Happy Mother’s Day! May 11, 2008

Happy Mother’s Day to all those amazing, deserving moms out there.  I  hope everyone is having an awesome day.  I had a great day!  I was treated to breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants and then got to go on a family bike ride in the forest.  It doesn’t get much better!!

Unfortunately, the day is drawing to a close.  I have decided, however, that Moms deserve to be honored more often than just on one day.  I am extending Mother’s Day by having a giveaway for some lucky mom.  You can win this pictured t-shirt from 2Monkees by entering a comment on this post before Friday, May 16th at midnight.    This shirt is printed on organic cotton and is available in size small to xl.    So if you want a chance to extend Mom’s Day and express your inner Earth monkey, just add a comment at the end of this post.

(If you have something a little more sparkly in mind for yourself, don’t forget about Ananya Studio’s 40% off everything sale.  Checkout their sterling silver and semi-precious stone fair trade jewelry.  Just enter csale in the coupon code box at checkout to receive your discount.)

Trillium Artisans April 23, 2008

On days like today, when Portland is weighted down under depressing, cold grey clouds for what seems like the thousandth day in  a row, it is difficult to remember why I love Portland and choose to raise a family here.  Then, however, I stumble on something like Trillium Artisans and my love for Portland all comes rushing back. 

Trillium Artisans is a Portland group with a primary purpose to help small, low income crafters form sustainable, profitable businesses for themselves.  As part of the program, Trillium artists have access to product reviews, retail and wholesale opportunities, small business counseling, peer networking, and guest speakers.   Also, artists agree that of the products they sell through Trillium,  the items will be constructed of at least 50% recycled or reclaimed materials.    I love this program because it is supporting independent artists who are committed to helping our environment!!
 

Trillium began in 1999 as Eco-biz  and eventually combined with a business-planning program called the Entrepreneurial Training Program.  Trillium is currently funded by the City of Portland Bureau of Housing and Community Development, New Belgium Brewing Company, and the Oregon Arts Commission through the National Endowment for the Arts.   This innovative program has grown so much that artists now have their own retail store in Southeast Portland.   If you are not blessed enough to live in Portland (I guess I actually do love Portland), you can also purchase products through their website or on etsy.  Both the store and their website offers a range of beautiful, creative crafts that reflect the diversity of this group of talented artists.  When you visit their shop or website, you will find garden art, jewelry, scarves, clocks, hair accessories and too many other enchanting products to list.   

Vintage Fern April 14, 2008

I would hate to add up the number of hours I have wasted drooling over all the cool works of art on etsy.  It would be impossible and embarassing to calculate.  However, I don’t seem to be able to help myself because I am always amazed at what the talented artists are able to produce.  I love looking at all the colors and materials the artists use.   Recently, while surfing around, I saw a really ingenious idea from Vintage Fern.  The creative force behind Vintage Fern is using vintage pillowcases to fashion dresses for little girls.  These adorable dresses have adjustable shoulder ties to create  a perfect fit for your little angel.  They come in a variety of vintage colors and patterns and are perfect for stretching your tight budget because they can be worn on their own in the spring and summer and then can transition into  winter by pairing them with leggings and turtlenecks.  I love this idea!!

Vintage Fern features many different types of products including purses, wallets, dish towels and pillow coverings.  Take a look at this cute Spring Purse made from a bright green and yellow vintage fabric.   It has a vintage green trim and she has appliqued a very hip and stylish green bird (more…)

Evaseva March 31, 2008

 As most of you know, I just returned from an Austin visit with my little sister.  I got to meet my new nephew (who is sooo cute) and see my other nephew and niece (also both very cute).   It seemed very ironic that while I was there I would discover Evaseva, a unique creator of fun and funky children’s clothes. 

After spending a week with my four year old niece, it became apparent that she is perfect for Eva’s monster t-shirt.  We frequently heard her issuing commands to  my ten year old little boy.  He happily followed orders because his biggest desire is to have a little sister.  As the artist behind this t-shirt says, “This lovely heart can also be a real monster too! Especially when she wants something.”  This about sums up (more…)

Bunnies Galore March 22, 2008

   My oldest son got a pet bunny about a month ago.  He is sooo cute!  His oh so orginal name is Hooper.  Our family is very focused on the care and feeding of this little bundle of fur. With all this bunny love going on in our house and Easter being tomorrow, I decided to see what the amazing etsy artists are offering for Easter.

Checkout this print from the New York artist of Butterscotchlane created from vintage wallpapers.  I love the bright colors!

