Phunk Lab Photo Art

Have you ever dreamed of owning your very own original work of art on canvas? Phunk Lab Photo Art is the ultimate way to capture a moment in time and to achieve that dream. Phunk Lab can create your own personalized work of art using a photograph you supply. Simply upload your photo & choose the style you'd like. Then approve one of the proofs sent by Phunk Lab & your work of art will be on its way. Check out all the available sizes and styles here. This is a unique way to decorate your home, as well as a one-of-a-kind gift for loved ones.

Urban Street Bazaar Recap

Saturday Joe & I attended the Urban Street Bazaar held in a part of Dallas I had never been in called the Bishop Arts District. This historic area is made up of funky shops, cool eateries, and much more. It was so much fun seeing many of the local designers and crafters we've gotten to know in the last year. I was especially excited to see event organizer Julie McCullough Kim's shop & studio Make. The front part of her shop is full of cool goods created by various designers including Megan of Harrilu, who screen printed my Funky Finds tees, and others. The back half of the shop is the studio area where you can take classes & attend workshops to learn a variety of skills ranging from sewing to screen printing.
Although it was our warmest day so far this year, there was a good turn out. We saw lots of families, dogs, and others having a great time strolling through the various vendors' booths. I was excited to see Nerdbomber's goods in person for the first time. The pouches are super cool! Katherine Galligan of K NoteCards is another great designer I was happy to discover. Her cards & stationery are available in a variety of unique styles.
A really cool program I learned about Saturday is the Designing Dreams Young Entrepreneurs Program. This nonprofit artist collective is a place for established & aspiring artists of all ages come together to craft and market unique, handcrafted items ranging from belts to one-of-a-kind hats. Classes are available for both beginners & veterans to learn creative skills or master one already begun. I love seeing young artists & designers being nurtured and encouraged.
One of the cutest booths I visited belonged to Houndmade. Matt & Jennifer work together to create unique pet goods and artwork. The dog collars are especially adorable! It was also great to see the new products created by Stephanie of Tefi Designs. I love the peapod necklaces, as well as the new Fiddleheads collection.
Last, but most definitely not least, we were pleased to catch up with The Dallas Craft Mafia members. I got a chance to catch up with Jacky Sylvie of Texas Tarts and Tara Tonini of Tara to the T fame. Both of these talented chicks are so full of energy & life. Talk about inspiring!
If you are not in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, check out all the artists' and designers' goods online. And if you are, be sure to stay updated via the Funky News for a schedule of upcoming events in the area.

Deadworry

Deadworry has some of the coolest apparel & accessories I've come across on Etsy. I absolutely love the babydoll top featuring a screen printed octopus graphic and it is available in five different colors. The woodland images, including the little deer and little bunny, are also terrific. And the brightly colored Owl Get You tanks are the perfect top for summer. Also, don't miss the Chatterbox tee featuring vintage telephone images. Very cool!

Stuff by Charrow

Stuff by Charrow features the artwork created by a student designer located in Atlanta, Georgia. Flower for blob, a reproduction of a Gouache painting, is a unique & endearing piece. Circus Elephant is another sweet work of art that I love. Charrow also creates beautiful handmade journals. Read more about this artist on her blog, Gellatinous Laser.

Smart Wit Cards

I am a sucker for sarcastic & witty products. Smart Wit Cards sells all sorts of quirky and cool greeting cards that are sure to be a hit with all recipients. The wedding cards are exceptionally funny considering my own upcoming nuptials, especially the ones by Selfish Kitty. I also love the Pollygags Line featuring humorous dog cartoons. And Kitty's Muse produces a line of hip cards that my friends will love, such as Perfect Boyfriend. Next time you want to give someone a good laugh, send them a quirky card from Smart Wit.

BeeGee Bags

Brooke Galardi, owner and designer for BeeGee Bags, creates beautifully handcrafted clutches and handbags. This textile artist based in the Washington, D.C. area, uses carefully selected Japanese or domestic designer fabric on both the inside & outside of each bag. I love the cream colored Birdie in a Clutch piece, as well as the Black Cherry Blossom bag. And the brightly colored Mrs. Robinson clutch is perfect for spring & summer. It is apparent in reading each description & seeing the quality of Brooke's work that each bag is lovingly created. Have a look at all the gorgeous designs available at BeeGee Bags.

Paper Flowers Boutique

In my quest to find wedding favors, I came across Paper Flowers Boutique. The various paper weights caught my attention & seemed like they would be appropriate gifts for many different occasions. Melissa Schoenhardt has created paper weights in a variety of styles ranging from bright & modern to whimsical & vintage. You can even request the graphic style you'd like if you don't see it in her shop. Also available are vintage items, as well as other handmade goods such as the beautiful Sherbert circle quilt.

Out of the Blue Studio & Moonikins

Michelle Dugan is a very talented & very busy artist. I don't know how she finds time to run two Etsy shops while offering her mural services to all of New Jersey. But lucky for us she does! Out of the Blue Studio showcases Michelle's whimsical artwork & décor. She also enjoys creating custom artwork upon request. Moonikins is another Etsy shop where you'll find terrific pendants & other accessories. I absolutely love the pup pendant which can be customized with your pet's image. See Michelle's main website for more information.

Whispering Willow

If you frequently browse through Blogland, you have probably noticed that photo booths are once again very popular. Even so, I have never come across frames specifically for photo strips until discovering Whispering Willow. Deborah Stauder creates beautiful stained glass picture frames specifically for photo booth strips. Her designs come in a variety of formats & colors, as well as themes complete with silver ornaments. Deborah also creates standard frames for 4x6 and 6x7 photographs. These fabulous designs will make the perfect gift for everyone in your family. After a hiatus, Deborah is once again taking orders starting this month. Email her at deborah@whisperingwillow.com if you are interested in making a purchase.

Anne Kristoff - Poof

Anne Kristoff's photography is rich & captivating. Her Etsy Shop Poof showcases her work which features a wide array of subjects & activities. The amusement park photos, including Whirl A Girl and Carried Away, are so vibrant I can almost hear all the sounds typical to such a place. I also love the Twirl series made up of photos of old dresses. And Cotton brings back fond memories of growing up in West Texas. You can see more of Anne's work on Flickr, as well.

BellaSymphony

BellaSymphony is the place to go if you want to spoil your little one with some major cuteness! These one of a kind rockin’ and retro, stylish and hip gifts are THE thing for those little ones that deserve to stand out in the crowd. The tutus are my absolute favorite items. But there's lots of unique items for boys & girls, including customized onesies to stylish changing pads. And I'm sure any wee one would love to have a Mushroom Baby of their own! Don't miss the BellaSymphony blog where you can enter for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate.