I love these moments where we can find out more about our sponsors. Plus, there are two gals we’re about to get to know…

Meet Joleen Rumsey and Rachel Six of Flutter:

Name: Joleen Rumsey and Rachel Six

Business Name: Flutter

Where are you located?
Grand Rapids, MI

What is it that you design and create?
Women’s knit tops, jackets and dresses.

What is your favorite part of the design process?
Joleen: I really enjoy picking out fabrics. I love to mix and match different prints together. I really enjoy the pull between not knowing if something matches or clashes so good to matches.
Rachel: Brainstorming

How did you come up with your business name?
Joleen: We wanted to find one word that would describe all that we do and how we feel and what our end product is. The word Flutter is perfect. It is fun, flirty, playful, eccentric, eclectic, pretty, colorful. . . . .
Rachel: Joleen came up with our name and we just went with it.

Where/How did this all begin?
Joleen: Rachel and I worked at a fabric store together. We have similar taste and style and thought it would be fun to start making things together. One thing led to another and now we are designing and drafting patterns and making beautiful clothing and selling internationally!
Rachel: We have both been sewing since we were little girls. We finally collaborated 2 years ago in my sewing room and that was the birth of Flutter LLC.

Who or what inspires you?
Joleen: Life and friends and family and music and flowers.
Rachel: Classic Movies,Vintage Patterns, and Audrey Hepburn.

What advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
Joleen: Have fun making things!
Rachel: Don’t be Shy.

What is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
Joleen: Earrings!!!
Rachel: Sparta Soap - we absolutely love the quality and bath time allure of this product, available on etsy.

What’s on your iPod/music player right now?
Joleen: Bo Diddly
Rachel: My Morning Jacket and Essex Green

What t.v. shows are you currently hooked on?
Joleen: Battle Star Galactica
Rachel: The Bob Newhart Show. Carol Kester is so spunky.

What was the last movie you watched?
Joleen: Eagle vs Shark
Rachel: Vanity Fair

What’s your favorite food?
Joleen: Raspberries
Rachel: French Onion Soup

What’s your favorite candy?
Joleen: Chocolate
Rachel: Dark Chocolate

Coffee or Tea?
Joleen: Both
Rachel: Both - Black Coffee or Chai Tea

What store could you walk around in for hours and be happy?
Joleen: Target
Rachel: Antique Stores

Any pets?
Joleen: House plants are the most ideal pets for me!
Rachel: One itty bitty adorable Boston Terrier named Pearl.

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
Joleen: India, I have been twice and it always blows my mind with its beauty and horror.
Rachel: Favorite Place to Visit is Falling Water, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home in Pennsylvania. I’d love to visit the Greek Islands.

If you could be a superhero, what would your name be and what would be your superpowers?
Joleen: I don’t think I would want to be a super hero. It is too fun and plenty of excitement just trying to be me.

Any celebrity crushes?
Joleen: Jermaine Clement

Favorite Holiday?
Joleen: Birthdays
Rachel: Christmas

If you were a shoe, what shoe would you be?
Joleen: Platform sneaker mary jane style
Rachel: A kitten heel, you can be sassy and comfortable.

What do you secretly wish you could do/be?
Joleen: Fly

Favorite piece of clothing?
Joleen: My sea horse knee socks! They are so beautiful with lime green and white candy stripes and turquoise sea horses going up each side.
Rachel: My vintage green lawn dress.

Do you speak any other languages? If not, would you like to learn one?
Joleen: German, my mother is from Germany and growing up we used it quite often. I didn’t make much sense to the other kids in school sometimes.
Rachel: A little, if College French counts.

We’re half way into 2008 already! Oh yes, so soon. What are your plans for the year?
Joleen: To make lots of clothes!

Thanks to Joleen and Rachel for participating in our interview. We can’t wait to see what new designs you’ll create!

Cess: $64.99; Cinnamon Girl: $64.99:

 

Lolly: $120.00; Gretchen: $64.99:

 

Stylist Jacket: $69.99; Deeter Dot: $54.99:

 

It’s that time again! What are you doing tonight? If you’re in Honolulu, check out the Fighting Eel and Ginger 13 Sample Sale taking place at the Fighting Eel Headquarters. Here are a few pieces from the Summer 2008 line:

Triangle; Amelie:

  

Sienna Long; Puka:

  

Fighting Eel & Ginger 13 Sample Sale
Friday, June 20, 2008 from 5pm - 8pm
Fighting Eel headquarters
$2 entry fee. All proceeds collected from the door fee will be matched and donated by Fighting Eel to the American Red Cross China Relief Fund.
Cash Only.

For those of you lucky folks who are in Hawaii (I miss you, so) this weekend, you have the opportunity to get some Kealopiko merchandise at a discounted price. The summer liquidation sale will be held this Saturday at the University of Hawaii in Manoa. All kinds of designs from older lines will be available for up to 40% off. There will be a variety of sizes and designs from their back stock inventory so be sure to stop by. The most recent Ku and Makahiki lines will also be available for purchase.

When: Saturday, June 14; 10am - 3pm
Where: Kamakakuokalani (Hawaiian Studies, UH Manoa), Room 207

Here are a couple of tops from the Ku Line…

Vicia Scoop Tee: $24.00; Opu Weuweu Tee: $24.00:

  

Kalehuawehe Collared Shirt: $40.00; Ulua Tee: $24.00:

  

hint: did you get something for Father’s Day? Check out the great men’s stuff.

