who needs a pick-me-up? these cards by anna and gareth of able and game featuring hand drawn quirky designs had me cracking up…
cone head; i don’t have a lazy eye, girl version; why yes, i have been working out; billy ocean; ha ha ha thirty: $4.00/ea
how was your weekend? i had such a great day at work yesterday. i met some great people and chatted with some of my favorite customers and neighborhood friends. and then something happened that really spoiled my mood. but it’s okay. you know why? because today is a new day and there’s really…
ha! this definitely helped put that smile back on my face.
no time for crappy thoughts print by betty turbo: $20.00
ps – happy birthday, agnes!
pps – check out the special offer she’s listed for today.
happy turkey day, everyone! or…happy tofurkey day! what are your plans for the holiday? i will be eating at my favorite vegetarian chinese restaurant here in the city. that’s right. i am going to head to chinatown. i know, i know…not your traditional thanksgiving meal, but it works for me. i really wish that i had decided to go home for the week {it definitely would have been nicer weather on o‘ahu – sf has been c-o-l-d}. it would have been great to have spent time with my family, see my nieces and nephews, visit with friends and have a real meal {nothing beats mom’s cooking, right?}.
i want to know what it is that you’re thankful for. the past couple of years have been pretty trying but i am still thankful for everything. i am thankful to have made new friends here. some of whom have really been supportive of me during difficult times. i am thankful to be in good health. i am thankful to have a fun job to go to every single day where i meet some of the sweetest people. i am thankful to have a family who i know loves me so, so much. i am thankful to have a roof over my head. i am thankful that i have a sense of humor and can laugh at myself. i am thankful for many, many things…including all of you. the online community of bloggers, crafters, indie business folks, readers and new friends…well, you are all truly amazing. i am very appreciative of you. i wish you a happy thanksgiving.
baby pumpkin by shannon blue photography: $25.00; cranberries by erin reynolds photography: $24.00; bright orange bloom by amelia kay photography: $25.00
did you see it yet? did you? well…
you better head on over there because i am so excited about this year’s holiday gift guide. the participants are amazing and have offered up exclusive discounts just for mixed plate readers. lucky you! and check out all of the items in their shops and support handmade businesses this {and every} holiday season {and occasion}. remember, these are unique items created with love…isn’t that what you want to give your loved ones {or yourself}?
golden hues have really been popping up a lot. naturally, i assume it is because of the holiday season that is fast approaching. dresses that hang in windows, sparkly heels {i won’t lie…i do want a pair of glittery shoes}, and fun nail polish {my nails are currently gold} have been making more frequent appearances. all are fitting for the holidays that lead us to a new year. do you do gold?
via the workshop
via ohjoyeats
via weheartit
via elise enchanted
via david’slil’jadey
via etco
i have been waiting patiently for ban.do‘s line of shoe clips to arrive ever since i saw hints of it on their blog. and now that they’re here i’m searching my closet for what shoes need some sparkle so i can have fancy feet…
oh, how i wish these were in my closet…
sequin heart shoe clip: $25.00; chiffon pom pom shoe clip: $25.00; silk flower shoe clip: $25.00
a while ago i learned about nathiya’s company, *emera, via nicole’s blog. later on i met her by chance in a class we were both attending during one of nicole’s amazing art weekends. her stylish camera totes have been on my wishlist for some time now and has moved up on my list since discovering her latest design…
this classic canvas style was designed {as are all of her bags} to store and protect your photo gear. there are seven padded compartments that offer customizable spaces {thank you, velcro!} for you to fill to your heart’s desire. the cotton canvas is also water-resistant and the straps are made of sturdy leather. there’s an interior zip pocket, outside pockets, and a full zipper top to secure your precious camera and more.
classic canvas camera tote: $169.00
ps – i love that this doesn’t scream look-at-me-i’m-carrying-an-expensive-camera-in-here.
it’s time to show some love to one of our sponsors. let me introduce you to a gal who crafts all kinds of accessories in her boutique in the netherlands.
meet maartje witteveen of tizzalicious
name: maartje witteveen
business name: tizzalicious
where are you located? the netherlands
what is it that you design and create?
jewelry, accessories, housewares and here and there a softie.
how did you come up with your business name?
my boyfriend came up with it actually, a long time before we were a couple. my nickname had been tizz for a while, and he sometimes called me tizzalicious (because he’s a sleeze I guess?). i liked the sound of it, and started using it as a username whenever i had to sign up somewhere. a few years later, when i started my business, and my boyfriend and i were a couple, i just knew tizzalicious was the only option for a name.
where/how did this all begin?
i have always been creative. when i was little my sister and i were always making jewelry from hobby rubber (which we called “clip making stuff”) and sewing barbie clothes. when i was a little older i started making clothes for myself and selling jewelry on livejournal. when my studies to become a translator failed, i decided to turn my hobby into a business, and start my own shop.
who or what inspires you?
i can find inspiration anywhere. i love all things retro & colorful, so reading blogs with beautiful pictures, old movies & colorful bead & charm shopping are high on my inspiration list.
what is your favorite part of the design process?
sitting down with all my supplies spread out in front of me, thinking of fun combinations.
