Modish

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!  We (the boy and I) will be ones holed up in our house with the lights turned off to discourage trick-or-treaters, watching really bad old 80's horror movies- Leprechaun 2 perhaps?  Yeah, I'm not really into Halloween anymore- had too many bad/weird experiences on this day in the past- but I will eat a Halloween donut (orange and black sprinkles!) to celebrate this festive occasion and I will announce the winners of the Ghoulish October Giveaway!  Ooooooooo....

The first ghostest with the mostest to take home half the wealth of the October Giveaway goods is.....Debbie, of Debbie Overton Designs!  She gets a pillowcase full of treats:
Krista Raak- turquoise ocean cuff
Paper Lotus Design- card set & flirt cards
Shana Says- mod flapper necklace
Presents & Law- set of assorted holiday postcards
Pixie Potions- pumpkin parade soap
Greetings from a Planet Named Janet- 3 notecard sets
Feto Soap-yummy roll-on parfum
Glittery Blue- gold star earrings
Mau Studio- mau mau message cards
Jewel Alchemy- iolite & labradorite earrings
Handmade Luck- photo coasters
Simply Bliss- handmade journal
Oblinaknit- handknit washcloth
Chic 36- fluffy floral tote
A Planet 4 Creation- blue fish earrings
Rae Beth Designs- Russian amazonite & tiger eye bracelet      
Paper Treasure- "the Madeline" necklace
Urbanknit- batik zippered pouch
Kim B Designs- copper sunset earrings
Art Created- Sets of sterling & pearl earrings + perfume sample

And the second Halloweener this month is......Nicole, from British Colombia!  Do they have Halloween in Canada too?  Well, Nicole does, and her treat bag is better than candy!
Paper Lotus Design- card sets & flirt cards
Presents & Law- set of assorted holiday postcards
Pixie Potions- vampyr perfume
Feto Soap- yummy roll-on parfum
Mau Studio- greeting cards
Oblinaknit- handknit washcloth
Art Created- Sets of sterling & pearl earrings + perfume sample
Relished Ravin- foldover snap wallet
Emma Lynne- fall collection notecards
Gallimaufry Arts- framed glass pendant necklace
Cherry Creek Designs- cotton candy necklace
Le Lapin Jewelry- mother of pearl earrings
Photographic Memory- art postcard
Miss Misa- antique peacock earrings
Dolphin Daze- sun & swirl pendant
Rebecca Tolk- pear image on barnwood
Sheila D- reversible corduroy tote bag
Eclectic Elements- poker tile pendant necklace
Ellen Ikemoto Design- fabric keychain
Sparkle Thots- autumn drop earrings

See?  People really do win, and one of the next people could be you!  The next giveaway will be a big double doozy taking place in early December, so stay tuned! 

Well, that's it for me today, so for a little shopping, find these sickeningly sweet necklaces at Paraphernalia!

Dandyfine, thank you

Want something that'll make you feel just dandy?  Reach for these adorable, handmade felt pins by Dandy Brand!

Combining felt, fabric, vintage buttons and hefty dose of cuteness, these pins are a unique way to add a little color and happiness to anywhere you place them!  And with lots of options to choose from, from owls to mixed tapes, you can find one that suits your personality just perfectly!  Check out the whole collection at Dandy Brand!

Sponsor Spotlight: Erica Burns Designs

Visit Erica Burns Designs for wildly wearable jewelry!  Use code "modish15" at checkout for 15% off your order!

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Yay!  The Nantaka Joy website is now live!  Created by Joy, from the wonderful Oh Joy! blog, Nantaka Joy is a beautiful collection of cards and journals that are (lucky for us!) now available in her shop online- take a peek!

Rifferaff gift wrap!

My favorite part of giving a gift to someone is presenting them with a pretty package that looks as special and wonderful as the gift itself- it's allll about the presentation.  As of late though, it seems against my ethics to purchase big rolls of schlocky sparkly wrapping paper and bows at big box stores, but apart from making your own wrapping paper (which is also a cool thing, but a little too time consuming for me in the heat of the holiday season!) is there really an alternative?  Well, now there is!

Welcome to a handmade, eco-friendly and deliciously stylish alternative, gift wrap by Rifferaff!  Made from paper that's produced with some recycled content at a family-run, hydroelectric powered mill, each piece is hand silk-screened with hand-mixed, water based inks in pretty patterns that are perfect for the holidays, or anytime of year.  With contemporary color combos to choose from, you can find the one that fits your gift recipient the best because, as Rifferaff's slogan says, a handmade gift deserves handmade gift wrap!

