Guys, I found Typography Ryan Gosling and Graphic Design Ryan Gosling. Neither of which are worth linking to because they only have 1-3 posts a piece … but still.

Check it out. I love that the type isn’t that god-awful on these (which is kind of the point). 

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I love giveways, especially ones that involve fabulous fabric.

Quokka Quilts is hosting a blogger’s choice giveaway for 12 print fat quarters and 3 solids (holy cow!) of your choice from Fat Quarter Shop.

Since I mostly make bags, I picked a bunch of patterns conducive to bag-making. I also mocked up a couple of bag patterns.

First, these are the fabrics I chose. I went through and picked my favorite fabrics without thinking about putting them together. I didn’t read the rules all the way through … they are PICKING the best ones. I doubt I will get picked, but putting random fabric patterns together and making them look pretty is kind of what I do, so …

And now? How about a couple of ideas for what I might do with them. Stack them (wonkily and not straight of course):

Wow that’s a lot of fabrics. Okay, now for the bags I could create using a bit of ALL of these fabrics.

Probably with an orange zipper on that one.

And a turquoise zipper on this one. Obviously the patterns would translate into bigger than what they’re shown here, but you get the picture.

Anyway, here is the part where I say … pick me! Please.

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I’ve got a couple of goodies that are on sale until January 1.

Teensy Flowers Plate // $5 — normally $15

Baby Blue Zippy Pouch // $5 — normally $10

That’s Kinda Kitschy Zippy Pouch // $5 — normally $10

Big Beautiful Butterflies Wallet // $25 — normally $35 (there are 2 of these!)

Get ‘em while the gettin’s good … before January 1.

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I’ve been asked by a few people to provide a tutorial for this lovely scarf I made as a commission by Mark for his mom for Christmas. Which, by the way, I might have to make a few more of because they are really cute. You can snap all 3 snaps, leave some open, mismatch snaps … so many combos and ways to wrap!

Also, I severely need to take better photos. I’ll take photos with me and a cute outfit for the next one I make. I wanted to have pictures of this so I could remember how I did this next time I did it. But now I have a tutorial put together for you all.

Here’s a PDF tutorial. Enjoy!

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New wedding invites … simple 1 and 2 color block design. Revamped from an invite I got in the mail that I thought I could make easier-to-undersand.

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I’ve been really busy lately making a ton of new stuff! Last month I made new wallets, zip bags and then decided to make a big box full of new dishes. Free shipping to Ames and Des Moines and Christmas orders must be placed by December 20 to receive them on time.

Here’s a small taste of what I made (click the link to go to the etsy listing):

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I haven’t been posting many wedding invites. This project has kind of gone on the backburner … which is sad, but true. I’ll pick it back up again at the end of December.

Anywho, I designed this lovely invite a while back and listed it on my etsy. I love the funky chunky font. This obviously can be changed to fit any color scheme or wedding theme. You can choose to have the word “love” or your initials featured.

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Hello bloggity bloglings! It’s been a while since I’ve done any sort of giveaway.

You may remember my Monday Madness Giveaway back in May. or my Scavenger Hunt Giveaway back in 2010,  or when I gave away some Pinterest invites when it was brand spankin’ new, or maybe when I did giveaways regularly (here, here, here, here and here).

Anyway, I have a giveaway! I got these awesome posters from French Paper a while back at the Field Paper Show. They’re the French Paper 14oth Anniversary posters. For those of you who don’t geek paper, French Paper has aweeeeeesome paper. It’s the best. They have tons of fun colors and finishes. Also, they have Charles S. Anderson Design do all of their promos. And for those of you who don’t geek design, it’s my lifelong dream to work for CSA.

Would you like to see the goods? I have three posters to give away to you lovely people. Also, you can buy these posters online if you’re not a winner.  These feature metallic ink and are on butcher paper.

Interested?

How do you win?

There are a few ways to get an entry: First, leave me a comment on this blog post telling me what you’re thankful for this year. Yes. Thanksgiving IS this week.

