Hopefully when you are out trick-or-treating tonight, someone will drop a couple of these in your goody bag—bobe’s creamy candy corn, carnival candy apple, bubblegum machine & cherry red lollipop lip balm.

Deb Dormody of If’n Books + Marks is a bookbinder in the digital age and while you may think that may be shortsighted of her, I could not disagree more. I think we spend so much time online looking at pictures on flickr, reading the newspaper, and even reading books that it is a welcome change to hold something tangible and well-made. It’s nice to have an online travel journal or photo album, but even nicer to have one you can put on your coffee table. And even better if it’s handmade from an independent bookbinder like Deb.

Deb creates journals, photo albums, bookmarks and other fun paper goods in her studio, which is located in a century-old mill building. She does collaborations with artists like Jen Corace and Jesse LeDoux for the designs of her goods, but all the work of constructing the books is done completely by hand by Deb.

For all you paper fiends & journal geeks out there, and you know who you are and I am including myself in this group, you must own a If’n Books + Marks journal. They are so well-made and just lovely to page through…there is something viscerally pleasurably in doing so. Plus, if you are interested in the bookbinding process, watch an absolutely hilarious bookbinding demonstration video here.

To learn more about Deb and If’n Books + Marks read my interview with her below.

1. What’s the name of your business and what do create and sell?

If’n Books + Marks - I make super duper blank journals, photo albums and other papery doodads.

2. When did you get your start and what made you decide to take the plunge?

I was introduced to bookbinding in high school and immediately wanted
to marry it. So I continued my bookbinding studies in college and a bit afterwards. Then I got some jobs, since that is what you are supposed to do. One sunny day I realized that I didn’t have to be a chump for The Man any longer so I quit. It took me awhile to recognize that every company that is out there in the world was started by a person - which means that not everyone has to work for someone else. To some - okay, most people - this may be a pretty elementary observation. But sometimes it’s hard to latch on to things ideologically that can be incorporated into your own life. Plus, I’m slow. But the good thing is that I was able to hone my organizational abilities while being paid by someone else before I hired me as owner of a bookbindery. What a terrific resume! I had been a Program Director for a couple arts non-profits and a Marketing Director for a gift gallery, so there were certainly translatable skills accumulated that I have been able to use for my own business. Also, since the world didn’t collapse in 1999 like they said it was going to, I figured the new millennium would be a nice time to take advantage of being a human who was alive with a brain.

3. How do you come up with the concepts for your designs?

I’m pretty good at sitting and thinking. And working and thinking. So when I develop new ideas, it doesn’t happen in some awesome “By George I’ve got it!” singular moment, but more like a slow percolation over time. I absorb and then hash it out and rehash so that by the time I’m ready to make a prototype, it’s a pretty clear image in my brain.

(Continued)

Ooooh, this bag by my little bird is pretty…almost pretty enough to make me forget that it’s starting to get colder outside and that means that my long dark winter of coldness and shivering are just beginning. I am not a winter person at all, I am perpetually cold from about Oct- April and I live smack dab in the middle of the east coast, not Alaska. I am so much better suited to Key West or Hawaii….if only I could get my entire extended family & all my friends to move with me.

Anyway, back to the bag. It is lovely and has me longingly wishing for spring before winter has even started.

If you haven’t already pledged to buy handmade this holiday season, head on over to BuyHandmade.org and add your name to the list of peeps who have already pledged to support independent artists instead of huge mega-corporations this holiday shopping season.

I did it and you can too!

Here are some more of my Halloween inspired picks.

Halloween Treat Boxes from DeMarco Designs	Mummy at Shana Logic by Cuddly Rigor Mortis
Soapy Love Candy Corn Soapsicles at Mahar Dry Goods	Skully Cup by Circa Ceramics
Fifi the Bunny Girl by the Black Apple	Ghostly Garland print by Nut and Bee
Raven Necklace from Mymbles Daughter	Big Monster Stamp Pack from the Small Object
Monster Laptop Sleeve from Barry’s Farm	Vampire Tissue Holder from Sparrow Design Works
Zombie Study from Matt Cipov	Button from I like Seasmonsters
Axe Girl Tee from Damned Dollies	Otto, Ramses and Wolfgang Pocket Mirror by My Favorite Mirror

Boo! Scared ya, didn’t I? Halloween is coming, and although I’m pretty sure that you have already purchased and mailed out your Halloween cards, I thought I would mention glamscience’s gloriously ghouliscious glittery Halloween cards. Okay, technically there are no ghouls involved, but there is glitter and that’s just bootastic in my book.

Glamscience also offers other occasion cards and notecards, baby wear, jewelry, fiber gift enclosures and stationary and absolutely everything is decorated with glittery goodness.

Today is the last day to enter the contest to win a design from Aelisheva, an independent couture house that produces original & handmade ready-to-wear designs. Read how to enter here.

Fathye Levine is putting together a timeline of major events and turning points for the indie craft movement for the book Handmade Nation, a companion to the documentary.

She is looking for submissions of when fairs started, when brick & mortars opened, when community sites originated, the first craft congress, when the first issue of CROQ was released, etc. Please send her your submissions asap. There is a very, very, very short deadline–the info is needed October 29th!

Email information to: indiecraftdocumentary@gmail.com
Subject: TIMELINE
Deadline: Octotber, 29th, that is this MONDAY by 8PM central time, yes this Monday!!

Need to break up with someone and don’t really feel like being nice? Do you want you to let someone know that you are stalking them and want to do so as politely as possible? Or maybe you need to cheer up a non-bald friend?

Then you need to visit Zeichen Press, because they make cards for those of us with a wicked sense of humor. You will find snarky, irreverent and damn funny greetings for the rest of us who never seem to find just the sentiment we are looking for at the local chain card shop.

