Seller Spotlight: WINNER | The Fashion Dungjen

On Christmas I handed my laptop to my aunt and said, "Here, pick a contest winner from my last contest."

And she did.

With that, Celeste is the winner of Lori's scarf! Yay! Go Celeste!

Right now I'm in Wadsworth, Ohio, stealing someones Internet. Awesome. While I'm still connected I'm going to take care of things I need to take care of and then maybe do some updating with the fab gifts I received this year.

Did anyone get anything good??

Seller Spotlight: Lori Looms | The Fashion Dungjen

When I went outside on Friday I really thought maybe I had entered a parallel universe over night; it was about 61 degrees outside. Talk about serious December bonus. Unfortunately, and of course, we could never be lucky enough to get more than a couple hours of that kind of weather.

Surely things are cold as ever outside; I heard on the news last night it’s supposed to get down to 5 degrees this weekend or early next week …? Ew.

With that said, I think it’s time for a scarf – Christmas, where are you?

One place you may consider looking for a scarf, if you’re in the market, is in Lori Blevins’ Etsy.com shop, LoriLooms.

A Memphis, Tenn. native, Lori, 33, moved to Cincinnati 3 years ago (I bet the weather there was probably a little more favorable). This stay-at-home mom – her daughter is 1-year-old – has been selling her handmade scarves, gloves, hand/arm warmers, bags and hats to those of us who aren’t best friends with this nasty winter weather.

Although Lori’s shop has only been on Etsy since Sept. 22, she’s already participated in a number of local craft shows where the reaction to her work was “fabulous!”

She has even been asked to fill several orders for custom pieces.

The pieces that Lori makes are unique in their style and the materials used to create them.

“Everything I create is on a loom,” Lori said. “I am forever trying new and different techniques in order to have various styles to appeal to a wide range of people. Also, most everything that I make is one of a kind; I try to make each piece different from the last.”

And it isn’t just the Cincinnati local craft-show goers who love what Lori is doing.

“I believe my greatest compliment came from another seller on Etsy,” Lori said. “[She] e-mailed me to let me know she was featuring one of my scarves in a treasury. She wrote that my products were ‘truly artistic.’ That was the first time anyone ever called me an artist; I held onto that feeling for days.”

If you’re in Sharonville and in need of some winter-weather accessories, Lori sells a few items in the Tots to Teens Consignments, 11092 Reading Road.

Seller Spotlight: CONTEST | The Fashion Dungjen

According to weather.com, it is 30 degrees in Cincinnati. According to my freezing nose, it's probably about 30 degrees in my parents' house right now. (Seriously mom, dad, do you not believe in heat?)

Anyway, certainly if I would have gone with my gut and purchased a scarf way back when I wouldn't be having as many things to complain about. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Lori (the Lori from LoriLooms) wants to make sure you stay warm this winter by wearing one of her one-of-a-kind scarves. Perfect and fabulous, right!?

All you have to do is answer the question below by noon, Wednesday, Dec. 24 and wait until I have someone pick the winner. Maybe I'll let my mom pick this time. Hmm.

So, here's your question,

What is your New Year's resolution?

Come on, that's an easy one. What are you waiting for!? GO!

Debilitating Force | The Fashion Dungjen

Every time I come to my parents' house I bring an insane amount of work. My theory is always that I have way more room to spread out and get stuff done.

Every time I come to my parents' house, I never get a single thing accomplished. In the five days I've been here, I successfully have not done anything other than go to work. I brought RA stuff home with me to work on, I have so much blogging to do, my Google reader is at 1,000+, I had about a jillion e-mails when I signed in this morning. I have to finish a couple articles for Lee. Plus, I still haven't bought one single Christmas present. Whooops.

In fact, I'm sitting in my parents' house now, eating a salami sandwich when I should be looking for my black pencil skirt; I have to be at work in an hour.

Anyway, tomorrow I don't even have to work until 5:30 p.m., so maybe, just maybe, I'll get my act together. In short, I apologize for a lack of, well, a lack of my doing anything remotely productive.

Yes Please! | The Fashion Dungjen

Is it so wrong to want these? After studying Russian political history in my comparative politics class Russian-inspired pieces are all I can think about. And now I really have an urge to study Russian. Rosetta stone, yes please!

Oh happy day!!!! | The Fashion Dungjen

I have many good things to report/announce.

