Modish

My, what good taste in tees you have, Grandma!

Doiles, crochet and lace have all recently taken on a new and improved, modern twist.  Who knew Grandma had it right the whole time?  Here's one stunning example of how centuries old craft techniques have turned contemporary and oh so sexy: the Grandma's Lace Tee by Alison Rose.  It features a black lace cut-out with hand applique pieces on a vintage soft alternative apparel poofy sleeve tee.  One-of-a-kind, this sexy tee is sure to turn a few heads and may solicit a touch or two from curious onlookers.  Watch out.  Take a closer look at this pretty tee at Alison Rose, and be sure to check out the limited edition screenprinted tees and kooky light switch covers while you're there!

Boom bap! Bo-boom bap!

As a girl raised in the age of Beat Street, with a boyfriend who used to walk around with a piece of cardboard as his portable "surface" to practice his break moves on, I understand why this i-pod Ghetto Blaster Peel by Lime grabbed me in that certain special place.  No, not that special place, I mean my wallet.

Hey, I have a new video i-pod and am still using the little white flimsy felty case that came with it?  For shame, I say, for shame!  I had to buy it.  Plus, I'm all about the gray and turquoise color combo- perfection.  In fact, I think it was the blue peeking through the interior that forced my fingers to click, "I want it!"  Not to mention, it's oh so stylish and will protect my precious pod ever so well.  You can purchase this particular one at Pixelgirlshop, or see the full line of lovely peels and other cute accessories in the Lime shop! 

Bestill my heart

I'm very attracted to images of vintage ephemera featuring washed out sepia toned prints of women with oil painted cheeks and flowers in their hair.  Part of their appeal is their mystery- who was this woman?  What did she like to do?  Was she in love with someone?  But often vintage postcards, prints and such feel a bit like snooping, like you're prying into someone's personal life where you don't belong.  Well, now I've found the perfect combination of familiarity and vintage mystery- the Bespoke Collage by Paper Relics!

These hand collaged 8x10 prints are compiled from photographs that you (the customer) send in and which artist Hope Wallace lovingly puts the silly and frilly vintage touches on.  Perfect for a wedding gift, a very cool and unique family picture or a way to celebrate a long friendship, the sky's the limit really, as you can work with Hope to create whatever you have in mind for any occasion.  I'm so in love with these, I want one with me and my kitty!  I'll have to find some good pics to send in!  Order a collage for yourself, and browse around the site for lovely vintage inspired postcards, keychains, magnets and much more!  (I think I want almost everything!)

The ol' ball and chain

Never has the threat of living out your days with a ball and chain been so appealing, until now.  Mood Swing has re-invented the old cliche with this sleek, shiny, "ball and chain" necklace!
The ball is made from large brown sequins that catch the light oh so cleverly, and it hangs from a chain of copper.  Long, lean and shimmery, this would be perfect to dress up a skinny tank and jeans for a night out on the town.  See what just a little accessorizing can do for ya?  Check out this necklace, and other wonderful vintage inspired baubles at Mood Swing! 

New New New New!!

Yes folks, that's NEW times four!  (remember, with me, everything comes in fours.)  I'm skipping Music Monday today because I'm too excited to tell you about other things...here goes.

NEW #1: Modish has a new flowery look?  What do you think?

NEW #2: Remember that shopping directory I said I was going to make?  Well, it's up!  Sort of.  Right now, all of the sites that were featured in April are listed.  It will be frequently updated until I'm caught up to July, and updated weekly after that.  I wanted to show it to you now though, so you can bookmark it, tell your friends about it, and get a feel for how it's set up.  So, go ahead, check out the new Modish Indie Shopping Directory!  Your feedback is appreciated!

NEW #3: Spurred by frequent requests and a burst of motivation this weekend, Modish will now have a weekly newsletter!  Sign up now to stay abreast on my favorite finds from the week, receive special offers and discounts from indie businesses and be the first ones entered into a monthly giveaway for an indie goodie box!  The first issue won't go out until I have some subscribers <hint hint>, so sign up and help me put it into action!  It's gonna be purty.
*If you're an indie shop owner and may be interested in donating an item to the giveaway, please e-mail me for more info!

