new in the shop!

I’ve been stocking up my shop in anticipation of Picnic Holiday Sale, which will be Sunday, December 15th (for any of you who might want to shop the bestest craft sale in Maine before the holidays).

This year I will be selling under the name of my new project, Maine Forager’s Field Guide, which will feature not only goods from Little Eye Designs but some products from friends/Maine makers as well as oodles of vintage sweaters, plaid shirts and vinyl.  I’m pretty excited about it.

So Little Eye has been up to some new things.  In no particular order:

Harbor Seal blank greeting cards, set of 5. $12.00 on Etsy

Airstream Greeting Card – Blank Inside. $12.00 on Etsy.

Seed Stitch Ear Warmer. $14.95 on Etsy.

Seed Stitch Ear Warmer, $14.95 on Etsy.

Seed Stitch Ear Warmer, $14.95 on Etsy.

It’s so nice to have pulled the knitting kit out of storage and cast on these projects.  For me, late fall and early winter is inspiration for curling up on the couch and knitting a few inches.  Know what I mean?

favorite find: week of 2/16

It was Valentine’s Day last Friday, and we are certainly not the romantic types.  If there was a type we had to assign ourselves to, I’d say J.R. and I are more the sarcastic type.  I reserve most of my fawning-over for kittens, little babies with curly hair and messy mouths and (last, but not least) things I find in my favorite color combinations.

Red, white and blue are one of these – patriotism aside (so many flags to adore in these colors!) I just really, really love the way they work together.  So short of painting our living room like Ol’ Glory it’s nice to know that I can just throw in some accent pieces like this amazing, 1950s-era roller skate box that I found at the Pride’s Corner flea market!  It’s listed in our Etsy shop, so you can experience the thrill of the find, too!

orange you glad

vintage teacup from little eye on etsy

It’s February, which means the only thing sustaining any of us until the first 50 degree evening brings us a downpour to wash all the road salt away is pretty much junk food, our favorite tv shows streaming, and bright pops of color almost constantly.

Even though the fresh, white snow is beautiful (and will continue to get taller and taller and still beautiful after the coming three-day Nor’Easter we’re supposed to get, it’s still white.  So white.  So endlessly white.

I’ve been knitting with bright colors on my needles (most recently:  turquoise and orange) and listing brightly colored objects in the Etsy shop to keep my eyes open.  They’ve put me in charge of revamping the kitchen at work at possibly the most daring time of year for me, colorwise.  I think I’m using Stefanie Hiebert’s retro living room as my color inspiration.  Lunch break won’t know what hit it!

ladies size 7.5 tan/navy gumshoe from little eye on etsy

duck, duck, goose

There is nothing I love finding more on our thrifting outings than Bean boots.  Growing up in Maine, a pair of weathered duck boots (that is, the rubber moc, the low style) is a badge of honor.

Of course most of the time I don’t find them in my oh-so-ubiquitous size (7.5, message me if you find some!) so they get photographed and put in the shop.  The great thing about them is that they get better with age.  Leather with a patina, rubber soles with character and a color that can’t quite be matched by any factory.

These never stay long in the shop, but do check back frequently as I seem to have quite some luck finding pretty much any size (other than 7.5!) in my travels.

shake shake shake

anthropomorphic oranges, what else?

New energy in the shop!  We rifled through the collection to find some bright sunshine for these dull, gray days.  Found a theme just waiting in the stacks of items waiting (patiently, ahem) of salt + pepper shakers, and we’ve listed three in the Little Eye Etsy shop!  Click on the images to take yourself whizzing across the internet to the listings.

love bugs by Ruth van Tellingen Bendel

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think these little love bugs are mine.  They were designed by Ruth van Tellingen Bendel in the 1950s for the Regal China Company out of Illinois.  Ruth cut her teeth as a children’s book writer, but her visual language translated very nicely to seasoning delivery vessels.  Aww, here’s their cute little behinds:

You can see the little holes in their head for salt and pepper to come out of!

picnic in style

These are also from the 1950s, hand painted strawberry blossom shakers, oversized, excellent for a retro picnic or camping excursion.  The paint is in awesome condition, but there is just a little wear on the very tops of the plastic lids, presumably because this is the only part you should wash (or wash insides of globes very careful not to get the outside wet).

Just a little snippet!  We spent some more time in the studio snapping pictures of goodies that will be in the shop soon.

In the shop, vol. 1

polaroid land camera – highlander

The time is nigh, dear readers, we are on the eve of my 30th birthday.  That, in itself, is pretty exciting.  I’m also feeling a very wanted surge of energy in the Etsy, photography, professional, creative departments.  Must be all those old cells replacing themselves.  In any case, I think I’d like to bring you more updates about all the wicked cool things I’m stuffing my Etsy shop full of these days.  Periodically I’ll throw some listings up here so you can ogle them.

