Nora Floral Studio feature, promo & GIVEAWAY!

On this week's Shop Small Saturday Showcase feature, I have a shop to feature that everyone will want to take note of... because it's perfect for Mother's Day!  I first met the lovely Nora from Nora Floral Studio at Artisanal L.A. and fell in love with her ceramic, geometric designs.  The shapes and colors that she uses are so interesting, and I absolutely love how both floral arrangements and succulents look like in her creations.

Definitely take note of any gifts that you would like to purchase for mom, yourself, or someone special because Nora is generously giving a 10% discount to all of my readers!  Not only that, she is also giving one of my lucky readers a matte white Double Triangle planters in the giveaway!  Enter to win at the end of the post and as always, enjoy all of the beautiful pictures and enjoy learning more about Nora Floral Studio!

Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I am originally from East Texas. I have a BFA from Sarah Lawrence College and an MFA from Art Center College of Design, I have been a practicing sculptor for over 10 years and have exhibited in the United States and Europe. I began Nora Floral Studio 2 years ago. My favorite colors are pink and grey, my favorite flowers are the ranunculus and anemone, my favorite succulent variety is the Echeveria.


Where did the name of your store come from?

When I started doing this all my friends told me that since my name rhymes with flora that the name of my business should be "Nora Flora" but that to me seemed to rhyme too much so I made it "Nora Floral Studio" the studio part reflects the studio practice that is involved with the slip cast ceramic production.

Why did you start making goods for Nora Floral Studio?

My studio practice was always very labor intensive, and after the downturn in the economy and the birth of my son I needed to find a way to enhance my income. It was a process to figure out how to combine my love and aptitude for making objects and something that the world needs. I had learned slip casting years ago in a sculpture class, slip casting is a process where you pour liquid porcelain into plaster molds to get your clay form.  I started taking floral design classes and in the meantime cut up some of my old sculptures in progress and made molds of the pieces. It seemed obvious to use this process to make planters and vases for the succulent and floral designs I was into.


What is your favorite item?

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Marco Paolo Chocolates feature, GIVEAWAY & promo!

On this week's Shop Small Saturday Showcase, I have an absolutely delicious feature for you from Marco Paolo Chocolates!  After meeting Mark at Artisanal LA, I was immediately excited to share these tiny works of edible art with you all.  Not only do the chocolates look gorgeous, the flavors are just as beautiful.

And lucky, lucky you... Mark is giving you the chance to win a Sense-venture nine piece collection of truffles!  Not only that, he is offering a promo to all of my readers, so make sure to stay tuned for that at the end of the post.

First, make sure to check out all the gorgeous chocolates below and find out which chocolate is Mark's peppery favorite!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

My name is Mark Lewis, chocolate artisan and founder of Marco Paolo Chocolates.  I have been a life-long connoisseur of fine chocolates and wanted meld his passion for creating flavor harmony in unique ways with my obsession for chocolate. The result is a line of paired chocolate ganache truffles that extend the experience of one of life’s most universal pleasures; the joy and comfort of chocolate indulgence.

My personal exploration and development of unique flavor profiles has been years in the making, and it is a continuing process full of excitement and discovery.

Making chocolate truffles was inspired by my infatuation with a Scotch Bonnet truffle, discovered at a new French style chocolate confectionary and pastry shop in my neighborhood. The now defunct chocolatier made one particularly luscious, not too sweet, but deceivingly spicy tiny morsel that melted in your mouth and left a lasting tingling impression, which was surprisingly distinctive from the others that lacked prominent flavors. These Scotch Bonnet truffles were very small and expensive, so I decided to try and make my own version in a size that fit my cravings. The results were good on first attempt and improved with each trial. After learning all I could from books with many successes and failures working chocolate and formulating recipes, I took a series of classes at the famed Chocolate Academy in Chicago with well-known French chocolatiers. There, my previous trials and tribulations permitted me to soak up the knowledge instantly. I then returned home to practice and further expand my culinary horizons.

Where did the name of your store come from?

Marco Paolo came from my name Mark and my partner's name Paul. We thought that the adventurous tasting journey our chocolate truffles take you on, which we call a sense-venture, is a tip of the hat to the famous explorer Marco Polo.


Why did you start making goods for Marco Paolo Chocolates?

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Hello Maupoo feature on Shop Small Saturday Showcase!

For this week's Shop Small Saturday Showcase feature, I am so excited to share the adorable items from Hello Maupoo!  I interviewed Hyun after meeting her at Patchwork Long Beach and spying her amazingly creative and colorful tote bags.

