These are a few of my Favorite Things

I've been doing some cleaning and sprucing up of the place. Getting it summer proof with two new chairs and tins of herbs planted on the front porch. Looking for items that remind me of the good days of summer. Looking on the front page of etsy and I discovered this great refurbished Retro Toastmaster Yellow Electric fan that can be found in Fishbone Decor . I found some more favorites I wanted to share!!! Looking the aesthetic of the 60's so much!

Hooping Rain , Shine or Snow!

Last Saturday, Feb. 13, we were all still pretty snowed in and a little stir crazy. My man, Spilly, was out in the snow, on one of the highest snow piles, introducing his new spring line of hula hoops. What's not to love about this spirit of dedication and revolutionary love! Every Saturday morning he is out there on his medium stoop selling his hoops and his message of building community through the idea of shared moments of fun ! The Baltimore Messenger caught him in action and capture this great photo of him. Join Spilly on Saturdays in front of the Waverly market or for family free hoop sessions at Studio thirty 4 at 623 W. 34th St. Suite 105 Baltimore, MD 21211, every Sunday from 10:30 AM to noon! Also look for his new spring line of speciality hoops in his new etsy shop here.

New Banner for the Season

The weather in Baltimore is never predictable. In fact, I have to admit, I really like that about here. Last week I had to give in and turn the heat on, today I have the windows open. The leaves are changing and the season is definitely fall. My favorite! So I've changed my banner in the shop and added some new fall colors. Now, any help that I could use in how to get my image to be solid??? As much as I play that I know photoshop, I so don't know it. HELP! I've also have been slowly adding new items. I also posted my holiday schedule too!

Sweet Treasury!

Thanks Erica for including Otis in this sweet collection!

I'm in the Crafty Bastard Gift Guide!!!!!

Before coming down to Crafty Bastards this Saturday, you may want to do some pre-viewing window shopping. Etsy has featured a Crafty Bastard Gift Guide! And guess who's in it!

What's UP with Matt Stephens

so...you remember that bib I love from when I was a little one under my Aunt Anna's Christmas Tree....those amazing images form the early 60's ....and here it is, from one of my favorite artist...Matt Stephens.






I'm diggin' these felt figures too! Let's hope for some good spring sales so I can purchase a print soon!

Giveaway Reminder

Just a reminder, as if you need one, that springtime is almost here! To celebrate, B.E.S.T. put together this mega-giveaway of springtime goods just for you. All you need to do is be on their mailing list and leave a comment on the original post here about a favorite work from one of the many talented BEST artists. ( and yes, jennyjen is one of them) If you are not on the mailing list yet, you are missing out on giveaways and newsletters delivered straight to your inbox (we promise to not be annoying, we only send you mail a few times a year.) So, what are you waiting for? Sign up now!

In this giveaway you will find work from these great BEST artists
1. Jersey Girl Design 2. A Stone's Throw 3. nfall2rt designstudio 4. Greenstartstudio 5. Yummy & Company 6. Herekitty Pretties 7. The Baker's Wife 8. The Giving Tree 9. Zetta 10. Tigerlillyshop

GetReadySetGo

UPCYCLED Cherry Red VINTAGE Train Case with HAND DRAWN Black ZWZZY scissorhands man in my dreams

GetREADYsetGO....is my discovery etsy shop of the day. ...is luggage for the unique & the geek! Making vintage luggage hot! Looking for a cool to travel or to have some new luggage for some mad props around the house. I'm really diggin the Amelia Earhart Red case!Here's hoping for a good tax return for making new travel plans!

UPCYCLED Dark Brown VINTAGE Carry On Messenger Bag with White Tree

UPCYCLED Green Small VINTAGE Suitcase with Black Forest of Trees Leaves Vines and skeleton key

UPCYCLED Aqua Blue VINTAGE Suitcase Set with Black Bird Crow Forest of Trees and Skeleton Key

Looking for some Pink for V day?

Here are some of favorites Pink Ideas for V-day from the BEST team

Just Rosy Magnet Set - Pretty in Pink by Block PartyPress

printable lotus stationery by three wheel design

Bon Jovi short- sleeved infant t-shirt by Sweet pepita

Heart of Hearts - Handmade Lampwork Bead by Dorset Hill Beads

Magenta leaf Broken Plate Pendant by The Broken Plate Pendant Company

Cherry Blossom (this is the pick of the week) by dandelionblu

Pink Lily, 1 1/2 inch button ring by Tigerlily shop

lily card by the book room

felt pointy flower brooch by jenmenkhaus

Happy Obama Day!

