There are a couple of movies that I would like to see.  The Darjeeling Limited, Margot at the Wedding and Juno.  I haven’t had a chance to catch any of them but would love to hear what you thought of them if you did.  I’ve already downloaded my Juno album from iTunes and am loving it.  In fact, that’s what I’m listening to as I write this post.  Here’s the trailer (or you can click on the links above and they’ll take you to the trailers at Apple).

Alright, so this is a special sort of Friday Favorites. Moving from Hawaii to San Francisco has been a fun adventure already. However, in Hawaii it’s pretty steady weather throughout the year. You can always get away with shorts, t-shirts and slippers January, February, March, and all the way until December. So, as you can probably imagine my body is attempting to adapt. This may seem strange for some, but just trying to figure out how to dress myself each day to stay warm is a test. I don’t exactly have the “appropriate” attire to be suited up for a cold December day here. Anyway, the point is that I have been checking on Etsy for some handmade goodness to keep me cozy. Here are a couple of my favorites. I’m open to suggestion if you know where to find others as well. Enjoy!

1: Crochet Flapper Cloche Hat (Teal, Black Raspberry, Flower) by Melissahappystuff ($30.00); 2: Cashmere Ice Skating Hat by Adventures Of…Jessica Rose ($42.00); 3: Orange and Teal Wrist Warmers by KitMit ($28.00); 4: Recycled Wool Necklace Scarf (Red, Creams, Greys) by Gaye Abandon ($33.00); 5: Elves and Acorns Hat by Mosey Handmade ($12.50) (may be for kids but I still like it!); 6: Chubby Green Apple Neck Cozy by Joodito ($50.00) 7: Big, Chunky Knit Beret by Unraveled ($25.00); 8: Fingerless Mittens by Kibbles ‘N Knits ($30.00)

Here’s a little color post where I chose some lovely art pieces for you…

Break The Routine Print by Studio M ($18.00); Love You Print by Sparks Fly ($20.00):

Hangin Around Print by Seasprayblue ($15.00):

Limited Edition Art Print on Canvas Panel - Easy Chair by Magic Jelly ($32.00): Old School Record Player in Olive by John W. Golden ($20.00):

Another Green World Fine Art Print on Metallic Paper by Irene Suchocki Photography ($30.00):

A little bird told me (okay, it was Susan) that ModCloth is having a Wishlist Contest.  Entering the contest is super easy.  Simply visit their blog between now and Christmas Eve and leave a short comment (under 500 words, please) about which ModCloth items are on your holiday wishlist and why.  The most convincing will win a $100 ModCloth Gift Certificate!  Oh man, I’ve got to head over there myself.  How about you?

There may still be time left for shopping from our great Holiday Gift Guide participants.  Please show them your love and see what wonderful handmade goods they’ve got.  Remember, there are a lot of discounts offered throughout the guide (and some sales!)…

Tuscany Magnet Set by Gallimaufry Arts ($8.00); Auto Bird Turd Emergency Kit by Grumpy Girl ($31.95):

Maurisa Top by Snoozer Loser (currently $80.00); Doggie Skull T-Shirt by Punk Rock Dogg (currently $17.17/ea or $31.50 for matching set for dog and people):

Soho 1 PhotoCuff by Smoy PhotoCuffs ($17.00); Signature Sets by JustJenn Designs ($12.00):

Check it out, a fun sponsor that I was fortunate enough to meet in person this past weekend…

Meet Rebecca Thoms Hanley of BananaSaurus Rex:

Name: Rebecca Thoms Hanley

Business Name: BananaSaurus Rex

Where are you located?
Livermore, CA

What is it that you design and create?
I make accessories for Mamas, Babies and Home out of vintage and recycled textiles.

What is your favorite part of the design process?
Discovery! I love finding a beautiful piece of fabric, being inspired by something unexpected, solving a problem, building a prototype.

How did you come up with your business name?
My sons love dinosaurs and we make up names for them. BananaSaurus Rex is one of our favorites. I like it because it’s Mighty and Silly both.