NEW #4: This news is more specifically for indie shop owners, but it's news all the same!  I'm now offering up banner creation services starting at only $10!  If you need an eye-catching banner quickly and cheaply, for your ad on Modish or any other site, just e-mail me!  Check out the advertising page for more info, samples and rates and put my graphic design skills to use for you!

Alright, I think that's it.  As you can see, I had a pretty productive weekend.  I'll be back later today with the usual posting goodness so, please go check out all the new stuff in the meantime!  Happy Monday!
<3 jena

Morning glory

If someone has a special day coming up, you can make it even more special with a pretty, handmade art card from Lisa Kaus.  Based off of original artwork by Lisa, printed on eggshell cardstock with a deckled edge, each card is lovely and unique!  There are many to choose from and I had a hard time picking just one, but was attracted to this colorful morning with tulips card.  It'd be perfect as a congrats on your new home card, welcome home card or get out of my home right now you lazy pig of a house-guest card.  Check out all the other gorgeous designs featuring flowers, birds, cakes, collages and other goodies all at Lisakaus.com! 

Sugar me Sveet.

Earlier this week I received a big ol' goodie box from Marie at the Sampler filled with more crafty goodness then I could handle!  One of my favorite items was this cute little flower brooch made from fabric scraps by sweet little Chandra of Sveet Couture.  I promptly wore it the very next day and received countless compliments!  It made me feel like the belle of the ball, the bees knees, the queen of Hamburger Hill (wha?).  So, I figure it can, and should, do the same for you. 
Each one is a little different and will spice up your plain ol' American Apparel tanks or corduroy jacket.  And, at $3.50 a pop, you can buy one for yourself, one for your seester, one for mama, one for your yoga instructor, one for your facialist...you get the idea.  Check 'em out at Sveet Couture or Chandra's etsy shop! 

Monosyllabic, almost.

Cute shirt.  Vintage.  Birds.  Pop art.  8 bucks?  What?  Say again?  Can't speak.  Just look.  Looks good. 
Mandarin collar.  Green, white.  Shoulder Ruching.  So cute!  8 bucks!  Pop Fizz! 

Site of the week: Snapcrafty

Snapcrafty is special in that it offers covetable items for indie shoppers and crafters alike!  Part shop, part supply store, it has original jewelry and accessories, as well as spinning fiber and beads.  Huh?  Yup, Sandra, the brains behind the operation, has created a new genre of indie shop altogether.  And it seems to have gotten her recognized, as her work has been seen gracing the pages of N.E.E.T. (my favorite!), won the Fredflare Next Big Thing contest, and was in a recent issue of Vogue's Knit1 magazine.  Way to go Sandra!  There's too much to love at Snapcrafty, but I'll attempt to cut it down and show you some of my favorite standouts:

Her lush vintage flower and vintage lucite apple necklaces are gorgeous:

These vintage hairpins and crafty patches are unique:

And for the crafters, there's hand-dyed spinning fiber and vintage beads! 

Whether you're looking to buy something pretty, or create something pretty, you can find what you need at Snapcrafty.  Stop on by and give Sandra a hello before she becomes too famous to write you back =). 

A little flower power

I'm a firm believer that drinks taste better when you're sipping them out of a cup you love.  I have a favorite mug that was my Dad's 30 years ago and has been handed down to me, and I swear, my coffee just tastes better when I drink from it!  Little Flower Designs seems to believe in that theory as well, crafting cute tea cups with feminine designs that are sure to last the ages.
This one looks a bit like some Martian landscape with red earth and strange plant forms.  Hand carved and glazed by Linda Johnson, this stoneware tea cup is not only pretty, it's dishwasher, microwave and oven safe!  Original and appealing, it's sure to add a little sweetness to any liquid that is lucky enough to fall within the rim, from tea to whiskey to soy milk.  Find this among other lovely items including sushi sets and tea pots, at Little Flower Designs.