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 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.

I need a little help. Okay, I needs lots and lots of help, but just a little bit of help with this particular thing. Remember, I mentioned I bought a Toddler Tote from One Little Monkey last week? Well, I want to fill it with some goodies for my niece’s 2nd birthday in March. I thought a cute little plush would be sweet. She’s been into taking care of a “baby” ever since her little sister was born this summer and she just loves anything adorable. She’ll even go, “Aww, so cute,” and I gotta tell you, that is just the cutest thing in the world.

So, help me narrow down which plush I should get from my choices above or suggest a new one.

1. Sweet Chocolate Bunny from Puncezilla
2. Banana from Plushoff
3. Lulu the French Doodle Girl from A Bit of Whimsy Dolls
4. Miss Fleu- blue Baboushka Doll from blossom-designs
5. Quinn from Msmibbs
6. Plush Matryoshka Doll from Modiste Me
7. Anton from Morninglori (okay, this one would be more for me)
8. Stuffed Bunny from dmollison
9. Elephant from Maiden Love

more at twiigs.com…

Last week I shared a Pointy Kitty Pattern for Tutorial Tuesday with you, so this week I thought I would feature a mouse instead…actually the Stuffed Mouse Pattern from Sewing Stars. Teresa from Sewing Stars creates and sells the cutest ever stuffed creatures and patterns. In fact, her adorable Fruit Head Gang Plush have been featured on Indie Fixx before and are one of my favorites things ever!

The full pattern & directions can be found at Sewing Stars. Enjoy!

Join the Tutorial Tuesday flickr group and share photos of your projects based on the tutorials from Tutorial Tuesday .

Plus, post your image from any Tutorial Tuesday project to the Tutorial Tuesday flickr group before March 12th for your chance to win the following book: Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts: Lacy Crochet published by Chronicle Books. One winner will be chosen from the pool. Read about how to add an image to the flickr group here.

You know I don’t often feature kid stuff here at Indie Fixx…I just don’t have any little kids and so many other blogs do kid stuff better than me (Junior Soceity, Cool Mom Picks, Indie Babies just to name a few). That said, I do have nieces and nephews to buy for, so I periodically go looking for goodies for them. One of my faves are the Toddler Totes from One Little Monkey.

Designed for kids to carry themselves, they can hold snacks, activities, toys, extra clothing, or whatever a little kid might need throughout the day. Kid-sized and parent approved, fill one with some coloring and activity books for a great present for the toddler guy or girl in your life. I know that’s what I’m planning on doing with the one I just bought. Plus, everything is on sale One Little Monkey—20-50% off!

I’m adding a new feature based on feedback I’ve already received from the latest Reader Survey. A lot of you responded that you’d like to see tutorials, how-to’s, free patterns, diy projects and the like on Indie Fixx, so I thought to myself, “Hmm, maybe I should add some how-to’s to the blog.” After thinking of how to fit tutorials into the overall theme, I came up with a great concept. I will feature tutorials, how-to’s and other fun diy stuff from the indie crafters, artists and designers that I feature on the blog. I will share these with you periodically on what will be called Tutorial Tuesday. Please, let me know what you think of the new feature!

Today, I’d like to share a totally adorable free pointy kitty pattern with you from Hilary Lang of Wee Wonderfuls. Hilary offers sewn dolls & toys, patterns, put-together books, and other fun stuff for sale. She is also a contributor to craft books and magazines and has a wonderful blog full of her latest eye-candy inspirational projects.

The pointy kitty is an original sewn plush pattern by Hilary and is just one of a half dozen free patterns and projects Hilary shares. You can see a gallery of completed kitties here. Make one yourself and add it to the pool!

For those who have been waiting for Tiny Warbler’s adorable stuffed animals to be restocked in the Indie Fixx Shop, they are here!

I’m a big kid at heart. In fact, I’m still waiting to feel like a grown-up…no, not really, I secretly like feeling like a kid. I gotta tell ya, life is a whole lotta enjoyable when you can still have fun like a kid, but you have a bank account and can drive. So, forget the kids, here’s some toys from Mahar Dry Goods for all you big kids out there!

