We’re saying goodbye to 2007 with a wistful look in our eye and our ears pricked for the future. For our final post this year, enjoy these picks from this year’s final installment of The Sampler:
Print exclusively for The Sampler by Jaime Zollars:
Oh my! I’m too, too tardy with posting about The Sampler this month. Some out-of-town obligations and a hellacious cold kept me from sauntering over the post office on schedule. (And yes, I saunter when I go to the post office. It’s more fun that way.) But here I am. Better late than never, I s’pose.
In this month’s box of goodies, I was amped to find the Alegra Midnight Show Necklace from designer Sierra Bailey of Manic Trout:
And when I pulled out this photography by Alicia Bock, I stared at it until I realized I was totally spacing out, which was probably at least a minute. There’s just something so intriguing about the photo’s composition, don’t you think?
Another sweet finding in this month’s shipment was this exclusive print from Axelhoney. It’s part of The Sampler’s new Collaborative Print project, which features an illustration created just for The Sampler that’s hand-printed on archival-quality paper. It’s a true little work of art.
I was giddy over Compai’s ultra-fun kit for re-fashioning scarves into shirts, pillowcases and 97 other creations. I’m a huge fan of recycled fashion and think this would be a great gift for anyone who’s into tooling around on the sewing machine trying to reinvent duds.
I also got a kick out of the goods from Funky Artsy. The decorated matchbox in my shipment is currently looking oh-so-cute accompanying a candle in my guest bathroom.
And just in time for the holidays, these awesome handmade gift tags from Got Beads:
The Sampler this month was bigger and better than ever. So many goodies from great indie artists, crafters and designers around the country. I simply cannot wait to see the city-specific editions of The Sampler that I’m hearing all these rumors about. Can’t wait, I tell you! ‘Cause you know the SF version is going to kick some serious indie arse.
The group shot:
A fun necklace from GotBeads.com:
These photography notecards from Chicaloo Photography came with envelopes, but they could just as easily be framed and hung up on a wall. Like my wall. Which is where they are probably gonna be very soon:
Robots! Everyone loves robots, especially when they’re pink. Okay, maybe not everyone. But I do. You can check out more rad designs from Hearts and Laser Beams:
A precious wall decal from Utah-based company Vinyl Wall Art. You peel and stick. Presto decor. What a hoot.
An autographed CD from musician Frances Mai-Ling, who bills herself as an alternative classical pianist:
Delicious smelling, all-natural chocolate orange truffle lip butter, Moroccan Harem antioxidant lotion mister and lemon tamarind microdermabrasion facial polish from Ablutions:
A super cute set of flower print magnets stored in a hip, reusable tin from Miss Chief Shop:
A beaded necklace from Thea’s Sparkle Plenty shop:
Rats! How gnaw-ty. These note cards by Christine Brandt and Flora and Fauna Press are nothing if not unique. I am contemplating whether people will take it the wrong way if I use these for several thank you notes I have to write. But then again, all my relatives already think I’m nutty for living in San Francisco. Not that these cards are nutty. That’s not what I mean. But sending a thank you card with rats on it might be a little nutty. Will have to ponder that one:
Bad picture, cool candle necklace made from recycled paper decoupaged with resin onto a coin. Click through to Wabisabi Brooklyn for better images and more about designers MaryAnne LoVerme and Naomi Strom!
And now we’re off to make lasagna.
Some of my favorite items from the latest shipment of The Sampler. God these little boxes of goodness make me happy.
I couldn’t even include this Manic Trout necklace in the group shot because I tore open the package and put it on before I remembered that the whole point of this is for me to take pics and share ‘em with all of you. See the rhino? Once, I tracked a rhino on foot in Africa. Seriously.
Round-up of the greeting cards and buttons included:
Okay, blurry image yes. I suck. But cool journal, n’est ce pas? Je pense que le answer sais Mais Oui! See a much better image by clicking the pic and visiting Christine Renee’s etsy shop.
The inside of the Zombie Escape Plan journal:
Carly Couture is doing a little something I like to call teaching a man to fish:
And speaking of men (weren’t we?), the peeps at Retro Recess have an alternative to the real thing:
This Christmas ornament from Gifts Define is just adorable. And I’m not even one who normally goes for adorable. But this is just so well made and so cute. I love it.
These A Planet 4 Creation yuzen earrings are handmade with basswood and Japanese Yuzen Chiyogami. They are really light on the ears.
Wow, does anyone else feel like people got back from Labor Day and started to go nuts with the work pace? I’m snowed under with like five assignments due this week and everywhere I look, there’s another cool indie or fashion event that I should be blogging about. But deadlines persist, and I’m feeling a major drain on my blogging time. And that makes me a leetle sad. Sniff. But here are some things that have popped up on my radar in the last few days. I want to get the word out, even if I can’t use as many words as I’d like to do it:
Fall Designer Showcase: On Thursday evening, check out 440 Brannan Studio’s Fall Designer Showcase featuring some local indie rockstars like gr.dano, Verrieres & Sako, Vex, Saffron Rare Threads, the 615 Project and Hieros.
