I love me some Chucks and I know I am not the only one, since I see them on everyone from tweens to grandpas now. I also like this Tutorial Tuesday Converse-inspired Vinyl Cut-Out Pouch…it’s almost better than the real thing. This project is brought to you by Vanessa of Gerbera Designs. Vanessa is one crafty lady and you may be familiar with her line of bags, iPod covers and accessories….especially since I’ve featured her goods here and here.

Have fun with this and remember to join the Tutorial Tuesday flickr group and share your completed Tutorial Tuesday projects.

VINYL CUT-OUT POUCH

Materials Needed:
· (2) 9.5″x6.5″ vinyl
· (2) 9.5″x6.5″ fabric (lining)
- (1) 9″x6″ white fabric
· zipper
· X-acto knife
· Sewing Materials
· Stencil

Preparation:

Vinyl Cut-Out:
1. Print out stencil (if you’d like to make your own stencil, there are some great tutorials at Stencil Revolution).

2. Using an x-acto knife, carefully cut out all the black parts of the stencil. Don’t forget to save the cut out bar from the shoe’s sole and your heart.

3. Trace and cut your stencil onto the vinyl.
4. Using tape to secure, position your white fabric to the back of the vinyl. Make sure fabric is somewhat tight. You don’t want the fabric to pull and crease when you begin sewing.

5. Read more…

Btw, congrats to Emily for winning the book Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts: Lacy Crochet in the Tutorial Tuesday project challenge. I just love Emily’s adorable mouse based on the stuffed mouse pattern from Sewing Stars.

I have a couple of surprises in store for you today on Indie Fixx.

1. We are going green all day long! That’s right, all day-all green! Every post today will be completely green in honor of St.Patrick’s Day, so you don’t have to worry about pinching me.

2. This next surprise is a big one…I’m debuting my Guest Blog today! Yay! The Guest Blog will feature special guest writers and will include totally fabu topics like indie fashion, eco-conscious indie shopping, indie city guides and more. I’m super excited about all of the writers I have lined up for you and I just know you are going to love the addition of the Guest Blog. Jessica Gonacha is helping me to debut the Guest Blog today and for the time being she is going to be writing a weekly column called Indie is the New Green. Jessica will tell you more about her column in her post below

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.

Howdy indie-lovers! Welcome to post #1 of the new Indie is the New Green column on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog! Let me introduce myself—my name is Jessica Gonacha and I am an artist in Atlanta, Georgia. I originally hail from Boulder, Colorado, which is where my eco-conscious roots were planted. I am an obsessive recycler and as a kid I carried a copy of the book 50 Things Kids Can Do To Save the Earth with me wherever I went. So yes, I am thrilled to be able to share my passion for the environment and all things eco-friendly with you.

This column is going to be a mix of information, including interviews with artists who are setting examples in the world of eco-friendly art and design, resources on how to find more environmentally-friendly materials and supplies, features on green products and the people who make them, and fun DIY projects that you can feel good about creating! There will also be a weekly GREEN CHALLENGE at the end of every post: your task will be to take on the challenge, photograph it and post your photo to the Indie is the New Green Flickr group. I will share some your submissions the following week on the blog! Sounds fun, huh? The challenge details can be found at the end of this post.

So this week, I am pleased to introduce you to an artist from my hometown (shout-out to Boulder!), creating her eco-friendly goods under the name of ReLove Projects. Anne Pendergrast was kind enough to answer some questions for us and give us a little peek into her studio! Here’s what Anne had to say:

1. What fueled your decision to create eco-friendly products?

I was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, which is a VERY eco-friendly town. Growing up here it was just normal and part of the everyday to recycle, reuse, and be environmentally conscious. That was my foundation. The other part of it was following my passions and creativity. I’ve always had a passion for environmentalism and it just happened naturally that my creativity collided with it.

2. What does ‘green’ mean to you?

‘Green’ to me means doing everything possible to make less of a negative environmental impact.

3. How did you get started creating your product/line?

I love going to thrift stores, finding something unique, and altering it to make it even more unique. I made myself a little purse from a funky 60’s mumu, and got so many compliments that I started making them for other people too. The cards just sort of developed over time. I had a lot of smaller scraps left over from making the bags. I couldn’t throw them away and they kept piling up! I had to find a creative use for them before they took over my studio. I started off by sewing little hearts onto paper, and it grew from there. Now, I have even smaller scraps left over from the cards….

