A Alicia Accessories

May 10, 2009 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

Anna Alicia’s etsy shop is filled with fantastic clusters of felt flowers to adorn everything from your clothing to your home. Each bloom is made by cutting individual petals and sewing them together, then assembling the flowers into an elegant mass.

Of her work, Anna Alicia says, “I wanted to make something that could really change an outfit but that could also be worn in lots of different ways. I’m hugely inspired by Japanese craft, in particular Kanzashi flower hair accessories, and also by vintage fashion and jewelery.”

I love the delicate sculptural quality of the pieces, but by far my favorite aspect of her work are the fantastically unexpected color combinations she creates. “[They] are key to my designs, and I’m always intrigued to see which are most popular. My color inspiration comes from all over — painting, fashion, nature…” she says. Keep ’em coming — your pieces inspire me!

Typographic Sculpture

May 6, 2009 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 2 Comments

hello2 Lately, I’ve been getting back into typography. I finally began several projects using all my vintage wood and lead type — one notecard is featured here, lots more to come! You can pick up this card here. I love the impression the lead type leaves — it’s so incredibly deep and clean. And you can actually see the slightly bumpy surface of the wood type (“HELLO”) on the card.

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I’ve also been lusting after several sculptural pieces that I can’t wait to have in my house. I’ve been dreaming of creating a home office with a full wall covered in 3-D typography for years now, and hopefully I’ll get to do it soon. A few pieces to get me started:

These stainless steel letterforms were rescued from a 1950’s era New York parking garage that was being demolished in 2002. They are available here.

These ceramic letters once lived to title 8mm & 16mm home movies. They are available at Portland’s Noun: A person’s place for things (which is such a clever name, I just love it!) as well as in their online store here.

Just in time for Mother’s Day

May 1, 2009 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

What’s the perfect gift for that lady who taught you how to cook, brought you countless baked goods in college and still asks what you want for dinner when you come home? Beautiful handmade recipe cards, of course!

I just finished these up last weekend — they’re printed with a really deep impression and the intersecting lines turned out really cool. They’re available for purchase here.

Shop Local: St. Louis

April 23, 2009 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

Full of little shops and restaurants and seemingly very supportive of the handmade scene, St. Louis is on my short list of cities to explore. In the meantime, here are a few of the talented folks who make the city their home.

Wallpaper Patterned Scarf from the Bungaloo

The Bungaloo is a screenprinting studio plastering everything from tee shirts to journals with its intricate and beautiful designs. Each piece is screenprinted by hand and totally fantastic!

Bella Luna‘s etsy shop boasts a bevy of pampering goods — from candles to lotion and soaps. Owner Shannon began making soap as a gentle cleansing alternative for her children who suffer from eczema and has branched out from there!

Mr Owlie - Brass Owl Pendant Wearing Monocle Steampunk Necklace by INdosteam

INdosteam is full of jewelry made from bits and pieces found at flea markets and vintage shops. The designs are inspired by the steampunk movement with an asian influence. I love this little owl!

Cocktails & Crafts

April 3, 2009April 3, 2009 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

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I don’t have much time today, but I wanted to let you all know about a fabulous show happening this weekend that will feature etsy sellers from the Madison area. Here are just a few of the crafters involved: