Heartful Handmade Blog

recycled bicycle inner tube bags, journals and jewelry

PalePink has some very cool and unusual products.  The very creative artisan behind this Danish Etsy shop identifies herself only as "Female, Born on February 14."  She makes journals, necklaces, wallets, and bags, mostly using recycled bicycle inner tubes.  I've pictured a couple of my favorites here.  Besides being lovely, this delicate necklace with handcut flowers is very light in weight.  $54.00

This little bag measures 8"x5"x3.5", making it a perfect size for cosmetics.  But I like to keep small bags like this in my car glove compartment to use when I just want to carry my keys, a bit of cash, and maybe a credit card.  I just leave my purse in the trunk of my car.  $29.00

There's a lot more to see in this interesting shop, so check out PalePink for yourself.  Shop prices range from $6.00 - $46.00, with shipping fees to the U.S. running between $3.00 and $17.00, obviously depending on weight.

heavy cotton handwoven towel by karen in the woods

This handwoven towel by Karen in the Woods is simply lovely.  I love the stylized sort of herringbone design.  It's a Karen in the Woods original that she describes as "an intricate 8 harness pattern".  Karen suggests using it as a towel, a table mat, or a bread basket cover.  It's 20" x 28" of thick cotton and will last for years no matter how you use it. 

 She makes them in two colors:  Faded denim and rust brown.  These are handmade artistic textiles and each is a unique original.  $15.00

5% percent off summer sale at chocolate.com

Chocolate.com is doing its share to provide a bit of summertime decadence.  They're offering a a 5% off coupon, good through August, on whatever your little chocolate loving heart desires. I've picked a couple of yummies to get you started:

This box of six large dark chocolate brownies made my list because (1) I love brownies, (2) I love dark chocolate, and (3) the packaging is pretty.  They're made by Chokola'j, in Moriches, NJ, who say the brownies should be enjoyed within one week of receiving.  Now that shouldn't be too hard. 

I picked this tin of 21 bite sized Everyday Truffles Chocolate Chai Spice because (1) I love truffles, (2) they're bite sized, (3) they're fair trade, (4) they're organic, (5) they sound like something you'd find in a health food store, and (6) this picture is really pretty.  They're from Coco-Zen, in Pacifica, California.

But you can browse the Chocolate.com website and make your own picks.

Use coupon code SUMMER5 to get the savings.

This sale has ended.  Check out the current sales and specials.

big comfortable white cotton shirt

I have always loved big comfortable white cotton shirts.  And this one is especially nice.  It's got 3/4 sleeves (I've been seeing them a lot lately), a nice collar, and pockets.  It's a little too short (for me anyway) to wear with tights, but it's perfect for jeans.  And it's roomy enough to put a sweater under when the air starts to cool down in the fall.  It comes in small, medium, and large, and is just one of a shop full of very nice pieces by Lamixx in Los Angeles.  $58.00

stained glass flower bouquet

I love the way stained glass breaks up streaming light into patterns that play out on walls and ceilings.  Every show is an original.  There's never a rerun because the light is never the way it was yesterday or last week or last month.

This is just one of several fetchingly lovely stained glass panels by Kyle Schumacher. Some are clear glass, others are brightly colored.  He's got spiders and owls and fish and butterflies and peacocks and more.  They can sit prettily on a window sill, or they can be hung from the attached (but well hidden) hooks.  So hop on over to his shop and check 'em out.

8/22/2010 UPDATE:  THE PICTURED PANEL IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.