This handmade card printed on recycled paper by the artist at Mary Richmond Design looks   suspiciously like our little Hopper.  The talented creator of  these prints has a long history of making one of a kind ceramic tiles, greeting cards, woodblocks, illustrations and various other nature (more…)

The Windsong March 14, 2008

As the mom of two active, sweaty little boys there are some major funky smells going on in my house and laundry basket.  Sometimes when I go into the boy’s bathroom, the smell of their socks in the dirty clothes hamper is overwhelming.  I am always looking for ways to get their clothes clean and  hide the smells that seem to waft from their socks.  In the past, I have resorted to using fabric softeners but I have always worried about the chemicals that are in them.  The Windsong offers an all natural alternative to fight stinky boy smell.  Their organic anti-static laundry spray comes with an essential oil spray that you spritz on a free pillow and then toss into your dryer with your clean laundry.  Your laundry has less static and comes out smelling of the scent of your choice.  Good-bye (more…)

Ruby Reusable March 3, 2008

In their Kindergarten years, both of my boys spent countless hours developing a Leprechaun trap to catch the leprechauns at their school on Saint Patrick’s day.  They used old shoe boxes, greased ladders, “gold” strategically placed on double stick tape and any number of other clever tricks to lure the unsuspecting leprechauns into their traps.  Alas, no child in the 80 plus year history of their school has ever actually caught a wee folk.  In fact, every year, the children enter their classroom on Saint Patrick’s Day to total destruction- overturned desks, papers strewn on the floor, glitter all over the classroom and notes taunting the kids with the most clever traps.  With discussion turning to the traps around the school, it has started me thinking about the season of wearing  green.  When I saw this trashion fairy doll  in Ruby Reusable’s store on etsy, it seemed perfect for the  season.  This adorable fairy with the bright red recycled garland hair is made of candy wrappers.  The artist started this series of candy wrapper dolls when her son was a bar mitzvah and they gently threw candy at him for “sweet wishes”.  This fairy is perfect for bringing “sweet wishes” into your life. (more…)

Fandangled February 22, 2008

  How fun is this shirt!!  My boys would have been all over this tee when they were younger- from the bright, monsterish eyes, to the crazy, wild yellow hair- they would have been in heaven!!  Even I  want to reach out and pet the hair. 

 Fandangled tees are one-of-a-kind creations that are crafted from recycled kid’s clothing and lovingly sewn onto new, 100% cotton t-shirts.  And for those of you who are super Green- she  also makes RE-Fandangled shirts… which means the shirt is recycled too!

I guess I am really attracted to skulls right now (see yesterday’s review on YaYascaps).  Take a look at this cute blue skull shirt with memerizing black and white striped eyes- all crafted from recycled kid’s clothes.  Fandangled offers fun, funky fashion for all the Green kids in your life!

Sweet Pepita February 17, 2008

Once again, I find myself ogling all the fun, girly fashions in another etsy store. At least with Sweet Pepita, there are styles for little boys too. I wish the ELVIS WONDER OF YOU t-shirt had been available when my boys were little! Handsewn with organic and recycled fabric, it is adorable!

Of course, I can’t resist the beautiful little girl t-shirts. These CAMPO shirts in 100% organic cotton look so snuggly and cute. She has them in a variety of colors and patterns. I was drawn to this blue one with the delicate pink flowers you can see below.

Do you have a favorite t-shirt you just can’t live without? Well, the artist from Sweet Pepita has a great idea to make it a heirloom piece! If you send her your freshly washed adult tee, she will repurpose it to make either the front or sleeves of a new shirt for your little one. You choose the organic fabric and trim and give her any special instructions and presto-chango- a new shirt for your little Mini-Me. What a creative idea to extend the life of your favorite shirt!

To find out more about the creative forces driving this talented green artist you can visit her blog Sweet Pepita Clothing at blogspot.

Trashion Coin Purses on Lov.li February 12, 2008

Most people in the DIY/craft movement are aware of etsy but another site I have stumbled upon is a local Northwest creation called lov.li.  It functions in much the same way as etsy but it also allows users to list items they just want to present to the world but don’t want to sell.  Artists, buyers and the just plain curious can peruse the site to see all the cool creations.

While exploring the multitude of offerings on lov.li, I was drawn into a web of memories of bright orange fingers and peanut butter and jelly lunches by these cheeky coin purses.  I can’t stop thinking about licking all that yummy processed “cheese” residue off my fingers.

This is an actual recycled Cheetos bag covered in vinyl, lined with felt and given a zipper closure to keep all your treasures safe.

More memories were stirred by these Ramen Noodle coin purses.  Oh, late night gourmet dining in my college dorm- it doesn’t get any better than that.  (And with the Ramen purses, you get to choose your flavor- beef=red, chicken=orange, oriental=blue and shrimp=pink.)  What cute, functional trashion!

You can find these funky little coin purses and much more at lov.li.  Or look for the matching Ramen booties at MoJo Trashion on etsy.