MEET MISHELE OWNER OF INDY AND CLEO

Mishele Owner of Indy And Cleo

EST. April 2009

Located in Coto de Caza, California

The story of IndyAndCleo . . .

When I was a little girl, a handmade sock monkey was given to me as a gift. I fell in love. ❤

Many decades later, my beloved childhood friend sits, still smiling that sock monkey smile, and I am reminded of all the fun and delight we shared. 

Today my love continues. I have been inspired to follow my bliss, handcrafting my own lovable and quite huggable sock monkeys. Each sock monkey I create is truly a personal work of art, and colorful decorative stitching is part of my very own "signature sock monkey style". I enjoy creatively writing the mini bio for each monkey, which is included on the Adoption Certificate. Really now, who doesn’t love a sock monkey? Here's hoping they will provide a lifetime of hugs and happiness!

My husband John, is a Graphic Designer & Illustrator, with an avid interest in fine art, especially oils and watercolors. I have featured some of his art prints (my very personal favorites) here in the shop.

Visit his Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/LostCactusComicStrip and read his About page for details on the new book! Discover even more info at http://www.lostcactus.com ...this website is seriously outstanding!

By the way, the shop name (IndyAndCleo) is inspired by our love for two of the most loved dogs EVER! . . . Indiana Jones and Cleopatra. ❤ View and purchase their "pawsome" portraits here in the shop!

Indy ~ http://etsy.me/1U6cXkF Cleo ~ http://etsy.me/1sGcyyY

Of course, IndyAndCleo is filled with many delightful and charming handmade creations, therefore—

❝ All kinds of cool stuff... ❞ 

I hope to make you smile! 

Sock monkey hugs,

~ Mishele

Artist Profile: Bag Lady Lulu

Happy June everyone! The first Friday of the month has come around again which means it's time for our artist profile.   From big trips and personal milestones, to capturing the joy in the every day. One of Kirsten's handcrafted journals will make every memory shine.  Read on to learn more about Kirsten of Bag Lady Lulu.

Describe your shop. How would you describe your style?
I design and create one-of-a-kind handcrafted journals. I use brown paper bags as the foundations for my journals, and I tend to give them sort of a vintage feel. I love using lots of tags and postage stamps and postcards, tons of fun embellishments.

When did you learn to do what you do?
I’ve been crafting since forever, but I feel like I’ve really honed my journal craft and hit my creative stride within the last year.

What are your favorite pieces to make?
Travel journals, definitely

What inspires you?
Journaling is something I am very passionate about. I firmly believe that journals catch the whisperings of our souls. When I create a journal, I imagine someone writing down their feelings in it, pouring out their heart to it, unlocking their innermost thoughts fears dreams ideas and emotions. Then I look through all of my beautiful craft papers and fun embellishments until something speaks to me. I love when a customer gives me details about the journey they’re taking, something I can grasp onto and run with. Or I feel a connection with their personality through our emails and conversations. That makes choosing the supplies for their journal really fun.

What does your work space look like?
I share my workshop with our bunny, Biscuit. I have 2 work benches, one for creating and one mainly for shipping. And I’m surrounded by my creative supplies – papers, embellishments, etc. My inspiration board hangs above my work bench so I always have something to look at and draw from.

Where would you like your shop to be 5 years from now?

In 5 years, my shop will be my full time business. I’ll have a licensing contract or two. I’ll have a large studio in my home, with an assistant, and I’ll teach creative workshops once a week out of my home studio. 

How do you spend your time when you're not creating?

When I’m not creating, I work part-time at a custom invitation/stationery store. And I take care of my husband and our home filled with our 4 cats and one rabbit. I hang with friends, read a lot, watch crime shows… 

What is your favorite thing to have for breakfast?
My favorite thing to have for breakfast is: French toast smothered in maple syrup and grape jelly, with a side of scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese mixed in, and slightly crispy bacon. BUT what I actually have almost every morning is one packet of maple brown sugar instant oatmeal with a glass of vanilla almond milk and 2 gummy multi-vitamins.

Are you doing any craft fairs this year?
No craft fairs planned yet, but the year's not over! :)

Where can we learn more about you?
www.bagladylulu.com

Artist Profile - the BackLoop

Is it spring where you are yet? Alas it isn't ALWAYS sunny in California but hopefully this next profile will bring you a bit of sunshine. Let me present ME! A few people have sent me a message wondering about the person behind the questions for the monthly profiles and - since I have no other profiles in the queue I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself, Julia Akpan, designer and owner at the BackLoop.

Describe your shop.