4. How do you reuse materials in your business?

Everything I make is 98% reused (the thread, glue, and some closures are not). My cards are made from paperboard packaging, recycled fabric, and paper grocery bags. All the bags and clothes are made from recycled fabric, and my business cards are made from paperboard and recycled paper. I create my patterns by reusing folders, I take notes on the back of envelopes. I make it a little game to reuse and recycle as much as possible!

5. How is your studio eco-conscious?

Every piece of furniture in my studio was bought at a thrift store or given to me, the light bulbs are energy efficient, and nearly everything that is discarded in my studio is recycled or reused for some other purpose.

6. Can you share your eco heroes/inspirations and your art/design inspirations?

eco heroes/inspirations
Elephant Journal is a regular inspiration for environmental, political, and spiritual issues. Doing yoga, teaching art to children (at Clementine Studios), and finding recycle symbols in unexpected places help keep me consciously active.

art/design inspirations
Fashion magazines, blogs, Etsy, people watching, dreams, thrift stores, necessity, desire…

7. Do you have a favorite eco tip for your readers?

If everybody just made a conscious decision to do everything they could to be more eco-friendly, it would make a HUGE impact. Doing something once a day, like changing light bulbs to the more energy efficient or starting a paper recycling box at your office. Every little thing we do makes a positive change, and the more little changes we ALL makes a bigger impact.

8. Do you have a favorite go-to eco blog or website?

I just heard about Green As a Thistle. It’s pretty great! Beyond that, the WWW is such a huge world with so many resources. I like to type key words like “environmental ideas” into a search engine and follow interesting links.

9. What are some creative ways that you source materials for your work?

In Boulder, I celebrate a thing called “Hippie Christmas” which is basically dumpster diving, but without all the nasty garbage. Boulder is a college town and every spring when classes end, students put everything they don’t want out on the curb. There’s a little bit of everything to be found—clothes, kitchen appliances, sports gear, furniture. Me and my friends make it an event and exchange “gifts” if we find something someone else can use.

10. Where would you like to be with your business this time next year?

By next year, I’d like ReLove Projects less of something I do in my spare time and more of a part-time or full-time endeavor. Right now, I only sell my work on my Etsy site, so I’d like to venture beyond that into stores, craft fairs, and other venues.

12. Anything else you would like us to know about you and your work?

I take custom orders and can take a special piece of clothing and turn into something great!

GREEN CHALLENGE #1: go on a walk and pick up 5 pieces of litter, draw what you picked up (and recycle it afterwards if possible!), then post your photos to the Indie is the New Green Flickr group. I’ll pick some of your drawings to share and post them next week! One person will be chosen to win a reusable coffee cup sleeve made by Textile Fetish and available for sale in the Indie Fixx Shop!

I’m going green and greener today on Indie Fixx…that’s green, as in the color green—and greener, as in eco-green. I’ve compiled a list of goodies that is bound to make you green with envy (yes, today is also going to filled with clichés). Some of my finds are eco-indie products, because I know you all want to be more responsible shoppers. Other finds are just great green lovelies in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Finally, some of my finds are both…green and green-er! Which ones are which????

1. Whale Preppy Print Tee from Charlie and Sarah

2. Shadow Pods Moleskine Journal from Gosh Darn Knit

3. Clover Card from Hello World

4. Owl Gocco Print from Matteart

5. Envy Earrings from August Lately

6. Canvas Tote from Peace Love and Canvas

7. Swirly Green Bobbies from Sprout Studio

8. Fuchsia Foliage Pendant from The Intuitive Garden

9. Coin Purses from Bird vs. Bird

10. Reconstructed Skirt from Secret Lentil

11. Four Cork Tote Bag from Cork and Cotton

12. Recycle or these animals are going to eat your pants T-Shirt from Andy Eats Only Candy

13. Vintage XO Typewriter Earrings from Webby Sue’s

14. Cork necklaces from Uncorked

15. Flirty Apron from Callie Micks

16. Ctrl, Alt, Delete Keyboard Pin Set from Acorn Studios

From Zukale & Huoviala and available at Chocosho, these exquisite tights are hand dyed and printed in Finland. Aren’t they just stunning?

Pure eye candy today for TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday from Rosie Music.

Now, I’ve got to run out and do errands and get a massage since my back is still a little wonky, but you guys have a good Friday!

I love hedgehogs and apparently so does everyone else. I’m not sure when this trend of hedgehog goods first developed, but it is here now and I for one will never tire of it. How about you?