NUMBER 1:
I found out last night that my parents retracted their decision put Oreo to sleep. Talked to them again this morning and they're bringing the dog home. I got a sassy voice mail from my dad about the text I sent to my mom that said, "what?!?" She assumed I meant "why?" when I was actually expressing my confusion/enthusiasm. Good one. Anyway, so, yeah, my dog is still around!

I really appreciate everyone with their kind messages yesterday. You are the best!

NUMBER 2:
I scooped all other media outlets in Cincinnati in the on-campus explosion story. For the few details available, please click here.

NUMBER 3:
I HAVE CONTEST WINNERS!

Sameen is the winner of the Ellen Edwards earring contest! Congratulations Sameen!
Rachel is the winner of the Mere et fille necklace! Rachel's most outrageous wish-list item is a banana protector. If someone wants to buy it for her, I'm sure we could work something out.

There are still a couple days left to enter the Peanut Butter and Yelly contest and I have SO many more contests to post! Now that (NUMBER 4) I'm done with all of my final exams for the quarter, I have way more time to work on write ups! Yay!

My room is something of a disaster so I'm about to clean and then work on putting up three or four contests today. Ambitious, I know, but it must be done!

Sad times | The Fashion Dungjen

My parents are putting my dog to sleep tonight.

It's totally unexpected. He was fine until about 4 p.m. yesterday, according to my dad. Then things just went down hill. Oreo is 10- to 11-years-old. He's a lab-shepard mix, and the best dog ever.

This, for lack of a better word, sucks.

Seller Spotlight: CONTEST | The Fashion Dungjen

I love Amber's (Peanut Butter and Yelly) screen prints. They're colorful, multi-dimensional and a little off the wall. I love that some of the colors and prints she chooses are eerie; like if you saw that piece of land, or that bridge in real life, it would have potential to be the perfect place for a little ghost hunting.

She was nice enough to send me a print of one of these exact locations. If you've been keeping up, you know by now that this print isn't for me to keep, it's for you to win. And trust me, you want this.

If you've been MIA or have just stumbled across The Fashion Dungjen, here is how you win. (It's really easy, I promise.)

You have to enter the question below in a comment on this entry by noon, Sunday, Dec. 14. Then, you have to do nothing but be patient until I can announce the winner that day. Simple, right? Yeah, I thought so too.

Anyway, here's your question:

How would you describe your personal style? Do you feel it's important to express yourself through what you wear?

Seller Spotlight: Peanut Butter and Yelly | The Fashion Dungjen

I guess when I promised I would have another contest posted last night I really meant it wouldn’t be until the next day. Oops. I was busy working on my bulletin board (which, by the way, is going to be kind of awesome … I think.) I was working on painting the Cincinnati cityscape and decided then which “Seller Spotlight” would go up next. With that, I present to you: Peanut Butter and Yelly.

Amber Reis is a screen-printing wonder. The projects in her Etsy store are multi-dimensional, colorful and a little out of the ordinary. Perhaps even a little eerie.

Her unique artwork is inspired by history. Or, more specifically, and actually a little cooler, her family’s history.

Growing up, Amber lived on a farm in Grant’s Lick, Ky., a small town in Campbell County. The farm now belongs to her, but before that, it belonged to her parents and her grandparents.

“Whenever I visit [the land] it’s as if I am surrounded by all the people in my life that have passed on,” Amber said. “I feel like they are still connected to the land and it gives me an unexplainable sense of fulfillment to walk and work the same fields that they did. Aside from that, I love history. My husband and I collect antique photos and I get these out often and use them periodically throughout my work.”

Aside from the nature and the land her family has owned for generations, another one of Amber’s greatest influences are her parents. Her mother, also an artist, “was always working on something” and is where Amber “picked up a lot of my artistic interest and skill.” Her father, who was slightly more practical and always worried about what kind of job Amber would have after earning an art degree and how she would make ends meet, was an imaginative man, always “making up some wild story and telling to it was completely believable.”

After earning her Bachelor’s of Fine Art from Northern Kentucky University, Amber’s work was part of her senior show.

Her parents both came to see her work. They hung back, talking quietly to Amber’s sister, while Amber entertained compliments from strangers.

After several people had approached her, her father came to introduce himself as Amber’s father.

“My dad was never a man to show how he felt about anything,” Amber said. “But I knew at that moment he was proud of he and he had confidence that I could make something out of myself through my artwork. That was the greatest compliment I have ever gotten.”

The next year, Amber lost both of her parents: her farther to lung cancer and her mother to a stroke.

“It gives me comfort to know that they had confidence in me and my work before they died,” Amber said. “Their confidence in me keeps me going from day to day.”

