Modish: the blog

November Sampler Favorites!

Yet another slick concoction of Sampler goodies arrived at my door- oh how I love hearing the postman knock at my door each month as I just know it means he's bearing gifts!  Here are some of my favorites from all the cool things I received this month:

~In the background, a pretty and super versatile scarf by Compai- you can wear it 99 different ways!

~Next, a really lovely card and postcard featuring original illustrations by Rachel Baum

~A cute enough to eat ice cream pin by Luster

~Some shiny little blue drop earrings from Beadoodles

~A special mini art pin by Sevenkeys Designs

~A cute pocket mirror featuring art by Rachel Austin, from Hey Pretty Cupcake

~And a beautiful mini print and postcard by a modish favorite, Alicia Bock!

Check out all the November contributors, and while you're there, take a peek at their new Sampler Select, a specially curated box of goodies organized by theme!

**PS: Stay tuned, a big holiday card guide is coming up later today!

October Sampler favorites!

Oh yeahhh, it was another wonderful month for the Sampler, all of you contributing have been sending some great stuff lately!  Thank you, it makes my job so easy!  Here are some of my favorites from all the goodies I received this month:

~A cute little vinyl owl sticky to decorate your walls without commitment- I'm definitely going to stick him somewhere!  Check out all the other cool designs at Vinyl Wall Art!

~A pretty, multi-layered beaded necklace by Sparkle Plenty- I love the capiz shell and filigree combo pendants at the ends.

~the Verdi Freak Like Me Necklace by Manic Trout, featuring a wonderful combo of golden charms like an elephant, a rhino, flora and fauna with the perfect green bead to accent.

~A gorgeous set of notecards featuring mice running across an orange landscape by an awesome new letterpress printer, Flora and Fauna.

~A really cute bunny and mushroom notecard set complete with stickers to seal the envelopes with by Mau Studio.

~And last, but certainly not least, a gorgeous new limited edition print by Wolfie and the Sneak featuring fluttering maple seeds!

Wanna get on the action?  See how you can contribute to the next Sampler, and you'll receive a free one yourself for that month!  Good deal, huh?

September Sampler Favorites!

Wowee zowee!  It appears many of you have been answering the calls to contribute to the Sampler lately because, boy oh boy, is mine ROCKIN' this month!  I received SOOO many wonderful things this time around, it was a pleasant pleasant surprise.  Check out some of my favorites!
~ A super rad "My Perfect Man" coloring and activity book from Retro Recess!  It's funny, it's, um, inspiring, and it'd be great fun at a girl's night party with some wine to accompany your creativity!  There's even some connect the dots- hee hee.

~ A beautiful necklace from Wabisabi Brooklyn, handmade from decoupaged copper with a pretty copper chain to match.  I shall wear this one indeed!

~ And a super cool, super coveted juxtapose necklace and pretty vinyl birdie pouch by Art School Dropout- very cute and handy and will be available on the site soon!

~ I don't usually talk about kid's stuff, but I have a friend who will be having a  baby soon, and I'd love to give her this pretty little bib by Out of the Box*California.  With very cute, original art on the front and a vinyl sealant, it'll look nice for a long time!

~ And I also love this beautiful thank you card by Lizard Press.  The picture doesn't do it justice as the detail is just stellar and it's letterpress so the white flourishes stand out from the green background- so pretty!

Welp, that's all she wrote this month- if you have a crafty business and are looking to get the word out in a fun way, and would like to maybe see yourself featured here or on another cool indie blog, think about contributing to the Sampler!  As a bonus, you'll get a free Sampler yourself that month- score! ;)

August Sampler Favorites!

The new Sampler is here, the new Sampler is here!  Hurray!  It's always so exciting to see the little white box magically resting against your doorstep when you get home, knowing full well that there's a wealth of goodness inside, like these favorite items that I received!

A super duper cool map of San Francisco (which I frequent since it's only 3 1/2 hours away) by Hoku Design called Open Late, featuring detailed listings of all the restaurants that are open after the party's over.  There's hundreds of places listed, from Sake bars to drive-ins to a place called Hot 'N Hunky, hmmm....

Also, I received a splendid little wire wrapped ring in a sultry steel color by McFarland Designs.  It fits my ring finger perfectly (which shall remain available for awhile longer it appears :) and the wire wrapping (as critiqued by a former wire wrapper) is done really well, nice and tight.

I also got some cute little pirate potato stationery by Sugar Lily!  Complete with lined note paper, envelopes and two little pirate stickers to seal them with, I have everything I need to send a starchy "arg matey" to my loved ones, whenever I'd like.