I suppose you could share a little and get a few things for your nieces and nephews…you can still play with them when the kids open them.

Paper Dolls from the Black Apple, Castle Building Blocks, Donut Box Set, Colors and Critters Coloring Book and a Yeti Shadow Puppet.

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.

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

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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.

Today’s featured shop for the ‘12 Days of Indie Holiday Shopping’ is Lucky Ducky Designs. Whether you are shopping for your own kiddos, your nieces and nephews or your friend’s little tot, you will find handmade indie goodness for the little ones on your list.

I am a regular customer of Lucky Ducky Designs and when I need a baby present, I like to get one of their cuddle blankets. They are super soft and aren’t made with your usual boring pink & blue prints, but have a little more pizazz. They are always a big hit with the kids…since they are so soft and are kid-sized they make the best ‘blankies’. If you are looking for more than just a cuddle blanket, there are Blanket Sets, Bib & Burp Cloth Sets, Diaper Bags and more. The quality of the products and the customer service is first rate at this shop too.

Use the code ifixx12days for 15% off at Lucky Ducky Designs through November 30th and check those tots off your holiday shopping list.

Also, leave a comment below to win a winner’s choice cuddle blanket set, a $40 value. Make sure to mention who you would be gifting this prize to in your comments, whether it will go to your own little one, a niece or nephew or your godchild and maybe the Indie Fixx elf will pull your name out of the hat. This contest ends November 22nd at 8am EST. One random commenter will win the prize. THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED.

Those cool moms have struck again and put together their coolest holiday gift guide yet. Take a look for the ultimate gifts for babies, kids, tweens and even some pretty cool stuff for the adults on your list. There’s even a few indies on the list…see if you can spot ‘em!

I received my November Sampler the other day and was once again pleased as punch. It’s like someone put together a gift full of samples of cool indie products just for me…oh, wait someone did! This month’s Sampler is certainly samplerrific. Some highlights include: a scarf from Compai, necklace from Manic Trout, gift tags from Miranda’s Creations, card from Lizard Press, cards from Carta Etc., notecards from Sevenkeys Designs & a baby hat from babai alainn. You can see more contributors here.

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.

Thoroughly charming and utterly divine prints from Sarah Jane Studios. If I had a wee small little one, I would totally decorate that child’s room with these prints. Actually, forget having a wee small little one, I am going to decorate my own room with these prints! Check them out, you will be hard pressed to choose just one as a favorite.

Browsing Lemon Cadet’s blog I discovered a new network of Etsy sellers called Yeti Loves Seamonster, which is made up of Etsy sellers who create and sell quirky handmade stuff for your cool little indie kids. Well, I like both yetis & seamonsters & quirky handmade stuff for kids. I also really like the yeti and seasmonster tees from I Like Seamonsters & the crayon roll from Monstertown.

With the recent high-profile recalls of unsafe toys, parents, grandparents and aunties are realizing that less is more when it comes to what our children play with. High quality artisan-made toys make a wonderful addition to the toy box and in many cases will be around for the next generation. If you are looking for some safe ‘made in America’ toy alternatives, check out the following shops.

Greenjeans

Nico & Zoe

Mahar Dry Goods

The Conscious Child

Batteries Not Required

I discovered these adorable Kanzashi Hair Clips from Thea Starr in the Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide. If you are looking for back to school stuff for you or your neato keen kid, cool moms Liz and Kristen of Cool Mom Picks have got the stylin’ goods for you, like the Library Card Bookplates from One Good Bubblebee and the Babysitter Board from Teacups and Tadpoles.

Make sure to check out the Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide for more must haves for all you cool moms and your cool kids!

Plus if you put a Back to School Guide button on your website or blog, you will be entered into a drawing for a $200 goodie bag. Read more about the details of the giveaway here.

Happy reading folks…you know that is what I am going to be doing after I finish this post. If anyone is actually reading my blog and not Harry Potter, here’s a few Harry inspired goodies from Etsy.