Available for purchase at these shops.

How utterly charming are these plush from A Small Fox in a Big World? I really like Noodle and his mischievous grin the best.

Mintd Friday is back from its hiatus last Friday. My pick this week are these cute felted heart hair pins from The Funky Felter. Choose your favorite color from over 20 available choices. I am personally addicted to hair pins, now that I’ve grown my bangs out longer, and I keep several at my desk so I can slide one on when my bangs fall into my eyes.

Again with a late post from me—that makes my 2nd this week. I swear it’s not going to be the ’standing operating procedure’ around here or anything, but I am just having one of those weeks when I just can’t seem to get anything done. My excuse for today was that I had to drive to my sister’s, which is about an hour away, to watch my two nieces. Then, on my way home I went grocery shopping and then I took a nap, b/c I finally crashed from staying up until 4am last night. I’m a wreck & a mess & and a very discombobulated woman, but I am here and I am writing this post.

Back to the actual point of this post….this week’s Reader Fixx was submitted by Robyn of Georgie Designs. Robyn went with a brown theme and picked some very nice things. She also makes some really nice jewelry.

If you would like submit your pixx, read how here.

Designs by Amber

Carol Lee Designs

Charssi

Made by Them

Stunning Details

Jimmy Pickles

JPATPURSES

Sugar Chic Baby

Vital Industries

Hammocks & High Tea’s products deliver a delicious combination of tropical design mixed with elegance, functionality & a completely modern sensibility. Their products include both paper & home goods; although, I am really drawn to the home goods. I especially like the scented rice paper drawer liners, which are decorated with the loveliest tropical prints and come in either rose tea or lavender scents. I also like the cotton tea towels, which are available in the same prints as the towels. Both the tea towels and drawer liners would make very thoughtful housewarming gifts or a lovely treat for yourself.

Sorry for the late post today, but today has just been one of those days. And, I know you know what kind of day I mean. Just one of those days when you just want to go home and have a glass or two of wine or maybe a nice soak in the tub, so you can just relax and unwind. Except, you don’t actually have time to drink any wine or take a relaxing bath because your day isn’t going to be over for a very long time.

I have a kajillion emails to respond to, a long list of stuff that needs to be done (like yesterday) and I am hard at work on the Indie Fixx Shop (which is coming very, very soon)!

So, taking a break from all that, I thought I would mention a few items of interest.

1. Check out the contest going on over at Cleveland Handmade, an Etsy indie artist collective for Etsy sellers in the Cleveland area.

2. There’s also a chance to win some indie goods at Lounge Luxe, another indie collective site.

3. I heard from a little birdie that Indie Fixx is mentioned in this month’s Craft magazine, so check it out. I think we are listed as a resource for buying handmade for the holidays. I don’t have the latest issue yet, so if someone feels like scanning it and sending it to me, that’d be great.

Back to my suck *ss day.

Having another very cool contest. Aelisheva has donated one of their lovely clothing designs for a contest—the winner will be able to choose one design from a selected listing of available designs. To win, visit the Fall Shopping & Gift Guide, find the listing for Aelisheva, note the description of the dress pictured in the guide, and leave a comment on this post with your description for the dress. The contest will end October 29th at 11pm EST. Comments will remain private until after the contest and only correct responses will be eligible. I will pick one random commenter to win.

Aelisheva is an independent couture house that produces original & handmade ready-to-wear designs and I have featured them before on Indie Fixx.

And the winner in the Indie Fixx Contest with Amy Bengtson & Polyvore is…

Thanks to everyone who participated! I hope you had a lot of fun with this contest, since I do plan on doing some more in the future.

Sorry about not having a Mintd Friday pick yesterday, but we had some technical difficulty here at Indie Fixx. Mintd Friday will return next week.

Just a quick note to let you know that 55% of the sales of the Grace Jewelry collection at Artchestra will be given to the Gal to Gal Foundation for the month of October. The Gal to Gal Foundation helps women with Phase IV Breast Cancer, you can read more about the work that they do here. Later this month I will be giving away one of the Grace necklaces, so stay tuned.

Trunkt is an online magazine that features portfolios from over 600 independent artists and designers. Their goal is to help promote independent artists and designers and help reverse the trend of big-box mega-retailers.

**Sponsored post**

This week’s Reader Fixx was submitted by Jennifer of Products of the Day.

If you would like submit your pixx, read how here.

Jennifer’s Top Ten Pixx:

Anything from Ophelia’s Jewels. Sabrina is so creative and her pieces are just beautiful.

Manor Hall Soap Company. Everything is all natural. I love her foaming facial cleansers and her hand soaps.

The Fluff at Bathed and Infused. B&I was my first B&B Indie love and the Fluff is one product I am always loyal to.

ZeVin Creations. They make the most creative cards I’ve seen. The cards they made for their Celebrate Women Collection is fantastic.

Bidwell Botanicals. The scrubs are amazing and the scents (like the chocolate) are out of this world.

Quarry Jewelry. I had a wedding to go to and fell in love with these earrings made with Peruvian Opals. Jennifer also made a necklace for me to match as per a drawing I did. Wonderful work and service.

Foster’s Creations. I love my pink ribbon beaded bookmark that I bought from Fosters. Also, Shannon makes great bath salts and Air Freshners!!

SBS Teas. I am a tea person. SBS was the very first Indie etailer I bought anything from. Love the variety and love the tea. I’m ever faithful!

Body frosting from In Kristine’s Shower. I’m addicted to this sugar scrub. The scents are fantastic..try the Peach Fuzz and you’ll know I speak the truth.

Kimono Momo. Even though I have not been able to buy anything as of yet, I love the work. Everything is so beautiful. I want a messenger bag so bad but my husband would kill me for spending that much. Beautiful beautiful stuff!!