Modish

Under the sea

I LOVE this necklace from Rena Tom's new autumn 2006 collection.  Elements of the sea are still apparent throughout her work for the fall, but I love that this piece hearkens to the ocean world without using an actual piece of sea life, like coral.  This little jellyfish like necklace features a black horn cap as the head with green tourmaline woven into sterling silver chain to serve as the tentacles.  Perhaps that's not what Rena Tom had in mind, but that's the first thing I thought upon seeing it.  Add a little ocean flair to your neckline this fall with this pretty, exotic and unique tourmaline tassel necklace. 

The countdown begins!

A new online crafty zine called What You Make It is set to launch tomorrow, August 1st!  It'll actually be online at 12am EST, so if you're a night owl, you can get a peek at it a little early!  What You Make It is written and edited by Melissa of April Fool Handmade.  It'll be packed full with the best that the D.I.Y. movement has to offer, from crafts to art to fashion.  Also, you'll be able to read interviews with some of the talented crafters/designers at the helm of the D.I.Y. ship.  So, be sure to log on, check in, and see what you make of What You Make It!    

Ooh lookie lookie...

...at what I just bought!  A vintage Zakka travel jewelry case from a new shop called Appleseed!  I've long since been trying to find a protective, yet sheik, yet girly case to carry my jewelry in when I travel.  (I do have quite a bit of jewelry seeing as how I make it, and all.)  Normally I travel without it because I don't have anywhere safe to put it, but alas, my dilemma is solved!  And solved so cutely! 

This is a one-of-a-kind vintage find- yay for me! Boo for you, I know.  But there's lots more vintage love to go around at Appleseed.  Check out the other cute finds that Meredith, Modish reader/long standing e-bay seller/Appleseed owner, has in her shop.  It's brand new so I'm sure there will be lots of updates and additions coming soon, so check in often!  And you can get sneak peeks at what's to come in Meredith's blog.  (LOVE those Melmac plates!)

D-lightful!

Totes are just a good thing to have a lot of.  Why?  Because you can use them for anything!  For your yoga/gym bag, book bag, shopping bag, farmer's market bag, dirty sweaty sandy beach bag, whatever you'd like to do, a tote has got you covered!  I think this one by sheila d is pretty and perfect for the summer- stash a book, some water and a sandwich in it on your trip to the park, or take it down to the local craft fair to hoard all your finds in style.
It's especially cool because it's reversible, with luscious pink corduroy on one side and a spicy floral pattern on the other.  Art Center grad, sheila d, had the bright idea to create totes that'll meld with your many moods (and outfits.)  Mixing and matching is always a covetable design element to me.  Check out the whole she-bang on the sheila d site, home to larger totes and small (and matching!) little coin pouches as well. 

Flip the switch

An often neglected, yet very practical place to add a little home decorating flair is your light switch covers!  Forget the drab, boring white ones, especially if you have a bold colored wall.  One of these Dexter and Emma Paper Goods light switch covers will add a burst of color to a monotone room, or can blend in nicely with your rust red living room or cerulean blue kitchen. 
I received one of these from the latest Sampler, and love it!  Unfortunately, it won't fit my current light switches (damn track lighting!) but, I hope to be able to use it when (yes when, not if) I move.  Each one is varnished for protection, and comes with handy little screws.  It's a fun, simple way to decorate, and at around $6 a pop, why not get one for each room in the house?  Check out the other designs at the Dexter and Emma etsy shop!

Modish Giveaway!

