Monday: Darling little skirt

I love simple little skirts like this. And I love the colors & pattern in this one. Match it to a t-shirt and you have a sweet outfit for your little girl. Find it at gock's frocks.

Friday Fish Fry: Fish Tee

Love this bright red tee with a gigantic goldfish swimming down it. Find it at Circular Accessories.

Sunday Brunch Special: Ruin Me Designs

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
Well, my name is Sareth, and I run an online business called Ruin Me Designs. My current pieces are mostly Japanese-inspired, with a little bit of contemporary thrown in.

2. Where are you located?
I'm from the U.K, and very proud of it too!

3. How did you come up with your business name?
Originally, I made a lot of my items from vintage pieces - so I wanted my name to reflect that. I intentionally ruin items, and then turn them into something more modern, and wearable.

4. Where do you sell your products?
Mostly online at www.ruinme.tk, but occasionally through local craft fairs too. Although, those are hard to come by where I live!

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
I belong to several online communities (Switchboards, Craftster etc) as well as LiveJournal. (you can find me at april-cocaine.livejournal.com).

6. When you're not making things, what do you do?
I play bass guitar, which I've done for the past 4 years. I also read a lot of books (Battle Royale and Misery at the moment), and play Animal Crossing on my Nintendo DS.

7. Do you ever get stumped for ideas? How do you work through it?
I do get creative blocks sometimes, and I find the best way to get through it is to try something completely new. For instance, I was having a hard time coming up with interesting clothing ideas, so I turned my hand to machine-knitting for a while, and discovered loads of ways to combine the two.

8. What would be your dream job?
I think I've found it! I love running my own business, although it can be very overwhelming at times. Someday, I'll have a large studio of my own, and hopefully be hiring several other up and coming designers. I really enjoy being creative, and working for myself means I can really concentrate on letting my creativity out. Although - I'm not too fond of the paperwork!

These two questions are mandatory :) This is a diner, after all.

1. What is your favorite meal?
Roast chicken and chips (that'd be fries to you Americans!) I always request this to be made this by my step-dad for my birthday! It's a little odd I know, but if you are one of my close friends, you'd know I have an extreme obsession with chicken.

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
I'm going to be very stereotypically English here, and say tea! I have about 5 cups a day and I really love Chai, and green teas.

Big hugs to Sarry of Ruin Me Designs for the great interview

Friday: Hats Off!

I love the creative concept of recycling old sweaters into fabulous new hats. By artist, Leslie McCray of Sweater Heads (tm). Find them at MixtGoods.

Sunday Brunch Special: Hooked on Purses - Misha@etsy

This week's feature indie designer is: Hooked on Purses

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
My name is Maxine Ricks and I design and create unique clothing and accessories, mostly for women. My current project is ballroom dresses although my favorite material to work with is vintage neckties. I'm thinking about how I can combine the two and come up with a ballroom dress made from neckties.
I am located in beautiful West Texas near Dallas

2. How did you come up with your business name?
My business started with one purse from a fabric remnant and I couldn't stop! I would always tell my husband that I was "hooked" and Hooked on Purses just naturally evolved from. My obsession has recently grown to include the ballroom dresses, necktie dresses, skirts and other apparel and accessories. Although I don't make a lot of purses anymore, the name is cute, catchy and easy to remember so I think I'll keep it. I make sure in my marketing that everyone knows that Hooked on Purses is not just for purses anymore.

3. Where do you sell your products?
I have an etsy site, Misha and I am currently working on an individual website. I sell the ballroom dresses locally with plans to include the Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin/San Antonio markets soon.

4. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
Currently I do not belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations but I would love to!

5. When you’re not making things, what do you do?
When I am not making things, I work as a Registered Nurse with a specialty in psychiatric nursing.

6. What would be your dream job?
My dream job would be to make a living designing and sewing for the public.

7. What’s your favorite color?
My favorite color is red. I believe it reflects my personality, red hot!

8. What’s the most difficult aspect of running your biz?
The most difficult aspect of running my business is the actual business side. I love creating but unfortunately (especially for my husband) keeping the books is an area I struggle with.

Ok, now these two are mandatory and I have to ask (this being a diner,
after all)

1. What is your favorite meal?
My favorite meal is the traditional Thanksgiving meal. I don't know if it's so much the food as the gathering of the family.

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
I prefer coffee, I hate tea. My husband on the other hand is a tea lover, anytime day or night.

{big hugs} to Maxine for the great interview. Thanks!!!!

Friday: Colorfully cute...

Oh, are these not the cutest tees? And a great way to learn colors. Organic Color Theory t-shirts for kids are found at nina and tom.

Not your mother's apron...

I don't wear aprons, but if I did, it would HAVE to be this one. The flirty little skirt, that gorgeous fabric...who knows, I might just start wearing only aprons ;-) This is my pick of the day and you can find it here.