Personally, I am a fan of her retro-inspired, graphic, colorful prints, but she has so many wonderful designs from quirky goats to cheery rainbows to angular teardrops!  Her creations are found on tote bags, calendars, wall prints, greeting cards, and more.  She even makes pretty pins and rings as well!

Check out all the eye candy below and find out which of her fabulous designs is the most popular.  It's not what you are expecting!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I realized later in my life how important it is to me to live freely doing what I love. I am living that dream now.

Hello, my name is Hyun Yu. I love to create, preferring images over words. I am a graphic designer. Back in 2013 I took a plunge and quit my job to pursue my dream of building my own design products. My shop lets me be lighthearted and curious. It's fun to dress animals in clothes, give them personalities, explore the interplay of characters who take on lives of their own. I am still learning the ropes of running a business, a journey for me with ups and downs. It's always been helpful for me to keep in mind to take one step at a time, if things get overwhelming.


Where did the name of your store come from?

The name of my shop comes from my cat, Mau, and her nickname is Maupoo. I say she represents all animals, because through her I’ve learned to relate and love them all.

Why did you start making goods for Hello Maupoo?

Back in 2008, I was working fulltime as an in-house designer for a non-profit organization. I got to be creative in my job but not on the things that most interested me. My creativity needed an outlet and Hello Maupoo was born. In my spare time I started designing things that made me feel happy and lighthearted.


What is your favorite item?

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Grey Theory Mill feature, GIVEAWAY & promo!

This week, I have such a fun Shop Small Saturday Showcase feature for you!  Jonnie, the delightfully quirky girl behind Grey Theory Mill is sharing a bit about her work and life.  Actually, when I say a bit, I mean a lot!  I love how much thought and detail she gave in her interview, which reflects the same amount of attention she gives to each handmade creation.  Also, when I say quirky, I mean it!  Check out a couple of the funniest maker photos that I've ever featured below.  :)

Seriously, I am in love with just about everything in her store.  The jewelry is an awesome mix of geometric designs, fun colors, and sweetness, plus her notebooks are just as pretty!  Seriously, when I first saw her booth at Patchwork, I could not decide on just one design.  Well, luckily the winner of the giveaway won't have to make the same decision because she is giving away $45 to one lucky reader!  And for all of my readers, she is giving a promo to save 15% off at her store.

Stay tuned for that at the end of the interview, but first check out some amazingly creative handmade gems and hear more from Jonnie herself!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

My name is Jonnie and I’m a doer-maker-creative-learning-reading-watcher sort of person (or whatever that means). My favorite pastimes include reading, tea-drinking, learning, listening, dancing, being, creating, sharing, cooking, baking, daydreaming, dreaming, pretending, writing, photo-taking, walking, exploring, shopping for supplies, hanging out with my other half/friends/family, and many other present progressives.

I’ve always been rather creative and have always enjoyed an established relationship between my mind and hands. As a very young child (so young this is my mother’s memory), my first masterpiece was a portrait of my mother’s face on the bathroom floor. I had gotten rid of the throw rug and collected every last bit of her makeup and went to town on my linoleum canvas. When she woke up, I was just finishing her piece and I excitedly squealed, “Look momma! It’s you!” She was bummed all her brand new make-up was now diminished, but she said it was really well done. I was also really good at drawing on the walls. So, with that said, I would say I’ve never been too nervous to try out new mediums. If an idea comes to me (whatever it may be) I just figure out how to do it until it can be done. If it can’t, I chalk it up as a learning experience and move on.

I did drama in high school, dabbled in garage bands, and wrote quite a bit. “Art” was something I did on my own time (which was usually collages for my school binder). It wasn’t until my sophomore year of colleg--as an English major--that it struck me I needed to major in art. So I left that college, went back home, completed all the undergrad art courses needed to transfer to a new school and then decided to change my major to Human Development. I started Grey Theory Mill sometime in between and would say that in starting a business, I created my own classroom where I have learned about myself, art, design, online marketing, etc. It wasn’t a clear cut training program, just a conglomeration of personal experience and existing.

Where did the name of your store come from?

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Spoon Me Sweetly feature & GIVEAWAY!

I had the pleasure of meeting the sweet ladies of Spoon Me Sweetly at Artisanal LA a few months ago.  Besides the fact that I was super excited to find something perfect for my sister's engagement party, I had to feature the pretty little creations on Shop Small Saturday Showcase!

Take a look at all of the gorgeous creations and see all of the creative flavors.  My favorite flavored sugar might just be the unicorn poop... for real!

