Riding in Style: Dutch Bicycles

 A girl can dream right? How can you not see yourself cycling on the streets with this beauty of a bike? The back-rack allows you to stash your books-groceries-etc. and jaunt off to your next urban destination in style...Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Copenhagen, is that you I see in my future? A throwback to a glamorous era, the Oma is made by the Dutch Bike Co. of Seattle.

Oma bicycle, $1589 at the Dutch Bike Co. of Seattle

Like I said, a girl can dream right? Sigh. Europeans are spoiled when it comes to old-school, beautifully designed bicyles. This totally beats the Huffy I rode back in the day. 

Halloween Inspiration

Nobody does Halloween like Martha Stewart. The Queen of Crafts delivers a huge Halloween sendup in her October issue: party decor, holiday crafting, and treats all presented in spooky glee. To me, its the biggest issue of the year that always tops out its previous year's coverage. The photography, set design, ideas...I always look forward to it. If you can't wait -- get a fix at her website's Halloween workshop. They've archived previous craft/decor projects so it's a blast to see how creative they all are.
Here's my pick from her site:

The Haunted House Party - Severed Finger Party Invitation

Wicked Witch cupcakes

Flying Place Cards

Project Runway's Leanne Marshall

If dearlydevoted could get a dedicated wardrobe, she'd want to stock it with Leanne Marshall's designs. Intricate, feminine, and organic -- her designs contain details that distinguish the wearer in the room. Based in Portland, Leanne was an Etsy veteran by the time she appeared on Project Runway. Check out Leanne Marshall's Fall/Winter '08 design line.

ZOMG! Zombie Bear Plush wants to eat your braaaainsss

The mind behind this sick, twisted, and utterly delightful plush is Mariska Vos-Bolman, creator of Fluffels. Fifteen inches tall, this morbid plush is bound to get double-takes wherever it sits. Designer note: Removable intestines included! There's definitely a  WTF factor involved here. I love it! Zombie Bear was the 2006 winner behind Craftster's "Zombies & Robots & Bears...Oh My!" 
Schmancy also interviewed her AND is having a Fluffels giveaway, so go sign up!

Zombie Bear, $110 (€80) at Mariska's Etsy Shop

Craft Magazine Party in Seattle

For aspiring DIYers: Craft Magazine is throwing a release party -- free workshop demonstrations included -- in downtown Seattle this SUNDAY. Nuff said. Local crafters involved include Urban Craft Uprising and plushie lover, Kristen Rask of Schmancy. 


CRAFT: 08 Release Party
hosted by Urban Craft Uprising
@ STITCHES
711 East Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98122
ph: (206)709-0707
www.stitchesseattle.com

Halloween Already?

First, let me get this out : Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. It's like Christmas x Birthdays x New Year's Eve all rolled into one date:  Oct. 31st. So, I enjoy the efforts that retail stores put into the spooky holiday displays. But even I was impressed when I saw that the candle store, Illuminations, already had their Halloween displays up and running with tons of aromatic goodies in late AUGUST. That's gotta be a record in early festivity. So, what caught my eye at the store?
Try this elegantly festivive Edgar Allen Poe tribute: the raven wax candle, $12.95 at Illuminations
With the gothic trend, this decorative item is worth having on your bookcase or window sill year round.

Double, double toil and trouble...

What's being cooked over at Williams & Sonoma? Smells like anarchy to me. I did a double-take within their aisles when I spotted their seasonal holiday lineup at the mall the other day. Check out these unusual (for Williams & Sonoma) pair of gothic punk aprons for adults and kids. You can even get them personalized with your names. Awwwww. Now this is something the little misfits can sport with their rocker mums and dads in the kitchen.

Skeleton aprons, $18-24, at Williams & Sonoma