Where/How did this all begin?
I’ve always made things for friends, and I guess enough people finally said, “You could SELL this!” that I started to believe it.

Who or what inspires you?
Almost everything.

What advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
Well, I’m still just starting out myself…but I’d say: ask lots of questions and keep your chin up (it helps if all of your friends think you’re the most talented person they’ve ever met).

What is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
A French/English Love-O-Meter from pickypicky.etsy.com

What’s on your iPod/music player right now?
Lots of Beck and Dave Matthews Band. Death Cab for Cutie. Tenacious D. Cake.

What t.v. shows are you currently hooked on?
Over the summer, I was loving Burn Notice. I think it’s the new Magnum P.I.

What was the last movie you watched?
The Incredibles.

What’s your favorite food?
We have a meal at my house called Leftovers Quesadilla. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Leftover Yankee Potroast Quesadilla is the Best!

What’s your favorite candy?
Dark chocolate.

Coffee or Tea?
Coffee, please.

What store could you walk around in for hours and be happy?
Etsy!

Any pets?
No pets. Unless you count the the two boys. They’re small but they’re ferocious.

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
I love going to Kauai and I can’t wait to get back there.

Any celebrity crushes?
Cary Grant. Have you seen Charade? He’s almost unbearably sexy.

Favorite Holiday?
I’m not really a Holiday kind of gal. I like ordinary days that turn out to be extraordinary.

If you were a shoe, what shoe would you be?
I’d like to think I was something more graceful than a Reef Flip-Flop, but then again being well-designed and functional is nothing to sneeze at. And I find they go with everything.

What do you secretly wish you could do/be?
I wish I could blow glass, play classical guitar and perform Japanese tea ceremony. Really.

Favorite piece of clothing?
This Eco-fleece Wrap from SweetSkins! http://www.sweetskins.com/items/Fleece/FleeceWrap.html

Do you speak any other languages? If not, would you like to learn one?
Actually, I wish I spoke better English. I’m 38 and I still talk like Moon Unit Zappa.

There are just a couple more months left in 2007. Any exciting plans for the rest of the year?
YES! BananaSaurus Rex will be at Bazaar Bizarre in San Francisco on December 15th. It’s my first show and I’m super excited!

Yup, that’s where I met Rebecca. She’s so sweet and her handmade items really are of excellent quality. Thanks, Rebecca! Here’s some of what you can find at the shop:

MamaGoToMarket Bag ($36.00/set of 2); Ooo-La-La-Lavender ($6.50):

Vintage Hanky Blanky ($32.00); Vintage Bibage ($16.00):

Vintage Wine Wrap ($40.00/set of 6); Ooo-La-La-Lavender Laundry-Style ($6.00/set of 3):

I am in love with Miss Traci Edwards’s artwork. Growing up just outside of Birmingham, Alabama she had dreams of an art career. She spent two years in electrical engineering during college when she soon realized that her calling could wait no longer. Currently, Traci spends her days as an art director while designing awesome gigposters and art prints for fun.

At tracemyface (Traci’s online shop) you’ll find limited edition posters and prints and other gocco paper goods. It’s difficult to decide which ones are my favorites because all of her pieces really are amazing. The colors, the graphics…which ones would you choose?

Birdcages Print ($20.00):

Au Revoir Simone Gigposter ($20.00) (this one just got sold out but I had to share it with you anyway):

No Deer Was Hurt in the Making of This Art ($20.00):

The Wrens Show Poster (22.00):

They are saying goodbye to their online shop at the end of 2007.  Everything at Paper Cloud is on sale (25% off) through 2008.  Do not fear, however, because you can still find their pillows, lighting, journals, cards and more at stores throughout the country.