Also, make sure to entire the giveaway below for a Soiree Box with a dozen spoons of the latest flavors and sugar drops.  Sweet!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

My background is in design and marketing. I'm a brand development consultant by day and a sugar peddler by night! I've always been obsessed with beautiful packaging and really well designed products. I frequent at craft stores and can get lost in the aisles of 'possibility' for hours! I've always been an experimenter in the kitchen and love any excuse to share homemade treats with friends and family.


Where did the name of your store come from?

There's nothing cozier than a sweet hug or a loving snuggle from people you love. As cheesy as it sounds, the name 'Spoon Me Sweetly' was inspired by my boyfriend, who in fact spoons me sweetly; I wanted to recreate that ooey-gooey-mushy feeling into a sweet and edible experience...and we do desserts and sweeteners on spoons, which is a double meaning win-win!

Why did you start making goods for Spoon Me Sweetly?

Being from Los Angeles, it's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of work, commuting, juggling schedules, etc. Rarely do you have a chance to sit at a coffee shop, read a book, and enjoy a little treat – taking a moment for yourself comes too infrequently and often times you feel guilty doing so. Spoon Me Sweetly are conveniently packaged desserts on a spoon, you can indulge without being over indulgent...it's just a spoonful.


What is your favorite item?

I love our signature honey dipped spoons! They are the product we launched with before we got into the crazy flavor combos with chocolate, flavor extracts, etc. I always grab 2, one for my tea and one to just enjoy right off the spoon! They're made with organic clover honey and cane sugar, simple and delicious.

What is your most popular item?

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Clay and Fabric feature & $60 GC GIVEAWAY!

At the last Unique LA show, I met Amanda of Clay and Fabric while looking for some unique gifts.  I just adored her items made of...clay and fabric, of course!  I just love the colors, patterns, and shapes of her pottery and quilts, and for anyone who has something different in mind, she actually does custom work as well!

Now, after all of the eye candy in the pictures below, and the interview so you can get to know Amanda better, she is offering something extra special.  A $60 gift credit to her Etsy shop!  That means that you can peruse her goods and get exactly what you want.  That will definitely be a hard choice for the winner!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I like to call myself a clay and fabric artist.   They are my two favorite mediums.  I have been quilting for over 20 years and doing ceramics for about 10 years and it's only been recently that I combined the two.  I was formally trained as a graphic designer and always had a love of quilting and pottery.   I try to incorporate all three mediums in my work.

Where did the name of your store come from?

Well I love doing quilting and pottery and I wanted to have a name that had both aspects.   I also wanted to leave some room for other new items in the future that may not be quilts or pottery but still made out of clay and fabric.  So I just boiled it down to my base materials and I got my name!


Why did you start making goods for Clay and Fabric?

I've always been making things and I love doing it!  Now I want to share my art with others and make a living out of making things too. I am compelled to craft and make art.  It goes along with being an entrepreneur - making everything I already make wasn't enough, so I went and made a business as well!

What is your favorite item?

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Wilderess Feature & $20 Gift Card GIVEAWAY!

I first met Kristina of Wilderess at the end of a very long day at Artisanal LA, and I was just pooped.  However, I totally perked up when I saw her amazing booth, and even more excited when I saw saw all of the pretty items she handmade!  She is super sweet, and after running into her two more times at Patchwork Long Beach and Penelope Lane Boutique, I am so happy that I finally have this feature to share with you all!

Today, she is offering one of you lucky readers a $20 certificate to Wilderess plus a tea light scent pack.  Awesome!  Plus, she is offering a promo of 15% to everyone, which you can find at the end of the post.

But first, find out which unique candle scent is Kristina's favorite, if you are a Wilderess (a word made up by Kristina), and much more!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

Growing up as the youngest of three, we didn’t have a lot of extra money for fancy toys.  For that reason, I definitely developed an insanely imaginative mind.  My neighbor’s dad was a construction worker and had a big workshop filled with tools and wood scraps in his garage.  His son and I would sneak in there as kids and take all the scraps off the ground and build ourselves dollhouses to use with what toys we did have.  We didn’t necessarily know how to use the tools properly, but we both learned quickly by studying finished pieces or watching his dad work on things.  Arts and crafts has always been an outlet for me in every sense of the word.  When I graduated university with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Italian Language, I thought what every new graduate does: now what?  I was fortunate enough to land a really great job at one of the largest shoe companies in the world.  I lasted for a week.  I realized within a  day how much I really did not like the corporate world, the mass production, and the lives made for people overseas behind said production.  I cried every single day of that week in my car in a random parking lot during my lunch breaks.  I decided to quit before I got stuck and it was the best decision I ever made!  I definitely went through a little bit of a “what-did-I-do” phase and took up gardening to get my mind off the feeling that “real life” was settling in.  One afternoon, I was in my bathroom getting ready to meet my mom for lunch and I inspected a lip balm I had in my make up bag.  Since life had slowed down a little bit, I was paying more attention to the small details.  I read the ingredients and was disappointed that this “natural” lip balm had nearly 30 ingredients, most of which I couldn’t decipher without a Google search.  I went online later that day and did research on how to make my own.  I researched ingredients, production methods, and created my own recipe.  The end product was something I personally loved using.  I handed samples out to friends and family and the response was so positive I launched an Etsy shop!  Two months later, I taught myself how to make candles.  It’s true, I don’t have formal training on cosmetic or candle production, but I’ve always been a good student and a quick learner so I was able to teach myself the techniques and skills needed for these crafts.