Okay, so I casually, kinda, sorta mentioned something about a "giveaway" a couple days ago and I just wanted to fill you all in on the actual details.  So.  Modish will be sponsoring a monthly giveaway for a gift box filled with tons of goodies made by some of the very indie businesses you've seen featured here, and others that you have yet to discover!  All you have to do to be entered into the giveaway is sign up for the Modish newsletter!  It will be a once weekly (or just about) newsletter detailing my favorite finds from the week, special deals for Modish readers only, and other good stuff.  I'm hoping to launch the first one on August 15th, and the first giveaway will be at the end of August.  I've already got some hairpins, earrings, notecards, bags, body products and more going into the first goodie box!  A winner will be randomly chosen from all newsletter subscribers at the end of each month.  So, get in on the goods, stay informed and be entered to win every month!  Just sign up!  Tell your friends to sign up!  Tell your husband/boyfriend/lover/roomate/dog to sign up for you!  Good luck, and thank you for helping the little Modish that could.  With your help, it'll be a steam train someday, soon!   

Someone get me an ice water.

This dress (and I use that term loosely) is just too hot to handle, and too sexy not to post!  I must be on a lace kick or something.  Perhaps its the fact that lace is very, um, breathable (?) in this heat wave we're having.  Well, whatever it is, I'm likin' it!  Check out this navy, vintage slip dress from Bleubird Vintage.  Probably meant as a slip when it was made, it could be your party dress now!  I'm in love with the lace detailing on the neckline and the ruffled hem.  Paired with a belt and some girlish accessories, you'll be the talk of the town, the hot mama on the block, the ow! in wow!  You get the picture.  This is an e-bay find, so if you're interested, you only have 4 days and 3 hours left from this moment to snatch it up.  Let the bidding war begin!  And thanks Katey from That's Hot for sharing the Bleubird Vintage love! 

Blik's for indies!

It's always nice when a larger, more established company, like Blik, elicits the design help of talented independent designers, like those seen on Threadless, rather than out right copies their designs (see: http://www.urbancounterfeiters.com/).  What ensues is pure genius in design collaboration that helps spread awareness of indie designers.  Blik, home to innovative wall decals for those with decorating A.D.D., sponsored a contest called Blik loves Threadless, which called for independent designers to submit ideas that would work for a) a threadless tee and b) a blik wall design.  The products of that collaboration are two new great sets of wall decals and two cute new tees!
We should be grateful for companies like Blik that are helping to increase awareness of talented indie designers, and doing it with such style!  (Via design*sponge)

Site of the week: Sweet Thunder

Like a hot, balmy summer's day when you're craving relief from the heat (which has been, um, everyday for the last 2 weeks in almost the entire country!) and then you hear it, the low rumbling thunder rolling in, and you know that rain will soon come to the remedy to cool off the land.  I thought there was no thunder as sweet as this, until I found Sweet Thunder.  From amazing vintage re-constructed jewelry to a custom wedding collection to beautiful ephemera collage notecards, Sweet Thunder will relieve you from all your accessorizing woes.  If you've seen the site before, take a look again, as jewelry maker Jenny and her card making hubby RJ have revamped the site and updated it recently with incredible new items.  Take a look at some of my faves!

Beautiful re-vamped vintage earrings:

And incredible re-vamped vintage necklaces:

Custom wedding accessories and reconstructed heirloom jewelry:

And gorgeous yet quirky handmade greeting cards:

If you need some relief from the summer sun, a drab outfit or a run of the mill birthday card, Sweet Thunder is here for ya.  And with free shipping and free gift wrap, there's really no excuse not to go explore it.  Just beware of the lightning. 

The ol' dog and pony show

What exactly does that mean, anyway?  The dog and pony show?  Is it to give one the run-a-round?  To put on a show for someone?  I googled it and got even more confused.  Someone enlighten me please?  Why am I talking about this in the first place, you ask?  Well, because of this cute little plaid pony coin purse that I found down at Lillie's Five and Dime!  She definitely ain't giving us the old dog and pony show with this one (at least, I don't think so...) with the lush suede feeling fabric and fancy red pony on the front.  Handmade in small batches by Lillie herself, this coin purse is a little bit country and a little bit glam.  Find it amongst notecards, pretty pillows and more all down at Lillie's Five and Dime!  10% of all sales go to the recovery in New Orleans, so hop on that pony and shop away!