New goodies in the shoppe!

I have some wonderful new things in modishoppe that would be great as gifts or as fun treats for yourself!

First up, vintage inspired jewelry by Tryst Jewelry:

And some gorgeous new glass animal pins and pendants, as well as some tees by Happy Owl Glassworks:

As well as some pretty new cards and a 2008 calendar by Good on Paper, printed on 100% recycled paper!

Check out all the new items, and here's a special tip for you: use code "modholiday" at checkout and you'll get 10% off your order over $50!

Sponsor Spotlight: Strawberry Jam

Visit Strawberry Jam for tons of indie goods from down under and beyond!  Use code "modishholis" for 10% off, good til 1/31/08!

Craft = yay!

I just got my copy of the latest issue of CRAFT, and guess what?  Modish is mentioned in it!  Yay!  On page 141, under the Craft Holiday Gift Guide, Modish is listed as a great online place to find handmade gifts this year, along with some lovely shop company: Cut + Paste, Etsy, Buy Olympia, Mahar Drygoods and Fred Flare and fellow blogging bad-asses, Indie Fixx and Rare Bird Finds- congrats everyone & thanks CRAFT!

The elephant in the room...

...you've heard about it, you've known it was coming, there was no way to control it, but don't worry, this "elephant in the room" is one that you can talk about openly, freely, and spread the word about- it's White Elephant Vintage!  And it's now open!

Started by the pair of lovely ladies behind the blog, Love it A Lot, these vintage collectors decided they couldn't possibly keep all the good finds to themselves anymore and lucky for us, they decided to open a shop!  Filled with lots of cute ceramic figures and other decor, kitchen wares and more, there's pages full of goodness and more to come, so check it out now and check back often!

Sponsor Spotlight: Cherry Creek Designs

Visit Cherry Creek Designs for one-of-a-kind, handcrafted jewelry.  Mention "modish" in the notes to seller at checkout and get free shipping!  (please wait for a revised invoice before paying)

Shiver me timbers!

Oh hoping hoping hoping for cool weather just so I can wear this amazingly lovely shawl or scarf by Kelgwo:

If you haven't noticed by now, I love me some earth tones- they comprise my entire wardrobe pretty much and they make feel whole and real and beautiful.  I can tell that these lovely, loom woven creations would be no different, made from hand-spun wool that's dyed with local Chilean plants and roots and produced using ancient techniques.  Find more gorgeous, authentic textile creations at Kelgwo!

Coffee Break Friday

It's crafty newsy time, so sit back and relax with a cup of coffee or chai or vodka or whatever will help you relax on this lovely Friday morning, and catch up on some craft goings-on...

First things first- the fires that have ravaged Southern California are finally starting to be contained, but there's still the work of starting to repair the extraordinary amount of damage that has already occurred.  So, how can you help?  Apart from donating money directly to charity organizations, you can use your crafty talents to donate an item (or a few!) to Marie's Witch Fire etsy shop!  Marie is from San Diego and her hometown is right in the thick of it, so she's organizing a shop in which all proceeds will go to benefit the Wild Animal Park in San Diego and a raffle in which anyone who donates, buys something or shares a story about the fires will be entered.  Visit the Witch Fire blog for more info and contact Marie if you have questions or would like to donate an item to raise some money for the animals whose homes burned down!

In brighter and lighter news, Modcloth, a favorite modish sponsor, has a new has a new blog and a giveaway to celebrate!  You can win this pile of modcloth goodness worth over $150 simply by leaving a comment on any post on their blog from now thru Halloween! (10/31)  Easy peasy!

And, with holiday season approaching that means that craft show season is starting!  Mark your calendars for next Saturday, Nov 3rd!  That's when the Handmade Market will be happening in downtown Raleigh, NC- check out their site for details, directions and a list of all the vendors you'll find there!  And, for those of you a little farther north, the DC Craft Mafia is hosting their UnUsual Suspects Art & Crafts Festival that day as well!  Both of these events are awesome opportunities to find handmade gifts for everyone on your list!