I'm also diggin' the reversible fabric headband I received from Fortune Kitty.  It's a little tight for my large noggin, but the little green, brown and teal flowers complement my red locks just beautifully.  Plus, I'm sure the headache will subside, eventually.  It would be perfect for normal sized head peeps, like you. (damn you)

And last, but certainly not least, I got this pair of lovely, long, dangling earrings by Manic Trout.  They'll go perfectly with my new pair of skinny black jeans, er, more greyish, washed out blackish with a hint of charcoalish jeans.  Plus, they make a slight jingle jangle when you walk to help remind you with every step just how goooood you look.

Well, that's all she wrote!  Lots of good stuff this month, eh?  Would you like to get in on the fun of the Sampler?  Well, if you're crafty, you can contribute some goodies yourself and you'll receive a free subscription, which means a free Sampler for that month!  Also, you may get to see your item written up here, which would be pretty cool.  Well, at least, I think so, but what do I know?  Not much, I haven't had my coffee yet.  Any coffee yet.  Ymmm, coffee.  Did someone say coffee?  Uh, I'm gonna go...make...something...

June/July Sampler Favorites!

I know, I know...it's a little late.  But I've been realllllly busy, I have an excuse!  Still, it's high time to bring you my June/July Sampler faves!  And speaking of the Sampler, have you heard they moved to San Francisco?  And have you heard they joined forces with the all-mighty Etsy?  And have you heard that they are really a "they" now as Marie hired some help, finally!  Yes, it's true, it's all true and sure to make the Sampler only get better from here on out.  BUT, there is one small hitch.  They can only really get better if they have lots of people to contribute samples!  I'm planning on even contributing some myself in a couple months for my shoppe, and I've done it before- it's fun, easy, makes you feel really organized, PLUS you get a free sampler that month just for participating!  Bonus!  You could score goodies like this for yourself:

I received a cute etched glass shot glass from Bread and Badger!  It has a little bomb etched on it- it's, yeah, it's the bomb!  Or is that, da bomb?  Regardless, it's cute, and they also make wonderful little etched glass pins and magnets, vases and more!

I also got a really cute button set from re-conceived!  They're one-of-a-kind, made from old books, magazines and vintage ephemera.  Mine have the cutest little Japanese drawings on them- so fun!

Also got some yummy smelling, soy based, vegetarian and eco-friendly soap by Botanical Earth!  It's made from lavender and a bunch of organic oils...yum.  And it doesn't dry out your skin!

And I got a really cool magnet from Little Evelyn made from a real record!  It's neato, especially in this vinyl-ridden house I live in (vinyl-ridden in a good way, of course!)  There's lots of recycled records getting new life in great ways on the site!

Well that's it for June/July- help make the next Sampler even better by contributing!  Then hey, who knows, I may receive your sample and choose it as a favorite to write about, right here! :)

May Sampler Favorites!

May is a time for sunshine, flowers, lollipops and other sugary sweet goodness like the May Sampler!  I came home from the Maker Faire to happily find a big ol' package lovingly squished into my mailbox by the mailman, yay!  Here are my favorites from what I personally received!

Some awesomer than a possumer vintage quilt coasters by A Very Mary Design!  They're unique and kitschy and absorbent, all the qualities that make for a wonderful coaster and wonderful addition to any coffee table ensemble!

And a sneakily snarky dressed up in a elegant package Bitch card by Ella Studio!  Tell your girls how you really feel about them- whether its a term of endearment to you or an expression of your pure hate, you'll be able to talk them up or tell them off in style!

And a cute cute snappy felt hairpin from Gifts Define!  It is a turquoise banded with white floating daisy hairclip that's perfect for spring and more adorable than a kitten playing with a puppy chasing a baby across a cloud of rainbows!  That's damn cute!

Also, a wonderfully unique weekend project inspiring octopus iron-on patch from re-conceived!  It's orange and the octopus design itself has been created entirely from y's on an old school typewriter.  Super cool!  Iron onto a beater tank for the summer or a tote bag for the beach!

And last but not least, a super cool, kitschy necklace from Naughty Secretary Club!  The one I got has a clear plastic leafy charm on a looooong silver chain for optimum style.  It's fun and fancy free!

Wanna know the best part?  All these goodies will be included in the next Modish giveaway, announced tomorrow!  So get a little taste of the Sampler along with many other goodies from tons of indie shops- sign up for the newsletter for your chance to win!  And keep an eye out tomorrow for the whole she-bang!

And remember crafters and makers, contributing goodies to the Sampler is an amazing way to get the word out about your biz, and you'll automatically get a free Sampler the month you contribute!  Bonus!  The next Sampler contributions are due June 1st so make haste and send stuff to Marie the Bee asap!  Heh, that rhymed!

