Knit-Wit

Yeah, I know that the cold weather only last for about a week here in H-town, but these lovely scarves by Houston designer Olga Tarasova make me want to bundle up!





Olga's scarves are hand-felted and dyed, which make them not only warm and cozy, but awesome to look at as well. The texture of felted scarves is such that they tend to be more sculptural and rigid that your standard neck wrap...which makes wearing them like wearing artwork! In fact, Olga's scarves can be found at the Asher Gallery at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

And if you're feeling crafty but not so cold, Olga also hand-spins amazing art yarn as well.



Olga's scarves, art yarn, felted journals, and other goodies are available at her Etsy store, Cherdak. And if you're more of a hands-on shopper, try on the scarves at HCCC.

Aprons for all

Do you know a cook, or a lady who likes to at least pretend to cook (like me)? Maybe a spiffy new apron is in order. Check out these handmade darlings from Houston-based Amaria Studio:





Cute, cute, cute! You can purchase the aprons from Amaria Studio on Etsy or in person at the Fa-La-La Holiday Market at La Centerra in Cinco Ranch on December 6.

I was sick yesterday...

...and didn't post. So here's a double whammy for you (to make up for my slacking).
San Marcos designer Kaite Wallace likes all things pink and imperfect. She takes vintage fabrics, beads, bags, and more and remakes them into pretty little things to wear and carry. I discovered her at a show here in Houston, and even though she's not from here, I thought I'd post her anyway. San Marcos isn't too far away...

Kaite's line is called Katinka Pinka, and it's available through Etsy.

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Working in both watercolor and oil, Houston artist Selma Cooper's current work is focused on creating oil renderings of flowers. But these flowers aren't your ordinary still life...they're big and bold, and they are really more of a study in texture, color, and shape than actual flowers. But that's why they're so cool.

Cooper's painting can be found in the Reef Gallery in Key Largo, FL and Sheldon Fine Art gallery in Naples, FL; her work is also available through her website.

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!"

Rhett may have said it first, but just about anyone who plays by their own set of rules can say it now -- especially people who play by their own fashion rules. And baby, that makes you one Sophisticated Bitch.
The clothes made by designer Jeff Taplin of Sophisticated Bitch and King Dick are not for the timid...or the modest. They are for men and women who wear what the want and know they look good doing it, no questions asked. Sophisticated Bitch can be found in Houston and across the US in fashion boutiques that have their own attitude. Check out their TalentDatabase and MySpace profiles for more info and events.

A little "Mintd" with your tea today?

Browsing around the www, I came across a community/shopping site called Mintd. It's a place that designers and crafters can put up a profile and sell their stuff. It's more specialized than Etsy, and you actually have to pay for more than 3 images (I'm cheap...I only have 3), but it's a place to go to get the word out. Signing up is free, and the commission they charge won't put you out entirely (especially if you price your stuff correctly!).

I did a search for Houston designers, and I came up with a few profiles for jewelry, stationery, accessories, and other cute stuff. Some of them didn't have stores, but if you click the previous link to the search, you'll see all the listings.






Now go shopping! Cheers.

Back from Market

I just got finished with my first market event. Yea! Rara Avis was a craft vendor at last Saturday at the Midtown Farmer's Market (at Monica Pope's t'afia restaurant on W. Alabama and Travis). The Midtown Farmer's Market runs every Saturday from 8am - 12pm, rain or shine, and has on of the best selections of locally grown and organic produce and prepared foods around...including items prepared there at t'afia. I was a part of the "Second Saturday Shopping Spree" event featuring the normal rotation of food items plus a selection of artists and craftspeople with handmade goods. Fellow Houston Craft Mafia member Lisa from Fetosoap was there, as well as several other talented artists (if I can get the names, I'll post them all). All the items that I brought were handmade by me.

Jewelry tree for EUTECTIC handcrafted jewelry
All three Rara Avis stationery brands: "Signature," "The White Tree," & "Inked,"

I plan on attending the August 18th Spree event, so if you missed me this time (since I was bad and didn't post BEFORE the event), you can catch me then. Also, if any of you know of upcoming art or craft shows in the area, let me know and I'll post about them too. Cheers.

PS - Thanks to Lisa from Fetosoap for the pics. If you'd like to see a few more, go to my Flickr page.

Picasso was a Cubist

No, that's not a bad thing...and neither is this:
Based in Montrose, Cubist Literature creates one-of-a-kind garments from vintage and recycled clothing by sewing on cute little (sometimes big) appliques. Bunnies, owls, hearts, and other strange creatures adorn t-shirts, sweaters, pants, jackets, and other items. Cubist Literature also offers hand-spun yarns, buttons, art, and even music in his Etsy shop. He'll even stitch stuff on your own garmets (in case you don't trust your bod to vintage sizing).
As you can see, he's a pretty decent photographer. Check out the Cubist Literature Flickr page for more pics of current and past items as well as other nonus (you know...people, places, and things).

Cheers.

The grass really is greener on the other side

I like to shop, mostly because it gives me the opportunity to find new designers and boutiques. While doing my daily hunt for cool stores in Houston, I came across greener grass design and gift, a web-based Houston boutique that has both a clean, crisp look and a great stock of unique and nifty items (both big +'s in this surfer's notebook).
"Rather than support the further standardization of design, we want to seek products which
can have added value, be beautiful, functional and have lasting significance," states the authors in the "About Us" page of the site. The site has stuff for your home, your pet, your kids, and you; the products range from just the plain weird "Cube Clock" to eco-friendly organic cotton "Onsie and Beanie" set.

My favorite pieces on the site are the "Fireplace for the Tabletop" by Carl Mertens and "Eddie's Cat Room" by The Pet Project.

Happy Shopping. Cheers.

Perpetuating the stereotype

Not all Texans are cowboys. But if you are, of if you just want to pretend to be, these belt buckles by Houston artist Max Lang will let you do it in style.

Max Lang Belts and Buckles has been around for quite a while...since the 1970's. Self-taught silversmith Max Lang began by creating silver bridle and saddle components for show-horse owners. Thank goodness horses weren't his only customers; the brand soon grew to include belts, buckles, and even jewelry. Today, the store is online and the Houston-based company sells their products worldwide, thanks to Max's son Chris Lang, who also designs for the company. Read the whole story here.

And if the belt buckles don't match your chaps, then try a key ring, money clip, or cuff links. In this case, it's okay to be part of a stereotype. Go Texan!

Cheers.

Mind your manners...or not

I admit it, I read other peoples' blogs. I can't come up with all this stuff by myself. Moving on...
Perusing indieshopping.com, I find this little lovely top. People, this one gets an **oh, holy crap** from me. Please note this is not a bad thing. A rating of OHC means: "this _______ is so stinkin' cool, I now strike my palm against my forehead in disgust because I didn't think of it first."

Imagine the look on his face when you show up on a date with this lovely little shirt. Now imagine the look on his face when he reads what's sweetly embroidered across the back: "Just good boys get presents". And this is one of the "tame" ones. The winning formula here:

Tailored top + Shocking statement = Too good to be true.

Except it isn't. It's just one of the great items available from Lochers, a Paris design atelier headed up by Nicole. For any of you who like to add a bit of BANG to your wardrobe, these well cut, on-the-surface sweet and pretty top will make you wish your rent wasn't due this week.

Just make sure you read the fine print. Cheers.