Spring is bursting out all around and for me that means more entertaining. I personally hibernate all winter and figure most other people do too, but when spring comes around I feel so much more like having family and friends over. There’s something about more sunlight hours that puts me in a better mood and gives me more energy, both of which I need in order to do my ’spring cleaning’ to prepare for all my visitors. This year, when I’m shaking out the winter cobwebs, I think I want to shake out all my tired old kitchen linens and get some new ones to help bring the spirit of spring into my kitchen. Since we always end up hanging out in the kitchen anyway, some bright new linens will help liven up the party too.

Here are some of my favorites.

Table Runner by Fribert :::: Table Runner from OM Home :::: Table Cloths from Henry Road

Cloth Napkins from Michelle Brusegaard :::: Cotton Tea Towels from Lisa Stickley :::: Dish Towels from Reyart

Tea Towels from Hammocks and High Tea :::: Tea Towels from Gloaming Design :::: Table Cloths from PataPri Textile

Tea Towels from Skinny LaMinx :::: Linen Napkins from Lotta Helleberg

Linen Napkins from InSaneity :::: Woven Napkins from Plait

I always get really excited when I’m about to run out of hand cream. I know that sounds like I’m being sarcastic, but it really truly is something I look forward to, because it means I get to make MORE. That’s right folks, I make my own eco-friendly hand-cream (more like body cream– I use it for everything!) and my skin will accept no other. It has become spoiled and snooty about what it likes to have soaking into it, and I love dreaming up new concoctions when the time comes.

Here is a very versatile recipe for a rich, emollient, decadent cream that will last you a good long while. And I promise you’ll be excited when yours runs out, too!

Ingredients:

6 oz. raw shea butter
1/2 oz. jojoba oil
1/2 oz. sweet almond oil
1/2 oz. grapeseed oil
1/2 oz. apricot kernel oil
1/2 oz. lanolin (melted)
1/2 oz. aloe vera gel
1/2 oz. glycerin
1/4 oz. Vitamin E oil
5-10 drops favorite essential oil (some of my favorites are geranium, rose, clove, clary sage, cinnamon, and lemongrass.)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a large bowl (I like glass or stainless steel). Mush together with your hands to get the lumps out of the shea butter. (Alternatively, you can use an electric mixer, but doing it by hand is the eco-friendlier way, because it saves energy!) Adjust accordingly– if you like a thicker cream, more lanolin and less oil will do the trick; a thinner cream can be made by adding more oil or aloe vera juice)

P.S. This recipe is very fudgeable—what I usually do (since I’m the type that doesn’t really measure things and just eyeball it!) is just toss everything in a big glass bowl and mush it up with my hands and if it needs adjusting I’ll add a little oil here, a little lanolin there…!

Have fun!

WHERE TO BUY:

*My personal favorite: Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary in Boulder, CO
*Goldthread Apothecary in Florence, MA
*Botanica Medica in the UK
*Florapathics
*Mountain Rose Herbs
*The Essential Oil Company

If you want more information about essential oils, herbs, oils, aromatherapy, etc, here are a couple of great resources:
*Herbaldiary.org
*Aroma Web
*The Herbal Body Book by Jeanne Rose

GREEN CHALLENGE: change 1 (or more!) light bulb in your house or studio to a compact fluorescent bulb!

About Jessica:
Jessica is an artist from Atlanta, Georgia who is endlessly creating. Her work includes paintings, drawings, illustrations, and paper goods and is vibrant, colorful, and charming. Her work can be found on her site, in her Etsy shop and in the Indie Fixx Shop. You can also read more about Jessica and her work on her blog.

Visit Peggy Li for deliciously simple and elegant handmade jewelry with a contemporary design approach to contrast, color, texture and composition. Remember Mother’s Day is coming up!

**Sponsored post**

This week’s TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday is in honor of Earth Hour and features illustrations of lamps and other implements of electricity. If you haven’t heard about it yet, Earth Hour is an annual international event started to promote conservation of electricity in an effort to lower world carbon emissions. Individual households and businesses are asked to turn off all lights and other non-essential electrical appliances for one hour on Saturday, March 29th at 8 pm local time. Last March, the first Earth Hour event took place in Sydney with 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses participating and with an estimated reduction of electricity consumption in Sydney by 2.1%. This year, the event is being promoted internationally and Sydney is partnering with many US cities like San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami and more.