Where did the name of your store come from?

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Wood Quote Sign from Mellisa of The Life of a Craft Crazed Mom

Today is my first guest post of the summer!  It comes from the lovely Mellisa of The Life of a Craft Crazed Mom who has so many creative projects and posts on her blog.  I love the Wood Quote Sign she has to share with you all today.  Check it out!

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Everybody loves a wood quote sign.  Now add the trendy ombre pattern to it and it makes it that much better!  I have quote signs all over my house and what makes a better saying than "This is our happily ever after"!  This is such a simple sign project, give it a try!!

Wood Quote Sign

Whenever I see wood signs of any kind, I always grab them in hopes that some day I'll come up with a project to give them new life!!  Usually there's something hideous on them, maybe from the 80's or even older!!  As ugly as it is, just remember, you can just paint right over it.  This one I paid fifty cents for at Good Will.

To start the process, I took a few shades of yellow and painted them on in an ombre pattern across my sign.

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DIY Industrial Pendant Light with LED power!

DISCLOSURE: I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #LEDSavings #CollectiveBias

Today, I am excited to share a really easy, budget-friendly DIY pendant lighting fixture that you will definitely love!  As you know, with the new house we will have a TON of rooms to furnish and decorate!  Since those expenses can add up, I am trying to DIY as much as possible.  Plus, there is the added benefit of being able to have everything match our favorite style: Industrial!  Also, being the eco-friendly gal that I was raised to be (thanks mom!), I wanted to choose as many materials and items that are as energy-efficient as possible.  For those reasons, I decided to choose GE LED Energy Smart light bulbs, which are super bright LEDs that are cost-efficient as well.  A while ago, I convinced my mom to switch out all of the bulbs in her home, and my parents love it!  The light is brighter, their bills are much lower, and they have not needed to replace a single one yet.  Awesome!  Also, I wanted to use a light bulb that would be cool to the touch since it is definitely much safer when making a DIY light fixture.  Now, let's get to the tutorial for my DIY Industral Pendant Light!

I should mention that we chose the more rustic, weathered, industrial style but it is possible to make the fixtures more sleek and modern.  In fact, I almost made this white with gold details, which would have been beautiful as well!

By the way, if you are wondering how much this cost, it was $14.26 for the metal materials and $18.69 for the lightbulb and hanging cord setup.  However, I found several coupons (all links at the bottom of the post) that made the grand total less than $30 for the pendant light.  What a deal!

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Tutorial: Decoupaged Dress Form + Meet Coco!

You might have wondered what happened to Jade (my first duct tape dress form) ever since I made Lily, my new duct tape dress form, with my new tutorial!  Well, honestly she sat in a corner slowly falling apart...  :(  Very sad.  Well, she got a new makeover and I gave her a new name...

Meet Coco!  As you might have noticed, the last two names were named after the color of the tape I used: Jade was green and Lily is white.  Therefore, I wanted to think of a name that would evoke a brown or tan color, and Coco came to mind.  Not only is that the perfect name for my theme, but I love that it reminds me of Coco Chanel!

Make sure to check out the tutorial on how to make your own decoupaged dress form below plus some detailed pictures.  Enjoy!

By the way, I am not sure how this would work on other dress form surfaces or as a functioning dress form, but this is meant to be more of a decorative piece since I already have Lily.  I am so looking forward to displaying this in my new guest bedroom craft room!

Just a couple of pictures before we get to the tutorial.  Last I left you, Jade was slightly falling apart since I did not stuff or tape her properly.  By the time I picked her up from the corner, the seam had completely fallen apart.  Yeesh!

My niece was over, so she helped me!  First, we taped up the back with short sections, and then we placed a long strip up and down the "spine," which I forgot to photograph.

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Paper Pastries feature & Promo!

