LuckyBird Studio

Founded by Providence resident Kim Turner Clark, LuckyBird Studio is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. To pay tribute to her beloved little state, Kim has created a line of handmade jewelry featuring bold, original graphics that uniquely represent this area. The rez-o-rama paper series includes pendants, earrings, rings and cufflinks made from metal, paper & resin. These accessories are affordable, yet frivolous, & make life just a little more colorful and Rhody-centric. Several designs are available, including Map of RI, Map of Providence, the RI Anchor and the bright red heart of Providence. The Rhody-line is available online & at local events and various retail venues, including Rhody Craft 100, a seasonal shop in Hope Artiste Village dedicated to selling only locally handmade art and craft. RC100 is open every Saturday from 10am-2pm, November through May, alongside the ever-popular Wintertime Farmers Market. RC100 also produces events including the twice yearly Craftopia, a super-duper day of indie art, craft, food & music. The next Craftopia, featuring 65 eclectic artisans, will be held Sunday, November 14, 2010.

Milkweed and Honey

Milkweed and Honey features the work of a talented husband and wife team, Sara and Tom Toohey. Their shop is stocked with unique accessories, such as recycled bottlecap cuff links. I also like the vintage hand-painted ceramic pendants adorned with kitsch animals & flowers. And the Falling Leaves Necklace, comprised of delicate, shiny leaves, is gorgeous. If you're looking for accessories that are bit bolder, they have that, too. The brightly-colored wooden leaf earrings and Tin Flower earrings fit the bill.

*GIVEAWAY: Enter to win a pair of lightweight, sterling silver Dragonfly earrings. Simply visit Milkweed and Honey & leave a comment on this post noting your favorite design. Giveaway ends at Midnight EST, Saturday, August 22.

Father Knows Best

Father's Day is Sunday, June 21, and we all know men can be hard to shop for. Below are a few unique gift ideas for you to peruse.

1. The BUST Boobtique has lots of unique gifts for men ranging from knitting & crochet books to tallboy koozies.

2. Cupcake Tree Designs' hand-carved tie stamp is the perfect tool to create funky Father's Day cards for all the men in your life.

3. The Brick Kiln is a wonderful source for customizable pottery. Let Dad know that he's your hero with a personalized dish.

4. Dads are sure to appreciate a custom designed keychain created by Kelly of KMW0014.

5. Show Dad that you know he's a class act with a beautiful, or should I say handsome, pair of customized cuff links from Tiny Tokens Designs.

6. Baby K'tan currently has their Camouflage Carriers marked down 25%. These make a wonderful first Father's Day gift! Offer expires June 30.

The Humane Society of the United States

Is your Mom, Grandma, Aunt or other special lady in your life a dog lover? My Mom is & I know she would love the Little Charmer dog necklace offered by The Humane Society of the United States. This piece was designed by jewelry artisan Mark Poulin & is fully encased in a sterling silver frame. The Momma's Pocket Pup Necklace, also designed by Mark Poulin, is another adorable piece. And I absolutely love the Dog Mom necklace! It reminds me of the Carrie necklace seen on Sex & the City that character Carrie Bradshaw wore. Of course, it's not all about the women, even though Mother's Day is on the horizon. Male dog lovers will greatly appreciate the sterling silver Paw Print cuff links.

Thank you to all the Spring Fling vendors & attendees that made our charitable raffle such a success. We raised $340 for the Humane Society of North Texas and eight dogs were adopted at our event!

adaptive reUse

Christine Terrell, the creative force behind adaptive reUse, is a cool designer that participated in the Funky Finds Spring Fling. It was great seeing her funky work in person. She re-purposes things some might consider trash, such as steel from printed containers. Christine says she tends to be drawn to bright colors and bold graphics and many of her pieces reflect this. Her Etsy shop is full of funky accessories, such as the beautiful Burgundy Picnic pendant. The bright olive paisley earrings are also a favorite of mine. Men are sure to love the unique cuff links, such as the King Jack and Retro Red Splatt pairs. Christine has come up with an exceptionally funky design in the saucer earrings. Check out the adaptive reUse blog for more information.

Additions

Additions offers jewelry that puts a whole new spin on basic supplies found in any hardware store. Valerie William and her daughter create jewelry and accessories for women, as well as men. By recycling and repurposing hardware, the duo creates very unique pieces that will add interest to any wardrobe. The wrapped flower washer earrings will make the perfect gift for any mom this Mother's Day (May 10). And the flowered washer necklace compliments the earrings nicely. I love the nutty flower necklace that is made up of steel nuts, a lock nut, and a round crystal cabochon to form a fun flower pendent. Men are sure to love the washer cuff links and heavy metal key chain. Receive FREE SHIPPING when you mention Funky Finds in the comments section when ordering.

*GIVEAWAY: Enter to win a wrapped washer necklace from Additions Style. Visit Valerie's Etsy Shop & leave a comment on this post noting your favorite design. Giveaway ends at Midnight CST, Friday, April 24. Please include your email address.

WordWorks Jewelry

Sarah Blaine is a Santa Fe-based jewelry designer that recently opened a Shop @ Funky Finds. WordWorks Jewelry is stocked with sterling silver accessories that can be hand-stamped with your choice of words, phrase, quote, name, etc. The square stamped cufflinks are the perfect gift that can be personalized for your favorite man. Women will enjoy the four-sided stamped earrings that are matchless. One piece I think is especially uncommon is the sterling silver dog tag. This accessory is great for men, women, and even pets! Check out all of terrific designs WordWorks Jewelry has to offer.

CuffLinks.com

CuffLinks.com takes pride in having the largest selection of cufflinks in the world. With a roster of over 3,000 products, 25 designers and every category imaginable, they have cufflinks and accessories for every event imaginable. With Valentine's Day coming up, what better gift than something that has a personal touch and, best of all, is sure to fit? Give your sweetheart a reminder of how much you love him with the French heart cufflinks. The love grid pair designed by Thompson London are also fantastic. For those who prefer to give custom gifts, have a look at the engraved section. CuffLinks.com is a great place to find gifts for graduates, sports enthusiasts, and more.

Alana Lilie Designs

Austin-based designer Alana Lilie creates beautiful custom sterling silver photo jewelry. The photo charms make perfect gifts for mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers and more. Other photo gifts created by Alana Lilie include photo key rings and cuff links, two items that make perfect gifts for men. And the sterling silver bookmarks allow you to save your place in your books with style. Alana Lilie Designs is the perfect place to find custom gifts that will be cherished for years to come.

*GIVEAWAY - Closed: Win a custom photo charm necklace from Alana Lilie Designs. Visit Alana Lilie's website and leave a comment on this post noting a favorite item of yours. Giveaway ends at Midnight CST, Wednesday, February 4.

Starving Artist Bazaar

Jennifer Syfu of Starving Artist Bazaar is a talented, self-taught glass bead designer. Her beautiful jewelry collection includes earrings, necklaces & rings. All of the stone & silver earring designs are stunning. I especially love the Protozoan collection featuring necklaces, rings, hair accessories & cuff links. These one-of-a-kind pieces go quickly, so you’d best snatch them up immediately! You can find more of Jennifer’s designs in her Etsy shop & keep up with her latest designs & additions on her blog. Be sure to enter my jewelry giveaway for your chance to win a Protozoan ring donated by Starving Artist Bazaar.