Modish

Sponsor Spotlight: Cherry & Violet

Cherry & Violet is a sweet little handmade jewelry shop with lots of vintage flair. There's a summer sale going on right now! Plus Modish readers can receive an additional 15% off anything in the shop with the code MODISH15 at checkout. Thanks for supporting Modish, Angie! {SHOP}

The Cat's Meow

{image from Picocat}

June is almost over (wha?) so I figured it's high time for the Cat's Meow list this month (yay!) Some things that have been ringing my bell lately:

These adorable plush kitty friends from new (PDX based) shop Rad Cat would make cute couch companions! Made from vintage and reclaimed fabric so they're eco-friendly too.

I've been eyeing these awesome Ray-bans for a few weeks and they just went on sale. Come to momma! via Sage & Style

These fantastic notecards with colorful retro designs by Pie Bird Press would make excellent additions to my thank-you card collection. Via Eat, Drink, Chic.

And I love the new canvas + leather line of bags by Portlander, Entermodal- a sneak peek from photog Sweet Ronit!

This Let's Move to the Mountains print by In Haus Press speaks to my heaving mountain girl heart. Via Design Crush

Love these gorgeous tours of creative people in their spaces by another local photog, Carlie Armstrong, for her ongoing project, work.place.

And these are a bright idea for a different kind of watch and so so cute! From Aussie brand So Little Time. Via All the Mountains

The Piccola Mag premeire issue was just released and I have a little article in it 'bout shopping local- it's free and pretty, check it out!

These funky-fantastic bracelets made with antique African beads by Vanessa Mooney, at Cameo Noveau

And the talented miss Mati Rose let me know about her new venture with her artist friends Stefanie & Tiffany, The Teahouse Studio! It's an inviting creative art studio and workshop space in Berkeley, CA and I wanna gooo! They have lots of inspiring workshops up ahead- check em out!

And Michele at Tierra Verde sent me a way too generous thank you gift for a project I did for her (thanks again Michele!) and I am addicted to her soaps now. I love them all, including the felted one! My favorite tho is the Green Earth Gardener's Soap- it has tiny little scrubba dubba elements that feel sooo good on your hands and it's super foamy and smells fresh and yummy!

Eco-Friendly Find: DeafCatStudios

I'm a closet geology geek, so the trend towards big, gorgeous stones in jewelry gets me pretty excited. And I am loving the rings from Portland designers Tom and Lisa of Deaf Cat Studios.

Not only do the rocks they select, well, rock, but the gold and silver used to make their rings is recycled and sourced from an eco-conscious supplier.

Liz Grotyohann is a co-founder of cosa verde, a marketplace for handmade, environmentally-conscious goods.

The Cat's Meow

Ah, I haven't done one of these posts in awhile. I think these will be once-a-month or so posts from here on out, so let's call these my picks for May! Oh yeah!

I love these new mixed media pieces by Cori Kindred, inspired by vintage rock collections! She hand-picked each stone and instead of labeling them with their scientific names, she chose words inspired by their shapes and colors. Beauties! A couple left in her shop or see them in person at the West Elm pop up shop this Saturday here in Portland

And speaking of crystals, uh...woah! From five and two

I think our ears need something sparkly too, like these great sparkle post earrings from Tiny Galaxies (via Jillian Frances' blog!)

Or let's just paint our whole body in glitter, inspired by this beautiful photo shoot in the new Papercut mag. They just celebrated their one year anniversary- congrats Papercut!

Also love these summery hobo bags by Della in gorgeous authentic West African textiles. The whole line is made by local seamstresses in Ghana and working with Della gives them steady income, education in micro-financing and training in entrueprenuership. Style for a good cause!

This watercolor whale makes me happy, but would be great for a kid's room too! From Brooklyn artist, My Zoetrope

And gotta love these adorable espadrilles from Spanish shop Gaimo. I haven't a clue the price but they're darn cute. Thanks lovely reader Michelle from El Salvador for the tip!

I would be happy with any of these colors from essie's latest polish collection

This is my dream chair beyond all dream chairs from Sit & Read, upholstered with a super soft vintage blanket! (via Will from Bright Bazaar)

And I love these assymetrical, funky combo beaded bracelets by The Dull Diamond

And this little scallop skirt by Floremark out of Sweden- it's organic cotton and oh so adorable in navy!

And last but not least, this cut paper work by Sara Burgess is pretty dang incredible. And look at what that is, way up in the sky there? A bee! ;)

Happy Thursday ya'll. The weekend is so close, I can taste it!

Eco-Friendly Find: Native Drops

This might sound like the premise for a new Portlandia sketch, but living here I feel like I see a lot of feather earrings. And a tiny part of me wonders if I can pull off wearing a pair of long, long, dangly feathers, like this wispy and sustainably farmed set from Native Drops...

Luckily, if the non-feather-wearing-side of my consciousness wins out, there are plenty of other eco-friendly lovelies in her shop... all crafted from reclaimed leather and responsibly farmed feathers. And crafted with charity, too—Native Drops donates $1 to charitywater.org for every purchase, supplying safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

Liz Grotyohann is a co-founder of cosa verde, a marketplace for handmade, environmentally-conscious goods.