For this week's Shop Small Saturday Showcase feature, I am so happy to introduce Paper Pastries!  I first met Margaret at Patchwork Long Beach, and I am so excited to show you just a sampling of her beautiful items!  I had a hard time selecting just a few, so you will see a bunch of collages of the pretty customized stationery, stamps, art prints, washi tape, and more pretty presents!

Also, just in time for Valentine's Day (and honestly just to stock up), Margaret is offering a special deal for Vintage Zest readers.  Woo hoo!  Stay tuned for that at the bottom of the post, but first to the interview!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

Hi, I'm Margaret Haas and I run Paper Pastries, a small stationery studio based in north San Diego county. I make stationery and rubber stamps.

Where did the name of your store come from?

My husband (then boyfriend) Tony came up with it. It's named after my two favorite things.


Why did you start making goods for Paper Pastries?

My dream was always to have my own stationery business. It was 2009, I was a college graduate and I couldn't find a job. My good friend Jessica comissioned me to make her a personal stationery set. Then friends and family wanted their own, it grew from there.

What is your favorite item?

When I moved down here from LA, I was very lonely. I didn't know anyone in the area, and my husband was at work all day, every day.

I signed up for a local art class and made this print (see below). It's my favorite item because it reminds me that I'm capable of changing a situation that I don't like. I didn't like working all day by myself, and not having any human interaction. So, I found this art class and it made me being here fun.

It was carved and printed by hand.

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Handmade Gift Feature with 520 Handmade Creations

As I mentioned in the "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" announcement post, I loved 520 Handmade Creations' purses, pouches, tote bags, and keychains as soon as I saw them.  The shop's lovely owner uses all kinds of prints, colors, and fabrics to come up with her fantastic creations.  She comes up with gorgeous combinations, often using Japanese fabrics.  Not only do they look great, they are made sooo well!  It definitely puts my work to shame!

Read on for a few words from the creator behind every piece made by 520 Handmade Creations and take a peek inside one of her perfect bags!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

Ever since I was little I loved to sew.  I have been making bags for years for myself and close friends. But I seriously started doing a few years ago as a business.


Where did the name of your store come from?

It is originated from the area code of where I am from.

Why did you start making goods for 520 Handmade Creations?

After I played about the idea of going into business, I initially backed down thinking I would never make it.  Then, I thought why not?  And here I am!


What is your favorite item?

Hard to choose one. The granny bags are my signature bags. I find people respond well to the distinguished style.

What is your most popular item?

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Handmade Gift Feature & Promo from Petal and Paperie!

For today's "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" feature, I am sharing a shop that I first saw at Makers Mart in Long Beach!  Like it says in my "About Me" blurb in the sidebar over there >>>>>  I cannot get enough of pretty handmade stationery, and the items from Petal and Paperie are absolutely gorgeous.  I love how vintage-inspired, yet modern all of the designs are on each card and gift tag.  They are so whimsical and perfect for giving with your gift or as a gift set.

Also, I am so happy that Petal and Paperie's lovely owner is gifting to you a promo code for all of your holiday shopping needs.  Make sure to look out for it after the interview and all of the amazing items that are in the feature.  Enjoy!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I'm 26 years old and I am an RN "by day" but I've always been crafty at heart.  Ever since I could remember I've always enjoyed creating pretty things.  I made my first scrapbook when I was 10 years old.  During my days in college, friends and family would ask me to create custom invitations for birthday parties, weddings, and important events in their lives.  I took much pleasure creating something special for them.  Not to mention, it helped my empty pockets as a poor but happy college student.  So even now that I have my career as a nurse,  I always make time to create paper goods, simply because it makes me happy and I love to do it.


Where did the name of your store come from?

I thought "Petal and Paperie" would be a great name for my store because on top of creating paper goods,  I also enjoy doing floral design as a hobby.

Why did you start making goods for Petal and Paperie?

Since the beginning of this year I found myself making custom event stationery every month for friends, family, and people who've heard of me by word of mouth.  So I finally decided this September to open up shop and create an online store where I would be more easily accessible to customers.  This year I decided to get into the Holiday spirit and created a line of holiday stationery which I am so excited to share with everyone.


What is your favorite item?

I would have to say that my favorite item in my store is the Holiday stationery kit.  It's a dead giveaway that it would be my favorite item because I love to create things.  The Holiday stationery kit includes a set of holiday cards, gift tag labels,  blank gift tags, stickers, paper doilies, clothes pins, and twine.  For a great price it allows my customers to be crafty and creative in their own right and are able to share that with loved ones this holiday season.


What is your most popular item?

The "Wishing you Joy" Christmas greeting card has been a popular item this year.  It reads: "Wishing you all the joy your heart can hold this Christmas and always."  I think its been a popular design because of the heart felt message and the festive design.