A little email made it to my inbox regarding the new Spring/Summer 2008 line over at Snoozer Loser. Once again, I am excited to see the lovely designs, colors and fabrics that make up this collection. There are amazing looks for the warm months ahead in metallic linens with hand-printed patterns on tops, sweet little dresses, mini skirts and mini shorts. I really love them all, but here are a few of my faves…

The Lila: $110.00; The Janis J. Skirt: $90.00:

   

The Dolly P. Shorts: $95.00; The Virginia: $85.00:

   

Head on over now…There’s an offer of 20% off of the new items now until June 30 (see shop for details).  Also, don’t miss the sale section! 

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was to receive the email that stated there was a new collection at Locher’s. Swoon… There’s just so much lovely and so much naughty all in the same place. So there are words embroidered on the tops that may make some blush. The little vixen sporting these will surely be forgiven due to the beauty of the little details in each piece. Here are a few favorites of mine…

I Ain’t Your ________ Sweetheart: $87.00; Just Good Boys Get Presents: $87.00:

  

________ in the Head: $87.00; I Need a ________ Coffee: $87.00:

  

No Time to __________: $87.00; Don’t You _______ Look at Me: $87.00:

  

The Kate Necklace (hee, hee): $69.00; Play it Again Sam: $61.00:

  

Crafters for Critters has announced that they will be closing temporarily after 4 years of so much giving. The shop will close on July 1 to reorganize and think of different ways to raise funds. They plan to be back in action in 2009. Help clear the shop out and save 75% off your purchase. Simply enter code “BUYSTUFF” in the shopping cart for the discount! Crafters for Critters, by the way, has already donated over $17,000 to animal rescue groups.

Lilac Glass Greyhound Pins by Happy Owl Glassworks: $9.00/ea:

Brown Cropped Jacket by Amet and Sasha: $10.00 (sale):

Love this shirt! Silkscreened recycled cotton t-shirt by Cubist Literature:

French Love and L’alcool: $23.00:

According to the awesome Craig, the shirt’s text that is printed in French basically translates to: “I’ll be there for you always. And I’ll get you drunk when you’re sad.” L-O-V-E it!

Wings Hawaii, one of my favorite shops, has launched a new site and I love it! The new designs, new jewelry…ah, where to begin. The new spring and summer collections are up on the site currently and one of the main features right now happens to be their Eco-Friendly line. This consists of a short-sleeve pocketed v-neck hoodie (I have one and adore it so!), long-sleeve hoodies and full length drawstring pants. The items are made of 50% organic cotton and recycled polyester and are super soft!

The jewelry collection by Sam has evolved a great deal as well. I have been a fan of everything on this site and the jewelry is really catching my eye even more. Every piece is fabricated, handmade, hammered, you name it. She does it all!

If you can’t already tell, I really do love what the gals at Wings Hawaii are doing and will continue to show my support. Remember, if you’re ever in Maui you can visit their storefront (so lucky!). There’s so much more on the site and at their retail shop so check it out. Why don’t I just show you a few of my favorites (you know, what’s on my ‘wish list’)…

Shell Eco-Friendly Pullover Hoodie: $52.00; Opihi Earrings: $200.00:

  

Bling Wing Necklace: $325.00; Eco-Friendly Pants: $52.00:

  

Another Hawaiian favorite of mine - Kealopiko. These gals have done it again with the release of their newest lines. The Makahiki line actually launched back in December but I still wanted to show it off. Also newly released is Hilu - the new line for keiki (kids). Remember, not only are the designs beautiful but educational as well. Enjoy…

Malolo Tee: $24.00; Pua Aloalo Scoop: $24.00:

  

‘Ekaha Long sleeve: $38.00; Makali’i Tee: $24.00:

  

‘Opihi Onezee: $20.00; Moi Dress: $30.00:

  

Okay, so let me just share with you some of the awesomeness that is Fred Flare…

I used to love reading books about Madeline as a child. Check the shirt: $24.00:

I do love my music, as do I love my iPod. So, you can see why I think these are pretty funny…500XL GIANT Earbud Speakers: $60.00:

Ice cream, anyone? No electricity required. Just some ice and rock salt in one end, ice cream mix in the other and let the playing begin!
Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker: $34.00:

Oh, how I wish I were still in Hawaii. And, oh, how I wish I were going to be in Maui this weekend. Fighting Eel and Ginger 13 are having a HUGE Sample Sale where everything will be $40 or less! Rona Bennett and Lan Chung of Fighting Eel will be on hand with their beautiful clothing line. Ginger 13 designer Cindy Yokoyama will have her fun jewelry pieces available. Hmmm, sounds good to me! Here’s the scoop:

When: Sunday, April 13, 2008; 11-3pm
Where: Maui Beach Hotel in the Elleair Ballroom (Free Parking)
What: Fighting Eel and Ginger 13 selling past collections at 50-80% off. Everything will be marked down to $40 or less.
Cost: $5 fee at the door
For More Info: Check Fighting Eel’s Events Page

Lucky you if you’re in Maui on Sunday! Let me know if any of you attend the sale!

Here are some of the designs from Fighting Eel’s Spring and Pre-Summer Collections (in stores now, not included in the sale):

Juliet Dress; Cali Tunic:

  

Monroe Dress; Holiday Dress:

  

Kate Dress; Nellie Dress:

  

Check out some of the goodies by Ginger 13:

Crystal Rhino: $52.00; Faux Lucite Tortise Links: $28.00:

  

Brass Filigree-Horse: $49.00; Wood Disc-Bird: $66.00:

  

Got a little note from Alyse that she and Sanja have updated their catalog. Here are some lovely pieces from the newest collection at Aelisheva…