Or, at least a fan of Art School Dropout. Check out Jessee’s newly designed site that was just launched this afternoon. With a look that is super sleek and new products that are fun and unique, you’ll have to drop by. To celebrate the new look, Jessee has offered 15% off with the use of coupon code “mixedplate_08_07“. Offer expires September 30. Head on over to get your hands on amazing one-of-a-kind pieces before you get dropped like last period…

Flower Plaque Earrings (Yellow); Juxtapose Necklace #784:

Owl Head Bracelet; Vintage Paper Airplane Brooch:

{Flower Plaque Earrings: $12.00; Juxtapose Necklace #784: $35.00}

{Owl Head Bracelet: $12.00; Vintage Paper Airplane Brooch: $6.00}

On Monday I did a post on fun lunch bags. Well, the sweet designer Jesse (of The Jesse B. Collection) offered Mixed Plate readers a discount. She has given us 25% off anything on her site from now until September 5 with coupon code “SEPT525″. Simply enter it during checkout to receive your discount. Take advantage of this savings because the shop normally doesn’t do many promotions like this. We are so lucky! Thanks, Jesse!!

Bridget Reversible Bermuda Bag; Brazil Clutch:

{Bridget: $32.00; Brazil: $80.00}

Oh boy! It’s the last Friday of the month of August! How did this happen? Well, no time to think about that I guess, huh? So, here’s the favorites of mine for today…

1) Large Flared Vase in True Blue Mod Colorway by YogaGoat Pottery: $195.00; 2) Agate Pendant by Bijou Boutique: $57.00; 3) Fuschia Versailles Cowl Top by Sumomo suki: $70.00; 4) Something Borrowed, Something Blue Letterpress Wedding Card by Sunlit Media Letterpress: $4.00; 5) Old Slut Bag by Flamestitch: $75.00

Another week, another great Guest Star Blogger! This fun gal came up with an idea that I’m sure you’ll all enjoy. It’s time for us to get an education. Yes, we’re all being treated to vocabulary lesson. Our Guest felt that “Mixed Plate is all about the independent spirit in us”. So she has come up with “5 new indie words and definitions that define some of us in the indie community.” Awesome! Get your pencils and paper ready…

Alright…Here’s a totally fun one for you put together by Amy Steinberg of Charming Sam. Amy has a line of unique hand crafted jewelry that was started after the birth of her daughter, Samantha, in 2004. Her collection is created with materials such as gemstones, gold-filled and gold-plated pieces, vermeil, sterling silver, Swarovski crystals and other beautiful gathered items that she found from around the world. Charming Sam has been in amazing publications like O-The Oprah Magazine, In Style, Lucky and more. In addition to creating jewelry you can visit amysteinberg.com for Amy’s artwork.

Word: Etsyaholic
Definition: A person who checks the Etsy home page first thing in the morning to see the “Hand Picked Items” of the day and then continues to check back at least once an hour throughout the day to see “Recently Listed Items”. When’s the last time you were on Etsy?
Current Favorite Item on Etsy: Cupid’s Revenge Original Painting by A Fanciful Twist

Word: Indie-Blogaholic
Definition: A person who has at least 5 indie art/design blogs they read daily.
Current Favorite Blog: Mixed Plate & Charming Sam. Other favorites: Anything Indie, Wickedly Chic

Word: Indie-Artaholic
Definition: A person who owns at least 44 items from independent artists.
Current Covetable Piece of Art: Veiled Voodoo Hissy Fit on Canvas by Fain Hancock

Word: Alchemist-aholic
Definition: A person who has at least two drawers full of bath and body products from independent bath/body companies and uses them 1/2 dozen times a day.
Favorite Alchemist: mi SPA Favorite Scents: “yuzu & sake”

Word: Newsletter-aholic
Definition: A person who subscribes to more than 20 newsletters from independent artists, crafters, designers, etc. AND, reads them ravenously as each one comes through email.
Favorite Newsletter: Kids Craft Weekly

Alright. So I don’t know about you, but I can surely relate to one or two most all of these words. How about you?

Thank you very much to Amy for this fun and informative blog spot. Please visit Amy at Charming Sam.

Let me know if you’re interested in a Guest Star Blogger spot of your very own.

Happy First Birthday to Prickly Pear!!! This is one of my favorite shops ever and I can’t believe the shop is celebrating one year already. Sibylle is offering the readers of Mixed Plate FREE SHIPPING on any order with the use of coupon code “SHIPFREE” when checking out. Use this code because this is for any order, any size (you can get free shipping via the site if you spend over $50 - we got a sweet deal!). This offer is good through September 9.

Finch Messenger Bag (Deer); Partridge Lavender Sachet (Flower Field-Magenta); Budgie Felt Pouch (Flock of Geese):

{Finch Messenger Bag: $96.50; Partridge Lavender Sachet: $13.79; Budgie Felt Pouch: $19.69 = US dollars}

*free shipping applies to orders shipped within the US and Canada*

Check this out:

CALLING ALL CRAFTERS!!!

