Monday, July 30, 2007

kimwestad: whirl dish



whirl serving dish

forgive me, because i'm just a maker of jewelry, but it blows my mind that somebody *made* this by hand. i mean, look at it! it's amazing!

check out this one too, for olives:


i don't even *like* olives and i want one.

these would be killer gifts. way waaay cooler than pottery barn.
more at kimwestad.etsy.com

Saturday, July 28, 2007

burgundynbrown: bridesmaid screenprint

ME NEXT rabid bridesmaids fine art silkscreened print SHIPS FREE in the US
"me next" fine art silkscreened print

ah. rabid bridesmaids at a bouquet toss. an homage to the desperation i feel in having gone to a new salon yesterday to color my hairs "slightly darker" only to find myself looking like morticia addams' and orphan annie's tall wan love child. eight days is plenty of time to fix this, right?

more info at burgundynbrown.etsy.com

weekly DBA: wedding coozies


this week's david's bridal award: bride and groom beer coozies

if you're going to drink beer from a can on your wedding day, and i have *nothing* against that, i must say, must there be maribou feathers involved? have you ever dealt with wet maribou feathers? don't answer in front of your betrothed.

how does one spell coozie, anyway? koozy? qoozi?

again, not speaking from the high ground -- one of my mom's wedding favors was bright neon-colored foam beer coozies that said 'changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes...'

neither of these things is nearly as bad an idea as the maribou feather
bridal shot glass. hmmm... don't remember anything after the macarena... and why the hell are these feathers in my teeth? pfffft.

(what's a DBA?)

Friday, July 27, 2007

t8designs: lariat necklace


Through my hearts palace thoughts unnumbered throng lariat
"through my heart's palace thoughts unnumbered throng" lariat

titled after a rupert brooke poem, a gorgeous array of vintage charms -- the perfect gift for a romantic. could see this with a simple low-v dress, ooh la la! samantha of t8designs makes all manner of lovely, whimsical, and unusual jewelry -- *and* she'll be at magpie's recraft fair august 18th in somerville, MA! more at t8designs.etsy.com

unlesssomeonelikeyou: poster invitations

Custom Wedding Poster
custom poster wedding invitation

something modern and different -- 11" x 17" poster invitations, mailed in cardboard tubes. there are a couple of different styles posted, and unlesssomeonelikeyou makes the incredibly generous offer to custom design one for you *before* you buy -- with line drawing of your photo as above or any other thing your heart desires -- *and* she sends you the posters and tubes all ready to go.

plus she makes a great suggestion -- have the poster matted without glass, set it out at the reception, and have everyone sign it as the guestbook. so much more personal than one of those pottery barn frame thingies! she'll even mat and frame it *for* you. only on etsy, i swear. more at unlesssomeonelikeyou.etsy.com

Monday, July 23, 2007

shabeestitches: ring pillows

Turquoise and Black Sassy Lady Ring Pillow Lacy and Lovely
turquoise and black "sassy lady" ring pillow

this fun little item would snazz up the ringbearer's job... little scene-stealer that he is. don't you get it, kid?? my day, my scene.

handmade from silk shantung and a victorian-style thread applique with a 1950s flower button -- all sewn rather than glued. lots of colors and styles to choose from, or perhaps they take custom work if you ask nicely? more at shabeestitches.etsy.com

Friday, July 20, 2007

ravenx: candles+bathsoak

Asian Inspired Gold Square Candle - burns for 72 hours
above: asian-inspired gold square 72-hour candle
below: mandarin ginger mineral bath soak

72 hours is a loooong time in the bath, friends. maybe just long enough to wash the stress right out of your hair. these look like the perfect gift for after the big day, or for those (like me!) in the final death-spiral throes of planning. what's that? aunt edna changed her mind and wants to bring the whole clan of 9 in the RV? ... ... ... no, that's wonderful news!

more at ravenx.etsy.com

Thursday, July 19, 2007

buttonempire redux: *two* fab buttons

The Dynamic Duo-1 Inch Buttons For Married Cool People
the dynamic duo -- 1" buttons for married cool people

ok, so i posted buttonempire once before. but **look**! the pair has been completed! ...i am such an etsy dork sometimes it is staggering. more fabulous buttons (the "i'm soylent green" one slays me) and cool stuff from amy and the 'bureau of urban living' at buttonempire.etsy.com

