A new pair of shoes everyday!

Like many women, I have a shoe fetish. Okay, its more like an obsession.

I came across Mohop, the Chicago based handmade shoes, about a year ago. Mohop, is the brainchild of Annie Mohaupt. She began making shoes in 2005 as an experiment to see if she could actually make them. Well, she not only succeeded in making them, but proceeded to be innovative about it. These shoes are individually handmade to custom fit each customer. They are fashionable, versatile, comfortable, and environmentally friendly. The bomb!

Each pair of wooden soles (in a variety of heel and wedge heights) comes with 5 ribbons allowing the wearer multiple design options. A "how to tie" booklet accompanies each purchase.

Endless shoe style possibilities...a girl can dream, can't she!

April Giveaway Winner

And the winner of April's giveaway is.....Kerry of Moonbeam Arts! Congratulations Kerry! Stop by Kerry's Etsy shop and congratulate her!

Check back for more giveaways from me and other great blogs in the coming weeks. Thanks for participating!

Daily Observation Series #1

Every morning, I drop my 6 year old off in front of his school. This diagram shows how he got from point A (the car) to point B (the school doors). It really made me smile.

Looking for a quick and easy recipe?

Check out yesterday's post - Feature Etsy artist with a recipe by Pretty Pear Designs. Its a recipe I submitted. It's very easy and super quick. Best of all, my boys (that includes my husband) loves it!

If you try it, let me know what you think!



[updated 1/20/11]

Super Simple Calzones

1 or 2 boxes of unroll and fill pie crust (usually comes 2 per box)
Any filler you want:
Italian – pepperoni, sausage, cheese, mushrooms, spaghetti sauce…
Ham, cheese, spinach
Veggie
…you name it

You simply put your fillings on one half of the pre cooked crust
Fold crust (circle) in half covering the filling
Crimp the edge so that filling doesn’t ooze out
Brush with egg wash (or egg white wash) which gives the crust a shiny, golden appearance
Bake according to pie crust directions and enjoy! This is sure to be a hit with young and old alike

Fabulous Finds on Etsy -- Executeme

One of the things I love about Etsy, the online shop of all things handmade, is that it has not only given artists and crafters a venue to sell their work, but also an opportunity to explore other mediums, techniques, and interests. One such example is a shop called Executeme. Shop owner, Maria, is a photographer who has recently found a passion for vintage beads. Many of her beads date as far back as World War I!

Initially, the photos are what caught my attention. The colors and presentation are striking. Displaying the earrings seamlessly as a part of nature is brilliant. Clearly, Maria is a great photographer. As for her earrings, I really appreciate the simplicity in her designs. Some can seen as flowers as well as delicate abstract shapes.

Beautiful photography, simple design, and a sense of history all in one great shop! See more of Executeme earrings and photos at www.executeme.etsy.com.

Rested, relaxed, and rejuvenated...now back to work!

We are back from our much needed vacation. We had a relaxing time swimming, eating, kayaking, eating, biking, shelling...did I mention we ate a lot?

Anyway, now its back to work! This week I'm finishing some outstanding store orders and shipping new individual orders. I'm also gearing up for spring/summer shows. I'll post about preparing for these shows, as well as the dates and locations, in the weeks to come.

Don't forget the clutch giveaway! There's more time to make a comment on this blog and enter your name in the drawing! http://alamodestuff.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

It never fails!

As expected, I've had multiple orders AND a magazine mention while I've been away. I need to tap into this "gone on vacation" mojo...

...and I'm not even back yet!

The composition is in the trees

Paintings by fellow Arts in RI Street Team member, juliebcreative . These are some of my favorites from her shop. I love the muted colors, the simple design, and the chunky canvas.


"I started this series of Three Trees paintings as a playground for color and composition. The focus of these paintings are the deep tones of color, using layers of paint to achieve the right hue. If you look close you can see the different layers of paint used to create each tree's exact color. In terms of composition, I toy with the relationship between the trees, some overlapping, some isolated...I attempt to give the trees a type of personality with their position and relationship with the other trees.

I find it fascinating that these simple concepts combined with simple objects can create a rich environment."

The "going on vacation" business curse

I do not exaggerate when I say that every time I get ready to go on vacation, I get slammed with orders. While I'm complaining, I'm grateful to get the orders! But I'm beginning to think I should be going on many more vacations. It would be good for my business!

I just put my last order in the mail. After this post, I can begin packing. We are heading to Sanibel Island, FL. Its just a short drive away from Fort Meyers.

I'll be honest, I still work on vacation. The Internet has made it easy to stay connected. Even in Vietnam, I was able to stay on top of things. This is both good and bad. Here are a few things I always do to ease any concerns on vacation:

1) Give notice. I contact my regular clients so they have a heads-up. I announce that my studio is closed in my Etsy shop.

2) I only check my emails and convos just once a day and sometimes every other day. While not necessary, it alleviates any stress about the unknown.