The BackLoop is simple, beautiful and handmade.  Everything in my shop is hand crocheted and/or knit by me.  Spring is coming up so I'm working on posting more necklaces, earrings, and lightweight spring scarves but what's taking up most of my production time is making prototypes for my new wedding line - lightweight shawls for spring weddings, thicker ones for those winter, bridesmaids accessories, groomsmen hand crocheted ties, hanging garlands for photo booth backdrops -- all customizable.  I'm super excited! 

When did you learn to do what you do? 

My mom taught me to crochet when I was 8 or 9. It was just before a flight to visit relatives back in Chicago.  I made the longest scarf ever on that plane ride!  I taught myself to knit just after my son was born (he's 4 1/2 now). I used one of those Klutz books you find in the kids section of the book store.  I quickly became the resident yarn instructor among friends and colleagues. Having the responsibility of teaching someone else can be one of the best motivations to learn your craft even better than you thought you could.

What are your favorite pieces to make? My giant rose brooches and long spiral earrings.  I like accessories with personality. I like working with really thick yarn and huge hooks...or yarn so thin you could sew with it.

 

What inspires you? I like mixing the feel of vintage patterns with modern lines and colors. I love soft, cozy, and fluffy everything. I adore Japanese craft books.  

What does your work space look like?I treated myself to a trip to Ikea for Christmas and got a bookshelf and these drawers I've been fawning over for a year or so. Now all of my yarn is (mostly) tucked away. But the area where I do most of my work is the left corner of the couch.

(that's my sister)

Where would you like your shop to be 5 years from now? 

I'd like to be selling regularly and often to people outside of my immediate friends and family! I want to be a go to spot for brides who want handmade accents in their wedding but don't have the time or the skill to actually use their own hands. I'd like the BackLoop to be associated with a place to find the perfect gift. In 10 years I'd like to have a small brick and mortar shop that sells my merchandise but mainly that of other local artists and doubles as a handmade learning center of sorts with small DIY craft workshops in the back room.

How do you spend your time when you're not creating? Well, I have two kids (4 1/2 and 2), a husband, and a house with about 1/3rd acre of yard to take care of so I stay pretty busy. I also work as an editor in the publishing world. 

(these two test all prototypes for durability...and enjoy string cheese)

What is your favorite thing to have for breakfast? My breakfast is usually one of two things: fruit and granola with a splash of soy milk OR 1 fried egg on a piece of jalepeno cheddar corn bread; either of those, plus a mug of green tea.

 
Where else can we find your work? I have my own little corner of the web at www.thebackloop.com and, if you're in the SF Bay Area, you can find many of my items at Modern Mouse in Alameda.

Where can we learn more about you?
Etsy: www.backloop.etsy.com
Blog/shop: www.thebackloop.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/thebackloop/  Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/thebackloop 
Twitter: @thebkloop


If you're interested in being profiled, just contact Julia A. This post contributed by Julia A. of the BackLoop. 

Artist Profile - Allies Adornments

Happy February everyone, it's time for a profile of another amazing California artist. This month is all about Allies Adornments. Have a read; I love the surprising bits of her family's history that pop up in her shop.  

Describe your shop.

My shop is AlliesAdornments on Etsy. The official name is Allie's Antiqued Adornments & it's where my family history mingles with my love of vintage & art in an attempt to share antique buttons as miniature pieces of art.

  Allie is my great-great Aunt & the namesake of my jewelry line. I use her picture from 1878 in the packaging for my button bookmarks.  

A photo of Allie & Louise (my great grandmother) from 1881 is used to package my button hairpins. The smiling girl wearing a crooked hat was a young cousin of my great grandfathers & this image of her from the early 1900s is my online avatar & tags for my button jewelry.

Allie passed away at the young age of 31 and never had any children. The way her items & image have sparked my creativity is her legacy. One thing that my family believed about "things" was that they needed to be used in order to be properly appreciated. That we should let those things bring you joy every day instead of locking them away for special occasions.

When my great aunt gave me her collection of vintage buttons, many were so lovely that I was inspired to find a way to use & enjoy them more often. Some I sewed onto sweaters, coats & scarves. But because most of these older buttons are too delicate to wash in a modern machine, wearing them as jewelry occurred to me. Allie's Antiqued Adornments evolved as a way to share the romance & craftsmanship of antique buttons as miniature pieces of art.

How would you describe your style?

My personal style is somewhat eclectic. I have an affinity & appreciation for a wide range of eras & art styles. I do have a special fondness for the styling of the Victorian era. In my jewelry I like to use old elements in a way that makes them new again.

When did you learn to do what you do?

