Handmade

Indie T-Shirts For The Guy In Your Life

DIY thing on Jun 23, 2009 10:23 AM PDT

The guy in your life-- he's pretty special, funny, sweet, always thinks of you-- okay, so we may be stretching it. But he's your man, and he just might have a birthday coming up or maybe you just want to pick him up a little something, because I'm sure he just bought you a dozen roses or took you to the ballet. Well, check out these t-shirts from indie artists. For the music lover, a "Sheet Music" t-shirt by Isotope will do the job. For the guy in your life that is going away-- the "We Should Keep In Touch" t-shirt. Got to love this one-- "The Man Behind The Belly"-- the perfect gift for the expecting father. And if your man would wear it, give him Pinkvelvetpress' "I Heart My Wife" t-shirt. If you are looking to buy for yourself, the "Ex-Girlfriend" t-shirt is sure to bring a few laughs amongst the guys. Take a look at the slideshow for more indie t-shirts!

Tags : t-shirts , t-shirt , style , indie , handmade

Shop DIYthing's Favorite Handmade Wedding Favors On Etsy!

DIY thing on Jun 21, 2009 5:27 AM PDT

Wedding planning can be super stressful, with all the lists you have to make and the shopping trips that will pile up, but that shouldn't stop you from finding special gifts and wedding favors for your wedding party and other guests. We've rounded up some of the best handmade gifts that your friends and family are sure to remember for years to come. We have luxurious edible sweets from Fat Daddy Sweets and personalized wine cork place card holders by CorkeyCreations. Toybreaker, our favorite indie tie design shop, has a special set of ties for your groomsmen. Handmade gifts are great for offering personalized, custom pieces like the handmade engraved stones by SJ Engraving. And, you will be sure to notice that wedding planning will be less stressful, as you can order these, and other handmade wedding favors, online at Etsy. Check out our slideshow to see them all.

Tags : design , edible , etsy , groomsmen , handmade

Hot In The Hive: Rebound Designs Book Bags

Alex Gambardella on Jun 18, 2009 6:18 AM PDT

Attention all bookworms and bag snobs! Despite the well-known cliche, we've all judged a book by its cover. We haven't all, however, ripped that cover off of its book and turned it into a super cool handmade handbag! Rebound Designs does just that, recycling old or damaged hardcover books and transforming some of your favorite new and classic titles into cute, fully-functional and collapsible totes. From Little Women to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you can browse by title or just pick your favorite color and design combo -- you can even contact the creators to donate your own used book for a fully-customized creation! It would still be super-dorky of you, but I think this is a much wiser way to wear your Twilight fandom on your arm than that tattoo you were considering...

Price: about $130 and up, depending on the design
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add Book Bags to the Hive.

Tags : twilight , recycled , rebound designs , purses , handmade

Artisan Hand Blown Glass Rings

Lisanne Silverman on May 21, 2009 5:13 AM PDT

I came across a jewelry designer while I was visiting my sister in Boston that makes hand blown glass cocktail rings along with other types of jewelry. Some are transparent others are cloudy and opaque. Glass rings come in a myriad of colors. The inspiration for these rings comes from the Murano glass artisans located on the Venetian island of Murano. The ring actually looks like a stone but because it's a piece of hand blown artisan designed glass, it's much more affordable than other oversized cocktail rings. What I like about blown glass is that each piece is unique. Every time I wear my glass ring, someone asks me what kind of stone it is! So it's up to you if you want to explain that it's an interesting piece of hand-blown glass... or if you want to make up a story about some sort of rare, precious gem!

From our friends at TheFind.

Tags : artisan , glass , handmade , italy

And The Winner Of The "Niam" Scarf From A Peace Treaty Is...

Lisanne Silverman on May 15, 2009 2:22 PM PDT

Clothes that tell a story are always a little more fun to wear than ordinary finds, and while we all have pieces that we associate with certain memories, ones that come to us with their own history sewn in are extra special in their own right. Last week we introduced to you Farah Malik and Dana Arbib, the designers behind A Peace Treaty. Their backgrounds may not have the most seamless history, but the scarves, stoles, and neckerchiefs they design together are paving the way for a more close-knit future. In order to win the "Naim" scarf, a teal, black, and blue patterned version that sells for $100, all you had to do was tell us your favorite style from the Spring 2009 collection. Want to find out if you won? Read on and see!

Tags : a peace treaty , accessory , artisan , dana arbib , handmade

Enter To Win The "Niam" Scarf (A $100 Value) From The ...

Anna Yu on May 11, 2009 8:25 AM PDT

Have you ever had the misfortune of sitting in the midst a heated conversation with completely opposing view points from both sides? It's enough for someone to throw in the towel and give up any hope on an agreement. All politics aside, designers Farah Malik, a Pakistani Muslim, and Dana Arbib, a Libyan Jew went against the odds with their line A Peace Treaty. Arbib and Malik met while living in Rome where they discovered they share a love for fashion and handcrafted goods. They started A Peace Treaty, a line of scarves, stoles and neckerchiefs that also creates employment for skilled artisans working in places of socio-political strife. In fact, the company travels to a different location every season so different local artisans can make their accessories. Watch the video to learn more about the designers and read on to see how you can win a scarf from their collection!

Tags : stole , scarf , niam scarf , neckerchief , handmade