Locally, Amber has participated in a number of art shows and also sells her work at NVISION in Northside. Although she’s done well at shows and NVISION, Etsy generates the most business for her. Only one of the items in her Etsy store has been sold locally; many of her pieces travel overseas.

“The very first print I sold on Etsy went to Australia,” Amber said. “I was shocked, I never expected that. After that, many of the items I have sold have shipped overseas. Places like London, Ireland, Norway, even Portugal.”

Currently, Amber resides in Covington, Ky. with her husband and her 16-month-old son and two “rowdy, yet lovable, dogs.”

Since opening Peanut Butter and Yelly in October 2007, she has had 53 sales and has opened a second Etsy store, Dusty Moustache to accommodate her love for thrifting and estate sales. Dusty Moustache, which opened approximately one month ago, has already sold five pieces.

Seller Spotlight: WINNERS | The Fashion Dungjen

I have three winners to announce! How exciting!

The winner of the Maille Mystique bracelet is Jillian. She's already received and worn her new bracelet and has assured me that she loves it. Congratulations, Jillian!

The winner of jade jewelry set by designsbyRED3of5 is Emily Lang! Congrats, Em!

And last but not least, the winner of the mod-print purse by RedAntCreations - the contest with the most entries to date - is Rachel! I've already talked to Rachel about it and she's excited to carry her art supplies in her new bag. Sounds excellent!

There are currently two active contests: Mere et fille and Ellen Edwards. The deadline isn't until noon, Wednesday, Dec. 10 - which is actually about 28 hours from now- so make sure you enter soon!

Thanks to everyone who has participated in the contests; we've really enjoyed your responses! I hope that even if you don't win a contest, you'll support these local Etsy sellers, and others, by purchasing your holiday gifts from their shops! Please, let me know what you think of all this and if you've purchased anything from any of our featured artists!

I still have a LOT of contests to post, and I promise I will! It's finals week so it's a little hectic right now, but expect at least one today!

Chanel pre-fall | The Fashion Dungjen

It's 3 a.m. What's better than browsing the Chanel Pre-Fall 2009 collection? Well, if I wasn't so tired I would say nothing, but right now sleep sounds pretty good. Only an hour (46 minutes if you want to get technical) until I'm off the clock and off to bed.

Anyway, the Pre-fall collection screams Russian influence. After looking through all 66 slides on Style.com, I have the urge to buy tights, more red lipstick and a muff.

I will do all of these things before the end of the summer. Mark my word. Now, where does one find a muff...? If anyone knows, I would like a fuzzy black muff. Please point me in the appropriate direction.

Anyway, the Pre-fall collection screams Russian influence. After looking through all 66 slides on Style.com, I have the urge to buy tights, more red lipstick and a muff.

I will do all of these things before the end of the summer. Mark my word. Now, where does one find a muff...? If anyone knows, I would like a fuzzy black muff. Please point me in the appropriate direction.

Seller Spotlight: CONTEST | The Fashion Dungjen

Seriously, how cute are these Truffulla earrings? Rebecca from Ellen Edward was nice enough to make sure one lucky reader has some of the cutest earrings I've ever seen to wear. These Truffulla earrings were inspired by Dr. Seuss' book, The Lorax. They're reminiscent of the trees that the Lorax works so hard to save.

Made with 24K gold ear hooks, the beads are a bright ruby red, perfect for the holidays or anytime, really.

To win these fun earrings, answer the following question in a comment on this entry by noon, Wednesday, Dec. 10.

If you happen to be in Cincinnati, you know - or should know - we had our first real snowfall of the season today. What are you doing to stay warm? Are you even trying to stay warm or are you outside pegging your friends (or maybe an innocent passerby) with snowballs?

GO!! Woohoo!

Seller Spotlight: Ellen Edward | The Fashion Dungjen

"Creating art is important to me because I really feel that being an artist is cliche. Anyone can draw or say they are an 'artist.' The difference, for me, between an artist and someone who does art is the passion, the hidden meaning behind the art. My art feels like I am giving a piece of me away to go out in the world and inspire someone."
-Rebecca Ellen Kofron

I thought being the oldest of four children was rough, but I can only imagine how crazy it must have been to be the second of 12 children.

Rebecca Kofron doesn’t even have to imagine, she lived it.

Rebecca – or Ellen Edward if you’re poking around Etsy.com – is a Chicago native but has been living in Cincinnati since she was 12-years-old.

