Deb & Wendy have been crafting most of their lives. DIYthing is an online venture developed by sisters Deb & Wendy. Through it they bring you all the latest in DIY indie designers. They highlight a mix of artisan designs, indie designers, home fashion, DIY crafts, one of a kind products, and specialty shops as well as products and services for DIYs (Do-it-Yourselfers) who are looking for great resources.
Jazzfest is oh-so-fun when the weather is hot and the ground is dry, but if you happen to catch it after a Louisiana afternoon thunderstorm, well - pull out those puddle jumpers! Of course, unfortunately, New Orleanians know how to style when they wade in the water. Click SEE SLIDESHOW to check out the stylish rain boots that we saw at the festival this weekend!
Go back in time this Mother’s Day with nine great vintage finds that any mom would love. Start with this stamped gold tone filigree cuff bracelet by Lilly’s Vintage Jewelry, perfect for the sophisticated mom on your list. Can’t let this vintage German ‘holly hobby’ cameo ring by Ragtrader slip away-- it’s great for the mom that likes to have a little fun with her accessories. Looking for something to please grandma? This 1940’s vintage lipstick case-turned-necklace will be the perfect find! And for the mom who loves to put on the glitz, this ‘glitz and a lot of glam’ bracelet from Simply Me Art is a must.
Green design is hot and these 12 bags made from reclaimed materials will spice up your summer outfits. The designers in our eco-friendly bag roundup use everything from reclaimed plastic bags ala Cara Taylor to reclaimed sails by forward-thinking Reiter8. From Vy & Elle‘s poppin’ urban bag, made from reclaimed billboard vinyl, to Jemma Morris‘ Bangle Bags, green bag design is all about rethinking design to upcycle materials into beautiful, unique designs. Our list wouldn’t be complete without the funky, eclectic style of Lori Marsha, Yasmin Bochi, Junkprints, Fluffy J. Couture and Shojono Tomo. These designers are masters at remixing funky materials with modern themes to bring reconstruction techniques to a whole new level. So if you are bored with your handbag, check out our slideshow - you will be adding eco spice to your look in no time. We even have a vintage Raggedy Ann cutie from Rustchic so the little one can join in the eco fun.
Earth Day is fast approaching, and in case you haven’t sorted out how you will celebrate going green, we bring you some great designers who can help you get started. Start off with colorful chairs by Susan Spinks and Jim Wolfe - they will make anyone jump on the green bandwagon. Created in sunny Los Angeles, the artist-sculptor collaboration has taken 1950’s metal chairs and transformed them into art for your summer days of lounging on the patio. Click READ MORE to learn about our favorite eco-friendly artists for Earth Day!
Jody McGill’s filigree jewelry has been turning the heads of celebs (like Leelee Sobieski here) of late. As an independent designer, she sells under her 1ofmykind brand. She uses antique Czech glass and bronze detailing in many of the pieces for a distinctive look. If your budget isn’t ready for Hollywood, she has some pieces in her line that are priced for budget-conscious divas too! Check out her new Lulu Steampunk Vintage Corset Earrings or the Aquamarine Cocktail Ring. Jody recently spent a few minutes telling us about her work, so click SEE SLIDESHOW to check out these seven divine pieces and READ MORE to meet the artist behind them!
Weddings are one of the very best times to share your personal style. Many couples are choosing to add a personal touch by creating their own hand-printed wedding invitations. If you aren’t quite ready to go totally DIY and make your own invitations, you should check out a New York City indie artist who has done the handmade work for you. Kate Karchner of Oh So Suite has a fun collection of hand-printed wedding invitation suites. “I strive to create a stylish invitation suite that hits both modern and classic notes in harmony,” Kate recently told us. “I think each bride and groom deserve to have a invitation suite that sets the tone for their wedding while standing out and expressing their own unique style.” So avoid run-of-the-mill invitations and check out our SLIDESHOW of four unique hand-printed suites by Oh So Suite!
Pillows are such personal objects. Think about it, we all have our favorites and they cradle our heads when we’re tired and catch our tears when we’ve had a bad day. We think it only makes sense that you should splurge on special handmade pillows. Take a look at 12 of the best ones that we’ve rounded it up for spring. Husband and wife team Matthew and Ariana Broerman of Papercloud create delicately beautiful handmade pillows. You are sure to find one to treasure from the heartwarming ‘Connected Couple’ from mother-daughter team Mary and Shelly Klein, to Hitree’s ‘Hi Mr. Oak Tree’ whimsical pillow. Or if you want something funky, try the colorful ‘My Tatt’ pillow from Laidback Home for your tattoo that never happened. Many in our list are made from eco-friendly materials.