Speaking of shopping for handmade gifts this season, I took the Buy Handmade Pledge, promising to buy handmade this holiday season and encouraging others to do the same!  Apart from awesome art and craft fairs like those above, you can always turn to modish where ALL the goods that are featured, ALL of them (except for vintage stuff), are handmade!  It's easier than ever to avoid the crowded malls, big box stores and monotony of holiday shopping, and buy something special for absolutely everyone that's handmade with love!  So, take the pledge!  I'll be here to help you with ideas through the coming months and if you're looking for something specific for someone, drop me a line- I may be able to help you find a wonderful handmade alternative!  Shop handmade this season, it's just better!

And finally, don't forget to enter the Modish Ghoulish October Giveaway!  The last day for entries is tomorrow, 10/27 at 11:59pm PST.  Two winners will be chosen and notified on the following Sunday- so enter now, it's easy and fun and you can win over $650 worth of wonderful handmade goods, many of which you may be able to give to friends and loved ones as gifts this season and spread the handmade cheer, huh huh?

Well that's it for the crafty news break- thanks for reading, have a good Friday and stay safe at all those Halloween parties this weekend! :)

Sponsor Spotlight: Jewel Alchemy

Visit Jewel Alchemy for gemstone jewelry from the simple to the elaborate!

Site of the week: Showpony

Showpony just rocks for so many reasons- #1- everything is handmade from start to finish- hand sewn and finished with hand screen-printed designs or made with hand printed fabrics.  #2- everything is eco friendly, using organic, fair trade cotton- yes!  #3- they're based in Glasgow, Scotland and I love discovering and bringing attention to indie companies beyond these US borders and #4- they're stuff is cute.  I mean, really really cute.  It's light-hearted and original and brings a smile to my face, and hopefully to yours too:

Just look at these wonderful tote bags, perfect for your grocery shopping needs, you can reduce and re-use and stay stylin' at the same time!  A must have for everyone these days.

And these complementing little clutch printed pouches and those made with pretty, nature inspired, handmade fabrics:

And how can you not love these wonderful pooch printed pillows and cool hiding place pillows?

Get a closer look at all of these designs, hip, fun and good for the earth, at Showpony!

October Ghoulish Giveaway!

It's feeling spoooooky around here because the October Giveaway is ready to be unleashed!  Check it out, filled with goodies galore worth over $650!  Oh yes, that's ghoulishly great!  It will again be divvied up between 2 winners who will each receive a boo box filled with about $325 worth of stuff!  All you have to do to get your hands on these spirited goods is enter to win!

To enter the giveaway contest: check out at least one site from a giveaway contributor listed below (this refers to the sites listed below, not the sponsors on the right hand side)- scope it out and find an item you think is interesting, unique, or that you'd love to have for yourself to share with modish readers- just find one item per contributor, please- spread the love :)  Then, leave a comment on this post letting us know which site you visited and share a link to an item you found there that you like!  That's it! 

• You can visit one site or visit a few- just share one link per comment (so, if you decide to visit 5 different shops, you'll enter yourself 5 different times and increase your odds of winning!) 
• You'll have until Saturday, Oct 27th at 11:59pm to look around and post a comment (entries posted after that will not be included in the contest)
• on Sunday, Oct 28th, TWO winners will be chosen randomly from all the commenters and notified by email!  (so check your email if you've entered!)
• And yes!  International residents can enter to win too!
  

Now, check out the bootiful bounty of goodies you have a chance to win, and show me all the fun stuff you found at the contributor's sites!

Presents & Law- 2 sets of assorted holiday postcards
Simply Bliss- handmade journal
Relished Ravin- foldover snap wallet
Kim B Designs- copper sunset earrings
Emma Lynne- fall collection notecards
Gallimaufry Arts- framed glass pendant necklace
Paper Lotus Design- 2 card sets & flirt cards
Urbanknit- batik zippered pouch
Paper Treasure- "the Madeline" necklace
Art Created- 2 sets of sterling & pearl earrings + perfume samples
Krista Raak- turquoise ocean cuff
Shana Says- mod flapper necklace
Pixie Potions- pumpkin parade soap & vampyr perfume
Cherry Creek Designs- cotton candy necklace
Handmade Luck- photo coasters
Le Lapin Jewelry- mother of pearl earrings
Greetings from a Planet Named Janet- 3 notecard sets
Feto Soap- two yummy roll-on parfums
Glittery Blue- gold star earrings
Photographic Memory- art postcard
Miss Misa- antique peacock earrings
Dolphin Daze- sun & swirl pendant
Rebecca Tolk- pear image on barnwood
Sheila D- reversible corduroy tote bag
Mau Studio- mau mau message cards & greeting cards
Eclectic Elements- poker tile pendant necklace
Jewel Alchemy- iolite & labradorite earrings
Oblinaknit- set of handknit washcloths
Chic 36- fluffy floral tote
A Planet 4 Creation- blue fish earrings
Ellen Ikemoto Design- fabric keychain
Rae Beth Designs- Russian amazonite & tiger eye bracelet       
Sparkle Thots- autumn drop earrings    

Sponsor Spotlight: A Quirk of Art

Visit A Quirk of Art for re-purposed & reclaimed mixed media jewelry!  Get free standard shipping, now thru Nov 30th!