The BUST Magazine 2007 Holiday Craftacular is set to happen on Saturday, December 8!!! As a result of the enormous success of the past two years’ craft fairs, this year’s shopping bonanza will be more than THREE TIMES as large!

BUST will be handpicking 200 of the most unique and talented crafters from across the country to sell their wares. Warm frosty toes with a beer and a hot dog from Sparky’s American Food, and then hit The Pavilion to shop beneath the mistletoe while browsing thousands of handcrafted winter wares including knitwear, jewelry, beauty products, ornaments, vamped up vintage clothing, silk-screened apparel, gourmet sweets, handbags, chic and original iPod cases, funky home decor, books, sassy soaps (for the naughty and the nice!), cards, the best gear for babies and more. Then take a break from shopping as the BUST DJs jingle your bells on the Craftacular dance floor!

If you would like to participate as a vendor, applications are now available! There are no exceptions as to who can apply, and we’ll consider everything: hip handmades, accessories, housewares, vintage clothing, knitwear, silk-screened items, cosmetics, paper goods, handbags, ornaments, cards, and whatever else your crafty canny brings to a table. For a list of FAQ and information on how to apply, please visit here.

Be a sugarplum and jingle-tell all your crafty pals about BUSTs Holiday Craftacular by sending them over to the site!

So here’s the thing. It’s still hot and humid. I’m still sweating. It surely doesn’t feel like the summer is over yet. But I guess the fact that everyone is going back to school determines that the summer is done, right? Jena over at Modishoppe decided to have an end of summer sale for the next three days. Get 15% off everything in the shop (including sale items, hello!) by entering the code “goodbyesum07” at checkout. Offer ends the night of 8/30/07 so get on over there now! Check some of the goodness…

Leaf Wristlet Wallets; Lavender Kingbird Slip; Baubles Make-Up Bag:

     
{Leaf Wristlet Wallets: $37.00; Lavender Kingbird Slip: $50.00; Baubles Make-Up Bag: $22.00}

I meant to post this the other day.  Something exciting is going on at Poppy Talk!!!

Jan over at Poppytalk has a new project…Poppytalk Handmade!  She’s putting out a Call for Submissions to her new online street market.  It’ll be like an actual street or flea market with indie makers of all kinds renting available virtual tables.  How cool is that?  For more info, check out Poppytalk.

I love the idea behind Simply Silhouettes, a company founded in December 2006 by Patrick and Angela Flynn! Based in Vancouver, Washington is a truly unique way of preserving the priceless moments of childhood. You send a photo in of your child, family, pet, etc. and they can create all sorts of cool items for you. Stationery, tote bags, apparel…that’s just the start of what you can put a custom silhouette on. So cool and you’re sure to have your (or your family member’s) best side featured.

Regulation Playing Cards; Tote Bag; Circular Bookplates:

{Playing Cards: $40.00; Tote Bag: $40.00; Bookplates: $40.00/20 labels}

Well, sort of. I’m a gal who likes to pack her lunch for work. Partly because I can save some money and partly because I’ll eat healthier if I’ve already packed the food. Usually I take one of those soft cooler-type lunch bags. Nothing fancy, but it does the job - I throw an ice pack in it and I’m off. But wouldn’t having a home lunch be that much more appealing when you carry it in one of these (remember, these are reusable so you won’t need to brown bag it)…

Lacy Green Lorraine by Dos Chicas at Buy Olympia; Roxy’s Tattoo Reusable Lunch Bag by goshdarnknit:

Linen and Cotton Drawstring Lunch Bag by Lot Nineteen; Polka Dot Lunch Bag by The Jesse B. Collection:

{Lacy Green Lorraine: $36.00; Roxy’s Tattoo: $17.00}

{Linen and Cotton Drawstring: $28.00; Polka Dot: $15.00}

Tricia McKellar collects images of machines, insects, vintage photographs, kitschy junk and natural patterns. Why? She’s a mixed media artist based in North Carolina that uses these inspirational items to create digital collages. Bugs and birds make an appearance and are surely not junk. They are quite beautiful, affordable and unique. Here are my favorite prints:

Insect Machine 8 Print (12″x12″); 5 Birds Print (5″x5″); Plans and Diagrams 9 (7″x7″):

{Insect Machine 8: $95.00; 5 Birds: $12.00; Plans and Diagrams 9: $35.00}

Anissa Mook of Femmina Style always brings in a fun mix of vintage goods. She always has a sale going on…Hey, there’s one right now! Here are a couple of the items that are marked down…

Peaches & Cream Gown; Fall Foliage Earrings; Mauve Disco Dress:

{Peaches & Cream Gown: $18.20; Fall Foliage Earrings: $7.00; Mauve Disco Dress: $16.80}