Mushroom Pillow ($45.00); Sunflower Lampshade ($73.50 - $138.00):

Daisy Journal ($26.25 - $33.75); Birdhouses Card ($3.00 - $15.00):

prices shown above are sale prices 

Woot! Woot! Yeah, that’s a word now, by the way. Anyway, I’m glad to say that Friday Favorites are now back. Check the cool stuff…

1) Mr. Hedgehog With a Blue Scarf by Marmee Craft: $50.00; 2) Custom Wool Fishtail Applique Skirt by Bon Bon: $140.00; 3) Hip-Hip-Hippo Four Score by Chikabird: $60.00; 4) Tree Headed Girl No. 1 by a.t. whim:$6.00; 5) Rustic Shabby Blue Birdhouse by Bacon Square Farm: $12.00; 6) Lucy’s Diner Earrings by Katinka Pinka: $16.00

Check out one of the coolest shops and one of Mixed Plate’s sponsors…

Meet Susan Gregg of ModCloth:

Name: Susan Gregg

Business Name: ModCloth

Where are you located?
Pittsburgh

How did you come up with your business name?
It was so long ago now I don’t really remember. I do know that we went through tons of ideas and different iterations – ModCloth just seemed to fit!

Where/How did this all begin?
I started ModCloth in the summer of 2002 (after I graduated high school and before I went to college). At that time, we only sold one of a kind vintage pieces and it was definitely more of a hobby than anything else. By 2005, as I was approaching graduation and starting to think about what I wanted to do with my life, some of my business professors convinced me to focus on ModCloth full-time. We started carrying indie designers along with the one of a kind vintage stuff and it’s grown from there. We’ve come so far but we have incredible plans for the future. Watch out!

Who or what inspires you?
Winston – my pug and ModCloth’s mascot. He’s just too cute.

What’s on your iPod/music player right now?
The Grey Album – a mash up of Jay-z’s Black Album and The Beatles’ White Album

What t.v. shows are you currently hooked on?
I just started watching Weeds and I’m loving it. The whole ModCloth crew watches old episodes of Arrested Development and Kids in the Hall during lunch – they’re always funny.

What was the last movie you watched?
Roll Bounce. I highly recommend it if you haven’t seen it.

What store could you walk around in for hours and be happy?
Beacon’s Closet in Brooklyn, New York.

Any pets?
The aforementioned Winston the pug and Blue the dachshund.

Any celebrity crushes?
I’m totally in love with Natalie Portman.

Favorite piece of clothing?
A vintage leopard-print coat from the ‘60s. My grandma gave it to me – it’s from her younger days and I really cherish it.

Do you speak any other languages? If not, would you like to learn one?
Yes! I studied German in college and lived there for a few months.

There are just a few more months left in 2007. Any exciting plans for the rest of the year?
Work, work, and more work! We have some incredible products coming in the next few months and we lots of top-secret features for the site that we’ll be unveiling. If I told you more, I’d have to kill you. Sorry.

Oh, I know we all can’t wait! There’s always so much to be had at ModCloth. Here’s a couple of my current faves:

Treehouse Snack Box ($14.99); Missed Connection Dress ($79.99):

Vinyl Gramophone Necklace ($14.99); Mushroom Desk Set ($19.99):

Eat People Top ($23.99); Masterpiece Library Planner ($23.99):

Receive 10% off your next purchase with coupon code “mixedplate“.

Check out Sub Urban Riot for their generous offer. In the spirit of the holidays, they’ve decided to send a free tee to anyone who orders two or more pieces from the site. It sure beats the crazy lines everywhere and you wouldn’t want to go to a, dare I say it…mall, would you?

Windstorm Men’s Tee; France 8001 Women’s Top:

{Windstorm Men’s Tee: $40.00; France 8001 Women’s Top: $38.00}

Check out Mixed Plate’s Holiday Gift Guide. You know you still need to do some shopping, so why not shop indie!?! Go on! Go now!!!

Bird Ornament by Little Flower Designs; Cherry Blossom Tie by Cyberoptix Tie Lab:

Dragonfly and Turquoise Howlite Necklace by Weekend Jewelry; Zinnia Diaper Tote by Laura Z: