Today’s TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday pick is in honor of my brother’s Leap Year birthday today and what better way to commemorate Leap Year than with a frog and leapling tea party on a lily pad.

My brother is 7 years old today and I will not tire of teasing him about that fact all day long. Happy Birthday, Adam!

Limited Edition Print (Snack Time) from Apakshop.

Today’s Reader Fixx Pixx list was curated by Valerie of Witty Workshop. Plus, make sure to visit Valerie’s blog, Le pot aux roses, it’s a good read.

Valerie’s pixx highlight her favorite sites for inspiration.

An amazing artist, Sarah Blank

The too-cool Creativeadoration blog

Micro-amazingness by justynhegreberg

Dancing in the light by TokyoPixie

When I’m feeling down, the print & pattern blog always cheer me up!

My dream-job: cupcake tester. Until that day, I go to the cupcake blog to help my craving.

I am an art print junkie and I know a lot of you are too, so I wanted to share the new prints from artist Jessica Gonacha that I just added to the Indie Fixx Shop. The new nature inspired prints from are just sublime and I am sure you will agree.

Today’s Indie Artist Fixx interview is with Jessica of Slaughterhead. Slaughterhead is the husband and wife team of Joey Slaughter and Jessica Head. Jessica designs and sews vinyl bags and wallets and Joey designs and screenprints tee shirts. I love, love, love their unique designs and especially love the Jumbo wallets–I think they might be big enough for all the crap I carry around in my wallet.

Read more about Jessica and Slaughterhead below in my interview with Jessica.

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

My business is www.slaughterhead.com. I create and sell vinyl handbags and a variety of wallets. My husband, the other part of the Slaughterhead duo, designs and prints tshirts, as well as vinyl for me to use in the wallets.

2. When did you get started with your business and why did you decide to open your own indie biz?

We got started about 4 years ago. I had graduated with my BFA and was teaching elementary art. I enjoyed it, but wanted something else; I missed the creative time I had in school. One afternoon Joey brought a sewing machine home for me, and slaughterhead.com began soon after. I loved sewing and have been doing it since.

3. What’s the creative process like for you?

The creative process for me involves piles of color. I don’t really throw away scraps so I have many colors of vinyl that I keep sorted. I play with color and shape until I find something I like, often reminiscent of a mood/feeling. I usually have a couple of themes; currently it’s rock layers.

4. What’s been your biggest accomplishment so far?

Our biggest accomplishment so far is that I am able to stay home with our son and work on Slaughterhead full time. It’s hard to get a lot done with a baby toddling around, but I’m very proud that I’ve created more this year than ever before. Joey teaches at the university level, so I’m really excited for summer break when we’ll both be home to crank it out together.

5. Tell us one funny/goofy/silly thing about yourself.

I hum all the time–really truly all the time. I have somehow become a sponge for any song I hear. Joey often picks on me about it and will intentionally say one line from a horrible song just so that I will get it stuck in my head. I can’t control it.

(Continued)

Just a quick little note to let you know about the sale going on over at Paper Cloud. They, along with a bunch of the rest of us, are anxiously awaiting spring and have decided to have a sale to bring a little spring to the end of winter. So, bring a little spring into your world and visit Paper Cloud.

[ All flower designs are 20% off until the end of March. ]

I love embroidery. It’s been my new favorite craft for about a year now. I find that it’s really easy to carry around and pick up while I’m waiting at the dentist’s office or while I’m babysitting sleeping nieces and nephews. I thought I would share some embroidery tips with you from a real pro for this week’s Tutorial Tuesday.

One of the things I like about embroidery is learning a new stitch…I think I have all of 3 or 4 in my bag of embroidery tricks now. That’s all gonna change now that I have re-discovered the Stitch School tutorials by Janet of Primrose Designs. Covering the basics of embroidery to more obscure stitches, Janet shares her clear & concise directions and fabulous pictures, which make even the more complicated stuff seem easy-peasy.

Janet also sells a wonderful collection of both vintage items and new items crafted from vintage materials at Primrose Designs. You’ll find everything from pillows, aprons, tea towels, baby gifts, tissue cozies, sachets and even vintage linens and trims for your own projects.

I chose to feature the Lazy Daisy stitch from Janet’s Stitch School. It’s a stitch I’ve been wanting to learn.

1. Start by bringing your threaded needle to the front. Then take the needle to the back as close as possible to where the thread emerges. Bring the needle to the front at the tip of the stitch.