I am self taught & started making jewelry because I love to wear a variety of pieces. I began with making beaded jewelry & some strung button bracelets. However, the design on many of the Victorian buttons is lost when they are strung sideways so I searched for a way for them to be displayed & used face up.

What are your favorite pieces to make?

Bracelets are some of my favorite pieces to make. With 7, 11 or 22 buttons I feel like they let me tell a little story in the way I can combine them based on size, color, texture, material & theme.

 

What inspires you?

For the button jewelry, it's the individual buttons themselves that inspire me. Some are incredibly detailed. When I first started, I didn't clean the buttons much in order to retain their integrity. One day I scrubbed some grime from the center of a button & found lovely copper strip that was engraved with a Greek key design. After that I was determined to gently clean the years from my Victorian buttons in order to return them to their former glory. One of my favorite buttons is a storybook button of the character Yum-Yum from the 1885 comic opera The Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan. The button is normally brass & shows a Japanese lady holding a fan in one hand & a parasol that forms the background of the button in the other. The fan is detailed with a floral design that is often lost under 120+ years of patina.

Where would you like your shop to be 5 years from now?

In the 5 years that I've been on Etsy, my sales have been fairly consistent even with price increases. For the next 5 years I'd like to step it up to the next level. To do that I know I'll need to increase production & list more product. My goal for the past couple of years has been to get 300 items listed in the shop. I've come close many times but feel its ok to not quite get there if it means the new pieces are selling. Being able to make a living making button jewelry would be ideal.

How do you spend your time when you're not creating?

When not creating I spend a lot of my time seeking out old buttons to make jewelry with. I love antiques & share some extras in my other shop OldeTymeNotions.Etsy.com. I moved into a new home last fall & enjoy fixing up the house & yard as well as finding new/old pieces to refinish & furnish it with.

What does your work space look like?

My workspace is always a bit of a disaster & since I moved a few months ago, I'm still juggling how I like things to be organized in the new space. My work is never as straightforward as having one piece that I can put together in single sitting from start to finish. There are always dozens of projects in various states of completion. The buttons often have to be cleaned & prepped & often that prepping requires that the shanks be cut off & backs carved down so that the buttons can lay flat. Many of the pieces, like my most of my bracelets, are going to have 2-3 layers of jewelers epoxy used to securely adhere the buttons. 

As a result, there are always lots of piles of things. Piles of recently acquired buttons that need to be sorted; to be cut or used for charm bracelets & not cut. Prepped buttons then need to be organized into drawers. Designs are laid out, findings are added & then pieces are put together. Start to finish can be a week or more for certain items to allow for drying times.

What is your favorite thing to have for breakfast?

Bacon. I could easily eat bacon every single day.

Where else can we find your work?

 I can be found online at:

http://www.AlliesAdornments.com

http://www.AlliesAdornments.Etsy.com

twitter.com/AlliesAdornment 

www.facebook.com/AlliesAdornments

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allie_mae2/

In person, my gallery pieces can be found in Old Town Sacramento at

http://www.taylorsartandsoul.com/

Antique photos & postcards are on the blog at my website for others to use in their artwork

http://www.Alliesadornments.com/Victoriana.html


If you're interested in being profiled, just contact Julia A. This post contributed by Julia A. of the BackLoop. 

Jane is in Paris! Wish we were There!

Our CCCOE teammate Jane, of LoveJaneJewelry is in Paris! We can't be there, but here's a view of our Paris, 
on Rue de Etsy.

Sacre Coeur Carousel, Montmarte

An Original Signed Photograph by SonjaCaldwell

One of the many evocative photographs of Paris in her shop!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75461094/sacre-coeur-carousel-photo-french

❤

Need some change for the carousel? Here's the perfect coin purse for those Euros.

Paris Market Coin Purse by ArtToWearDiva.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/90479554/romantic-paris-flower-market-metal

❤

Fleur-de-lis, the stylized symbol of the lily is used in French heraldry and found in historical buildings and coats of arms. Here is a pendant from BeadedTreasurebySue.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/96952988/vintage-fleur-de-lis-pendant-gothic-chic

❤

Roaming through Paris, a daily must is a stop for macarons!

A macaron necklace from Roscata, looks almost good enough to eat.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79337882/necklace-blue-pink-yellow-macaron-stack

❤

Our last night, one more look at the Tour Eiffel. Pick up a souvenir bangle, this one is from DesignsbyTami

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61273449/resin-art-cuff-bangle-bracelet-eiffel

❤

Want to share the Paris love, send your friends some Edith Piaf in these CD sleeves, from Shasta Blue 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/106269036/pink-and-black-paris-france-eiffel-tower

❤

Home, but still wishing for more Paris! These French Victorian Shooting Stars might make your wish come true. There could be an April in Paris in you future!