Amy Peters' Studio

Amy Peters has been making custom message jewelry for over 15 years that is "inscribed with hopes, dreams and absolute truths" And just in time for Mama's Day, Amy's offering Modish readers 20% off with the code "Modish20" thru April 30th. Thanks for supporting Modish, Amy! {MAIN SHOP} {ETSY SHOP}

The Cat's Meow

:: image source, by Lynn 

Making me purr this week...(seems I've got the springtime itch alright)

These adorable little DIY donuts from a tutorial over at ikat bag- they look good enought to eat!

These Scotch Naturals polishes are intriguing me, and 10% off at Beautorium right now- anyone tried them? Supposedly no base or top coat needed!

These needlepoint loafers are the stuff my granny-chic dreams are made of.

This cats of the world poster by Gemma Correll is TOO. CUTE! Over at L'Affiche Moderne.

This chickadee doormat might bring all the neighborood kitties to your door, from Modcloth

This gorgeous necklace from Asian iCandy, inspired by traditional Maio techniques

This spring-tastic new Blossom Pop collection from Bonbi Forest- makes me think of bubblegum and rollerskates and longer days.

This delicious bouquet full of sunshine and cheer-up juice, by Emerson Merrick.

These so simple and pretty ceramic milk bottle vases, at Canvas

And, this hanging human nest pod of awesomeness by Dedon {via Going Home to Roost!}

My gardening fingers are really itching now after seeing those flowers. Please Portland weather, let me dig in the dirt this weekend- pleeeease!

http://shop.canvashomestore.com/collections/ceramics/products/morandi-hand-made-bottle-vases

Own+Adore: Clementine Sparkles!

Miss Cassie and I share a love affair for rocks and gemstones of the especially sparkly kind, only Cassie is the brains, and hands, behind Clementine, so she actually knows what to do with them! She got excited when I posted about this great gem shop in a cat's meow post awhile back and quickly snatched up some sparkly druzies and agate slices from it- these ones in particular:

Ooh, glimmery!

When I saw this photo on her flickr my eyes darted right for that sparkly little black square druzy at the top and I just couldn't get it out of my mind! I thought, woudn't it make for a pretty ring?

And then I (rather quickly) convinced myself that I totally deserve a super sparkly, one-of-a-kind cocktail ring for really working my little butt off these past few months- reward system! And so, I asked Cassie to make one for me:

Ooh, isn't it a beauty?

And Cassie was so kind and thoughtful to work with and didn't care that I needed an extra large man-ish size for my extra large man-ish hands. And I had an idea of what I wanted when I came to her, but her suggestions (like putting it on the skinny diamond-textured band!) really made it turn out even more awesome than I had imagined it would be.

Thank you Cassie, I looove it!

Have you ever ordered a custom jewelry piece? It was a first for me!

The Cat's Meow

:: image from the State Library of NSW

A shorter but hopefully still sweet list of what's making me purr this week...

These crazy vintage moccasin style oxfords that I wish were my size, from Action Vintage

Man oh man, these gorgeous ombre tights by KronKron, at Olive Shoppe, are just begging to become my springtime legs. If only they were begging a little less expensively!

This gorgeous original oil painting by Maria Kitano, found via Rachel B!

This amazing vintage clock from The Vintage Cabin. What's that clock? You think you'd look really awesome in our bedroom on a side table? Ooh, I agree clock, I agree!

These "shriner's fez" necklaces with pretty agates and brass tassles by We Never Sleep

This Slow Breathing print by Samantha French- ahh, sun, water, floating...I want it all.

This pretty "passenger bag" by Sketchbook, love the blue wool and leather combo

And this cute tricks & magic set over at House 8810, because I totally had a magic kit when I was little and it was so much fun!

The dork in me also has to let you know I'm really digging the new Firefox- are you using it yet? It's faster, friendlier and now has a little thing called TAB GROUPS (pictured above)- serious life changer.

The Cat's Meow

:: in special memory of the ever-lovely Elizabeth Taylor. How can you not love a girl in a polkadot robe with a kitten in her pocket? via Carbonated

And now, let's see what's been making me purrrr this week... 

I am obsessed with painters lately. Joshua Petker is my latest fascination, via Down & Out Chic!

These clever pencil shaving necklaces in silver with enamel edges- by Victoria Mason, at Oye Modern

I can't wait for sandal season and with Jeffery Campbells in navy- you can't go wrong. At Need Supply.

 These ceramic house numbers by Heath, available late spring. Mmm... Via SeeSaw Designs!

Mazzy Star's 1st album, She Burns Brightly. I just discovered them as I was only a little kiddo who listened to Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson and whatever else my mom liked when they came out (1990.) They so fit my sort of melancholic "won't this winter ever end?" mood lately.

This amazing uniform jacket that lucky Alice of Forestbound found at a "crummy little indoor flea market"

This pretty teepees and rivers tea towel, hand-printed by Indobay

These stunning rings (& other things) made from wood, by Sticks & Stones, based here in Portland

Big girl overalls with railroad stripes? Yes. By Confezioni Crosby, via Teenangster!

I can't resist Jamie Shelman's new whirling, twirling, flower hoarding kitties for spring.

This simply cute vintage Scandinavian flower vase, from 1001 Vintage

 
And, these cute Andy frames from Spex Club. All of their frames come as prescription, readers or sunglasses!