Arts and Media Discussion Salon and Reception: Pandora’s Trunk founder Rachel Hospodar sent news about another cool event happening Thursday night at CELLspace. This free event features Miranda Caroligne, The Sampler’s Marie Kare and Melissa Alexander, the new Executive Director of Black Rock Arts Foundation participating on a panel about the arts, media and the intersection of non-profit and for-profit ventures, how they work for and against each other, etc. The discussion will also touch on the fate of CELLspace itself. There will be a lot of other cool stuff going on during the event as well - even a sewing workshop - so check out the site to get all the detes.
Michaelangelo Gallery Fashion Show: Feel like a little trip to Santa Cruz? Friday night’s the night to go. Designers include some of my local faves (Amanda Archer, Donna Lou, Bari J.), as well as plenty of fab indie fashion and accessory designers from outside the City. Check out the full list of participants.
Macy’s Passport Show: Irene Hernandez-Feiks wrote in to remind the peeps about Macy’s Passport 2007 Opening Night. It’s the 25th anniversary and will raise over $25 million for HIV/AIDS research. Tickets are $85 and up.
Tobi T-Shirt Contest: San Francisco-based online retailer Tobi announced the five winners of its t-shirt design contest in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each of the five designs dreamed up by independent artists and designers from around the country will be Tobi exclusives throughout October, and 10 percent of the proceeds from each shirt will donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure San Francisco.
**Apologies if I skimmed over any important information - I just wanted to get these things up as soon as possible. Happy indie living…
In addition to just posting images of the goodies from August’s installment of The Sampler, I am going to post some of the discount codes that were included:
Things That Make Scents: HSAUG07 Use this code to save $5 off orders of $20 or more.
a. bel studio: SAMPLER Use this code in the “note to seller” section at checkout to receive free shipping.
McFarland Designs: FREESHIP Use this code in the “note to seller” section at checkout to receive free shipping, and then wait for Tamara to send you a revised invoice reflecting the discount before you pay.
Designs by Anna Williams: SAMPLER15 Use this code at checkout for 15 percent off your purchase.
Two Busy Bees: SAMPLER Mention this code at checkout to receive a free gift with your order.
Lindsay’s Candles & Stuff: 10OFF Use this voucher code at checkout to save 10 percent on your order.
Aha! This month I went to the post office as soon as I got the notice from Mr. Postman that my August shipment from The Sampler had arrived. It’s so awesome to get a package of crafty things in the mail once a month. I love it. And it keeps me on top of who’s creating what and where. As usual, I’ll start with the group shot and move on to some highlights of my favorite things from this month’s goodies. Click on any of the pics to go directly to the artist/designer’s web site.
I’m a little late this month posting the goods from The Sampler, but I had to go pick it up at the dreaded post office. That always slows me down a bit (I know, a little violin somewhere…. but I just hate the post office. It’s a personal hang-up of mine).
Group shot:
These one-of-a-kind buttons from Re-Conceived kinda have a Simpsons-esque quality too ‘em:
I am not a biker, except for on extremely rare occasions involving bachelorette parties and Tiburon and much peer pressure, but if I were a regular cyclist in San Francisco, I would be quite pleased to have this cute waterproof seat cover from Canada’s Lily Bug.
Next time you’re having a goth or punk knitter moment, Pretty in Punk would be the place to go to pick up rocking patterns for alternative knit apparel and objects d’art:
I just received my goodies from The Sampler for the month of May.
Group shot, minus Phil the Octopus.
Behold Phil the Octopus. This is an iron-on fabric patch created using an old fashioned typewriter. As you may be able to read in the pic, the artist’s sister Christine Renee uses these designs on her designs, available at Re-Conceived.
A sweet Buddha necklace (or maybe it’s Ganesh? I’m retarded.) from the Naughty Secretary Club:
Handspun, handpainted yarn from Third Floor Fibers:
A stamp from Asta Arts. It’s a skull and crossbones design, but I wanted to show the label.
Coasters made from vintage quilts by Avery Mary Design:
A hand-etched glass pin with a knitting ball and needle design from Bread and Badger:
A card with a starfish cellphone charm from Castro Creations:
Awesome notecard from Ella Studio. It’s so elegant… yet it says Slut on the front. Love it!
A cute felt monkey creation from Irma Niekum, owner of Gifts Define:
And finally, a copy of Croq zine with some cool articles relevant to crafters and indie artists:
Phew! Done with the uploading…
At long last, I am uploading some shots of April’s Sampler stash. Love The Sampler!! It’s such a great way to find out about other indie artists, crafters and designers and the cool projects they’re developing in places around the world. The Chic36 purse below, for example, comes from Japan. Sublime Stitching? Texas. You get the point. And you not only get to *see* all the great stuff they’re doing - you actually get to hold it in your hot little hands, wear it, use it and give it away to other people who appreciate indie goods.