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

modernradar: neato cards

dutch flower card pack of 4
hand-silkscreened dutch flower card -- pack of four

inspired by the 1940s-era wallpaper in the room she grew up in,
these cards by modernradar are just so cool. how could they not be? she's boston by way of derrrrrrm, NC, both towns near and dear to my heart. more at modernradar.etsy.com

Monday, July 16, 2007

jaime windon: photography



wedding photography from jaime windon's photography/travel blog

ok, cheating on etsy in public. but she is *so* talented, just look! a world traveler and a helluva good soul -- and the colors are amazing. plus she is *so* so nice in person. maybe she'll join etsy and then i can ease this cheatin' heart. she does photography for all kinds of events -- i should ask her to come document the 'thunder from down under' in my near bachelorette-party future. more at jaimewindon.wordpress.com or her website

Saturday, July 14, 2007

somethingbold: birdcage veil

White French Russian Netting BIRDCAGE CAGE VEIL, so vintage, retro, antique
french/russian netting birdcage veil in white or ivory

ooh la la! su-paircool. something a leetle retro-different in the veil department. more at somethingbold.etsy.com

{**UPDATE: 18.sept.08: new etsy site for this seller! somethingboldveils.etsy.com**}

Thursday, July 12, 2007

squrlgurl: pearl necklaces




han hin got necklace

oooooh. i know i promised, no freshwater pearls, but this is ridiculously great.
i've admired tara's work for some time now, her creations are unmistakably *hers* -- if she were a writer, we'd say she has a truly original voice -- here, check out another:

Han - oduun got luxurious necklace
han - oduun got luxurious necklace

forget it, am sick with longing. she's a canadian living in seoul, but don't let that deter you -- items shipped to the states usually arrive within 5-10 business days. her earrings are delightful, her color pairings fresh and unusual -- you could build your entire day around this piece. this necklace plus a simple gown? yes please. more at squrlgurl.etsy.com

weekly DBA: cammo huntin' garter

Deer Camouflage Wedding Garter Set on White
this week's david's bridal award: "deerhunter's dream" wedding garter set

oh, my friends. yes, i am originally from texas, and yes, i can shoot a gun, and yes, i have shot, killed and eaten wild things, not that i feel so great about it now. they were delicious at the time! moral high ground, not so much.

but... on your wedding day... sweet bambi, bounding across your thigh, caught in the moment of the chase just before you annihilate him into bloodspattered cammo oblivion? one to toss and a keepsake bonus? maybe heat-packing bridesmaids skeet shoot this one down...

weekly DBA, it has been a while.
(what's a DBA?)

Thursday, July 5, 2007

typehigh: hand-printed card

Congratulations
congratulations -- front...


...and back

this card is so cool i almost can't stand it. the decorative element that wraps to the back is vintage type, c. 1860, and the cards are printed on a 19th c. platen press. i *want* one. the card and the press.

regarding another card in the store, while not a fan of the phrase "my bad" it's a *brilliant* use of the engravers font (i think, although the serifs are pretty fat!), commonly seen on wedding invites... love that card too. love vintage type. love typehigh! as designers doug and angela say, "correspond with style and wit." more at typehigh.etsy.com

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

oliviamoon: happy fourth!

Black Cat Fireworks July 4th Pendant
black cat fireworks july fourth pendant

rowr! remember, as a kid, lighting these off and running for your life, squeeeeling?

no?

your parents didn't buy and encourage you to light strings of explosives? huh... must've been a texas thing.

a perfect little item for your favorite firecracker, or for the bride with a short fuse. ok, maybe not the latter, on second thought. this and literally hundreds more vintage-y/retro pendants at oliviamoon.etsy.com

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

sugarcubedesign: notecards

Awning Stripe Notecard and Envelope Set (Set of 6)
awning stripe notecards -- set of six

ooooh. pretty candy colors. these are only one of multiple delicious card sets, gift tags, and paper treats available, and sugarcube will personalize them (well, she says she can put your etsy store on there, so i don't see why she wouldn't go for a little "thank you" or "david and julie" or "bridal shower" action). sweeeeet. more at sugarcubedesigns.etsy.com

Monday, July 2, 2007

pinkmilk: alterations brooch

got the measure of you brooch
got the measure of you brooch

today's post is in honor of that time-honored tradition: the dress fitting. that is to say, the ridiculous traumas we put ourselves through for a one-time event.

