I live up in the outskirts of the Chicago Burbs... much closer to Wisconsin than the city. It isn't an area known for being a mecca of handmade goods, but I was thrilled to recently find out about a little shop just 15 minutes from home (through a mama in my local mom's group) that offers a bunch of tie-dyed clothing, hand-stitched upcycled tee pillows, glass marble magnets and push-pins, upcycled wool bags and fingerless gloves made from sweaters, hemp jewelry, and so on. How wonderful to find a kindred spirit so close to home in this cool little shop.
I neglected to get the owner's name, but we did talk dyeing for awhile and a little about thrifting too (there's a little room in the back of vintage and thrifted goods, which is also right up my alley). They don't have an online presence at all yet, but if you happen to be up in the McHenry, Illinois area, be sure to check the shop out. It's called Peace Offerings and is located on Main Street in downtown McHenry, between Route 31 and Crystal Lake Road just a block south of Route 120.
Next time I go back I should ask if I could take some pictures to share.
jasper was supposed to wear tie-dye or something with a peace sign for school today. well he had his heart set on a peace sign, though he had a few tie=dye shirts he could have worn instead. mom to the rescue! here's what i made for him. ignore his expression—it's his "get this over with so i can watch netflix before i have to leave for school" look. well at least he didn't say it and was probably just thinking it, right? that's peaceful.
it's time to revive this blog. hopefully. big, exciting stuff happening this year and once i get into a good groove, i think it will all be tons of fun. while i'm still finding that groove, well... i'm feeling a little bit crazed. i'm working on it.
also coming up this week will be a stocking at alchemy. we're doing a cool "spring cleaning and greening" theme -- which means there will not only be some new green goods there, but some deals on some things certain vendors have sitting around waiting for the perfect home to go to! i should have at least one HC$ auction, some discounted prices, and a few new, regular-priced items as well.
and finally, i am going to finally revive my etsy shop! it's been sorely neglected for too long and i have several things waiting to go up there hopefully later this week. keep an eye out for those!
i'm on the wagon. this ain't about booze but buying handmade. i have bought, i have enjoyed, i am now needing to stop spending because times are tight -- hence being on the wagon. so instead of buying all the lovely things i find i'm going to list some of them here on my blog in hopes that i will turn someone onto something new or someone will buy them and love them as i would! this batch is all for me, but no doubt i'll share some goodies i'd love to get for the kids or other people i know and love soon.
bloom studios ~ http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26096172
just found this shop today after spying a few things on flickr and OH MY. i will be watching this shop and awaiting a time i can treat myself to something!
motherhues (at necessitae) ~ http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id=45848&vid=341
i think she made the enchanted vanilla just for me. okay maybe not, but OH MY is that so calling to me!
laines magnifiques ~ http://lainesmagnifiques.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_16&products_id=30
sock yarn. yes i would love more, and laines magnifiques yarns have been speaking to me soooooo sweetly lately!
blossom shop ~ http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22737177
this caught my eye from the moment i saw it on flickr and still haunts me now! beautiful combination of elements.
pisces knits (at tiny lady cooperative) ~ http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id=67331&vid=1253
have tons of sockyarn and my feet want spoiling... need someone to knit socks for me since i don't knit enough to say i can knit (i know, it's a sad state of affairs).
la black ~ http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24120725
totally my colors, lots of compartments and looks sturdy to handle all the cr*p i seem to end up carrying around in my purse!
a kid-safe way to batik! okay, so it's not the only way (washable glue also works wonders), but i'd never have thought of using flour as a batik resist. one part baking, one part letting one's creativity run wild with a squirt bottle (or if i'm smart, 2 squirt bottles so the kids don't have to share). guaranteed to satisfy both of my kids with at least part of the process. anyway, just had to share and we will be trying this out sometime this summer when things can dry outside to give us quicker results not to mention keep most of the mess out there as well.
http://craftblog.com.au/2008/07/28/tutorial-review-flour-paste-batik/
i've been pitifully horrible about updating my blog! but that's good right, means i've been busy? yeah i'll say that's why. actually it has been the germiest yuckiest winter i can remember ever, and one cold or virus sort of has blurred into the next for far too many weeks (thanks no doubt to my 3yo walking petri dish bringing home lots of stuff from preschool).
but... things have been getting done, slowly but surely. customs are moving along steadily (albeit slowly) and i have been keeping up with stocking 1-2x a month. even more instock coming up, with some guest stockings in april and may at various really cool shops. plus, ALCHEMY is opening in mid-to-late may, exact date to be announced. this is a new congo i am really excited to be part of, made up of several congos that are combining efforts plus a few other select vendors! the range of talent, skills, experience and rockin' products in this group is amazing. so watch for news about that coming up several weeks from now!
here's some pretty pictures of some of the recent things i've stocked, and watch for more coming very soon to http://hyenacart.com/fresh for our HUMOR stocking on april 9th, 9am and 9pm eastern!
about updating my blog! a few more stockings have passed since i last managed to get over here and post. i've been doing a lot of instock and some customs... things are moving, but slowly. winter illnesses are kicking my butt this year -- millie brings them home from preschool and i seem to pick up every other one from her, probably because i never get enough sleep.
anyway, i'll just show off some pretties that are still instock either at the leaf shoppe or fresh. enjoy!
beautiful collab with steph at aliah's creations, instock at the leaf shoppe
little stinker tees, still instock at fresh
what started as yarn i dyed, destined for longies for my daughter...
became gorgeous capris (turns out there wasn't enough yarn for longies, oops) worked up by joline at hibiscus baby...
that were worn by my girliegirl, millie...
then she potty-learned.
and then inspiration struck and they became part of a sweet little remix set that sold recently at http://hyenacart.com/fresh/...
and who knows, maybe i'll be able to add a customer photo someday too. and hopefully the capris will be loved as much as they were here, and turned over to the next little girl to love on them, and then the next...
in other news, i'm excited about being one of plumknit's featured indie dyers, with four of my colorways on oh-so-yummy cashmere and cashmere blends stocking this coming tuesday. previews should be up in the next few days at http://hyenacart.com/plumknityarnsupply/index.php?c=63 but till then, here's a peek at the goods. :)
it's been almost a month since i managed to update here. it's been crazy busy... finishing up a big group order, a few customs/trades in time for christmas, a stocking on the 5th and another on the 9th, plus jasper turned five, holiday shopping, preparing to host christmas day (which has now been changed to the 1st, so i get a little breather), playgroup at the house, new carpeting, etc. i'm a little burnt out from this month and we still have to get through christmas part one (parents house) and part two (out of state at inlaws). add to it a few winter storms... egads. spring cannot come too soon.
anyway, here's a little of what i've done in the past month or so!
next up is our INSPIRE stocking at fresh on january 9th at 9am and 9pm eastern and another stocking either at the leaf shoppe or perhaps somewhere else with some of the same great group as our december 5th stocking. *wink*