[if you are reading via an rss service or on facebook, click here to go to the blog post. comments on facebook will not be entered to win]

Want another entry? Add yourself to my networked blogs or google friends widgets on my sidebar. If you add both you don’t get two entries, you just get double the chimes. Again, you have to go to my actual blog post to do this. Make sure to comment to tell me you did this.

Third entry? Okay fine. Tweet this: “I want to be Frenched by @chimes! #frenchme @FrenchPaperCo #chimesblogpostergiveaway”.

You have until 5 AM Cyber Monday (next Monday, the 28th) to enter. I’ll choose a winner that morning. Since I’m crazy organized, all entries are going in a spreadsheet in the order they are entered, so any of these entry mechanisms will work.

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I did Craft Saturday yesterday and amongst the superb vendors there was a lady named Kate Funk. She sells greeting cards.

Not just any greeting cards though. CAT greeting cards.

And not your run of the mill cat greeting cards either. These are bitchin’.

She apparently dresses up her cat, AC, who, by the way has to be a good sport. Then she places him in a propped cardboard diorama and takes photos of him for her cards. The photos are all extremely well-themed too. Check these out (click the images to go to the etsy listing for each item below).

Domestica just started stocking these too, in case you were wondering about local availability.

Here’s AC Going Back to College

AC is Jaws

AC is Fly, Yo

AC be Ballin’

AC is Rambo

AC Gay Pride

And my personal favorite, AC’s Acid Trip

Kate also just rolled out her 2012 Super Amazing 100% Awesome Cat Calendar. Which I seriously need to pick up.

The kicker? I don’t really even LIKE cats. I’m highly allergic and they usually just piss me off. But this is beyond awesome!

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There are so many craft and art shows this season there isn’t any excuse not to support local makers and get some of your holiday shopping done at these local events. Unlike buying from a franchise store, when you support your local makers the money goes directly to them and directly back into the community. Who knows where the money goes when you pick up your gifts at Target, Wal-Mart, or any other big box or franchise store. It doesn’t go to the person who made it. That’s for dang sure.

How about instead of buying an over-priced scarf at The Gap, pick up a lovely cowl from Hey Jen Renee!.
(click the images below to go to the etsy listings)

Or what about those sweatshopped items at Urban Outfitters made to LOOK handmade? Instead of getting faux-crafted items, pick up the real deal. Like this gold rosette headband from Bean and the Sprout.

And thinking about shopping at Pottery Barn for bedding? Instead how about this lovely quilt — perfect for a little girl — from Whoopdedoo Crafts?

Oh and what about a gift for your lovely but sassy daughter who just moved out on her own for the first time? She probably doesn’t want your old tired set of Corelle dishes from 1995 or a new cheap set from Target. She would rather have these hand-painted upcycled dishes from chimesdesign.

Can’t make it to a craft show? No problem if you live in Ames. There’s a handy-dandy art vending machine, aptly named ArtVend, set up at Wheatsfield Coop. Things found inside this machine are also all handmade by local makers (extremely local — you have to live within 50 miles of Ames to vend). Pick up some stocking stuffers and while you’re at it, pick up some local food and support local agriculture (hey, I have to plug that now too!).

These are just a FEW of the many many many reasons that you NEED to try to shop local for your holiday gifts.

Want to meet some of these makers and get a chance to shop locally? Hit up Craft Saturday’s Handmade Holiday Show tomorrow from 12-6! Be there or be square. I will be there with my dishes, wallets, and zip bags.

And don’t forget about the mega-awesome Market Day Black Friday Sale on November 25th. I won’t be there selling (unless they can squeeze me in) but I will be there buying (assuming I don’t have to work … I haven’t quite figured out my vacation schedule yet!).

P to the S: Guess who’s on the front page of the Des Moines Register today? ME!

They just randomly picked a photo file to represent all the holiday craft shows … so I guess it was a good pic.

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