Ellen Edward is a far cry from Rebecca Kofron. I spent a few minutes trying to figure out how I could rearrange the letters of her name to get her Etsy shop. Of course, it’s a little less complex and a little more sentimental than that.

Rebecca’s middle name, Ellen, is her grandmother’s first name. Edward happens to be her brother’s middle name – he is also the brains behind the Etsy shop – and Edward is her grandfather’s first name. (It’s all clear to me now!)

Ellen Edward just opened in November and already their business venture has been successful. They’ve already been contacted by a boutique in Petaluma, Calif., Oh La Loft. Their “Bang Bang Necklaces” are going to be sold on the other side of the country.

What’s so great about Rebecca’s designs is their unique, fun, youthful aesthetic.

“I design things I wish that I could buy in a store,” Rebecca said. “I see the ideas in my mind but not on the shelves. My art is unique and I paint my alter egos in acrylic. It took me a few years to realize what each new character in my painting stood for. The art I create are literally my babies; pieces of me that will go on forever, speaking who I am to others for all time.”

Now 27, Rebecca says she finally knows what she wants to be when she grows up: an artist. Having such a large family means she has a lot of support for her craft and she always has.

“My father once told me a story about how he knew I was an artist,” Rebecca said. “He said he asked me to take out the trash and I was too busy telling him about the colors and shapes that were in the garbage.”

Aside from her family, Rebecca’s art teachers also played a significant role in her decision to stick to her guns and continue to create … Perhaps even beyond what they thought she was capable of.

“I’ve actually had a teacher tell me that I followed the criteria but they did not like my style,” she said. “I was given a D+ for the project; that only made me more ambitious to succeed.”

Her jewelry is not carried in any local stores … Yet. However, 11 of her paintings are being showcased in downtown Cincinnati at Divine Moments of Truth Gallery. She also has an art show in March at the Mac Worthington Gallery in Columbus.

Seller Spotlight: CONTEST | The Fashion Dungjen

Lauren and Lisa - Mere et fille - are a fabulous mother-daughter duo. Lucky for us, they're as generous as they are fabulous. They have offered to donate this necklace, vis a brun.

To enter to win the necklace, leave a comment on this entry answering the following question by noon, Wednesday, Dec. 10:

What is the most outrageous thing on your wish list this year! Don't worry, the most outrageous the better!

Hurry! Enter! Go! Win!

Seller Spotlight: Mere et fille | The Fashion Dungjen

I couldn’t imagine working with my mom. I’m pretty sure we would drive one another up a wall and we would both quit before we started.

Lauren Kelly, 22, and Lisa Baker, 39, is a mother-daughter duo that works together and seems to work together well. Even in simple e-mails, you can tell they have a sense of humor.

“My mother, Lisa, just celebrated her second 39th birthday this year. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned that,” Lauren wrote.

Together they worked together to create Mere et fille (mother and daughter for you non-Francophone’s out there) to put together incredibly unique jewelry.

A recent graphic design graduate of the College of Mount St. Joseph, Lauren’s love for art was nurtured from a young age by her mother as they indulged in creative hobbies and frequented local craft shows. Now, art isn’t just her major, it’s what kelps keep Lauren sane.

“Life, especially as a college student, is crazy and unpredictable,” Lauren said. “It’s crucial to have something to focus on outside of school and work that you’re passionate about.”

Their joint passion for creating art has paid off for the two in a big way. Since opening Mere et fille in August, stales have been steady and they’ve networked with artists all over the world – they even refer to Etsy as their extended family.

And it’s a good thing they’re networking globally, “Watch out, we’re aiming for global domination,” Lauren warns.

The jewelry the two women put together is organic, vintage, bohemian chic. A combination that never fails. (This is abundantly clear if you take a few minutes to scan all of the items Lauren and Lisa have listed in their store. I want everything. Literally, everything.)

Many of their pieces of jewelery – whether it be a necklace, earrings, bracelets or rings – is repurposed from vintage finds or from some of the most unlikely places.

“My fiancé is an electrician and I am constantly going through his toolboxes and buckets looking for elements I can use to make unique jewelry [after cleaning it, of course],” Lauren said. “I love doing that most; finding and using unusual and unexpected material in my work.”

In addition to jewelery, the duo also creates and sells unique and original works of art. They are generally colorful and personal.

Mere et fille allows their customers to choose a name or word that means something special to them and have a piece of art created around that word. With that, the art is more personal and “they are able to have an emotional connection to the art.”

Mere et fille is also joining a number of other local artists at a new Cincinnati-area store, Beehive Co-op, that promotes buying local goods.