The Indie Fixx Shop is participating in Squidfire’s Spring Art Mart on Saturday, May 10th. It’s being held in Mount Vernon Park in Baltimore, so make sure to come visit me and do some shopping! Puls, everyone who stops by my booth and mentions Indie Fixx will get a free button!

There’s some really awesome vendors participating, including some of my faves showcased below.

Darin R. Gehrke Ceramics

Built in Pittsburgh

Wondercabinet

April Scott

Jenny Jen 42

Jon Wye

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)

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)

Here are some black & white lovelies for you!

1. gogovivi library satchel in bold black and white

2. Little Helper print from ashleyg

3. Lilies and Remains earrings from Opulent Oddities

4. Roots Reflection tee from Puckish and available at buyolympia.com

5. Black & White Butterfly necklace from Neile

6. sotosofties Petey the Penquin plush

7. Leaves of glass Excess necklace

8. Flower & Lace necklace from Mia Beads

9. Vintage Typewriter Key Cufflinks from Keys and Memories

10. Heart tie from Cyberoptix

11. Porcelain bowl from Kristen Swanson

12. Stitch Pixie’s floral vinyl wristlet

13. Plans and Diagram’s print from Tricia McKellar

14. Daisy photograph from Slyvia C

I’m still feeling like a truck ran over me today and I just can’t seem to shake this cough that rattles my brain around in my head, so posting will be short and sweet today. I’m going back to bed for a little bit.

While I’m resting, be sure to visit Papa Stour for unique Scottish made gifts for guys. You will find stuff for the Anglophile who is into Scotland and who already has everything else you’ve thought about gifting him.

Btw, the concert was awesome last night!

I know plenty of you are starting to do the countdown to the holidays…only 14 more shopping days to Christmas. Well, if you still need a few gift ideas, it is not too late to shop indie and to shop online. Visit the Indie Fixx Holiday Gift Guide for plenty of ideas and plenty of coupon codes too! You’ll find ideas for gifts for girls, guys, pets and kids too.

Indie Finds is an innovative co-operative comprised of many talented independent designers. Formed in response to big-box retailers, the members have teamed up to increase awareness of indie shops and to challenge the notion that quality is synonymous with size. Together, the group is a genuine rival to high-powered household names.

For shoppers, it’s another great way to shop indie and for indie shops, it’s another great way to reach shoppers.

**Sponsored post**

Supermaggie is pretty superrific and is the next featured shop in the ‘12 Days of Indie Holiday Shopping’. Supermaggie offers cool threads and accessories for the hip indie guy and gal. They also have some pretty hot models, so most definitely check ‘em out.

Their very cool tee shirts are screenprinted with original and totally unique designs like the Octopus, Mermaids, Seeds, Stars and Pines and Cicadas among others. Many designs are available in both men’s and women’s tees, long sleeve tees, hoodies, thermals, scoopneck tees, 3/4 length sleeve and come in a variety of colors. They also offer the most fabulous felted wool scarves and wraps around. You or your gift recipient will really make a statement with one—my favorite is the Black and Pink Stripe. The Slaughterhead Wallets would also make good gifts. Screenprinted and made from vinyl, they are over sized to hold mucho Christmas cash.

Supermaggie designs are sure to please both girls and guys and would make the perfect gift for everyone from teens to your hip grandma and everyone in between.

Take 15% off until 12/31 with the coupon code indiefixx07 on everything at Supermaggie.

Plus, leave a comment below for this post with the name of your favorite Supermaggie product (either for yourself or your giftee) for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate from Supermaggie! One random commenter will be chosen. This contest ends November 26th at 11:59 am EST. THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED.

I know some of you went to the mall today and I’m going to let it slide, because I know Black Friday at the mall often has more to do with the whole spectacle of it than the actual shopping…and it’s when Santa arrives too. But, after today it’s got to end. Leave the mall shopping to the mall rats and do some indie shopping instead. You can find more unique, one-of-a-kind, imaginative, often better made and just downright cooler gifts from independent designers and crafters. Aunt Betty can buy her own sweater, and probably would prefer to, so buy her an indie made gift and knock her freaking socks off!

Here’s a few ideas—and a few discount codes to help you out.

I’ve been a long time fan of Supermaggie, so when Maggie of Supermaggie agreed to be interviewed for this week’s Indie Artist Fixx, I was pleased as punch. Maggie Kleinpeter is the artistic force behind Supermaggie and she creates wearable wool art and screen-printed apparel. Maggie’s felted scarves and original illustration hand-printed t-shirts are legendary and easily recognizable. Maggie is also a one talented painter and her paintings can be seen here. Maggie really is super artist.