I plan on participating and since it will definitely be dark here at that time, I already have my candles and oil lamps ready. I think Mr. Indie Fixx and I will open a bottle of wine, play a fun board game and appreciate the time spent away from in front of the computer. How about you? Do you plan on participating in Earth Hour?

Featured Illustrators

1. Spark of Love by Vol25

2. Vintage Lamps print from Teresekam

3. The Entry print by Vol25

4. White Chandelier by Jaime Derringer

5. La Rainette by Ma Boutique a Ficelles

6. Quint Cats from Kerry Beary

French instinct and New York lines come together seamlessly (no pun intended) in the widely-blogged clothing line titled Kcoline. From design and sketches to construction, modeling and marketing, 29-year-old founder Caroline does it all. Kcoline has already garnered a large following of style hunters but her following nearly doubled when the line was featured in Glamour and Allure last year.

Dedicated to using natural fabrics and long-lasting preparation, the Kcoline line is a blessing for crafty buyers that drool over runway shows. Never one to copy trends Stephanie is now the one who is making them, inspired by streetwear and a variety of mainstream magazines. “My stuff is mostly one of a kind, like people,” she says. Exactly what independent fashion should be.

Victoria Everman is an eco-writer, model, crafter, yogi and attempting locavore. Perpetually looking for fresh ways to share her unquenchable green knowledge, she writes her own blog at Victoria-E.com and is head writer/editor for CraftingAGreenWorld.com. She will be imparting her fashion wisdom with us every other Friday on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog with her column Fashionably Indie.

I love today’s Reader Fixx Pixx from Christine at Flapper Girl. They are spring inspired, quirky and just so cute. Thanks so much, Christine.

Enjoy!

Miss Bluebird Creations

Marmee Craft

Louise Black

Stacey Winters

The Black Apple

{desktop distractions}

I am so excited to be able to share my interview with Paulina from FluffyCo for this week’s Indie Artist Fixx. If you aren’t aware already, FluffyCo is a fun line of tees, accessories and homewares and with just about each new product release, I see something to I covet (I just love the Bird of Prey design). I’m sure you do know exactly what I mean. Read the interview and take a look at the shop and pick your favorite design.

Read my interview with Paulina below and learn more about FluffyCo.

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

FluffyCo is a small lifestyle brand that has grown to include Men’s and Women’s tees and accessories, hand screen-printed home décor Items and now our baby line, Little Fluffy.

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

FluffyCo was founded at the very end of 2004, so it’s been 3 years now. I had always wanted to own my own business (let’s call it insubordination, but I’ve always had trouble taking orders or having someone tell me what to do). I had worked in advertising and design studios for years, then had a small business with a friend before Fluffy: it all led me to realize that I wanted to do my own thing, my way.

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

It’s cyclical. We come out with new designs every six months, so at some point I have to sort of turn it on. I start with inspirations in the media and culture, and that leads me to the first designs. It’s funny, but these initial ideas never make the cut for my sample production: they’re a first step to give some direction. Then, it’s all about refining the ideas and getting down to something I’m really into.

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

I guess just getting this going in the first place—it takes a leap of faith in yourself to stand up to all those risks.

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

I am incredibly messy. My husband and I joke about letting my inner hamster run free…making piles all over the house. Sometimes, it’s like we’re living in a crack house or something, but more sanitary.

(Continued)

I’m going to be moving my office to a different room in the house….it’s a good bit smaller, so as a consolation I told myself that I could get some nifty new stuff to decorate it with. I’m thinking that I’d like to include one of these stitched houses from Stephanie DosReis. Made from vintage and scrap fabric, they come complete with extra special cute details like stitched windows and doors, button doorknobs, appliqué and one even has a little green finch perched on the roof.

I also like the watercolor and stitched original paintings by Stephanie. Wendy in her new coat and Horse Man in his way cool jeans and vest are my faves.

I will definitely keep you updated on my new office and any decor items that I purchase and when it’s all done I will share a pic!

I’ve been wanting to try some lino-printing for a while and now that I’ve discovered these great lino-print tutorials, one from from Red Instead and another at Sunberst Illustration, so there’s no longer any excuse for me not to get started…except maybe not having enough time. Well phooey on having no time, I’m going to make some time to take a crack at this one. How about you? You’ve got all you need to get started below.

Jen from Red Instead put together a tutorial to show the actual printing process of lino-printing. I just love her owl design! Read more about it here.

Beth from Sunberst Illustration’s tutorial includes the process of how to prepare the lino. Read more here.