2. Loop the thread in a counter-clockwise direction under the tip of the needle.

3. Read more here…

Remember, don’t forget to join the Tutorial Tuesday flickr group and add your Tutorial Tuesday project images to the pool for a chance to win a copy of Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts: Lacy Crochet published by Chronicle Books. One winner will be chosen from the pool at the contest end on March 12th. Read about how to add an image to the flickr group here.

Whether you like Kiss, the Beatles, Elvis, the Village People or the Rocky Horror Picture Show you have got to check out the Record Album Purses from Red Barn. While some of you may think it’s a travesty to use old records this way, I’m firmly planted in the digital world and think this is a totally novel way to get some use from those relics of our musical past. I only wish I still had my record collection since Red Barn does custom work…I’d love to have a Cure, the Smiths or a Violent Femmes bag!

I was browsing around on Etsy a couple of weeks ago and I saw these furry cuties on the front page and I just had to share! Meet Mama, Papa, Meep, and Peeps, a stuffed bird family that can’t wait for spring and neither can I! The artist, aptly named The Singing Bird, has tons of other plushy animal friends to choose from, like this felted Easter bunny and basket. Even though the weather is cold, put these cheery plushes on your shelf to remind you that spring will be here, eventually.

Visit Peggy Li for deliciously simple and elegant handmade jewelry with a contemporary design approach to contrast, color, texture and composition. Treat yourself or a loved one to some fabulous jewelry.

**Sponsored post**

I’m writing a short and sweet post today, because I hurt my back this week and taking muscle relaxers isn’t necessarily very conducive to writing coherently, so I’m writing this post and then going off the take a pill and lay on the couch.

Today’s TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday treat are the animal portraits from Ryan Berkley of Berkley Illustration. Cute, clever and comical, I can’t decide which one is my favorite…it’s a toss up between Squirrel, who has a nut allergy, or Penguin, who is a Hitchcock fan.

Today’s Reader Fixx Pixx are from Shelley of Nahia Creations. Shelly makes some really nice & soothing soap and has nice taste in art.

Just be Altered

Blue Tree Art Gallery

Printed Canvas

shellieartist

Earth Art Gallery

Bealoo Kids

Simple Silhouettes

OlaDesign

Visit the SALE section at the Indie Fixx Shop to see what goodies have recently been put on sale.

Plus, leave a comment on this post with your favorite item from the Indie Fixx Shop for your chance to win the Forest print from artist Shira Sela. One random commenter will be chosen to win the print. This giveaway ends March 1st.

This week’s Indie Artist Interview is with Tracy from Happy Owl Glassworks. Offering lovely fused glass jewelry, accessories and homewares since 2003, Happy Owl has been one of my faves right from the beginning. I even own a Happy Owl Glasswork’s pendant and I love it. Happy Owl is probably best known for their badge menagerie—a collection of totem animals in your choice of either a badge or pendant. I defy you to pick just one as your favorite. I know I can’t!

Read more about Tracy and her work in my interview with her below.

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

Happy Owl Glassworks. I fuse glass and illustrate; mostly housewares and accessories featuring animals galore!

2. When did you get started with your business and why did you decide to open your own indie biz?

When we moved to LA in 2003, I started my website. It was slow at first, but I was further motivated when I participated in the “Bazaar Bizarre West” in Los Angeles in December (my first retail show experience!). Before LA we lived in Bozeman, MT and I was part of a co-op gallery where I made more sculptural, non-functional pieces. This was fun at the time, but I soon realized that the gallery scene wasn’t my main interest. I decided to experiment with smaller pieces for the masses when an old contact requested some work that they could sell in their shop. Once the website took off, I was laid off from my office job soon thereafter. I never looked back.

3. What’s the creative process like for you?

Usually slow-going at this point in time! I draw from inspirations such as animals and nature—a subject that is constantly teasing me to get outside more. I’m usually feeling most creative while I’m doing “other” things, like showering, driving, walking. Once I get an idea I’ll sketch it out and take it to the next step of creating the piece.

4. What’s been your biggest accomplishment so far?

The ability to juggle being a new parent as well as managing the business. When I was pregnant I was apprehensive about my abilities to do both. But somehow we’ve managed without daycare or help, and I’m so happy to be there for every one of her milestones. Accomplishing both has been a smoother ride than I expected and it’s all about taking it slowly, having small goals.

