Felt Ring by MetalsAndThread

Felt Ring by MetalsAndThread
This weekend, I discovered a couple of great new artisans in my home town. Nate and Cheila are the creative forces behind Metals and Thread. He works with metal and she (you guessed it!) works with fabric.

As I am always on the look-out for jewelry that goes beyond the usual metal and stone, I was thrilled to see their felt rings. Using recycled, felted sweaters, these eco-friendly finds are a novel twist on traditional stone settings.

Inspired: TortillaGirl

I always enjoy hearing where designers take their inspiration. When I stumbled upon Becky Delgado's "ReBelle with a Cause" line of clothing and accessories, I was smitten. Becky takes the silhouettes and fabrics of post-WWII Dior and adds inspiration from Marlon Brando and James Dean. I love the juxtaposition of leather and denim with suiting fabric and "ladies who lunch" shapes.
See her original sketches for the line on Trunkt.
Visit her online shop, TortillaGirl to see more "Wild One" selections and her crisp and refreshing summer line.

Guest Review: Jewelry Pouches by Greenwillow Crafts

This post is brought to you by Mary of Mary E Jewelry Designs. You can read more by Mary on her terrific blog.

I recently treated myself to a jewelry pouch from Greenwillow Crafts. And what a treat!
The package arrived promptly within several days of my order. Inside the sturdy packaging was my new pouch, every bit as lovely as described. The rich raspberry main fabric and coordinating gold lining fabric had been expertly stitched together into eight pockets of organized elegance. Flawless, not a single errant thread in sight, and plenty of room to hold nine pieces of jewelry snugly in their separate space. My jewelry will definitely be traveling in style.

Artish

Sunrise by Artish

Because you and I both know I am never going to get around to making myself a scarf.

And because, even if I did get around to it, the scarf I made would never be as delicous as the scarves by Artish.

I love the texture and the colors - I just want to curl up in them! And guess what! I can! Because she makes lap blankets too!

Nubby, colorful scarves - just one more reason to be excited about cooler weather.

Autumn Is Coming - KnittyDirtyGirl

Autumn Patchouli Hand Spun Yarn by KnittyDirtyGirl

If I start now, I might be able to knit a cute little neckwarmer by Christmas.
And, by that I mean, I am not a fast knitter.
But, I am a huge fiber freak!
Everytime I peek in KnittyDirtyGirl's shop, I want to buy skein upon skein of handspun and hand dyed wool.
Look at those colors!
Her colors are so rich, and arranged in irresistable combinations.
Would there be something weird about having a closetful of yarn that was there for the sole purpose of periodic looking and touching?
Yes, there would be something weird about that. And that knowledge is the only thing keeping me from a spending spree.

Great Reading

I just discovered a wonderful series on Indie Finds On Etsy, a blog written by my pal Dotty.

It is a series of interviews with Etsy's Featured Sellers after their time in the spotlight.

Have you ever wondered how these lucky Etsy sellers prepared? Or what the experience was like? Or how it affected the growth of their shops?

Click here to satisfy your curiosity!

Product Review: Sewing Set by JennMaruskaDesign

My daughter has just started teaching herself to embroider. She is so excited about it and so pleased with herself, that I could not resist getting her a little treat: her own little sewing set by Jenn Maruska.

It is even more adorable in person!

This is my second purchase from Jenn and each time I received a package from her, I was blown away by the little personal touches she adds to make the buyer feel special. Her items are as well constructed as they are designed.

In addition to the sewing kits, Jenn's shop also offers sweet little fabric "taskets" for all your odds and ends, darling mini-quilts and business card wallets.

Stepping Out With MissFickleMedia

Shannon Le Vert, the creative force behind MissFickleMedia, is known for her gorgeous polymer clay pendants. But lately she has been adding more than a few PMC silver pieces to her line up. She has given each piece a lovely, rough patina that makes it look like a treasure from your old auntie's dressing table. These wonderful silver pieces fit in perfectly with the vintage feel of the hand dyed ribbons, gift tags and collage works also sold in her shop.
Her PMC work includes earring components, rings and pendants for necklaces. Wouldn't you love to see some buttons, too?

Product Review: DishCloths by CocoaBeans

My mother does not have a dishwasher. I have a dishwasher, but, as I was raised by a woman who was convinced that no machine in the world could get the dishes cleaner than she could, I rarely use it. Between the two of us, we go through a lot of dishcloths. And we both agree that there is nothing like a hand knitted or hand crocheted cotton cloth for serious dishwashing. I used to knit them myself, but really, who has time?

Thankfully, Diana of CocoaBeans has time. She makes lovely, lovely dishcloths. In tasteful colors that will look pretty in your kitchen. Shipped out to you faster than the speed of light. With realistic shipping charges (unlike all the other dishcloth sellers I searched through) and excellent communication, her customer service is impeccable. This week, she earned herself two new and loyal customers.