Where do you get the inspiration for your work?

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Handmade Gift Feature: Sachi Love Accessories

For today's "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" feature, I am happy to share Sachi Love with you!  When I stopped by her booth at Patchwork Long Beach, I recognized her work from a local boutique.
What a coincidence!  When I saw her again at Patchwork Santa Ana a few days ago, I just had to take home a pair of her cute earrings.  Check out all the prettiness for yourself!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I was working in the footwear industry for five years, designing for big brands and major retailers.  I was spending most of my time on computers instead of actually designing so I had a major itch to be creative.  So, I started making hair accessories for friends as a hobby and I started getting more requests.  Later I  expanded into making jewelry & that’s pretty much how it got started.


Where did the name of your store come from?

Sachi means "happiness" in Japanese and I took the word "Love" because I really want everyone to love my pieces that they wear.

What is your favorite item?

My favorite item to make are Biloba Earrings. I get so many custom orders on the color requests & I enjoyed dying each pieces to get the perfect color.


What is your most popular item?

Style "Geisha" are really popular item for Fall/Winter.

Despite their size, they're very comfortable & light as a feather. You can easily pair with your favorite tops, jeans, & your dress. Its a statement piece so instead of planning your outfit first, you need to plan your outfit around your jewelry.

Where do you get the inspiration for your work?

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Handmade Gift Feature: Lettre Sauvage

For today's "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" feature, I am featuring a special kind of gift.  Not only does Lettre Sauvage make lovely cards, stationery sets, and journals... they offer printing classes on their authentic letterpress machine!  I love, love, love the idea of giving an "experience" or lesson as a gift, especially for someone who loves creating and crafting.  The vintage and hand-made enthusiast in me especially appreciates how this is a true old-fashioned process, with fantastic results.  Read on for the details on Lettre Sauvage's beautiful products and how you can schedule a class time to make your own!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

Lettre Sauvage started around 2003, when we realized we had enough space cleared out in our garage  and workshop to put in a few vintage letterpresses. Originally there were 3 of us Fiona Leggett, Cameron Leggett, and Genevieve Yue. We've always made both books and stationery as well as done custom printing. Fiona studied letterpress and book binding with Kitty Maryatt at Scripps College. Cameron always wanted to do real printing (as opposed to digital printing or offset printing) having worked at Kinko's with all things flat, digital, and virtual he sought out something a bit more tangible. Genevieve has moved on to become a professor of critical theory as it relates to cinema, but printing is still a common love we all share.


Where did the name of your store come from?

Lettre Sauvage translates more specifically as Wild Letter. Sauvage being more akin to unruliness or being unkempt or uncivilized, in it's translation from French to English. The name sounds more vicious in English. We had an interest in the slogans of the Paris Student uprisings in May 1968, and while researching the printed output around this period, the idea of Lettre Sauvage was born and went on to become the company name.


Why did you start making goods for Lettre Sauvage?

We have always made both poetry books and stationery.  For a short while we played with having a line of wedding stationery but let that evolve into part of our custom printing services.

What other services do you offer?

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Handmade Gift Feature & Promo with Third Palace!

I met Lilian of Third Palace at the Patchwork Show in Long Beach and after spying a few of her pretty frocks, I knew she would be a great feature for the "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" series!  I love the stories of how she came up with her store name and how she learned from each of her parent's skills to develop her own shop!

Also, for all of you readers, she is offering a promo code for her online store of 20%!  Check it all out below.  :)

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I was born and raised in Los Angeles.  My mother is a professional seamstress and my father is a photographer.  I grew up around making clothing and then photographing it.  I knew I had to continue what I love and grew up doing into a professional career.  After high school I went to the Art Institute and received my Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design.


Where did the name of your store come from?

My mother, sister and I have always wanted to be in business together. With my mom a professional seamstress, my sister a business major and my love of design we made a great team!  They will always be my biggest inspiration and that is why I wanted to use "Third" in the name.  "Palace" is a representation of the type of clothing.  It is very feminine clothing.  Whether its a sequined cocktail dress or a casual summer top, there is always a touch of femininity, sexiness, and glam!

Why did you start making clothing for Third Palace?

I opened an Etsy shop many years ago to try to sell my school projects and make some money to pay of those massive loans.  I never thought anything would come of it, but I quickly started selling and I had never been happier!  It makes the happiest person in the world when I receive a good review.  I continued to sell online while working full-time in the industry for 5 years.  Now, I am currently working full time on Third Palace.


What is your favorite item?

