry out like common dough does. The eco-dough goody bags include five colors of eco-dough and a bamboo rolling pin packaged in a recycled paper bag. Kids will love getting messy with the eco-fingerpaint come in powder form so that you can mix them to your desired consistency. One tube yields about 30 ounces of paint. Enter the November giveaway for your chance to win a tube of Natural Finger Paints & an Eco-kids Goody Bag!

Bag Green

Bag Green creates produce bags that are reusable, eco-friendly & all natural. This terrific company makes it easy to "go green" while doing your everyday grocery shopping. All the bags are made of 110% all natural cotton, a fiber that is sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable. The bags are available in a variety of styles, such as the retro-esque Phyllis. Wilma Viola is another 50s style design that is available. Of course, it's also a great idea to encourage others to BYOB, or Bring Your Own Bag, while you're out shopping for produce. Enter the August giveaway before it ends tomorrow night for your chance to win a 4 Pack of Large Produce Bags from Bag Green.

SNAP Design

Michelle Kline designs & creates all the unique SNAP Design products. It's apparent from the site's home page that Michelle is very hip & cool. The vinyl shoulder bags are roomy & colorful and are completed with decorative top stitching & complimentary fabric lining. Michelle also creates a similar line of laptop bags & carry-all tote bags. There's also small bags perfect for carrying makeup, loose change, and more. Perhaps my favorite item Michelle creates is the original record book. These one-of-a-kind books are made using vinyl records as the cover and contain blank pages, as well as clear pockets. Enter the May giveaway for your chance to win one of these awesome books. You will also receive a *Free* Date Planner with the purchase of any Record Book when you enter "funky finds" in the "where did you find us?" section at check out!

Yellow Owl Workshop

Yellow Owl Workshop features limited edition cards, announcements and stationery designed by Christine Schmidt. All her works are created from her original drawings & each handmade screen print is signed and numbered. This San Francisco based studio is a great place to find works that are as perfect for display as they are for use in correspondence. In addition to cards, Christine also produces gift items such as journals and canvas bags. And, if you're in the area, Christine welcomes studio visitors by appointment.

Little Cookie

Little Cookie is a local designer I had the pleasure of meeting at the Urban Street Bazaar in Dallas. This designer specializes in making Kanzashi which are hair ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles. Each petal in these delicate designs are hand dyed, hand folded and hand mounted one at a time. The Double Periwinkle hair clip is beautiful, as is the Sunny Kanzashi comb. Little Cookie creates other fabulous accessories including the super apple messenger bag which I love. The adorable Mona messenger bag is another favorite!

Etsy Dallas Trunk Show

Saturday I attended the first-ever Etsy Dallas Trunk Show. It was a smaller event, but one where quality over quantity was rule of thumb. I've mentioned Stephanie of Tefi Designs who is the Etsy Dallas team leader before. Stephanie creates fabulous, affordable jewelry & accessories. I was proud to purchase several of her designs to give this holiday season. It was also a pleasure to meet & visit with Stephanie's mom, Constanza, of Knit Sisters. Constanza's sister lives in Columbia & knits beautiful scarves that she sends to the States. Both of these sisters are talented knitters.

Brenda Morris of B.Liscious creates wonderful reversible tote bags, as well as custom baby onesies. Her onesies (pictured here) are unique because you can have them printed with a baby's name, birth date, and other relevant information. These would make wonderful baby gifts!

Scribble Scrabble is another one-woman operation I have featured in the past. Mandi creates the most intricate beaded designs. Her colorful works of art are available wrapped around pens, as well as custom pieces ranging from beaded portraits to Christmas ornaments. I do not see how she has the time, nor patience, for this intricate art form. Her work truly is fabulous!

ebraunnagel showcases well-made handbags created by Linda. Her designs range from mild to wild! Seeing her products in person gave me the opportunity to see that her items are of the upmost quality.

Carrie of Atom-In & Abby of Pulp Reality teamed up to showcase their wares at the show. I really liked their setup & displays. Both designers said they are just starting out, so keep tabs on their shop. Their pendants & other items are terrific.

I had the pleasure of viewing Pamela Michelle's work at previous showcases, but Saturday I had time to really take in all her beautiful designs. The etched wood pendants are gorgeous & so unique. Also, if you are looking for original artwork Pamela Michelle is a great resource.
I thoroughly enjoyed this event & look forward to more Etsy Dallas shows in the future.

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!

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.