Enjoy and do remember to join the Tutorial Tuesday flickr group and share your completed Tutorial Tuesday projects. I’d really love to see your results from this one!

Oh, how I love that the two parts of my life I’m most passionate about (living a creative, hand-made life and supporting others who do the same, and taking care of our earth) are married more and more every day, and that living an eco-friendly life has stylish and unique options. The range of products that are both good for the earth and good for small, independent businesses seem to increase by the minute and I say, Hurray!

I often bookmark sites and products that I would like to have in my life or as part of my home, and today I thought it would be fun to fantasize about ‘A DAY IN MY ECO-INDIE DREAM LIFE’ by pulling them all together to create a list of products for each part of my day. From waking up, showering and getting dressed to jotting down inspirations and going out at night, there’s something on my list for all of it!

I hope it inspires you to think about what your own eco-indie dream life looks like!

6:30 am: Wake up in an organic bed, under a Cove cream & cocoa organic duvet cover from Amenity. #1 & 2

6:45 am: Brush teeth with Recycline Toothbrush, made from Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups. #3

7 am: Eat breakfast and drink coffee—Gimme! Coffee Las Mingas Relationship Coffee, sustainable, fair-trade and delicious. Fiona’s Granola, made in my hometown of Boulder. Catch up on blog reading. #4 & 5

7:30 am: Shower using shampoo by Luscious Naturals. #6

7:45 am: Put on makeup by Mixology. #7

8:00 am: Get dressed. Top from Urban Renewal, undergarments from Louella Bloom, skirt by orangyporangy, cute sandals from Mohop. Now for the accessories—a cork ring by ottoman and a necklace from Atlanta-based Smart Glass Jewelry. #8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13

9:00 am: Time for errands! Grab the purse—it’s a hand bag from escama, a company that combines fair-trade practices with sustainable design, by working directly with two Brazilian crafting cooperatives, to create gorgeous pieces using recycled aluminum pulltabs. Can’t forget my wallet! It’s from bird vs. bird. #14 & 15

11 am: Work, work, work & create, create, create! Make sure my eco-friendly notebook from ecojot out of Ontario. #16

5 pm: Get some groceries for din-din with a tote bag from greenward, no paper or plastic for me! #17

8 pm: Going out! Change up the accessories a bit: a ring from julep115 and a necklace from 2ReVert. #18 & 19

11 pm: Back into my Amenity bed to dream, dream, dream!

GREEN CHALLENGE: find an old t-shirt that you don’t wear anymore and turn it into a grocery shopping bag. And use it this week!

Share your project on the Indie is the New Green Flickr Group. Since there was no winner for last week’s challenge, one person will be chosen this week to win a reusable coffee cup sleeve made by Textile Fetish and available for sale in the Indie Fixx Shop!

About Jessica:
Jessica is an artist from Atlanta, Georgia who is endlessly creating. Her work includes paintings, drawings, illustrations, and paper goods and is vibrant, colorful, and charming. Her work can be found on her site, in her Etsy shop and in the Indie Fixx Shop. You can also read more about Jessica and her work on her blog.

Each month I donate a portion of the proceeds from Indie Fixx and the Indie Fixx Shop to a different charitable organization. The organizations I choose vary from those that provide humanitarian support, focus on the arts, provide for environmental stewardship, are concerned with animal welfare and other issues and causes that are near and dear to me.

This month, Mr. Indie Fixx wanted to get in on the action and he chose the organization One Laptop Per Child. The mission of One Laptop per Child is to provide children in the developing world with new opportunities to learn, experiment and express themselves. It is at its core an educational project with the goal of empowering children with the greatest educational lesson…the ability to learn how to learn. To reach that goal, a powerful, durable and fun $100 laptop was developed by the MIT Media Lab. A long-time project in the making the mass production of the $100 laptops finally began in November 2007. You can read more about One Laptop per Child here, here and here.

Giving Back: read more about the other organizations that I have donated to.

When I started my monthly Giving Back feature, I put a call out for indie shops and designers who donated their time and/or money to charitable organizations. I was totally inundated with emails and was just blown away by how charitable people are and by the variety of organizations and projects that you all are involved with. A good many people wrote me about organizations they are involved with or have founded and I wanted to share a few of those organizations with you.