1. Card holder from Sea Breeze

2. Sterling Silver hedgehog charm from LuxeDeluxe

3. Jackalop and Friends print from Creative Thursday

4. Hedgehog plush from Little Odd Forest

5. Hedgehog Friend print from The Black Apple

6. Hedgehog Piano print from boygirlparty.com

7. Hedgehog zippered pouch from purlyshells

8. Hedgehog magnet from Dear Sukie

9. Hedgehog pouch from LouLouBell

10. Hedgehog puppet from Burtonwood

11. Pete the Hedgehog notecard from Snowy652

12. Hedgehogs are for Lovers notecard from Mew Paper Arts

This week’s Reader Fixx Pixx were curated by Marie from Marimello. Marie also has a charity shop on Etsy for victims of the SoCal fires. Read more and shop here.

Krenae

Eden Ink Arts

On the Inside

Piper Ewan

1. BUST Magazine is looking for vendors for their first ever Spring Fling Craftacular set to take place on Sunday April 27, 2008 at The Warsaw in Brooklyn! Click here to apply.

2. Red Prarie Press is having a two-year anniversary sale. All apparel is 20% off until March 17th.

3. Applications are being accepted for Craft Con, the business development conference for the craft community. This is the 2nd year for Craft Con and this year it’s being held in San Francisco. Apply here.

4. Check out Lesley from FashionTribes new venture, Tribal Runway, and choose your flavor of fashion & style ezine.

5. Etsy has relaunched Alchemy, a cool tool that allows buyers to post requests for custom items. Sellers then bid on the opportunity to make the item and get the commission. Buyers will even be able to more easier initiate custom requests to specific shops. Add your request for a custom item here.

I know you all have heard of small things jewelry. It’s been around since 2002 and I swear just about every brick and mortar indie shop I visit has a few small things designs. The proprietress and designer behind smallthings, Teresa Robinson, learned to make jewelry on a whim when she took a class while studying to be a painter in Mexixo. What started out as a fancy, turned into a full-time interest as she started dreaming about soldering little bits of metal and stopped thinking about painting. Teresa’s designs still retain a little bit of that original whimsy in them and for that I am glad.

I’m also glad that Teresa agreed to be interviewed for this week’s Indie Artist Fixx. Read more about Teresa and smallthings in my interview with her below.

Also, I’m working on the interview schedule for May, so if you have any suggestions of indie artists and designers that you’d like to see featured, just send me an email or leave a comment on this and I will see if I can’t arrange an interview.

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

smallthings. We make jewelry from sterling silver and glass.

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

I started smallthings in the fall of 2002. I was really bummed on my job situation, and knew that what I really wanted to was to be able to make a living being creative. And I really wasn’t thinking about it being a ‘business’, all I knew is that I wanted to make jewelry and sell it. I had no idea what I was getting into! But it’s worked out pretty well so far.

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

Honestly, it can be little tough these days. It can be really hard to find the time and freedom to create new work when you’re already overwhelmed with the other aspects of running a business. I always feel a lot of pressure to make things in to cohesive collections, make sure they’re gonna sell, etc. Being creative on demand is a tricky business. So really, I feel like the best stuff happens when I’m able to just let that all go and just play around. When I have an hour here or there in the studio and am just kind of goofing off, and start making something with no intention of fitting it into a grander scheme of things. Sometimes the best stuff just evolves out of that….

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

Oh gosh, I don’t know. I guess getting to the point where I was able to support myself and pay all my bills with this little business. It still feels pretty great.

(Continued)

Want to dye Easter Eggs with natural ingredients instead of using one of those kits with the little tabs and red dye #9? Oh yea, I know you do and that’s why I’m sharing this Naturally Dyed Easter Egg Tutorial with you. Sent in from Chris of Curbly.com, it looks like it’s pretty easy, loads of fun and there’s even a You Tube video how-to.

Materials
• Free-range eggs
• Alum powder (available at the supermarket in the spice aisle)
• White Vinegar
• Vegetables and spices, see step one
• Saucepan
• Measuring spoons
• Wooden spoon and slotted spoon
• Vegetable oil, wax, electrical tape, leaves, stickers, etc (optional)

1). Choose which colors you’d like to dye your eggs.
• For blue, use red cabbage
• For red, try whole beets (not canned), cherries, or cranberries
• For light green, use spinach or fresh green herbs
• For tan, brew some strong coffee, tea, or a handful of cumin seeds
• For yellow, try turmeric (a spice) and yellow onion skins
• For olive green, use red onion skins (the color is produced by a reaction with the vinegar)
• For purple, grape juice or frozen blueberries

2). For each color, fill a saucepan with at least three inches of water. Add in your vegetables or spices. It’ll take a lot…around two cups, packed.