Easter is one of those holidays where the kids are supposed to have all the fun. Well, don’t let the fun of baskets full of crème eggs, chocolate bunnies, and jelly beans pass you by. Give the Easter Bunny a hand. If you are in a DIY mood, indulge your inner child as you fill your child’s basket this Easter. We’ve found some products to make children of all ages very “hoppy”. How about Zygopsyche’s pink faux fur bunny? Another sweet idea are the Easter Funny Bunnies by Dogbone Art. The handmade, screen-printed bunnies stand 8 inches tall and are simply adorable. Prettybowtique allows you to accessorize your little one’s hair with adorable bunny hairclips. Any of these goodies are sure to please any child or child at heart - without all the calories!
We all know that Valentine’s Day is a day for showing affection. This Valentine’s Day, why not buy yourself some handmade designer outfits that will show your true style along with your affection? We’ve found five sizzling looks and some fun accessories that you will want to explore. From KONI-Art’s luxury handmade lace skirt to Tied Up’s adorable 60’s style silk crinkled chiffon mini dress, the style is spicy and fun. Head on over to Smashing Darling to see Tied Up’s sexy looks, the flirty fun will spice up your plans for sure. And if you are really daring, try one of DesertOrchid87 corsets. Top it off with “flirty little treats” (blindfold included) from Greygoat. Or, if you are ready to DIY, make some sexy string panties with a little help from One Hour Craft. This simple little pattern is super easy to follow and will be just the right accessory.
Guys, did you know that women buy most of the ties sold? Well, if this holiday season you got too many boring ones from your Aunt Sue, you’re due for a handsome new one. Here’s your chance to establish your own designer tie wardrobe before someone ties another silly one on you. Take a look at our handpicked list of handmade and designer ties to get you started. We must say that Cyberoptix Tie Labs leads our list with their brand new, quietly subversive “She loves me....she loves me not” tie - just in time for your Valentine’s Day. If you covet these luxuries, you may want to make Cyberoptix your homepage, as founder Bethany Shorb and the gang in Detroit always have a steady supply of fresh, darkly illustrated hand-screened beauties.
Why count the days like your neighbors? Instead, follow your creative heart in 2008 and buy yourself a special calendar to treasure! We’ve searched some of our favorite indie sites and rounded up 15 handmade and eco-licious calendars for you. We found some familiar faces and a few new ones in this batch of modern indie designers. With these calendars, you can enjoy art like Jim Flora’s hand-printed Swingin’ Sax or Nikki McClure’s hand cut paper designs every day of 2008! Many of the works are printed on recycled paper or designed to be reused in creative ways. (You’ll also find some hot DIY gals in the She’s Crafty 2008 Calendar - eat your heart out Victoria’s Secret.) But hurry, the clock’s ticking and many are limited-edition collectibles, so order yours today.
DIY gifts are fun, colorful, and full of personality. Just like kids! There’s an innocence to them that make them a welcome diversion from the Polly Pockets, bulked-up superheroes, and Barbies that kids think they want, only because they’re bombarded by commercials for these products every day of their little lives! Think what a better place the world would be if, instead of commercials for plastic movie tie-in action figures, thre were commercials for felt iPod holders, pink plushies, and deluxe socktopi. Yes, we said deluxe socktopi. Click the slideshow to see what we’re talking about!
Stocking stuffing is tough. If you don’t watch out, you can end up spending as much on doodads as you do on your main gifts. Conversely, if you spend too little, you end up filling the stocking with so much useless crap its almost embarrassing. We are here to help you find that middle ground: amazing, one-of-a-kind gifts that don’t break the bank, but just may be the best presents you give.
When they’re not peeing on your carpet or chewing up your Manolos, your fur children can bring you more happiness than people, food, drink, and reruns of 30 Rock - combined. So when it comes to the holidays, a big present under the tree for little Baxter von Tittlefoot is just not enough. But don’t run to the local PetMart to get another been-there/done-that chew toy or catnip-filled hacky sack. Get a handmade gift this year, but do it today, because these things take time to ship, people!
Stuck on what to stuff in your sexy guy’s stocking? Steel Cake’s new dog tag timepieces by indie designer Matthew Burnett are a can’t-miss idea. But that’s just the start! We have found ten amazingly cool handmade and recycled products for the dude on your list who refuses go with the flow, follow the crowd, drink the Kool-aid - you get our meaning. See the slideshow now for wallets, belt buckles, shot glasses… Who says DIY is all about crochet and felt? Not us…
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