 Vintage 1800 French Victorian Shooting Star button earrings are from AlliesAdornments.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/46693058/wish-1800s-button-sterling-earrings

We are at the end of our fairy tale visit to Paris! Au revoir! I hope you had fun! Who would have known our own Paris right here at CCCOE!

How Others Package

Sometimes gifts are so beautifully packaged that they make the actual gift so much more special. I still have the packaging from a little jewelry shop on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. My husband bought me a necklace 20 years ago and I've saved the box plus the ribbon and sticker it came with, which I had carefully put back together.

Wearing the necklace the other day made me wonder  how fellow CCCOE teammates gift wrap or present their handmade goodies.

Here are some I found. I hope they inspire you to think or rethink your presentation!

From LisamariesPiece
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LisamariesPiece

From iCharming
http://www.etsy.com/shop/iCharming

From SoPrettySoVain
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoPrettySoVain

From thepinkcamellia
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thepinkcamellia

From sliceofdelight
http://www.etsy.com/shop/asliceofdelight

Thanks for reading! If you have ideas of what you would like to read about in this blog, please let Liz or me know, or better yet, you could write a guest blog. If a novice like me can do it, you can too.

Posted by Millie
http://www.etsy.com/shop/eocrafter
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mhandmade

Holiday Gifting Trends: FELT

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be FELT with the heart."

Okay so I *may* have borrowed the above quote from Helen Keller.  It just seemed so fitting for one of the sweetest, most versatile fabric trends for the holiday season: FELT.  Some fuzzy, felted goodness is just what Santa ordered for the winter season.

I started browsing CCCOE artisans for their felted creations and was blown away by the talent we've got right here on our own team for all things FELT!  Below is just a small selection of the felt awesomeness I found among our members.  Enjoy and get that last minute shopping done now ... with FELT!

Loving these felted pebble magnets from delica!

Totally jonesin' for this awesome Kindle Fire case in my favorite color combo!

CUTEST little slippies for the little loved ones in your life!  From rusticpatriotgirl.

More captivating felted creatures: birdie hair clips by petals

Lovely blooms and greys come together for this checkbook cover from PineBlossoms

Prettiest autumn colors in this headband from MySweetieBean

A charming tote for your feline friend (OR for yourself!) from wagsandwiggles

I guess it's obvious from some of my selections that I have an appreciation of button details, too.  :)

There were way too many amazing felt goodies for me to cram all the relevant listings into a single blog post; hope you'll check out the links to CCCOE member shops below for all the felted excitement you can stand!

• Stitchy Impressions (home decor and household goods)
• Rynrina (TONS of adorable felt clutches and tote purses!)
• The Felted Pear (felt food toys for the little ones!)
• Flea Circus
• Puppy Love Stuff (heartFELT baglets!)
• La Tea Da Designs (felted art & supplies)
• Day of the Thread
• Whimsical Paper Dot (felties!)
• Felt Better Plushery (stuffed toys)
• Zizi Rho Designs (jewelry and electronics cozies)
• Grapevine Captive (goodies for baby)
• Oh Sew Tru
• Zazu Faure (plushie friends)

I hope you'll share YOUR favorite felt goodness for the holidays with us in your comments below, especially if I had the audacity to overlook the felted lovelies in your shop!  Please let us know.

Guest blog by Emily Reiter, wearing felted hairclips and repurposed felt scarves while lounging on a felt-applique wool pillow.  :)

PSST :: unrelated note: if you're NOT finished with holiday shopping <gasp>, you can still shop AND get free shipping from e-tailers via the FREE SHIPPING WEBSITE with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve!  You're welcome.  :)

Celebrating Cyber Monday

I hope y’all got your fill of delicious turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing – now it’s time for mental and physical recovery as you face the (sometimes daunting) holiday shopping season!  Woo hoo!

...and time to start shopping!

This is my first December in the handmade/small business community, and frankly, I’m thrilled.  It’s not just because I get to offer my own wares to holiday shoppers, either; I’ve already crossed off a good number of gifts on my list thanks to Etsy.  Most of it has been accomplished this weekend, too—Black Friday and Small Biz Saturday have proven excellent shopping opportunities for holiday gift-givers. 

Next up?  Cyber Monday.

Quite a few wonderful CCCOE members are offering some fantastic deals for Cyber Monday shoppers, so I’ve scoured our sweet little community to find some of the best bets for honing in on the gifts you still need to snatch before pesky shipping deadlines are upon us.