5. Tell us one funny/goofy/silly thing about yourself.

I consider myself a culinary experiment—I didn’t eat any vegetables, besides carrots, until I was 21. I was one of those “picky eaters” (to the extreme!) as a child/adolescent. I now try new foods with every chance I get: jellyfish, raw beef, exotic vegetables… a far cry from my childhood days of junk food and meat slathered in ketchup!

(Continued)

I want to pass along a quick little note to you that Bumbershoot, Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival, is now accepting applications for its Indie Market. Bumbershoot is North America’s largest annual urban arts and music festival. Scheduled over Labor Day weekend, they have a special area called the Indie Market with goods from independent artists, designers & crafters for sale.

If you are a craftastic entrepreneur or an independent retailer who supports indie craft artists and what to sign-up to participate, the deadline to apply is March 28th.

Bumbershoot Dates: Saturday, August 30 – Monday, September 1, 2008 Application Deadline for Indie Vendors: March 28, 2008 Apply here!

Congrats to Lien from California for winning the Indie Fixx Valentine’s Day Giveaway. Lien won a great prize with donated goodies from On a String, Casto Creations, Isabel’s Rose, Yseult Designs, Shana Logic, The Cutting Edge, Vintage Body Spa, MAU Studio, Sommer Designs, Cherry Mama, ArtfulSentiments, Bill Pickles Dog Company.

Here’s a great tutorial for Tutorial Tuesday for making a Moleskine Cover from Michelle at Keyka Lou. Featured on Indie Fixx before, Keyka Lou offers clutches, wallets, checkbook covers, passport pouches and other accessories in the most gorgeous fabrics. I drool over them every time I visit the shop.

Plus, don’t forget to join the Tutorial Tuesday flickr group and make sure to add your Tutorial Tuesday project images to the pool for a chance to win a copy of Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts: Lacy Crochet published by Chronicle Books. One winner will be chosen from the pool and the contest ends March 12th. Read about how to add an image to the flickr group here.

1) Cut pieces (grain of fabric should run parallel to the short end of your pattern)

1 main body in outer fabric
1 main body in lining fabric
1 interfacing for main body (optional but gives the cover more substance - sew-in or fusible
1 flap in outer fabric
1 flap in lining fabric
1 flap in interfacing
Velcro strip about 1.5″ long

2) Center one Velcro piece on the outside of the flap lining about 1/2″ from the top. Sew in place.

3) Place flap pieces with the face sides together and pin. Leave an opening to turn. Sew around flap.

4) Place main body pieces with the face sides together and pin. Leave an opening to turn. Sew around main body.

5) Trim corners and clip curves of flap.

Continued…

I found the perfect bags for my brother if he were a girl. Shit, these are so freakin’ cool he just might start carrying one around as soon as I tell him about ‘em.

Okay, before I digress to far from my point and have my brother scheduled for a sexual reassignment surgery (man, I hope he never reads this blog), I better tell you about Kim White Handbags. If you’ve never heard of Kim White, she creates bags from vintage automobile fabrics. She lucked upon an entire warehouse of 1970’s and 1980’s automotive fabrics, which may be the last existing stock anywhere in the US, and she is the sole owner of these amazing textiles. In addition to her collection of vintage automotive textiles, Kim has also unearthed some of the most gorgeous vintage furniture florals from the 1950’s - 1970’s.

Using both of these amazing fabric treasures, she offers a variety of styles including clutches, shoulder bags, wristlets and larger styles (my favorites, of course). They are distinctive, durable, sophisticated, beautiful and built to last.

Take ‘em out for a spin.

Recently, I had a chance to try the soaps from Nahia Creations and I was really very pleased. Made with simple ingredients including olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil and natural butters, there is nearly 50% olive oil in every mild bar. Luxurious and long-lasting, I found them to be really soothing to my winter beleaguered sensitive skin. They are available in a variety of scents, go ahead and treat yourself or a friend with a restorative sumptuous treat.

I love the scratchy sketchiness quality to the art of Groundwork’s Danna Ray. Textured and ethereal, her prints seem to be suitable for this time of winter when everything is dry, withered and windblown but you can begin to see signs of spring.

It’s easy to believe that Danna grow up in a log cabin. I know it must have been in the woods.

Today is the last day to enter the  Indie Fixx Valentine’s Day Giveaway. Read the details here.

The prize includes items donated by the following indie shops: