bits and bobbins

i’ve decided to try and squeeze in an etsy love or two a week in this bright, shiny new year. because? because there are so many amazing artists and designers i’ve stumbled across over at etsy! i keep collecting their etsy shops in my favorites, and i REALLY want to share the love (and show you the amazing goods they make). i loved making these posts last year but i often wrote so much (because i was so inspired!)…it was a tad exhausting.

sooo….as far as these posts go from here on out, there’ll be less emphasis on verbosity on my part (thank goodness, right?), and more emphasis on showing off said designers/artists amazing products.

sound good? good.

jewelry designer melaniefavreau hails from montreal. working primarily in sterling silver, ms. melaniefavreau fashions cheeky, irreverent, and often surprisingly sleek charms, rings and ear adornments, some of which riff off the shape and concept of some ubiquitous items of daily life, like diamond rings, bread bag ties, and number tickets (like the ones you find at delis and markets).

i don’t wear much silver anymore, myself, but i’ve gotta say, those long thin earrings are, in my not so humble opinion, incredible. very minimal, and sort of maximal at the same time (due to their size). wow. now, if only they came in gold…!

anyone who has hung around wardrobe_remix for even a little while has no doubt noticed that the community is rife with creative folks…superb photographers, amazing artists, fabulous clothing stylists and designers, and extremely skilled thrifters with a penchant for beautiful and unique vintage finds. man, people, you make me PROUD! *beams*

and wouldn’t you know it, many of those wardrobe_remix(ers) sell their great handiwork and finds on etsy, everyone’s favorite independent marketplace!

fashion blogger ambika of (Into) the Fray, a wardrobe_remix contributer and fan, just made and posted an etsy treasury filled with the work of those exceedingly creative w_r(ers)! see ambika’s post about the w_r-themed etsy treasury she created here.

that’s so terrific, ambika! you rock!

go check it out!

jeez louise, am i dreadfully behind on my etsy love posts! gawd, i am so BAD. i should be flogged!

anyway, w/o any further ado…

this go ’round, it’s all about RedaretheRoses!

i was tipped off to the bright and happy wonderfulness that is RedaretheRoses by fellow fashion blogista, smagglestyle (she sent me an comment about RedaretheRoses’s work, telling me it looked like it was right up my alley…and boy, was she ever right!).

according to the RedaretheRoses etsy shop profile page, all this riotously colorful accessory goodness is the brainchild of a gal from dallas, texas named shawna, who says she’s been a crafter since childhood.

i am convinced that this clearly talented shawna is truly a woman after my own heart as far as her color philosophy is concerned. proof positive of such is this smart quote from shawna herself:

“I love bright colors so my accessories are not for the faint of heart! I like trying out new color combinations and I truly feel that you can make any color combo work, it just needs to be done the right way.”

damn right, sister! i feel like i could have written that quote myself! any color really does go with any color. BELIEVE!

the power of shawna’s work is in her simple though inspired use of one primary material: plastic. in each piece, lacy and feminine retro/vintage pressed plastic shapes and flowers in each piece are layered and collaged together just so…but let’s face it, it’s the punchy juxtaposition of colors in each ring, necklace, or hair comb that really makes shawna’s work truly genius.

so yes, considering those color combos, perhaps many of shawna’s baubles aren’t for the ‘faint of heart’…and that’s just fine!

i have to say though, after perusing her vast catalog over at her aforementioned etsy shop, the sheer diversity of shawna’s shown color combos might just kindly prove that point wrong. i’d argue that there’s something for everyone, no matter what shades and tints they favor…or at least anyone who wants to take a chance and at least wear a fun and funky little frippery in their hair or hand. one of these beauties might be just the ticket to energize a more subdued look. take a look, take a chance! you never know…

want more? check out RedaretheRoses

viva etsy!