Pixel Impress

Sometimes you like to keep your favorite shops a secret. You want to covet them all your own so no one else will know about them. But where does that really get you at the end of the day? I'm happy (although I admit a bit slow) to share one of my favorite artists, Pamela Sherry. For a few years now, she's made my stylish calling cards that are mini conversations pieces all their own. 

In her shop, Pixel Impress, you'll find notecards, gift tags, invites, calendars and calling cards- all with great color and design choices. 

My favorite are her calling cards. I use the chevron style, seen here on the left, for my personal business card and had all my info placed along the bottom third. I love the design just as much as I love the perfectly square shape- which still fits great in a wallet by the way. 

When my mom mentioned that she wanted some notecards for her birthday, I knew to go to Pamela's shop. I bought her these cards with a dragonfly design in this pretty and bright yellow. Beautifully made with quality, sturdy paper...and she loves them. 

I loved my work calling cards so much, I had Pamela custom make some cards for Sweet Peach. Vanessa (who created my site) designed them and Pamela printed them with ease- and at a great price. Check out her shop to purchase your own unique cards. But shhhh...let's not tell too many people. 

Photos: Pixel Impress, Sweet Peach     Content: Sweet Peach

The Smuggler's Belt

It's always fun to have a hidden anything...door, hideout, treasure box- which is what makes Barrett Alley's Smuggler's Belt so appealing. 

Barrett, of Dallas, Texas knows how to handcraft gorgeous leather products. For his latest endeavor, he created a belt with a hidden inner pocket that will stay closed while the belt is buckled, only revealing itselft when the belt is taken off.

The buckle is made of iron and is individually hand forged by a skilled American blacksmith. The leather is tanned only via vegetable elements and will darken beautifully with age. As stated on his site, "Barrett Alley meticulously cuts the leather to perfection and hand sews each belt in his Texas studio." 

It's a good gift for a guy. Not only is it a cool belt, it's got a hidden place to stash your stuff. Find yours here...

Photos: Barrett Alley        Content: Sweet Peach

Official Design

At Official Design in Dallas, Texas, you'll find thoughtful, high quality furniture. This is the Peanut Rocker, inspired by the traditional rocker, but given a modern twist. As stated on their site, "We worked the steel by hand, from the milling of the runner connections to the welding of the upper frame. We sculpted the walnut seat and runners with a CNC router." Simple screws and bolts were the finishing touch. 

Mark Leveno, a graduate of SCAD, is the furniture and architectural designer at Official. I particularly like his Mango Bench made of mango wood and steel and inspired by a three dimensional line drawing of a cube. 

This is the Yeti. With a cushion made of wool, it is referred to as the "softer, more tactile cousin of the Mango bench." The Yeti was featured in the Milan Furniture Fair of 2012. 

The Droid Stool was also exhibited in Milan. See the process of its creation here. 

Photos: Official      Content: Sweet Peach

Andie's Specialty Sweets

Andie and Jason Moore of Dallas, Texas are master artisans of the culinary variety. They carefully craft all manner of sugared creations that tend to leave you a bit speechless with their perfection. 

After seeing their shop, I believe they could create anything. But, they do specialize in all things found in mother nature, from fall leaves to fungi...

as well as cute round things like gears and buttons.

Andie and Jason are the original purveyors of vintage button candy and what makes it all the more sweeter is how all of their tasty candies are made with high quality, certified fair trade and earth friendly ingredients such as organic chocolates, flavorings, sugars, oils and starches. And every single item, no matter how small and intricate, is handmade individually. It truly is a labor of love. 

I particularly like all their edibles from the sea, which include shells, oysters, starfish, sand dollars and corals. You can buy eight of them to set atop a cake or placed together in a bowl for a most delicious conversation piece. 

Andie and Jason have created quite the niche for themselves in crafting some of the best edible candies available. See their entire shop here and don't forget to think about them when you plan your next dinner party or celebration. I do believe their tasty concoctions would make a most memorable addition...

Photos: Andie's Specialty Sweets      Content: Sweet Peach

A Manly Face Wash

Will Evans was unsatisfied. That's the only reason he created his own face wash just for men- he didn't like anything else out there. His creation, Chiefs Face Wash is cleansing and invigorating without being floral or fancy. It just does its job. I'm liking this product as it's well thought out, well packaged and may I say, exceptionally manly...

The nice thing about Chiefs Face Wash is that there are no dyes, fragrances, caffeine, exfolients or paraben. As Will states, "We use natural ginseng, menthol, peppermint and eucalyptus that packs an aromatic punch and will make you feel fresh and alert." 