3). Bring the water to a boil, and add two teaspoons of alum powder – UNLESS you’re using onion skins, as it creates a funky reaction.

4.) Read More

Join the Tutorial Tuesday flickr group and share your finished eggs or any pics from your completed Tutorial Tuesday projects. Tomorrow is the last day to be entered in to the drawing for the book Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts: Lacy Crochet published by Chronicle Books. One winner will be chosen from the Tutorial Tuesday flickr group pool at the contest end. Read about how to add an image to the flickr group here. Entrants can submit images from any of the Indie Fixx Tutorial Tuesday projects.

The Indie Fixx Spring Fashion & Accessories Guide is here! I’ve chosen some of my favorites spring fashion and accessory goods for yours and mine spring wardrobe. You will find shoes, jewelry, clothing, hats and more. I hope you enjoy it and find some great new stuff for your spring shopping.

Also, make sure to visit the sponsors of the Indie Fixx Spring Fashion & Accessories Guide for more indie fashion choices.

The Poppytalk Handmade Market for March, ‘Green Pop’, is up and once again there’s some really amazing shops participating. Poppytalk Handmade is a monthly online street market that is put together by Jan of Poppytalk to promote independent designers. The Indie Fixx Shop is one of the featured shops, which I am so proud of and happy about.

Some of my fave new discoveries from this month’s Market are: Orange Willow, Yellow Owl Workshop and Susan Schwake.

New in the shop! Showpony bags featuring a little hidden surprise within their folds. Also, placements, dishtowels and napkins from Girls Can Tell featuring hand printed bike, sewing machine and turntable diagrams.

As Christian Siriano would say, “These are some fierce bitches.”

This week’s TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday pick (even if it is technically Saturday here) is the art from GalaHouse. Ooh La La! Inspired by the old school glamor of the French baroque era, these giclee prints are just gorgeous!

Want your skin to be softer than a bunny’s butt? Try the whipped butter from Bunny Butt Apothecary—I did and I loved it! I was recently sent a sample in the sweet lemongrass scent and after my shower the other day, I used it and was just so pleased with the results, and you know I am picky about my bath & body products. The butter itself is very soft and silky and I can say the same thing about the results. It’s preservative-free and made with all natural oils, butters, Vitamin E and essential oils—no yucky chemicals. Available in a variety of scents, I think Citrus Basil and Masala Chai sound just heavenly. This B&W Charcoal and Tea Tree soap looks really interesting as well. I just might have to place an order. Bunny Butt Apothecary also sells milk baths, body polish, lip balms, facial moisturizers and more.

Today’s Reader Fixx Pixx list was put together by Jessica of Bright Circle. Plus, make sure to visit Jessica’s blog, Mooky Chick.

Jessica’s favorite sites.

Tea & Honey Bread -blog

Keri Rounding - textile artist

Big Damn Crafters - Flickr group

Extreme Craft

Jen Maestre - colored pencil pins

Art of Madelaine

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)

This will be new for those of you don’t read design*sponge (if you don’t read it, which rock have you been living under?) and if you do read it, you may have already seen this week’s Tutorial Tuesday project.

From Derek and Lauren of The Curiosity Shoppe and via design*sponge.

What you need to make your own Knitted French Press Cozy:

Size 5 knitting needles
Yarn (we used Debbie Bliss’ Cashmerino Aran in color #300502)
Scissors
Yarn darning needle

To cover an 8 cup Bodum french press you’ll need to knit a rectangle that measures approximately 12″ x 6″.

1. Using size 5 needles, cast on 60 stitches.
2. Knit in k2, p2 rib for 4 rows.
3. Knit in stockinette stitch for 36 more rows
4. Read more here…

Remember, don’t forget to join the Tutorial Tuesday flickr group and share your French Press (or any other household object) Cozy pics 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. Entrants can submit images from any of the Indie Fixx Tutorial Tuesday projects.

I’m planning on starting a Guest Blogger feature here on Indie Fixx. Don’t worry, I won’t be taking a back seat or anything like that. If anything, there will be more content than ever on Indie Fixx and I know you love the sound of that.

So, if you are interested in doing some Guest Blogging and want some more info, send me an email. I have a few specific topics in mind, but I am also open to your suggestions and areas of interest. Ideally, I’m looking for both peeps who just want to do an occasional post and for peeps who are interested in doing a reoccurring column. When you contact me, please send me a link to your blog, if you have one, or some other writing sample.