April Sampler Favorites!

The Sampler never fails to cheer me up, and its because of things like these:
A cute little pick me up clutch by Barry's Farm- the one I received is vinyl with a happy little strawberry ice cream cone on it.  It's well made and I must say, cute enough to eat!  Yum!

These cool prints by Wolfie and Sneak, based off of original drawings that have been left black and white so you can color them in, just like in your grade school days.  Even comes complete with 2 pretty markers for your coloring needs.  DO go outside the lines with this one.

I received a very pretty press special necklace from Beadoodles featuring a sterling charm with pearl dangling.  It's simple and sweet and a swell addition to any jewelry collection.  Ooh la la!

And a super cool pocket mirror from My Favorite Mirror featuring an old comic cover.  Very kitschy cool and handy dandy to boot!  Check out their rad collection of mousepads and coasters too while you're there!

And these shimmery and shiny little squares of joy for your earlobes by Traveling Rhinos.  Add a little glitter to your day with ease with these cute little stud earrings, sweet!

Ya know, you too can find goodies like these in your mailbox each month- check out the Sampler subscription page for more details! (psst: subscriptions go on sale this Wed, Apr 25th- get ready!)  And, as a special bonus, the winner of the April Modish Goodie Box Giveaway will receive everything here! (plus lots more rad stuff!)

March Sampler Favorites!

I came home yesterday to a lovely, large, stuffed to the brim envelope on my porch from the Sampler!  What a way to make a frown turn upside down!  Here are my favorite items from what I received in this March's sampler, and remember, you can sign up to receive your own Sampler every month by subscribing!

I am absolutely in love with these earrings from My Sunset Road!  They are totally my style and look like something I would buy for myself, made from little archway shaped pieces of oxidized silver.  I love the way they dangle from the large, hoopy fish-hooks and they catch the light ever so slightly.  Just beautiful!

These cute felt finger puppets by Abbey Christine are just the bee's knees!  I received a little sharky, complete with scary dorsal fin (although, it's not scary at all, it's just about the cutest thing I've ever seen!)  His expression is adorable as is his big toothy grin.  Love it!

Oh, I can't wait to make a cuppa joe with the French Roast Blend I got from Hip Drip!  It's organic, shade grown and fair trade, all the things I look for in a coffee choice and its smell is oozing forth from the package, tempting me.  Tempting me.

This design your own pocket mirror kit from Button Storm is creative and cool!  It came complete with an already made mirror and instructions for completing my own custom ones!  Oh, what will put on mine?  You can order custom buttons and magnets from their site too!

And, last but not least, I was super stoked to see a packet of fabric samples from ReproDepot!  They have some of the best fabrics available these days, and now I have little samples (some of which will be put to use very soon in the shoppe!) and a rad little sewing kit to keep in my purse.  Handy and dandy!

Sampler Favorites!

Howdy folks!  This is the first installment of what will become a monthly look at some of my favorite goodies from the Sampler!  If you're not familiar with the Sampler, it's the brainchild of Marie who collects "samples" from a myriad of awesome indie shops and people then sign up for a subscription to receive those rad goodies in their mailbox, every single month!  As a crafter you can participate by sending Marie some samples to distribute and you'll automatically get a free Sampler that month, and as a craft lover you can sign up for a subscription where by for one little fee you can get all the goodies delivered right to your door.  I've participated on both ends and can vouch that it's super fun and an amazing way to get the word out about your business, if you're a crafter.  So, to help Marie further spread that word, I'll be showcasing my 5 favorite (at least) finds from each Sampler that I personally receive!  So, if you're a contributor you may very well soon see your name up in lights!  Now, on with the show!

February Sampler Favorites:
This sweet, feminine i-pod nano case from ipodcrafts!  Handmade from suede with a floral applique on the front.  Very cute!  Purchase them in various sizes from the ipodcrafts etsy shop!

These gorgeous quilted heart necklaces from Fiber of Her Being.  Strung on silk cording with a cute button on the front, these are super unique and perfect for Valentine's Day!

And these super handy little notebooks by Cat and Monkey made from paint chips.  They're the right size for your purse or pocket and perfect for jotting down quick thoughts, like what to blog about next!

Also, a wonderful little pencil holder from Wonderland Q with a cute as can be print on it featuring dittle aminals.  Would be a handy dandy place to store some colored pencils or sewing supplies!

Annnnd, last but not least, a cool recipe card journal from sugar lily featuring a vintage recipe card as the cover and recycled paper within.  Mine has a recipe for beer on it!  Yeah, it's true!