Modish

It's like I'm here, but I'm not, woah man

So, as mentioned in my previous post, I will be heading up to Portland this weekend and will be there for an entire week!  Now, if I can get my butt into gear, I won't leave you hanging.  There will be posts scheduled to release over the next week, so it should feel like I've never even left.  Just wanted to let y'all know because I won't be able to respond to your comments/emails until I return, and also, in case there's some super funky formatting issue, it'll just have to sit there like an eyesore all week cause I won't be able to fix it (let's hope that doesn't happen tho!)  So, this is goodbye for now!  I'll be back next week "ghost" style, and back for real on Oct 7th!  (which, by the way, is the day that I'll be choosing and notifying the lucky goodie box winner!!)  Ta ta for now, have a good weekend!  Drink some Sam Adams Octoberfest beer! (that's what I'm doing right now, yummmm....) 

Take me to the trees please

At this time last year, I went up to Portland for my friend's birthday and it was drizzly and grey (which, coming from sunny 320 days a year Reno, I liked!) and all the leaves were starting to turn and drop creating carpets of bright gold and skylines of red.  Well, I'm leaving this weekend for Portland again, and I have a feeling it's not gonna be quite the typical Portland weather I've been hoping for (it's still in the 80's up there, damn!)  Yay, for locals, boo for me.  Well, while I whine and hope for the trees to change, I'll just stare at this cute fall trees bag by Goodmorning, morning!   
I love the shape and style of this gathered handbag, and the vintage fabric featuring brown trees and little apples is cute and absolutely perfect for fall!  I can see myself strolling down Alberta carrying this little diddy, which seems the perfect size to carry a wallet, some mags (for when the boy stops in a bike shop for who knows how long) a flask, I mean, bottle of water, whatever's clever.  Take a look at the many exceptionally cute offerings at Goodmorning, morning! and wish me luck on getting some gen-u-wine gloomy Portland weather!

The wait is over!

I don't know about you, but I've been waiting anxiously for the lovely, talented Lisa Congdon's shop to open and that day, my friends, is finally here!  I've been following her artistic travails and successes in her blog, A Bird in the Hand (which you should check out, especially if you're an artist or crafter) and have long since been an admirer of her work.  I'm glad that it's now available to purchase!  Not only is it beautiful and heartfelt, it's affordable! (fancy that.) 
There are currently 20 art pieces available, and the shop will be updated in the next couple weeks with more lovely goods (hopefully with some of her pillows and mod birds which I love!)  Explore the wonderful pieces available in the shop now, and keep tabs on Lisa's additions by reading her blog! 

Site of the Week: Formoda

Formoda is the marriage of form and fashion from the design mind of Marcy Grant.  What happens when form and fashion get together?  Functional yet stylish creations are born, keen to a sense of structure and contemporary design.  Formoda brings these elements to all its products, from jewelry to clothing, each colorful, warm, and a bit sculptural.  Just take a look!

Substantial yet delicate necklaces:

Feminine and unique earrings:

 

And colorful, fun screen-printed tees:

Form and fashion truly are inextricable at Formoda, whose products are a unique and lovely interpretation of both.  Explore all they have to offer!

This ain't no traveling circus

Yes!  I was seeking some great papergoods, and great papergoods I got!  These wonderful and handy little notepads are from a site that is new to me, but seems to already be wearing its way into my little heart, dog & pony show designs!  They feature alternating images of a sunset and a little lone pine, designed by the creative powerhouses, Melissa Altman and Jen Garrido (Jen also is available for bachelor parties!)  I still use notepads daily, for grocery lists, to-do lists, to jot down html color codes, web addresses, and bloggy ideas.  You can probably find less nerdy ways to use yours.  These are only a small sampling of the goodness to be found at dog and pony show where there's also an adorable kitty card that I think I must own, and other wonderful greetings.  Check out the goods for yourself! 
*side note, I'm so glad I finally figured out what "dog and pony show" really means! (I had no idea in this post a few months ago.)  Bless you Wikipedia!

Lush and lovely

Ooo, pretty things, pretty little things are everywhere!  I'm lovin the pretty things from Prismera Design's new fall collection - the colors are perfect and the styles are feminine without being frilly.  I really like these Riena earrings featuring antiqued gold hoops that look hefty and delicate at the same time, paired with gorgeous hand-cut violet garnets (I'm so glad this deep plum color is back in style, it's so lush) and gold chain to add a little dangle.  These are perfect for fall, and when I say perfect, I don't mean you can go jump in the leaves with them, but you can definitely go downtown in your new boots and shop with them.  Take a look at all the lovely new earrings at Prismera Design! 