I like the idea of a face wash with a little pick me up. This would work well for men that aren't good at getting up early. A little caffeine for the face is a nice wake up call. Will is based in Dallas, Texas and you can find his face wash here. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next...

Photos: Chiefs Face Wash    Content: Sweet Peach

Industrial Storage

Although men tend to have less clothes and shoes than women, they still need storage for their stuff. So why not make it manly and cool? K Katz of Dallas, Texas creates these incredible industrial pieces along with her husband Andy. She designs, he builds. It's a good partnership...

I'm really liking the look of this industrial floor lamp which serves a dual function as a mini bookshelf. The sconce bookshelf is just one of my favorite pieces that adds the fun touch of a light fixture. And you just gotta love the corner pipe shelf that is such a smart use of space, not to mention an instant conversation piece. 

All of their garment racks are well crafted and a smart use of space. K and Andy will custom make one for you if you have preferred meansurements, just send them an email through their Etsy shop. 

After seeing their crafty bookshelf designs, I want to replace all of my boring shelves in my own house. I especially like the arrow shelf with lights, which would be a great addition to a bedroom or screened in porch. 

See all of their great work, which includes garment racks, lighting and bookshelves, here. And happy Manly Monday...

Photos: Stella Bleu Designs   Content: Sweet Peach

Pretty Packaging...

The more you delve into design, the more it finds its way into every part of your life. So it makes sense that if you're going to seal a package, why do it with boring brown tape when you can do it with pretty pink polka dots? 

Glenda of the Etsy shop, Pretty Tape in Dallas, Texas, has procured hundreds of pretty ways for us to package our goods or beautify our crafty creations. Glenda shares, "My shop is a collection of things that I chose because they are either visually appealing or useful. Most are both. Quality is important to me too and I want the shop to be known as a quality shop with pretty things." 

Glenda has over 100 washi tapes available in her shop. Washi tape comes via Japan and is a paper tape that you'll see branded in all types of pretty colors and patterns. The tape is often translucent and comes in widths from 1/4"- 2 1/2". The top two washi tapes of this sequence are some of Glenda's favorites; Poppy and Little Garden.

Baker's twine is always a fun way to wrap gifts but I like how Glenda offers a bevy of colorful twine to choose from not found in a typical store. Pretty twine is one of those things that you know when you buy it, you'll find a use for it, no matter how long it takes to get through a roll. It's just good to have around...

DIY projects are at an all time high and it follows suit that branding and packaging all these newly handcrafted goods has become more popular...and necessary.  

Find the paper bags here and here, and the stamps, which are a perfect way to leave your mark on a handmade gift, here. 

I really like the diversity of tape options in Glenda's shop. These group of three have a more masculine, artsy feel and like many of the tapes, offer a ton of creative possibilities for future crafting projects. Now the hard part is deciding which tapes to buy as the options are just too darn good. Happy packaging...

Photos: Pretty Tape   Content: Sweet Peach

Bed Spring Lights

I love the idea of upcycling items that may otherwise end up in a landfill. Creator of these little gems, Mary from Urban Hardware, calls these pendants made from old bed springs, "industrial hillbilly haute." Based in Dallas, Texas, Mary became inspired after finding some individual bed springs at an antique shop. Attracted to their shape and time-rusted color, she created these pendants adding coppery cloth covered cord and some really fun Edison bulbs. At just $50 each, these are an amazing, one of a kind deal that add instant character to any room. Love love...

Photo:Urban Hardware   Content: Sweet Peach 

I Heart Animals...

Artisans Christy and Joe Wernert of Graphic Spaces in North Carolina are behind these wonderful wooden critters. They've handcrafted these eye catching bookends in ten different styles that you can mix and match. In each piece Christy and Joe utilize a variety of woods such as walnut, birch, cherry and maple to create one of a kind bookends that are as well crafted as they are smile inducing. I have to admit though, I'm obsessed with that little crochet owl...

Bee Things from Dallas, Texas has some adorable graphic prints for kids. You can find the pelican here and the long eared owl here, both for $25 each. And why should your kid have a plain brown bag when you can buy this ten pack of fashionable monkey snack sacks? ...too cute!

Our Little Messes have some of the dearest totes, journals, bibs and burp cloths but I have a strong affinity for this wallet size owl crayon tote. How can anybody not want to create something colorful and imaginative with this in their fingertips? All ages welcome...

Photos: Graphic Spaces, Bee Things, Our LIttle Messes. Content: Sweet Peach