Barack Obama HOPE canvas art poster 2008 for president

OBAMA Silhouette Illustration 44th US President Print Vintage Style Light Blue T-Shirt

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. wall sticker surface graphic by Lana Kolefrom B-more!

Today is such a wonderful day! I am so excited for our future. I'm not sure which part of today made me the happiest...Obama's speech or watching Bush fly off in the helicopter! So ha[[y to hear an intelligent speaker with inspiration, foresight and wit! As well as someone who can pronounce his words and read sentences longer than 5 words! I found some good finds on etsy today to celebrate today! I know, some were on the front page this morning...but I really enjoyed these today!

i like bread and butter

From the cobblestone streets of D.U.M.B.O...comes bread and butter. A collective of awesome artists and designers located in Brooklyn, New York. When they're not designing book covers, art directing or laying out magazines, Carol, Deb + Kelly are busy working on projects and making things in their studio. You can find these treasures on their etsy site here
All letterpress goods are hand-printed on a Chandler and Price table top press, using soy based inks. I got to use this letterpress myself when I printed my peacock and birdy bird cards.
I was so happy when I noticed their updated shop just in tome for the holidays. I got Patrick the Hells Yeah card which is now framed and hanging in our gallery of favorite artworks! Highest quality! Great gift idea for that someone special or for your own gallery of fav's.

YeeHaw...there's a new ranger in town!

CAMPING SQUIRREL JR RANGER SCOUT LETTERPRESS PRINT IN A LETTERPRESS VIGNETTE MAT ORANGE AND BROWN

i'm diggin this ranger series by yeehaw industries. These also fall into my fun sense of nostalgia aesthetic! Illustration by Bjorn Lie!!! These letterpress images are printed on on cream paper & matted inside my kraft letterpress mat. Image area is 4.25"x6"and the full matted print is ready to go into an 8"x10" frame. They also can be sold with one-of-kind handmade frames made from salvaged wood from New Orleans!

FISHING BEAR JR RANGER SCOUT LETTERPRESS PRINT IN A LETTERPRESS VIGNETTE MAT YELLOW AND BROWN

HIKING BUNNY JR RANGER SCOUT LETTERPRESS PRINT IN A LETTERPRESS VIGNETTE MAT ORANGE AND BROWN

RIVER RASCALS JR RANGER SCOUT LETTERPRESS PRINT IN A LETTERPRESS VIGNETTE MAT GREEN AND BROWN

Darling Clementine..getting closer to my bib!

I have posted this picture, way back, of my cousin cathi and I at Christmas, I believe under my Aunt Anna's Xmas tree, and I am obsessed with the bib that I have on. When I think about happy times, and I had many happy times as a kid, I think of an aesthetic of products that (we're talking mid to late 60's, early 70's) completely represent that happiness to me.

IN my browsing of sites this evening, I found a shop, darling Clementine that comes very close to this aesthetic that I have learned to love since being a kid. I love these canvas bags as well as the camping card set. The card set Marionette comes closest to the lion on my bib and the monkey's on the box next to me. I still haven't figured out what that is. Anyone know, please let me know.
Out of Oslo, Ingrid Reithaug & Tonje Holand are the illustrators and designers of these wonderful products that bring a fun sense of spirit and nostalgia to the table. Visit their etsy shop here and their web site here.

Tale of the Green Hat!

I have to tell you about this wonderful story about my green hat that I got from Sarah and Phil of rocksandsalt on etsy. They had the booth behind me at Handmade Arcade this past November. Allison (Tigerlily of BEST) and I noticed that everyone who tried on one of their hats, looked absolutely perfect! Now that's a hard product to make! And I mean it, everyone looked so hip and so perfect in their hats. I had my eye on this green one ( you can see it on my pic ) and I asked them about it. They gave me an awesome price on it since I was a vendor...and then showed me another one that had the smallest flaw..I have to admit this...I couldn't see the flaw that Phil was pointing out. And They gave me an even sweeter deal. It grew to be my up most favorite hat that I have ever owned!
Sad part of this story is that it got lost, walked away...not sure what happened while I was doing another craft show in Baltimore. My heart sank and the end of my 2008 was pretty much a symbol for how 2008 was for the USA.
I wrote to sarah and phil and told them my disheartened story. And guess what! They found another one, in the same color green and they sold it to me for the same sweet price! Thanks You Guys! I have been so happy about joining this diy, made handmade movement because these stories and connections! 2008 was actually awesome for me in this world! And now I fully look forward to exciting 2009!
So check them out! Here is a sampling of their awesome hats! Thanks Again Rocks and Salt!

More Iron ON Patches

Just posted in my shop

BEST Featured on the Storque!

Our team is featured today on Etsy's blog! Profiles on a bunch of us and cool portraits from around the city, check it out!