{from the craft market amsterdam}
crafty folks know that accumulating new tools and supplies is something that comes along with the territory. what are your favorite tools and supplies?
i actually don’t need a lot of tools for most of the things I create for my shop. pliers obviously, and I wouldn’t know what to do without e-6000 glue! i love hoarding tools though, i keep buying all these weird little gadgets like yoyo makers that i never end up using. aside from that, i buy a lot of beads & charms, ribbon, fabric & deco tape.
what advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
get your name out there. don’t just open an etsy shop, add a few items and expect people to find you. start a blog, advertise & network. not only is networking very useful, it’s also a lot of fun. twitter makes me feel like i have hundreds of colleagues!
what is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
an incredibly cute tea pot tote bag from rosie music.
what’s on your ipod/music player right now? what’s on your “crafting music playlist”?
i have been listening to hanson’s new album “shout it out” a lot. i have been a huge hanson fan for years, and i just love the cheerful sound of their new album.
what t.v. shows are you currently hooked on?
i’m a star trek geek. i never liked it, but somehow mr.licious (aka, the boyfriend) got me hooked. we watched all the different series together, and have now started over. i also love project runway.
what was the last movie you watched?
bride wars.
what’s your favorite food?
pizza! not very original, is it? i also love humus and falafel though.
what’s your favorite candy?
cookies!
coffee or tea?
tea, I have a whole drawer filled with all kinds of different tea. it’s always an adventure to pick one.
what store could you wander around in and be happy?
a dutch department store called hema. they sell colorful things with great design for nice prices. i love that store!
any pets?
i have a cat called simba.
favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
i love london & berlin. london is where I go when I want to go on a crazy shopping spree. unfortunately i haven’t been able to afford that for a while. and berlin is just a great city to be!
do you have a day job in addition to your crafty business? what do you secretly wish you could do/be?
i don’t have a day job, i get chronic migraines and i am on disability. my boyfriend lives in denmark, and the plan is for me to move there permanently too. doing that would stop my disability though, and as he’s still in college, we would not be able to afford living together without me having an income. so i’m working hard to make my shop a success, so i won’t need the disability anymore, and i will be free to move wherever i want.
{setting up her booth at the craft market amsterdam}
do you speak any other languages? if not, would you like to learn one?
my native language is dutch, and apart from that i speak english (obviously) and german. i am working hard on learning danish, but it’s very hard! the boyfriend is half american and grew up in the usa. he didn’t learn danish until he moved to denmark in 2004, and his accent isn’t all that it should be. i guess that him being my main practice person, means i will end up speaking danish with a dutch-american accent?
what are your plans and/or goals (business/personal) for 2010?
i just want to survive the holiday season! i started preparing early this year, so i should be fine, business wise. my personal goals are to relax a bit more, work a bit less, and spend more time doing things i love that are not business related.
thanks so much, maartje! please visit tizzalicious for more of her handmade goods…
glamour skull cameo ring: $13.00; thunder cloud necklace: $12.50
cherry heart brooch: $6.50; record lover studs: $9.00
dottie bunny magnets {set of 3}: $5.00; mushroom bobby pins: $6.50
ps – use code MIXEDPLATE to receive 10% off your purchase!
oh, how i wish i had been in portland last weekend. the little winter handmade market took place and featured over 20 artists and craftspeople. i’ve been spying all these fabulous photos of what was up for offer there and am drooling. big time. for example, here’s a collaboration between pigeon toe ceramics and shanna murray {two of my faves!}…
check out the inside…
how great are these?! of course, they sold out of almost everything within the first two hours of the market and are currently out of stock. but check out their sites because it looks like there’s more to come.
good together stacking vessels: $44.00; hello, friend half tumbler: $36.00; optimist tumbler: $40.00; welcome home half tumbler: $36.00
ez over at creature comforts may have outdone herself. i am constantly inspired by her creativity and beauty that she finds and shares with us daily. when i saw that she was taking on another project my jaw dropped…out of excitement, of course. because i just knew it was gonna be oh-so-good…
gifted is a special holiday magazine offering up cool downloads, holiday project ideas, interviews, a gift guide and more. some of my favorite people are featured, so check out the full issue here. so glad i finally had time to browse…
congrats, ez!
you know how i feel about notebooks, right? well, you can never have too many…
um, yes, please! these adorable notebooks are by illustrator and graphic designer verónica de arriba who is based in granada {spain}. each notebook contains 30 pages and the inside is made of 100% recycled paper.
via kenziepoo
i really need to get away. and other than going back home to hawaii, these places don’t sound so bad either…
ps – where would you like to get away to? i have a long, long list…but this is a start.
london, paris, new york prints {$30/ea or $60/ea, depending on size} by blanca gómez. also available as a set {$75.00/set of 3 or $150/set of 3, depending on size}
aloha! i’m Liana. this is my site. i am not a professional writer. i pretty much just write the way i talk. it’s fun meeting new online friends and introducing these amazing artists. i’ll do my best to keep you entertained.
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