Nest

Nest is a non-profit organization founded by Rebecca Kousky that provides micro-loans to women in developing countries to help them build and develop sustainable arts and crafts businesses. The money to provide these loans comes from the sale of clothing, accessories and homewares, which are produced exclusively for Nest by a group of artists and designers. Carrie Sommers of Sommer Designs in one of the participating designers and Carrie produces one or two hostess apron designs that are excessively sold at Nest each season. Alena Hennessey is another artist involved with Nest, her Mimi Bird print is pictured above. You can read more about Nest and their mission here.

Crafters for Critters

Started in 2004 by Melissa Dettloff, formerly of Lekkner and now of Severed Unicorn Heads, the goal of Crafters for Critters is to simultaneously support independent design and to raise money for animal rescue organizations. Indie crafters, designers and artists donate their goods to Crafters for Critters and 100% of the profits from the sale of those donated goods are donated to a variety of animal rescue groups. In the past, funds have been donated to the Greyhound Protection League, Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary, Compassion without Borders and more. A little over $17,500 has been raised over the last four years!

Softies for Mirabel & We Heart Mirabel

Looking to raise money and awareness for the Mirabel Foundation, an Australian foundation that works to assist children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental illicit drug use, Pip Lincolne of Meet Me at Mike’s organized Softies for Mirabel. Crafters donated stuffed toys, which were presented to the Mirabel Foundation and donated to the children of the group. This year, Pip started the We Heart Mirabel campaign and encouraged crafters to donate a stuffed heart to be sold at Meet me At Mike’s for $10 apiece. So far, $400 has been raised for the Mirabel Foundation and you can see some of the hearts displayed in the Meet Me at Mike’s window. If you live in Fitzroy, Australia, go buy one!

Liz Mathews creates charmingly unique nature-inspired jewelry pieces which are hand fabricated using sterling silver and a variety of precious and semi-precious stones. More recent work is done using artist’s Lucite that has been hand-drawn and colored, then set in sterling silver. Simply divine!

**Sponsored post**

I’d like to share the work of Melissa Moss with you this week for TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday. After leaving the publishing world, Melissa studied color psychology and through her studies discovered her love for paining. It’s not surprising then that color features very prominently in Melissa’s work. In addition to the vibrant and lovely color combos, I find that I am really drawn to the content of her paintings. Melissa creates a surreal abstract world and evokes a very clear emotional response with each painting.

I am really very happy to report that I am now carrying selected Melissa Moss paper prints in the Indie Fixx Shop. Melissa offers wood prints in her shop.

Dear Indie Fixx readers, let me introduce you to our latest contributor to the Guest Blog—Victoria Everman. Victoria is an eco-writer, model, crafter, yogi and attempting locavore. Perpetually looking for fresh ways to share her unquenchable green knowledge, she writes her own blog at Victoria-E.com and is head writer/editor for CraftingAGreenWorld.com. She has also written for many major magazines and websites, including Yoga Journal, CRAFT, Venus, ReadyMade and now Indie Fixx! As an experienced model, Victoria is uniquely positioned to offer insight and share the inside scoop on the world of fashion. She will be imparting her fashion wisdom with us every other Friday on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog. Enjoy and welcome, Victoria!

Looking for indie fashion? I’ve got it right here! My name is Victoria Everman - I’m a freelance writer and model with a passion for independent brands and I’m going to be writing the new Fashionably Indie column on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog. Having modeled professional since I was 6, finding clothing and accessories that are stylish and flattering has become second-nature. Now, I’m here as Indie Fixx’s resident fashion expert to introduce you to the plethora of chic handmade brands available.

Chicago illustrator and designer Angel D’Amico’s clothing line Ad Love is the epitome of unique. Hand screen printed, stenciled, and hand painted, Ad Love is a crafty clash featuring the beauty of nature and the complexity of urban environments. Along with shirts and hoodies, Angel also sells totes, buttons and art prints with her gritty yet soft designs. Some of her creations vividly remind me of the early 90s and the colorful Trapper Keepers we all carried to school … ahh, memories.

Etsy has put together a great Handmade Wedding Series on Storque. Topics have included registry ideas, diy weddings, theme weddings and more. Yours truly will be taking part in the series, so stay tuned for my article later this month. Some of my favorite articles so far include:

Thomasina’s Tale of a Recycled (and Inexpensive!) Wedding by Etsy seller Thomasina

Dispelling the DIY Myths by the DIY Bride

Create Your Own Vintage Bridal Style by Sweet Sassafras

An Inspired Affair by Style Me Pretty

Registery Ideas by design*sponge

Oh, happy day! Spring is here! I’m doing a little dance while I type this! I’m so happy…as if you couldn’t tell from all the exclamation points! I am such a spring and summer girl and much prefer warmer weather to cold. In fact, I stay cold from October to about April, depending on when Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow (this is a total aside, but my Grandmom was actually born in Punxsutawney).