3) I make a list of immediate things I need to do once I'm back. This gives me a running start when I return.

4) I let go of my work and put my vacation hat on. It is so important to rejuvenate and enjoy the family in the moment!

Gotta find my flip-flops!

Fabulous Finds on Etsy -- Vital

I love the idea of taking utilitarian objects and using them in unexpected ways. Vital, another great shop on Etsy, does just that. They offer screen printed clothing, vinyl decals, and accessories. My favorite are their toilet tank decals. Using a toilet tank as a canvas is certainly unexpected and completely brilliant.

Be sure to check out their shop at http://www.vital.etsy.com/!

Shopping in New York's garment district

Have you been to New York's garment district? Located between Fifth and Ninth Avenues from 34th to 42nd Street in Manhattan, this neighborhood is an incredible resource for fabrics, notions, and inspiration. If you are a fan of Project Runway, Parsons School of Design and Mood Fabrics reside there.

I try to make a pilgrimage for fabric a few times a year. I'm never disappointed. I go with a good friend of mine who is also an indie designer. We basically walk up and down each street, darting in and out of every store we come across. Most are small and stuffed full of bolts of fabrics (truly fire hazards).

Here are some helpful tips for this shopping experience:

1) If you see something you like, grab it. You may never find it again. I learned that the hard way.

2) Carry business cards. When we asked if we could reorder some fabrics, the owners would take our business card, cut swatches of the fabric and staple them to binders for reference. While their system is antiquated, it works and this will help them reorder should you call.

3) Have cash. The stores prefer cash and will often give you a break just for paying in cash.

4) Be willing to get dirty. You may have to dig through boxes of zippers and buttons or move rows of bolts. The stores are basically warehouses of fabric and not necessarily pretty.

5) Wear comfortable shoes. You'll do a lot of walking.

6) Collect business cards and write your special finds on the backs of them. Since the stores all begin to look a like, it helps to know where you found those great zippers or funky upholstery.

7) Don't be afraid to ask questions.

While we did not see Tim Gunn, we did stop by Mood for some inspiration. Mood has beautiful fabric (as indicated by their prices). This trip we went there last, just to look around, however, next trip, we'll start there first to get ideas.

Some other great stores:
B&J Fabrics
MJ Trimming

So, what did I buy? I found more of my favorite neoprene/scuba fabric (originally found a year and a half ago but couldn't find since). I bought all that remained. I found beautiful heavy linen in funky prints and hand fulls of zippers at great prices. I also picked up a lot of great ideas to feed on until I make my next trip back.

A trip well worth the exhaustion!

Finding fabric in the Big Apple.

I'm off for a whirlwind day of fabric shopping in New York. I'm excited about what I might find! I'll try to remember to take some photos but, honestly, I get too excited and lost in the hunt. Hopefully, I'll have something to show for it tomorrow. Happy Monday!

A few of my favorite chairs!

I love modern chairs! These are a few of my favorites. No cheating, how many can you name?

April ARTSINRI contest

Be sure to check out the April Arts in Rhode Island contest. Its another fun opportunity to win this beautiful bag by Pink Lemonade Boutique.

Don't forget to make a comment on this blog in April to be entered into a drawing to win an à la mode clutch!

Rants of an indie business owner

This is one of my favorite pendants. It was really inspired by my two sweet boys, whom I love dearly but can't stand listening to them whine. It is also a reminder to myself to not whine. However, whining is cathartic and sometimes necessary. So...

I had one of those days yesterday...returned merchandise, lost shipment, tax preparation/procrastination, etc. What a bummer! I must confess, there are days when I ask myself, "why am I doing this?" Do you have days you want to quit your indie business? Please tell me I'm not alone!

After feeling sorry for myself, I am reminded that I LOVE what I do and would never be able to stop doing what I LOVE. So, today I'm going to run off to yoga, have lunch with a friend, and work on an awesom custom bag.

It's okay to have a little whine with our business. Cheers!

Wear rings for younger looking hands!

I recently heard, from the Today Show, that wearing rings can make your hands look younger. That's good news for me! I often wear multiple, and sometimes chunky, rings. Here are some great finds from Etsy. These are sure to make any hand look younger!


1. now and then ring, $65.00 - Mark Kaplan
2. nice stone, $25.00 - Stepping Stones
3. jadite glass cocktail ring, $15.00 - Petit Oiseau
4. satellite with beading, $10.00 electronrings
5. wordy girasole ring, $45.00 - Frucci Design
6. petite bauble ring, $10.00 - Found and Made Designs

Hump Day Humor - The Office

This will give you a bit of insight on my sense of humor...don't judge me based on this alone. We could all use a bit of "office" humor!



Happy Wednesday!

April Giveaway - no April Fools

Make a comment anywhere on this blog through the month of April and enter a drawing for the handbag pictured. This clutch will kick your summer off with color and style! It retails for $58.00.

One entry per person (that doesn't mean you can't make additional comments!). For more details about this clutch or to buy it now, visit my Etsy shop.