Free shipping from BrookeJewelry

For the Ladies

I’m a big believer that any modern, self-respecting, fashion-forward woman can really never have enough of three things: shoes, handbags, and jewelry.  I’ve always had a relatively easy time shopping for the women in my life (mom, cousins, aunts, friends) because I am crazy about jewelry and think that this has the potential to be unique and personalized gift with broad appeal.  Some of my favorite pieces include Sora Designs’ understated, timeless, and oh-so-lovely circle necklaces, Brooke’s gorgeous half-moon earrings,  Roscata’s almost-good-enough-to-eat 10% off baubles,  and Penumbra Images’ 20% off sale photo brooches.

20% off with coupon code "THANKS20"

For the One Who Has Everything

I’ll be so bold as to virtually guarantee that your hard-to-shop-for friend doesn’t have handmade bacon beverage wraps OR coasters resembling slabs of raw meat.  Enough said.  Also a great option for White Elephant fun at the office holiday party.

For the Bride-to-Be

My good friend got engaged a few months ago and is up to her eyeballs in wedding planning.  One of her favorite fashion and home décor themes is black-and-white damask, and these bridesmaid clutches from ocstylescreations would make her a super-happy bride-to-be!  Cross her off your list and let HER cross something off of her own wedding prep list!  Not that close a friend with said bride?  Buy the single version as a more personal (and affordable) gift.

Rad wallets for guys (and gals) for 15% off

For MEN.

Circle back to bacon beverage wraps and carnivore coasters mentioned above.  Other great options: rad art prints, wallets and money clips, like a super-sexy, 15% off Kansas City Chiefs wallet that would make my dad swoon, and stuff to make him smell good.

15% off at JPaveyDesigns

For your non-So-Cal friends

For those of us lucky enough to bask in the eternal sunshine of Southern California, scarves are really more of a fashion statement than a survival necessity.  But for our friends to the north (and east), these wonderful accessories are actually quite useful for battling the coldest winter days.  Show how thoughtful you really are with my top pick for one of the best no-brainer gifts for pretty much anyone and everyone in your life.  I recommend starting your search with this lovely number – a gorgeous hand-knitted, one-of-a-kind infinity scarf (wrap it twice and you’ve given the gift that doubles as a cowl) in a unique and completely obsession-worthy shade of wintry green.  Throw in a 15% off discount and you’re all set to share the gift of warmth in a way considerably more practical than treating your entire posse to a weekend in 80-degrees-in-November Los Angeles.

Great scarf option for dudes, too!

Okay, guys, I can’t be a TOTAL hand-holder, so you’ll have to get down to business with some creativity and determination to get that holiday shopping done – just make that list NOW so you can take advantage of ALL the great Cyber Monday deals that fellow CCCOE members have to offer.  Enjoy!

{sales + links} in order of CCCOE discount awesomeness :: add your shop promos in "comments" if you don't see them listed here!

• 50% off, coupon code HALFOFF :: Polka Dot Kreations
  
• 50% off, coupon code CYBERMONDAY50 :: Anna Delores Photography
• 30% off, everything already reduced :: Lorie Lynn Designs 
• 25% off, coupon code HOLIDAY25 :: Fuss & Feathers
• 25% off, coupon code STUFFMYGOBBLE :: Queen of Queens
  
• 20% off, coupon code THANKSGIVING :: PicPerfect
• 20% off, coupon code BLACKFRIDAY20 :: Nouveau-Tique
• 20% off orders of $40 or more, BLACKFRIDAY2011 :: Beegrl88
• 15% off, items already reduced :: JPaveyDesigns
• 15% off, coupon code TURKEYDAY2011 :: It's Me, Mary
• 10% off, coupon code CYBERMINKY :: Moonbeam Minky
• 10% off, coupon code HOLIDAYHOP :: Heart and Handmade
• 10% off, coupon code 10OFF :: Sferra Designs
• Free shipping, coupon code FREESHIPMG :: Misha Girl
• Free shipping, no coupon code required :: Wine Country Life
• Free shipping, coupon code CYBERMONDAY :: LisamariesPiece
• Free shipping, coupon code FREEUNATUNASHIP :: Unatuna
  

10% off at Heart and Handmade

Happy holiday shopping, everyone! ♥ CCCOE team member and contributor Emily Reiter lives in Los Angeles, California and has two shops on Etsy: Anna Delores Photography and Luccichio & Co. jewelry and paper crafts. I'll be back on the CCCOE blog on December 27 (hopefully for a showcase of amazing post-holiday sales!) but in the meantime you can also visit me on my own blog :: http://annadeloresphoto.blogspot.com.