Eco-licious, a vegan and earth friendly boutique, opens TODAY in Plaza Midwood! Get a first look at their new digs and say "hi" to their Not Made in China merch while you're at it. They've got a great location, right across from Petra's Piano Bar and The Penguin, on Commonwealth Ave.

What is a vegan boutique? Well, they're stocked with all kinds of green goods (reusable food packaging, eco-conscious cleaning products, innovative green goods, vegan snacks, etc.) and they've got a wide array of environmentally friendly gifts including work from fellow local makers Stitch Machine, Super Me and Monkey and Squirrel.

Owners Marley and Fiona are very knowledgeable and have tested a TON of products. So if you're new to the green scene, or have any questions, they're both great resources. Oh, and you don't want to miss out on their Grand Opening at the end of the month (July 30-31). The two-day celebration will include live music, vegan bakery delights from Fatty Dog Bake Shop and a vintage clothing trunk show by FROCK Shop. So come out and support Charlotte's latest step towards a greener future.

My fabric library is growing. Got some new patterns at a couple different antique shops in Charlotte and Knoxville. Interestingly, many of the fabrics were used as feed sacks in the 20s, 30s and 40s. New fabric pocket mirrors, and other accessories, coming soon!

For the first time, in about a year, my house isn't covered, smothered, peppered, scattered and chunked in buttons. I'm officially organized. Hallelujah.

It took me an ENTIRE weekend to transform my sun porch (which had sadly deteriorated into a storage closet) into my new corner office. I was able to purge quite a bit, but not before reminiscing over every old receipt, photo, paycheck stub, 3- hole punch (why do I have four 3-hole punches?) and 8 year old bottle of acrylic paint. Now I can't stop staring at my office.

Everyday, before I leave for work, I pop my head in and bask in its glory. Then, when I get home, I peek again... as if all the button makers and hole punches had a party while I was gone... just in case, I have to make sure they're all still in the exact right spot.

My favorite part of the room is probably the Jadite and milk glass cabinet. All my collectible wares together in one place. Whenever I attempt to buy a new piece of vintage glass, my boyfriend reminds me that not only do I not cook, I don't entertain or use anything besides Lean Cuisine trays on a regular basis. Alas, I have created a legitimate use for the antique glass: to be admired.

Next on my to-do list: blog, dammit.

I’ve been quite the jet setter these days! Just got back from the 2011 AIGA Leadership Retreat in Minneapolis, MN on Sunday. It was an absolute blast. In addition to the inspiring sessions at the retreat, I also got to tour a well-known local letterpress company called, Studio on Fire. Conference attendees were given the opportunity to choose from several reputable design shops around town and I was one of the lucky ones to snag a spot at the sold out letterpress studio tour.

What I found so unique about this letterpress studio was the extreme attention to detail and design. Many of SOF’s clients are also designers, so the caliber of work is elevated to a ho-notha-level. And since technique is king at SOF, they also divide the staff into pressmen and designers. Meaning, designers don’t touch the presses and pressmen don’t touch the design work. This allows for each role to be extremely specialized and adds a level of expertise that is very apparent in the quality of the pieces they produce. The employees are passionate about the tactile nature of the medium and strive to create something with rawness and refinement in every project.

When you enter SOF you are immediately bombarded with a barrage of letterpress portfolio examples and men with large beards. Their work adorns two giant walls of galvanized metal, and creates a collage-like gallery of paper, type, texture and color. I think my brain nearly exploded when I first entered the space. I wanted to touch everything.

As the tour progressed, we learned about the history of SOF (which started, btw, over 10 years ago in a basement of cats). We also learned a bit about how the studio operates. They are a modern letterpress studio, so instead of being confined to traditional metal type, they print with polymer plates (which are designed on the computer and then etched into the polymer using an exposure process). With seven letterpresses, and more on the way, they are able to produce a variety sizes, quantities, diecuts, effects and outcomes. There was work that looked like it was screenprinted, painted and even hand drawn. They push the limits of letterpress and their work is unlike any letterpress I’ve ever seen.

If you’re ever in the Minneapolis area, Studio on Fire is a must see.

PS - their vintage beer can collection was amazing too!

Hiiiiiyeeeeee! I've been SUPER busy since my little trip to Atlanta but I'm finally able to come up for breath of air and give yall the lowdown. Wedding Day Hooray was amazing.

I mean first of all, what a great concept. I've never been to a traditional bridal show, but I think I'll be severely disappointed after experiencing the wonderland of handmade wedding decor. There was everything from hand sewn gowns, to custom jewelry, to letterpress stationery, to homemade caterers and SO much more - all under one roof!

I couldn't have had better booth neighbors than Praxium Press and The Small Object. Praxium Press is an Atlanta based letterpress studio. They design gorgeous wedding invitations and other stationary the old fashioned way. And The Small Object creates custom wedding cake toppers. My favorite were the matching groom and groom.

Home.Made (catering from scratch) had a great display filled with delicious food samples. I just loved their clever food presentation. They had paper strawberry baskets filled with corn chips and black eyed pea salsa and used antique cooking utensils to adorn the table, giving it a vintage kitchen vibe. Add in some homemade pimento cheese straws and cayenne and black pepper cookies... well, they just put Costco to shame.

Foundling designs simple, yet personal, jewelry out of found objects. A perfect gift for any bridal party. Plus they're based out of Asheville, NC - not too far for all my Charlotte locals.

