Welcome to Black Friday, Whatsiters. I hope you are curled up in a post-Thanksgiving haze, browsing your favorite news sites, sipping coffee, and giving a second round of thanks that you are not battling crowds at the mall.
In October, I went to the Washington City Paper’s Crafty Bastards craft fair, which turned out to be chockful of fabulous independent designers. I was surprised by the quality and wished I’d saved up my clothes budget for the event. Many of the designers are recycling and upcycling clothes and materials and generally creating unique stuff that makes you feel good.
So, as you contemplate your holiday shopping, or those never-ending gifts to yourself, check out these sites:
I purchased the most adorable cloche hat from Sue Eggen of Philadelphia. Best of all, I got to stare at her marvelous vintage make-up while she fitted my hat. She also sells batches of fancy felt for you to play with at home.
I came home with this fabulous sweater made from other sweaters. Tamara Embrey’s pieces are dramatic and fun and would surely stand up on Project Runway.
Baltimore-based Allison Fomich has a variety of jewelry but the standout pieces are the nature motifs with leaves, acorns and flowers pressed in copper.
Also in Baltimore, but catering for the munchkin market, is Sweet Pepita with recycled and organic materials for your adorable babies and tots.
If you can get past the too cute-ness, you will find some interesting work. I vote for the coasters and the birds on the wire pillows.
You must visit this site to see the ugly kitty. This kitty is uglier than Parrish as a baby. Really. Also, some nice printed cards and even custom screenprinting for those of you getting married.
For lovely block-printed textiles, pillows, lampshades, check out Jennifer Nelson’s site.
Clothes, some custom made, cute A-line skirts.
Visit the Crafty Bastards web site for links to all the vendors I didn’t have time to get to. And you will have noticed that many of these vendors reside at Etsy.
Wishing you a satisfying shopping experience. Or an escape to another dimension.
Thanks for these tips! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
That really is one ugly kitty. I thought you were kidding.
Love the hat! I’ll bet it looks fab on you. Beautiful trees, btw. Makes me have East coast envy.
Thanks for the shout-out to ugly baby LP! If only she’d had a cute knit hat like that first picture, no one would have noticed that alien face!
You make the best lists, Stella! Thanks.