Supermaggie has been around since the early days of Internet indie shopping (hard to believe that’s only been like 5 years ago) and is a both a trendsetter and pioneer in the indie design world. I for one can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Here’s my interview with Maggie.

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

The name of my business is Supermaggie. I make hand felted scarves and I design and screen print t-shirts and other apparel, my business partner and husband Michael designs and runs the website, takes good care of our customers and helps me out with some of the screen printing.

2. How and why did you get your start?

I finished art school and was working as a production manager at a tiny (there were three of us) handmade greeting card company in the winter of 2001 when I started experimenting with felting. The results were pretty cool so I started selling them at a few little indie markets around New York and people really liked them. Michael (he was my boyfriend at the time and was working in the dot com advertising world) built Supermaggie so we could sell online. We took a few ads in some of the indie magazines and got a little bit of press and things just took off. It was great!

3. Is there anything you can share with other indie business owners who are just taking the plunge with their own business?

You have to work really hard, always be honest with yourself and your customers, don’t be afraid to ask questions and have fun!

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

I get to be creative everyday and work with my hands everyday. The worst is when I have to do a ton of production work and not much creative stuff.

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

I like to watch old X-file reruns while I screen print t-shirts.

6. Do you have any future plans for your business that you would like to share?

We plan to take over the world with t-shirts and scarves!

7. What blogs and mags do you read and what shops do you shop at? List as many as you want.

Bust, Venus, Readymade, Modish, Mightygoods. I actually don’t shop very much at all but when I do it’s at Cleggs Nursery and the fabric store.

8. Were you an artsy craftsy kid? If so, what kinds of things did you do?

Yes, I was and artsy craftsy kid. I doodled incessantly in my school notebooks rather then take notes. I told my second grade teacher that I didn’t need to go to school because I was going to be an artist (that didn’t get me out of school). I made clothes for my dolls, little bitty pillows for my dollhouse, I loved any project that involved glue, paint markers or scissors. My very first crafty business attempt was making friendship bracelets to order for other kids in my class.

9. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Ben and Jerry’s coffee heath bar crunch - it’s the best ice cream ever!

10. What does indie mean to you? You can give a literal definition, choose to be a little esoteric or a combination of both.

To me indie means doing it your own way while keeping in mind the larger indie community and being supportive of it. I think it means creating your own style and not allowing yourself to be held to anyone else’s standard of beauty or normal.

11. What are your inspirations?

I am inspired by color, my dog, my garden, my dreams, clouds, trees, road trips, beach trips, clipart, pencil drawings, peeling paint, the white stripes, aerial landscape photos, old run down fabric stores with boxes and bolts of crazy fabric in the basement.

12. What you are doing new that you want everyone to know about?

I am doing one of a kind scarves this fall and will be trying to switch to organic wool by the end of the year. We are also going to try to do a line of organic t’s with eco friendly inks.

Want your oven mitt to match your make-up bag, your tie to match your potholder, the dog’s bed to match the baby’s bib or would you like just absolutely everything in the whole entire world to match? I know sometimes that seems like it would appeal to me aesthetically, but if you are just looking for patterned lovelies for yourself and your home, then Deadly Squire is the shop for you. I discovered Deadly Squire at Bloom, our local brick and mortar indie shop, and I was just as smitten as a kitten. Deadly Squire is made up of a husband and wife team who design and create everything from coin purses and cloth napkins to handkerchiefs and serving trays in six absolutely charming patterns. They also offer free icons and desktops inspired by each of their distinctive patterns. I can’t really decide which pattern is my favorite. Can you?

more at twiigs.com…

I got this shirt from Spaghetti Kiss for my hubby for his birthday and he loved it. We saw it in red when we were at the Richmond Craft Mafia’s Spring Bada-bing and he wanted to buy it then, but he wasn’t sure about the red. I contacted Mikey, artist and screen-printer extraordinaire, and asked him if he could do it in another color and he came up with this cream on black combo. My hubby was very pleased with the surprise. Mikey is an amazing artist and this design just must be seen in person to be appreciated. Check out Spaghetti Kiss and take a look at all his designs.

This is just some of the cool stuff you will find at the Pile of Craft show in Baltimore this Saturday, June 23rd. You will also find me hawking my wares as well. Sponsored by the Charm City Craft Mafia, the show is to be held indoors at St. John’s Church, which is located at 2640 St. Paul St., from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

If you live in the Baltimore/DC/Philly area, be there or be like totally square. This is your chance to shop for cool indie stuff for yourself, get a very early start on your holiday shopping (something I am already doing), or just mingle with some super talented artist types.