Olive featured 50s and 60s inspired wedding apparel that would make any girl swoon.

A Darling Day had one of my favorite booth displays. It's no wonder they specialize in event and invitation design.

The event also featured a table decorating contest. The bud vases and vintage china were some of my favorite clever touches.

Among all the great displays, I have to say the Are Gray Line Photography booth was my favorite. My main requirement for a photographer, is that they make you feel at ease. The cabinet filled with an abundance of frames, paired with the Ikea rug and chairs, made me feel right at home! Brilliant. And then there was Miss Wyolene who had some beautiful stationary and one of the sweetest vendors. I love the story behind her shop name too: "Miss Wyolene is my sweet Grandmother who, for most of my life, has taught me the importance of proper correspondence."

As a self proclaimed "Fabric Whore" the J. Carter Handmade display had me mesmerized. I snagged a little souvenir business card holder from their shop before the event even started!

Liddabits adorable custom banners are sure brighten any girl's big day. While Judith Lauren Designs will add a little romance and whimsy to your gown. I managed to take home a souvenir from her shop too :)

Want to add something especially unique to a wedding or event? How about some custom luminaries? Paper Acorn specializes in unique paper goods. AND they came all the way from Cincinnati, Ohio for the event!

Last, but not least, Christina Nicole had me drooling over her glamorous jewelry and adornments. Every girl needs something with a little sparkle - wedding day or not!

More on NMIC's set-up at Wedding Day Hooray coming soon!

The artwork for some of the new Not Made in China wedding series of buttons, save the dates and favors.

So I've been a little under the radar this week... that's because Wedding Day Hooray is this weekend in Atlanta! I've been a mad woman prepping for this thing and have had no time to blog. Eeek! I did manage to snag a few pics of the dress rehearsal in my kitchen.

Over the past few weeks, when I mention that I'm participating in a wedding show, I get some blank stares and questions like, "Wait, like what kinds of things would Not Made in China do for weddings?"

Well, wonder no more. We've got you covered from the engagement to the altar. Start with a magnetic 2.25" save the date, followed up with an unique invitation littered with a few custom 1.25" buttons, get swagged up at your bachelor/bachelorette party with clever buttons to wear out on the town, use buttons at your reception as placecards with buttons that say: "Bridesmaid" or "I just came for the open bar" or "If found please return to room 109," and send guests home with a commemorative mirror or bottle opener, in a stamped muslin bag, as a nice little "thank you."

More to come after the weekend. Plus, a recap of Wedding Day Hooray!

Of course, I didn’t leave Yee-Haw empty handed... I managed to snag an awesome banjo print and “One-of-a-Kind Journal” made from recycled press sheets. Cory was enamored with the Soul Series of prints, but he’s much better at squelching impulse purchases than I am (note to reader: if you ever go shopping with me, I will be that devil on your shoulder who convinces you to buy everything your heart desires). Luckily, Yee-Haw has an Etsy shop so I can surprise him with one for his birthday (shoot, I suck at surprises!).

 Yee-Haw Industries, in downtown Knoxville, is Mecca for any typophile. If you’re into letterpress and wood block printing, this place is a must see. They house a fully functional letterpress art print shop and creative studio in the back, and run a retail shop in the front.

While perusing the poster collections in their boutique, Cory and I struck up a conversation with a friendly employee. Once we explained that we’re designers from out of town, he generously invited us to go behind the counter and tour the letterpress studio. Above are the “decent” photos I was able to capture on my phone’s camera.

I was enamored with the amazing variety of letterpress findings. The tiny collections of stars, lines, zig-zags, and other type-frills made my brain tingle. What was especially mind tickling was all the organization. A place for everything and everything in its place. When you’re dealing with drawers and drawers of type, storage and a filing system are essential. I’m surprised they don’t use the Dewey Decimal System.

Here’s a fun fact: do you know where the terms “uppercase” and “lowercase” come from? When printers set font by hand a letter at a time, they placed the case holding the most frequent forms of the letters on a lower shelf for convenience. They called this box the “lower case.” Capital letters were placed higher in a different box called the “upper case.” Knowledge is power, folks.

Took a trip to Knoxville, TN last weekend. It just so happens to be exactly halfway between Charlotte and Cincinnati, therefore making it the perfect meeting point for two luvas in a LDR. And lucky for me, my luva likes old stuff just as much as I do. So we made it a point to check out as many record stores, antique shops and vintage clothing boutiques as possible. Among our favorites were: Hot Horse, Raven Rarities and Records, Nostalgia and Willow Creek Gallery (which is the subject of this post).

Willow Creek Gallery is an architectural salvage warehouse specializing in European antiques from the 18th century to modern design. Everything is housed in a big ol’, rundown, rail warehouse in the Old City. It is a very unassuming place from the outside, but once you cross the threshold, you enter a gloriously large room with exposed ceilings, dramatic skylights and rows of centuries old furniture. It was absolutely fascinating. I cannot express how perfect the ambiance was. We were Bill and Ted stepping into a bygone era of excellent antiques.

Among my favorite things were the large-scale glass jugs, cabinets with more drawers than a Calvin Klein ad, a beautiful wooden row boat that hung from ceiling rafters, the aisles of occasional chairs and two taxidermy squirrels playing poker.

Definitely worth a look-see if you’re ever in the East Tennessee neck of the woods.