Start ‘em at a young age: the kindergarten indie

My travels today indicated that yes indeedy, the kids are going back to school this week.

This is the first time five years that my husband and I really aren’t affected by a school schedule, so we were rather taken aback today when we encountered a horde of pencil-clutching, notebook-grabbing mothers and the obvious attempts by the 3M company to produce Post-It notes for 13-year-old girls.  Rhinestones?  On a Post-It?  I guess!

Anyway, I was inspired to create another indie outfit, but this time for a little girl heading off to kindergarten for the first time.  I have figured out since beginning this that you cannot buy separates of little girl fashions, so here are two outfits that I particularly like.  This time, Etsy provided all the materials.

1.  My first outfit is mostly from the ModCherie shop.   The shop sells a number of really high quality items for little girls and other little things.

I loved the Rubys Garden Peasant Top when I saw it.  Looks easy to wear, gorgeous and just the sort of thing I would have loved when I was that age.  I wanted to imagine myself as a princes, but my mom wanted my clothes to be practical!  I think this is a great compromise.  Available in sizes 12m-5, plus in an alternate fabric, made of soft cotton. Goes perfectly with the lovely, comfy, beribboned Pumpkin Patch Cord.  Try some purple kitty-kat hairpins from the Marisa Jill shop to add an extra-cute note.

2.  My second outfit is from Pink Willow designs.  I picked it because it is (a) bright and cheery and (b) I think it shows a lot of creativity from the designer/maker. First is a lovely crochet top - this can be as shown below, or you can pick any three colors you want and specify any sizes you want.  Talk about customization!  The recycled skirt is just the right thing to go with such a funky, cheery top and I think really represents the fun style of this designer. I love this sort of crazy patchwork incorporated into plain denim.  Plus, try the crocheted hairclips (alligator clip or French barettes) from Balasa Designs to complete a great outfit.

So where can I get a handmade orange frog, anyway?

Prepare for a bit of soapbox! Ready? Ok, go!

OK, not so much of a soapbox as a sales pitch for others. You see, clearly I’m a big fan of crafting, and if you’ve read this site at all you know I’m also a big fan of buying other people’s crafts, DIY projects, indie art, and other homemade and handmade items. I’m very much that person who won’t shop at Wal-Mart because of all the local businesses they shut down (don’t get me started) and was saddened when I heard that the last locally-owned shop on 125th Street in Harlem went out of business. Machine-made, mass-produced items and stores are all very well and good, and I’m sure we couldn’t support our society without them, but ….

But I believe that unique artisan items and small shops have more personality and character and, well, soul. By buying these items you don’t just get something, you also support someone who is brave enough to step sideways out of the flow and create something unique and perhaps even try to make a living doing so. I think supporting these arts supports the individuality, creativity and uniqueness of being human. Sure, they cost more, but that’s because more went into their making - time, effort, ingenuity, thought. They really are worth more than cheaply mass-produced, heavily advertised product.

So I’d like to start putting together a page of resources and places in which to find said Indie/DIY/Handmade items. Like I did last week, I plan to feature some of these avant garde artists as well. Sometimes I’ll show off what I’ve bought, or perhaps put together more outfits I wish I could buy or otherwise just pass along things that I find. Some of these are blogs devoted to the idea, others are directories of sites, some are actual places you can buy things.

Here’s the link to the page again- not much yet, but give me time! Just thought up the idea!

And now - recent purchases! Below are two pendants I bought from Blossom Arts on Etsy. I just got them today and they’re even better than the pictures indicate! I love the original jewelry in this shop She also designs and makes bags to sell.

Manifesto

No, it’s not *my* personal manifesto. But it makes me think I should have one.

The interesting design manifesto I want to share for inspiration or simply amusement is that of Jonathan Adler, originally a potter but now an all-around a designer who makes some interestingly quirky and sometimes ironic items. Such as the pottery you see here, right. This particular line of pottery, for example, is called Utopia. The tagline that accompanies it is “Finally, a functional family.” Nice.

Without further ado, the Manifesto:

We believe that your home should make you happy.

We believe that when it comes to decorating, the wife is always right. Unless the husband is gay.

We believe in carbohydrates and to hell with the puffy consequences.

We believe minimalism is a bummer.

We believe handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing.

We believe tassels are the earrings of the home.

We believe in our muses: David Hicks, Alexander Girard, Bonnie Cashin. Hans Coper, Gio Ponti, Andy Warhol, Leroy Neiman, Yves Saint Laurent, and Madonna.

We believe in the innate chicness of red with brown.

We believe in being underdressed or overdressed always.

We believe in infantile, happy emblems like butterflies and hearts.

We believe celebrities should pay full price.

We believe in rustic modernism: Big Sur, A-Frame beach houses, raw beams, and geodesic dome homes.

We believe in Palm Beach style: Louis chairs, chinoiserie, Lilly Pulitzer, The Breakers circa ‘72.

We believe our designs are award winning even though they’ve never actually won any.

We believe in Aid to Artisans.

We believe dogs should be allowed in stores and restaurants.

We believe in mantiques - suits of armour, worn chesterfield sofas, heraldic tapestries.

We believe you should throw out your Blackberry and go pick some actual blackberries.

We believe colors can’t clash.

We believe in blowing your nest egg on our pots.

We believe our lamps will make you look younger and thinner.

We believe in irreverent luxury.