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Handmade Gift Feature: Bless the Theory

Today, I will be sharing the first jewelry feature for "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" series!  I have a weakness for shiny, pretty things and Charmaine's beautiful baubles from Bless the Theory are totally my style.  Simple, geometric shapes and all kinds of gorgeous metals!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

My name is Charmaine Vegas and I am the owner and metalsmith for Bless the Theory! I started {bt} after a 12 year career in Visual Merchandising. I began making jewelry in my late teen years. When I first started making jewelry, like most, I began with beading. I would attend all the gem shows in southern California; purchasing tons of strung beads and clasps and pendants. While studying Fashion Merchandise Buying, I stumbled upon the Metals Department on campus. I was intimidated at first. it took me an additional semester to get the courage to enroll in the beginning metals class. Shortly after I was working towards another degree! To this day, I continue to evolve and refine my skills by taking courses and workshops taught by seasoned metalsmiths.


Where did the name of your store come from?

Haha! I get this question often! And I enjoy attempting to give an answer! My name stems from the theory of adornment both in its retrials and beliefs. It is a lengthy theory that would probably bore your readers. It’s best discussed over wine and tasty hors d’oeuvres!

Why did you start making goods for Bless the Theory?

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Handmade Gift Feature: atiliay

It is Day 3 of the "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" series and I have a wonderful one to share with you today.  In my short blurb, I mentioned that the lovely cards, prints, and cake boxes from atiliay are even more special because a portion of the proceeds are donated to a non-profit organization with a worthy cause.  As I noted, it is a wonderful reminder that during the holidays we should give back, and Olivia has made it her mission to do this every day of the year!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

Drawing, painting, sketching, and creating things was something I did ever since I could hold a crayon!  I always knew art would play a role in my future but was not always sure what the medium would be, which has taken me on a journey that has finally led me here!  I graduated from FIDM with a degree in fashion design which led me to work in the corporate fashion world.  It made me realize I was not fit for a cubicle job and I found it very unsatisfying to work for a big company that didn't do much for the world we live in and I missed working with my hands as everything is so digital these days.

This led me to start making custom cakes and at the same time I got to go to South Africa with TOMS shoes in 2007.  I met a group called Food4Africa who provides meals for toddlers and children in poverty stricken areas of South Africa.  Their work really inspired me and shaped my future-- the whole F4A team has become very special to me and to this day we continue to keep in touch via email.

I came back to California with a new mission to help support Food4Africa's work by donating proceeds from cakes that I made to help provide meals.  Eventually I left fashion, and started making lots of custom cakes!  I got burnt out and created a children's clothing line with my friend.  Then while freelancing in fashion to make ends meet, I came up with the idea to make paper goods that would give back, which leads me to where I am today!

I feel like I have been searching for what I wanted to do with my life for many years and finally found it after exploring different options!  I am inspired everyday by the different non-profits I pair my items with and the amazing work they do for people and animals all over the world.

When I am not creating items for the shop and working on atiliay, I love to hang out with my 2 rescue dogs and 3 rescue kitties, watch the Amazing Race and think about what to do for my audition tape, bake / cook / eat vegan food, listen to music, blog, read, and find things to make out of pallets on Pinterest. :)

Where did the name of your store come from?

atiliay is a play off the French word "atelier" which means workshop.  I feel that my shop / site / blog is my workshop and wanted to spell it the way I felt like it was pronounced.  I also liked the idea of creating a new name and not using something that already existed.

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Handmade Gift Feature & GIVEAWAY with Santore Company!

It's the second day of the "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" and I have a two-in-one for you!  The lovely Kat from Santore Company AND Petite Santore is sharing her wonderful goods with us.  I am totally in love with her reversible headbands for myself, and I knew I had to share these unique little creations for babies and little girls.  They're adorable!  She was so, so nice at the Patchwork Show last week and has given us a lot of info about her company.

Not only that, she has given the chance for one of my lucky readers to win a beautiful leather bow AND a discount code for all of you, perfect for your holiday shopping!  But first, find out all about Santore Company with a bunch of interesting tidbits, including how she came up with her shop name!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I am a so-cal native and have always been interested in detail, design, and fashion. I grew up reading fashion magazines with my girlfriends every day and thrifting to find unique things to wear and accessorize with. My mom had a fairly successful clothing line, and was also a manufactures sales rep. My dad worked finance for the Broadway department stores and was a store manager. So, I was constantly around the garment industry, market centers, and retail stores. Previous to this venture, I worked 12+ years with a small artistic clothing and accessory line. I assisted in the development and growth of this line, creating products that are sold in boutiques across the country. After the birth of my daughter it was important that I switch gears to be able to work while be at home with her.  In my personal time (like I have much of that with a 2 year old!) I love to snowboard, practice yoga, cook, garden, and design.


