For those of you who live in the US, I’m sure that you’ve heard that the economic stimulus checks have started to go out this week. I’m also sure that plenty of you are going to do exactly what the government doesn’t want you to do, put it in savings or pay off debt. I know I plan on doing that with most of mine, but before I deposit mine in my savings account, I plan on treating myself and supporting some independent design as well. According to the U.S. Government, that certainly would be the most patriotic thing to do (written with a certain amount of tongue in cheek sentiment).

So, I plan on doing my civic duty and here’s some of the goods I have my eye on. What are you planning on doing with your check? Whether we agree with the strategy or not, the checks are on their way, so are you planning on supporting indie design?

I’ve had my eye on the carved resin necklaces from Hotcakes for some time now, ever since I first saw them in person at my local indie brick & mortar shop, Bloom. I’m attracted to their bold statement and graphical pendants.

I really, really , really love the screenprinted bags from Jenna Rose. The Rooftops Porter Bag in natural cotton canvas is the one I’ve been coveting.

I featured the handmade journals by Five and a Half earlier this year and ever since I’ve wanted one. I always carry a journal around with me to record thoughts, to help me stay organized and to sketch new designs.

I’ve been a long time fan of the Bella Lucce line of skin care products and the Wildberry goodies are among my favorites.

I have a pair of the Mohop bent ply sandals and now I’d like to get their newest addition, the Wedge Sandal.

The Split Pod from Whitney Smith Pottery would look so lovely on my desk and now that’s spring, I could use it to bring a little bit of color in from the flowerbed.

The only problem with getting one of the recycled skateboard necklaces from 2ReVert is, which one to pick?

These cross-stitch pieces from Chez Sucre Chez would look fabulous in my new office.

The Mimosa Earrings from Prismera Design are just absolutely stunning. I really feel that I need to own them!

Andre is so sweetly melancholy and cute! From Morninglori’s cast of adorable little characters.

The porcelain cup and saucers from Bailey Doesn’t Bark are so lovely in all their quirky simplicity.

I’m also thinking of adding one of the Chair series of prints from Desire to Inspire to my office.

I love My Paper Crane and that’s why I am so ecstatic that Heidi Kennedy, the mastermind behind My Paper Crane, agreed to be interviewed for this week’s Indie Artist Fixx. If you aren’t familar with My Paper Crane, Heidi creates works of art out of plush. I think Heidi sees the world as made out of fleece and polyfil and I don’t think there is anything she can’t make out of those materials.

Read more about Heidi and My Paper Crane in my interview with her below. Make sure to visit My Paper Crane to see what’s for sale and visit Heidi’s flickr site to see am overview of all the goodies she has created.

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

My Paper Crane and I make and sell mostly plush but sometimes painting, embroidery and other random things.

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

I started my website about 5 years ago mostly just for fun. I wanted to be able to put the things I was making all in one place, it was a very rough website! I started blogging from it, and the business just sort of took off from there.

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

When I get a new idea in my head it is hard for me to sometimes concentrate on the stuff I should be doing (paperwork, orders, etc.) I will usually do a few little sketches to get the ideas down in some way. This sometimes will help me focus on “work” and then sometimes I will stay up late working on new ideas.

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

It is hard to pick one thing..having my own solo show last year at Art Star was amazing, but I also feel very fortunate to have been contacted by Kidrobot. I have been working with them to make toys and clothing based on my designs and it has been amazing!

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

I have a funny thing for lotion and reapply it ALL the time, I dont like it when people put fabric in their mouths (its like nails on a chalk board) and I love to use Claussen pickles to scoop and eat fresh salsa…the round pickle chips.

(Continued)

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.

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 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!

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.

Aren’t they cute?  Just in at the Indie Fixx Shop!

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.

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

I saw these stuffed horned owls by Sewing Stars at Crafty Bastards and instantaneously fell in love with them, because I am personally not tired of owl of the whole owl trend yet. In fact, I will never tire of owls. I have loved owls since before they were trendy…really ever since 2nd grade when I had my own Mr. Owl calculator. I also almost picked up an Apple Kit.

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

Around here, school still starts the day after Labor Day, even though in many parts of the country school has already been in session for weeks. To mark the end of summer and the start of the school year, I’ve put together some of my ‘Back to School Picks’. There are some goodies for both big and little kids and just the young at heart.

I am sorry to see the summer end…summer is my favorite season. Each year on Labor Day, I mark the end of summer by playing The Last Good Day of the Year by Cousteau. Its bittersweet melancholy reminds me of the sadness I felt each year as a kid at the end of summer. I’m playing it now as I type this post.

Anyway, enjoy these picks. This is the stuff I would make sure to take with me if I were heading back to school.

Diskette Notebook by Acorn Studios

These are just so much fun and at $6.50, you can afford to get one in each color.

Apple Necklace by dottyspeck at CUT+PASTE

Take this necklace in for teacher and you will definitely get a gold star.

Perfect Pocket by Gerbera Designs

Good for your iPod or for your lip gloss, change, bubble gum and erasers.

Fruit Stripe Datebook Cozy by blissen

No more trapper keeper for you.

Brown Apple Book Bag by goodmorning, morning

This is just the most adorable book bag ever!

Reusable Lunch Bag by goshdarnknit

You will be able to sit with the cool kids in the lunch room with this cool and eco-friendly lunch bag.

Birds with Bark Hoodie by Little by Jenny

Everyone needs a hoodie or two when heading back to school.

Love Owl Pin at Little Odd Forest

Advertise your braininess with this super cute owl pin.

Black Apple Paper Dolls at Mahar Dry Goods

Paper dolls to play with when teacher turns her back.

Library Card Journals by lollipop designs at MY MY

Keep track of your library books in these cute little notebooks.

Dinosaur tee by Squidfire

For your little caveperson.

Octopus and Waves Hoodie by Supermaggie

Another cool hoodie for back to school.

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.

Okay folks, I’m sick today with stupid allergies, so this is going to be a quick post because I’m sneezing every 12 seconds. I went looking for something cute to help cheer me up, and I remembered that I saw that Sewing Stars had come out with a new collection of adorable stuffed creatures called the Fruit Head Gang. Cute and funny as heck, I can’t decide which one I like best.

more at twiigs.com…

Granny Smith	Red Delicious
Sour Lemon
Sour Apple Head Girl
Strawberry Head Girl

Here are some of the purchases my friends and I made yesterday at the Squidfire show in Baltimore. I bought a pendant from Gregmetal, which I totally love. I also bought a bag from Nicole Giordano, which I have had my eye on for a long time and I just decided it was time to treat myself to one. Plus, my friend Adele bought one of the adorable and lovable creatures from Cotton Monster and my friend Lisa bought me the Babies Creep Me Out button from Bad Buttons. Lisa also bought a stunning pendant from The Broken Plate. All in all it was a great day—the weather was awesome and the show was fantastic. Thanks to all of you loyal Indie Fixx readers who stopped by and said, “Hi.”

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!