lest i sound bitter, let me divulge to the blog-reading world -- today, i bought boobs at nordstrom's. that's right: i took the subway to the hated, dreaded, ridiculously crowded mall, made my way to the women's lingerie department, and plunked down thirty-eight american dollars so the strapless satin ballgown my sister has selected will not *slide* off my body in front of a chapel full of family and family-in-law, who, as everyone knows, are strangers who feel entitled to make bizarrely direct personal remarks.

not to mention that on the way into said mall i ran into a couple i hadn't seen in a while and (since i'm constitutionally unable to refrain from telling morbidly self-embarrassing stories) immediately told them: i'm here to buy boobs!

dear lord, can't i just make up something cool, like, just here to queue for the iPhone? for the love.

if you're wondering, dear reader, as i'm getting the dress altered anyway, why i've gone and purchased falsies, here's an instructive exchange from my first round of trials at the Bridal-Store-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named:

- helpful fitting room attendant: "the dress will fit better once you're
wearing a strapless push-up bra."

- forlorn bridesmaid: "i AM wearing a strapless push-up bra."

i called my sister and swore in vengeance that i would go out and purchase world-class olympic pam-anderson double-D cutlets to eliminate the twin air-pockets in the sequined (did i mention?) chest of my new ruched satin ballgown. she calmly noted i should be sure and have them *sewn in*, as one of my duties as maid of honor is to *bend over* and straighten Her Majesty's train once she's arrived at the altar. god forbid two flesh-colored jello-crescents fall out of my dress in front of the minister. or worse: one but not the other. eep! O, shame! david's bridal #F11165 is your name.

then -- salvation! my friend delanie called from san francisco in a lather about seeing a friend at a party who looked like she'd gotten implants, but no! store-bought, from nordstroms, highly recommended and very natural (we'll see!). they're also clear, so when they fall out they will be stealthily cloaked on any surface and completely invisible. right.

ah, but there's more. now that i own these boobs i must venture out tomorrow -- again on the subway, like the blue-state, latte-sipping, hybrid-flexcar-sharing liberal i am -- with ginormous red satin beast, a whole-body pushup bra/al-Qaeda-torture contraption, and the cutlets in tow, to a place called "fashion dreams." yes, fashion dreams, i'm told, truly good at alterations in spite of sounding like a bad eighties movie. you can hear the theme song from the climactic dance-off: "fashion dreeeeeeems... she dreeeeeemed her dreeeeem of fashion...."

and i'm kinda scared of going and getting cinched in and poked at, and definitely afraid how much this enterprise will cost (didn't mention, the dress is 3 inches too short so it also requires another layer of fabric sewn in to cover my ankles). and that, friends, brings me back around to...

...this post! which i've given short shrift. the brooch is adorable, as are the other cotton-candy-fun, breezy finds at pinkmilk. from paris and athens too, ooh la la!

maybe if i use it to bribe my seamstress, she can keep me from my nightmare du jour: walking down the aisle, i step accidentally on the front hem of the dress, which is *ripped* down to my waist and i end up covering my naked girls with a hand over one and the bouquet over the other while my mom scrambles over my stepfather shrieking "just a minute! just a minute!". thousands of dollars in therapy, averted so easily with one well-placed etsy purchase...
more truly wonderful non-cutlet-related items at pinkmilk.etsy.com

p.s.: psst! brides and ladies of the small of chest! you'll see several different types
of cutlets commercially available, and i feel compelled to note that while takeouts
and cleavage cupcakes appear identical to nordstrom's intimate enhancers (yes,
they're *really* called that), nordstrom's are $5-$20 less expensive than online/
boutique prices. at this amazon link, there are some other less-expensive choices --
in flesh-tone, or "chicken cutlet" as delanie might say. i almost bought some "as seen
on TV" cutlets around the corner one dark winter night, but couldn't bear the idea
of having to return my boobs to CVS if they didn't fit.
as you were!

ambientdesignjewels: deer to me card

You are so deer to me. Card in Mango
you are so deer to me card in mango

tonight, friends, a long-distance dedication to my sweet redhead toiling away over the puns at the boston herald online. remember: if you leaf me now, you take away the biggest part of trees... ooooooooooh no, baby please don't go!

hoo, it's late. adorable cards (including the above in other colors), alice-in-wonderland-inspired gocco prints, and some wicked cute jewels too -- plus she's in boston! i miss you, boston. i miss you, redhead! more at ambientdesignjewels.etsy.com