September Giveaway Goodies!

The end of the month is approaching- do you know what that means?  Giveaway time!  We have some goooood stuff yet again, including tote bags, many wonderful cards, jewelry and much more!  The whole she-bang is worth over $400!  Would you like a chance to win all this handmade goodness?  Just sign up for the newsletter!  A winner will be chosen at random from the list of newsletter subscribers on Oct 7th (a bit delayed because I'm headed to Portland all next week...) so you have about 10 days to sign up for your chance to win!  Win what?  Well, I thought you'd never ask!

Amy Burhoe- fused glass ring
Wonderland Q- ileana pouch
Papered Together- card sampler set
Sprout Studio- flower hair pins
Shattered Glass- sugilite cabochon
India*Romeo- tote bag and notebook
Anna Bella- string & button notes, magnet, stamps
Young & WithIt- gnome stationery set
Whimsy Wool- felted handbag
Prairie Luxe- perfume
Mmm Fiber- wool scarflette
Krista Raak- embellished silk brooch
Dear Monday- birthday card
Stiletto Heights- mixed media collage art card
Shades of Violet- gift tags & enclosure card
White Stone Stitchery- garden tote bag
Everything ok!- crocheted tea cozy
Alicia Bock- greeting card
Flat Earth Jewelry- jade flower & crystal earrings
Blissful- business card wallet
Sewnsational- martini wristlet
Plus, goodies from some Sampler contributors: Asta Arts, Sabrina's Charm, Gifts Define, Eclectic Elements and Renee's Paper & Yarn.

Holy indie moly!  Please browse around the shops of all the lovely contributors, and remember, sign up for the newsletter by Oct 7th for your chance to win!  Good luck, and thank you thank you thank you to all the indie shops who donated prizes!!!

Time's a wastin!

Ok, this is short notice, really short notice, but, I was just perusing my friend Emery's vintage e-bay shop and saw the most adorable little tweed coat!  You must bid on it.  It's long, it's tweed, it's got rad buttons, puff sleeves, an a-line cut and a mandarin collar!  I mean, what more could you want in a stylish, "I know it's cold outside, but I still want to look good" winter coat?  Pair it with some wool tights, slouchy boots, a long scarf and you'll be set.  So, what's the catch?  Well, the auction will be over in, oh, 18 hours.  But that's plenty of time to get your bootie over to Emery Vintage and bid away!  I know it's not cold yet in most parts of the world, but you'll regret it when it does turn chilly and you don't have that perfectly lovely little tweed coat to wear, now won't you?  Yeah, that's what I thought.  May the bidding war begin!

In da hood, yo...

Yes!  One of my favorite things about fall weather is hoodies!!  I just got so excited at the thought of breaking some out.  We still have some cooling off to do, but it's on the horizon, any day now.  What's even better than a rad hoody for fall?  A rad hoody for fall that's customized just for you by the talented miss Melissa of Lekkner!  Have a favorite t-shirt from the 80's that's just too big and too ugly to wear now?  Well, let Melissa re-invent it as a hoody!  You send her a tee, let her know what contrasting colors/patterns you're thinking about to match, and she'll whip it up into an ultra stylee, completely one-of-a-kind creation just for you!  Read up on all the reconstruction information to see how it works, and check out all the different designs you could have, from hoodies like this to tanks, tees, even dresses!

Oh joy!

If you like bags, better get ready, because I've found a motherload of bags here from Becky Oh!  Handmade with lovely, funky, feminine fabrics, each bag is one-of-a-kind and oh so stylish.  There's many different styles to choose from, all fashioned from the high-altitude Andes bred brain of Becky herself, who's cultural flavor and worldly style translates into each of her pieces.  I am especially fond of the bolsa style bag, like this one hee-yah:
The bolsa bag can be a clutch or a wristlet, but it's darling either way.  This one is made with a heavy cotton canvas for your more casual affairs, in a fall friendly chocolate brown with light blue flowers.  I love the way it's shaped- puckered and pleated- it looks very sophisticated.  Take a peeksie at the other bolsa colors as well as the many other, equally wonderful, handbag styles.  They'll have you squealing "oh!" with glee!