Found some great handmade Ipad cases on Etsy – for those of you who have decided to take the plunge this weekend and purchase Apple’s latest must have! We’ll have to wait a couple more weeks for it to be released in Canada – but anyone here who’s really serious about Apple has a trip planned to the States this weekend to get one. I’m on the fence. If you already have the touch or an iphone – it’s a tough call… But if I’m not swayed by this model, I’m sure they’ll lure me in with one of the future models.

From Left to Right:
1). byrd and belle 2). Jiu Jiu 3). blythe king

~Posted by: Amy

Wow – what doesn’t Sarah Duckett do? She’s a wonderful photographer and her etsy shop is filled with gorgeous photos and notecards… It’s also clear that she’s a dedicated thrifter with an eye for wonderful finds.

Find her photos here and her vintage shop here.

~Posted by: Amy

We usually focus on North American stores, but when I saw the unique patterns and bright colors of Kalla, I couldn’t resist sharing these creations.

Hitomi Kimura is a textile designer and screen printer who hand prints all her designs using water-based inks. She works out of her home studio in Ibaraki, Japan, and I love how her products bring a bit of cheerfulness to any room.

~Posted by: Amy

Easter’s just around the corner! Maybe you have a niece or nephew or friend who would appreciate an Easter card? I found a couple cute ones on Etsy that I wanted to share.

1). Card on Left – Vintage Paper Parade 2). Card on Right – Monkey Mind Design

On a side note – hope everyone had a great weekend! We had a sunny Saturday, which meant time on the seawall with my wonderful husband. So happy he’s back – after a week out of town for work. We had some showings of our apartment (it’s up for sale), and so far so good – some definite interest. Could be an interesting week!

~ Posted by: Amy

Peacock Invitations recently put together an amazing collection of Etsy finds to be considered for the front page of Etsy, that I was lucky enough to stumble upon the other day. One neat thing about Etsy is that about half of their front pages are chosen by users of the site, and this one deserves to be chosen in my opinion – isn’t it gorgeous?

Top Row: 1). Leaping Gazelle 2). One Little Dove 3). Lara Lewis

2nd Row: 1). Originals by Lynnette 2). Lippincott Soap Co. 3). Tuscany Studios

3rd Row: 1). Sheena Lu 2). Roberta Grove 3). Sugarlily

4th Row: 1). Monkeys Always Look 2). Faeried Treasures 3). Bethany Lorelle

~Posted by: Amy

Affordable, eco-friendly fashion can be so hard to come by. And that’s where vintage comes in! Your local vintage shop can be a treasure trove – with a surprising number of wonderful finds.

Etsy is stocked to the brim with wonderful vintage shops as well.

Today I thought I’d share some finds from Verseau Vintage on Etsy as well as some tips for shopping for Vintage online or locally.

1). The Search
When shopping at a local store it’s best to go in with an open mind. Who knows what you might find?! The thrill of the hunt is the best part – you’ll be surprised with what you come home with.

Etsy is different – because you can shop by color or type of item it’s a great way to narrow things down. Want a red dress or black shoes, great! Just filter for “vintage” in Etsy as you’re searching and things will be narrowed down for you.

2). Sizing
One thing to consider when shopping vintage is that over the decades, different sizes have had different measurements, above and beyond the difference in sizes you’ll find from designer to designer today. So whenever you can be sure to try things on! Not able to find the perfect fit? Not to worry – since you’re getting such a great deal, consider having things that don’t fit altered. If you’re shopping online consider buying things that seem to be just a little bit larger than what you’d otherwise wear so that alterations are still a possibility for you.

3). Damaged Goods
Give everything you’re planning to purchase a good look to ensure that there are no stains or other signs of wear that can’t be easily mended. When shopping online carefully read the product descriptions – the shop owner should note anything that is wrong with the item. Most items also have close-up views which allow you to get a better look at the item.

Click here to shop Verseau Vintage.

Are you a big fan of vintage shopping? We’d love it if you shared your tips in the comments below.

~Posted by: Amy

I hope everyone had a good weekend! Mine was good, but busy (more on that later!). How about you…did you do anything fun?

Just like back-to-school shoes in the fall, I think spring is a great time for a new purse. Etsy always has a great selection and here are a few that captured my eye.

Mayka from CindyMars7 made the top left purse, and her etsy shop has a variety of purses in different sizes with fun patterns and details. The bottom left purse was made by eclu, a great etsy shop that specializes in beautiful clutches. The purse on the right is from Christy Studio’s – I love all the pleated details in her collection.

~Posted by: Amy

Clearly I’m on a vintage kick lately! Why vintage? Well – the prices are usually very affordable, and often times the items you find are of a better quality than what you can find in most mall shops. And if a vintage style appeals to you now – it seems that even when you tire of it there’s a good chance that in a couple years that item will appeal to you again – as fashion trends are pretty cyclical. Also it’s so eco-friendly. You’re using something that already “exists” – avoiding the need for something new to be made… As I see it – it’s guilt free shopping at it’s finest!

Click here to shop The Vintage Wren’s Etsy store – she has brought together a wonderful selection of clothing, shoes and home decor items.

~Posted by: Amy

I came across the clock picture on the left on flickr, and it made me think about time and how slowly the last month has gone by – I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing! The clock on the right is from the Callaghan Art Gallery on Etsy.

~Posted by: Amy

Spring 2010 Runway Inspiration – Part 6

As we’ve seen, plaid is still around this season and there’s a reason it’s still a big influence for designers. A hint of plaid can liven up any monotone outfit. With this look from Boy by Band of Outsiders we’ve moved from a 90’s grunge feel to a more preppy take. You can even go so far as to mix up the plaids, I’d add this chunky bracelet from elemental threads to top off the outfit and make it a little more girly.

Photo courtesy of style.com

Posted by: Christine