1950s noise maker with cigar smoking clown

For the last few years I’ve been amassing some particularly interesting, mid-century finds.  The Polaroid Land Camera (Highlander) above was manufactured from 1954-57.  The noise maker with the clown blowing smoke rings should date back to the 1950s (my best guess).

antique rifle oil flask

The little oil flask above I absolutely couldn’t not resist.  It fits between your thumb and fingers so perfectly.  It stores oil to lubricate a hunting rifle.  It’s very, very old and so terrific.  The little cap screws off easily, it’s just really a wonder to hold in your hands.  People used to make things with such intention.  And keep them forever.

simultaneously awesome + gross: WWII soap dish and (original?) soap

In addition to all these bits from the past, I’ve been posting a few creations of my own.  Take a minute to stop by the shop and click around – even if you’re not in the market for 70 year old soap or rifle oil flasks they sure are lovely to look at!

musical notes post earrings

 

 

full circle

strange bird – click for listing

Oh, phew!  For months, maybe a year now I’ve been wondering what’s missing.  Woops!  I forgot to make stuff with my hands.  And my head.  So it’s been a relief that over the last few days I’ve made some attempts to start filling the Etsy Shop with items — can’t wait for the weekend and a chance to get some daylight to photograph some things that are more physical.  Back in the saddle.

sad seagull – click for listing

For now, I’ve got some new photographs, 5″ circle images printed on 10″x10″ matted paper (perfect for standard frames) that are listed in my shop for $15.00 each.

In other news, it appears I’ve done something horribly mysterious to my knee and have been hobbling around for the last three days.  Today was the last straw and I went to the doctor only to find out what I already knew – rest, elevation, ice, naproxen sodium… pfft.  And shell out some cash to the doctor’s office while you’re at it.  Never had a knee injury before, and never want to again.  Off to elevate and ice – have a nice night, all!

Purchased on Etsy: January – Reusable Cotton Swiffer Covers from handknitted4you

Set of 3 Swiffer Covers from Hand Knitted 4 You, $10 on Etsy. Click to view listing.

By far, my most active social group on the interwebs is no, not Facebook, no, not Cat Blog Lovers Anonymous, but our very own Etsy Maine Team.  It’s a collection of 600+ Maine artists, crafters and vintage sellers on Etsy.  P.S. if you wanna belong, go here to the forums and sign up!  Anyways, Rowena from handknitted4you has these great, 100% cotton reusable swiffer covers she crochets.  As soon as I saw them I wanted them!  They were a topic of discussion in the forums at one point because everyone wanted to purchase multiples (instead of just having one) so that you can have one on the swiffer, one in the laundry and a clean one waiting in the wings.  She started listing sets of 3 and as soon as I had enough money in my Paypal account they were mine!  I even put in a custom request for three specific covers, and the turnaround was less than two days on these hand-crocheted housewares.  Awesome.

I’m going to try to purchase something from Etsy at least once per month that isn’t a supply.  This is the January installment, and I couldn’t be happier.  They came today (after shipping on Monday!  Whoa that’s an advantage from ordering in-state!) and I can’t wait to clean my floors.  Wait, what?  I can’t wait to clean?  Better go check my temperature.

Pretty Packaging

Care Instructions!

Hey-yeah! I’m a winner.

Secrets Inside Just for Me!

Last week I participated in the giveaway Chrissy-jo from Kindred Images and Creations held on her Facebook fan page.  And guess what?  I’m the winner!  Extra exciting because Chrissy-jo is a member of my favorite Etsy team, the Maine Team (obviously it’s the best).

So Many Goodies

The intoxicatingly herb-y package arrived in the mail yesterday, and with some nice, wintry late-afternoon light I had a chance to photograph all the goodies.  I’ve already used the comfrey healing salve on my aching neck + head (swollen sinuses for both of us this weekend, makes for a headache-y house!) and can’t wait to use the bath goodies.  The salve was so soothing and not overpoweringly scented.  Love at first rub.

Head over and ‘like’ Kindred Images and Creations, or visit the Etsy shop here!

Ahh, the goodies again

Dresses Posted, 1/16/2012

Posted two more dresses today!

Sweet, Sweet Graduation Dress from Banana Republic. Click for Auction.

She comes first ’cause she’s my favorite.  The problem with clothing purchased for occasions is that they are often chosen a tier above one’s ‘regular style.’  Like, you’re not going to wear a wedding dress every day (but if you do, I think you’re awesome and I wanna know you).  Same here – for my HIGH SCHOOL graduation my Mom and I searched high and low for something that would be cool in the June heat, modest yet still young and ‘hip’ as the kids are calling it these days.  I wore this dress under my white graduation gown with strappy Etienne Aigner high heel sandals with little, white leather flower details.  Eventually the shoes gave in but I cut the flowers off and they are buried somewhere in my ‘stuff.’  I couldn’t bear to get rid of the dress, too.  But then one day, like a bolt of lightning, it hits you that you haven’t worn something in 10 years but you have, indeed, been moving it from apartment to apartment.  Time to let such a pretty thing grace some other woman’s body for a special occasion.  And repeat.

1970s Vintage Navy Blue Button Down Dress

Click on the image for the Etsy listing and more pictures.  This was one of many thrifting finds where I didn’t totally have the time to try on the garment before I impulsively bought it.  “I’m sure it will work!” and it did, like once.  I wish I was a lady who felt comfortable in belts.  Is that weird?  I look good with a belt, it just feels weird.  In any case, this lady needs a belt and someone who has strong enough cheekbones to counteract that super duper long 70s collar.  Dyno-mite!