Where did the name of your store come from?

This is a twofold answer for me....When deciding on names I came across a beautiful random post on Etsy. This crafter said something to the effect of, if she made something herself she should be proud to put her name on it.  This made me think of the story of my grandfather and grandmother immigrating to America.  My grandfather changed his last name from "Santoro" to "Santore" to be more lets say "Americanized". So, when I was in my business development and thinking of names, both of these stories influenced my decision on Santore Company. It felt like a nice decision to honor to my heritage and use the family name for quality, American made products.

There's Kat on the left!

Why did you start making goods for Santore Company?

I really wanted to figure out a way to be home with my daughter while fulfilling my creative needs and supplying an income. With experience in the garment/accessory industry it seemed natural to develop a product line.

Petite Santore came first… A collection of clothing and accessories for babies and kids.  This clothing line takes my multi-media artwork and translates it into wearable art. The collection includes items with an image/art patch which has been designed, created, and carefully sewn onto each of the garments. This process was developed at my former job. As a parting gift, my employer graciously gave me the rights to create a children's line in the process we developed.

Santore Company happened because I had a personal desire for quality hair accessories.  I have always been a hair jewelry kind of gal, and being a new mom I honestly needed help in the hair department. I had a hard time finding great accessories on the market for hair that were easy to wear, modern, and fun.  I wear nice jewelry, carry a nice bag, and want my hair accessories to be just as unique and quality made.  I became excited to develop products just for this.  I wear all of my products and it is essential that all the headbands are super comfortable to wear all day.  I also develop the styles to be very versatile because most are reversible!

What is your favorite item?

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Patchwork Show Wrap-Up & "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" Series!

Last week, I posted about how excited I was to attend the Patchwork Show in Long Beach!  I gave you guys a little preview and had the chance to ask Nicole & Delilah (the awesome founders/organizers of Patchwork) a few questions too.

Today, I'll share as much of the show as I had the chance to photograph.  It was really huge this year!  I had a chance to speak with a bunch of really talented and creative folks and peruse their wonderful handmade goods.  In fact, it was so amazing that I have more than enough folks to cover my next series just in time for the holidays...

25 Days of Handmade Gifts!

For all of the details on the amazing shops involved, interviews with the creators, and giveaways, read on.  But first, on with the (Patchwork) Show!

First of all, can I make you guys jealous?  The walk up to the festival is along the beach, which was only made better by the perfect weather we had!

About ready to enter the show, there were tons of people shopping and more than enough handmade goods to go around!

Located at different spots were all kinds of fun things.  I totally missed the kids DIY, but I'm sure I didn't meet the age requirement.  :)

Here's one of the music tents with an awesome band that had the crowd rocking out.

The ukulele group was so cute!

As for the food, I did a terrible job of documenting what I ate that day.  I had an Avocado Taco from the vegan Seabirds Truck and more tacos from Piaggio on Wheels!  It's the perfect street food.  :)  I was tempted to get a potato from Tornado Potato, but I had some shopping to do!

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Mini-Disclaimer Time: There were sooo many awesome vendors and it was impossible to visit all of the booths.  I made my way through almost the entire space and these are the ones that I handpicked to share with you.  They're not giving me anything in return for the features, I just really wanted to promote the handmade movement with some amazing shops where you can get a unique and creative gift.  Show them some love by visiting their stores and stay tuned for the "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" series for posts dedicated to my favorites plus some extras for y'all!

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Besides the food trucks along the side offering delicious treats, there were plenty of food artisans with delicious items for sale.  Lucky for me, there were samples of everything and I put together a few of my favorite items to share with you!


Want to give a deliciously perfect gift?

Pernicious Pickling Co:  Have you tried Sour Garlic pickles?  How about Pickled Cauliflower or Pickled Red Onion?  No?  You have to try them!  These guys had so many varieties of pickles to try that I was in heaven.  :)  *Feature & promo here!*

Peppered Up Foods: Griselda introduced me to Peppered Up Foods' entire line of sauces and seasonings.  These sauces, some of them straight from her grandmother, are so awesome that she uses them at her restaurant Sliced and Diced.  *Feature and giveaway here!*

P.O.P. Candy Co.: Maybe this is a little unfair, but I bought this candy at one of my first Patchwork Shows and have been buying it ever since.  I knew this was one of my features before I even arrived!  They have so many great flavors from Pecan to Rosemary Almond and even had two new ones this time: Hot Curry and Carrot Cake.  Yum!  *Feature and giveaway here!*

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