Call of the wild

If the wild is calling you, share your sense of nature entitlement with a pretty "wild kingdom" thank you card by Greenwich Letterpress, formerly only available in their shop location, but now online!

Also new are some fun arcade themed cards, a really pretty autumn inspired owl card and gorgeous holiday greetings.  Find them all at Greenwich Letterpress!

And, psst: speaking of cards, there's lots of card sets along with bags, jewelry galore and other fun stuff up for grabs in the Modish GHOULISH OCTOBER GIVEAWAY, which will be announced later today- check back to enter to win a boatload of free indie stuff!

Have a super fall!

If you've been waiting longingly for the release of the new round of scarves by Supermaggie, the wait is over, they're here!  They're here!  And if you haven't been waiting, you don't know what you've been missing, because these amazing, handmade, hand-felted, one-of-a-kind, crazy scarves are super cool and highly covetable- check them out!  Once they're gone, they're gone, so get one now!

Also out now are Supermaggie's new fall women's tees designs, filled with nature inspired, lovely and luscious designs- I'm all over that tree design in hoodie form, and the flower engraving pattern (as pictured) is so pretty against the brown background.  There's many more designs to choose from and lots of color and sleeve length options- check it all out at one of my faaaaavorite places to buy tees, Supermaggie!

On the pillow search...

I'm searching for some funky and/or contemporary, pretty pillows for our couch and possibly bed too, but I'm so pillow purchasing shy- I don't want to spend too much money and I want to find something I won't be sick of by this time next year.  Oh, decisions, decisions...so far, I'm leaning towards some of these hand screen-printed ones by Three Sheets 2 the Wind made from 100% linen- very chic!

Sponsor Spotlight: Tryst

Visit Tryst for pretty vintage and vintage inspired jewelry.  Get a free pair of earrings (the little yellow ones below) with any purchase of $30 or more - enter MODISHGIFT at checkout!

Switching gears

Wow wow wow, I just discovered the outrageously covetable art by Michelle Ramin from the etsy front page and ::gasp:: I'm in love.  Featuring abstract landscapes inspired by her Portland surroundings, these crazy awesome pen and marker paintings start with a bike gear up in the corner to represent industry, and spill out into a brilliant pool of color and line from there.  So rad!  I want one.  I want them all!

Find many many more beautiful artworks in Michelle's shop!  And fyi: seven of her paintings were recently stolen from a local coffee shop where she had them on display, so some purchasing power by us may help lift her creative spirits! :)

Photo Jewelry

Photo jewelry is special in that you get to wear a little piece of art or take a picture of a loved one with you everywhere you go.  It's unique, often one-of-a-kind, with endless possibilities!

Take these pretty photo pendants by Thea Coughlin, created from her original artwork:

They're simple and fun and a great way to adorn yourself with a some art!  Thea also creates custom photo pendants where you can send her one of your own favorite pictures and she'll create a one-of-a-kind pendant just for you.

Elemental Memories is another company that creates photo jewelry, although they focus solely on custom creations:

They take your favorite photo and bake it onto hand pressed clay and then finish it into a unique piece of jewelry with wire and gemstones, silver and gold- there's tons of options to choose from, and they'd make for an amazing and personal gift for someone you love!

New goodies in the shoppe!

Just added over the weekend, some beautiful jewelry and keychains by Mollie Dash made from vintage and re-claimed elements:

And, I just added some colorful new pins by Art School Dropout!

Sponsor Spotlight: Gifts Define

Visit Gifts Define for unique and adorable plush gifts!  Use code "GDMOD" for 10% off your order!

Green is good

Good on Paper is going green with a new line of notecards printed on 100% recycled French paper with coordinating 100% recycled French envelopes! 

Including a couple new designs for the holidays, each card is lovely and colorful with feminine, nature inspired designs.  Find these and other wonderful cards and more, all at Good on Paper!