Anyway, on this most glorious 1st day of spring, I share some of my favorite spring indie goods with you. These are all goods that I am seriously coveting.

Milk Stud Earrings from Trove & Bloom Pin from Margrietje

Marigold Cotton Coverlet from Sleeping Buddha & Teal Bird Pillow from Joom

Purple Daisy Runner from Henry Road & Teapot from Daisy Dog Studio

Air Necklace from Bellissima Jewelry & Plymouth Bay Necklace by Amy DiGregorio

Ride in the Rain Tote from Supa & Spring Blooms Bag from Oktak

Silver Bunny Pin from Imogene & Porcelain Birds by Coe & Waito and available at Peek Keep

Walnut Wedge Shoes from Mohop & Pleated Lemon Yellow Bag from Sketchbook

Rainbow Bike Tee from Vital Industries & Nature Speaks Tee from Deliscious Tees

Native Flowers Journal by Jill Bliss & Freedom Carried on the Wind Print from Vol. 25

This week’s Reader Fixx Pixx were chosen by Megan of Casto Creations. Thanks, Megan! Those cupcakes look divine!

Rare Bird Finds

Indie Finds

Luannu Dell

Fat Daddy Cupcakes

You are in for a real treat today dear readers— the talented duo of Nancy Pizarro and Andy Witt have agreed to be interviewed for this week’s Indie Artist Fixx. If you are not sure who Nancy and Andy are, I know you surely recognize the name Circa Ceramics…ahh, yes that does it. Yes, Nancy and Andy are the ceramic creating geniuses behind Circa Ceramics. A real collaborative team, Nancy and Andy create the best in functional decorative ceramic homewares. They combine equal parts form and function with a little of the whimsical thrown in for good measure. It was a real pleasure to interview these guys…you’ll see what I mean when you read my interview with them below!

Nancy Pizarro and Andy Witt of Circa Ceramics in their own words…

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

Circa Ceramics - We make functional decorated ware for the adventurous entertainer.

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

1999. We’ d just moved back to Chicago and while we were both working dead end jobs we needed a creative outlet that also provided us with a little bit of income. Luckily we found an opportunity (and a receptive audience) to design, create and sell functional ware through Chicago’s various art festivals.

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

andy: I tend to put a lot of roadblocks in front of a new idea, these are usually in the form of trying out some new or different processes. To make a simple magnet turns into a long trial and error exploration of pressing clay with air-release dies.

nancy: I am the remover of said roadblocks - We bounce ideas off each other all day long, and in doing that, come full circle to a resolution. It’s an adventure every single time!

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

andy: Getting Nancy to move half way across the country with me.

nancy: Getting Andy to move back to Chicago!

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

nancy: I love to cook while there is a football game on tv - There’s something very homey about that!

andy: I used to be able to predict the future (really mundane, like “so and so is calling”) I think all the wi-fi networks are screwing it up.

6. What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst?

We love when an idea comes to fruition. The worst is when all the steps in between start becoming costly or take up too much time. You have to either set it aside or adjust accordingly without compromising the original idea. We butt heads on this from time to time

(Continued)

Here are some lovely new goodies in the Indie Fixx Shop that I’d like to share with you.

Art is the antidote for what ails you! A clever magnet set made from original Wolfie and the Sneak artwork will arrive in a prescription bottle with the label ‘Art is the Antidote‘. What a great gift for an art lover or your BFF who is under the weather!

Exclusive prints from Wolfie and the Sneak. Very limited series—ONLY 5 have been printed of each print! The print on the left is called Invisible Connectivity and you can read more about artist Renee Garner’s inspiration here. The other print is called Enriching Growth and is my personal favorite.

Are you a clever kitty? Then you need one of these Clever Kitty totes from Cathy Peng. Available with pink, red or blue glasses.

Good Kitty and Bad Kitty stationery sets from Cathy Peng. Get one of each to fit your mood.

Sweet and charming Flower Rings from Intrinsic Garden, just perfect for spring.

Letterpress notecards from Messenger Bird Press. Choose from the Dress Form notecard on the left or the Woodland Creatures Set on the right.