I’ve personally already started shopping and I’m not even there yet. I’m totally serious. I’ve made a couple of purchases that I will be picking up at the show. I’ve highlighted a small sampling of the participating vendors, but there will be over 40 indie vendors there with something for everyone—jewelry, tees, pottery, monsters (not real ones, but the stuffed kind), funny cards, prints, bags, craft patterns, photographs, random fun stuff and more.

Come surf the Indie Fixx Summer Shopping & Gift Guide…the water’s fine. The Guide is filled with all the coolest, I mean hottest indie shops and products. You will find summer bling, hot accessories, stuff for cool kids, goods for your very own sandcastle, products to pamper your skin, cards and journals to help you keep in touch and occupied on the beach, and more. Whether you are shopping for yourself or need some gift ideas, the Guide has what you are looking for. Be sure to check it out and all the very cool participating shops.

Plus, there’s a surprise contest! One lucky winner will win a pair of earrings from My Sunset Road that came in the last Sampler I received. To enter, tell me your favorite item that you found in Indie Fixx Summer Shopping & Gift Guide and comment below. I will pick one lucky random commenter to win the prize. The contest ends noon on June 19th (this was extended  since I’ve had some issues with my site being up and down today). Make sure to include your email when leaving your comment or else I won’t be able to contact you.

*Sponsored post*

IMOOI is offering 10% off cufflinks for Father’s Day with promo code FATHER07. I have an IMOOI necklace and I totally love it. They create really special pieces that you and/or dad will wear for a lifetime.

Those of you who live in San Francisco, New York, Boston or Chicago won’t understand, but those of you who live in Small Town, USA or even in the middle of nowhere will completely understand how excited I was to discover Bloom. I live Delaware, which although close to Philly, DC and New York, usually lags about a decade behind in fashion, trends and shopping opportunities. Delaware is not generally thought of as a cool place to live…but it’s getting better and Bloom is part of that change. Bloom is an eclectic boutique located on Main St. in Newark, Delaware, which carries the most delicious collection of quirky, fun, gorgeous and charming goods. Most of the wares are from independent designers and everything is U.S. made. It’s just the kind of place I’m happy to spend the morning browsing and shopping in. In fact, I had such a wonderful morning browsing that I discovered over 30 different designers and artists that I will be highlighting in upcoming weeks.

The first indie shop I’d like to highlight is Sailor Jerry Ltd. Inspired by the life and tattoo art of Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins, Sailor Jerry Ltd. sells men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, children’s clothing, home goods and more that are designed and made in Philadelphia. Sailor Jerry, who is considered to be the godfather of tattoo art, and his work are the inspiration for the latest renaissance of retro tattoos motifs that can be found on all types of products. If you are looking for the real thing, head on over to Sailor Jerry Ltd., where you will find original Sailor Jerry designs as well as those from up and coming stars. I’ve included a few of my favorites.

Squidfire’s Spring Art Mart is being held this Saturday, May 12th from 11-7 at Mount Vernon Square Park in Baltimore, MD. There are going to be so many cool vendors there, including yours truly. I am going to have to take a bucketload of money to pay for all the stuff I plan on buying! Here’s some of the highlights, which are pictured above: Honeybear, Fisk and Fern, The Broken Plate, Gregmetal, De*Nada Designs, and Mogo just to name a few.

I so want to be rocking that bag, or any bag, from De*Nada Designs! You should totally come out and say, “Hey.” I love to meet Indie Fixx readers–it really makes my day! Plus, the guys from Squidfire really know how to put on an indie craft show. I went to their Holiday show in December and it was awesome. Be on the lookout for a mention of the this show in the Wahington Post’s weekly “must do” section!

One of my favorites shops is closing at the end of May and even though that’s really bad news, there is really a silver lining in every storm cloud because you can save up to 40% off some of the best indie stuff around. Check out PurplePinkandOrange.com and pick up some amazing indie finds at some really amazing prices. This would be the perfect time to shop ahead for all the birthdays, weddings and other special occasions you need to get gifts for.

Looking for some spring accessories, fashions for your home, or need a gift for mom? Check out the Indie Fixx Spring Shopping & Gift Guide. It’s filled with fresh, fun goodies for spring from some of your favorite indie designers. Many of the participating designers are offering special discounts just for Indie Fixx readers. Find what you need and save money too!

*Sponsored post*

It’s a cute penguin sleeping with a teddy bear tee from Noisebot…awww…it’s so freaking cute!  Not all the designs at Noisbot are as cute. Some are funny, some are cool, some are silly, and some are just weird–right up my alley.