Stuck on Tattly...

When Tina Roth Eisenberg (AKA the fabulous Swiss Miss) was sick of the tacky tattoos her kids kept sticking on their arms at parties, she decided to create her own line of kick-ass temporary tattoos for, you guessed it, design lovers. Tattly’s are designed by a curated crew of designers and illustrators including Julia Rothman, Mike Lowry, and Lisa Congdon. And the best part? They are made right here in the United Sates! Need some special bling? Stick on a few diamonds to shine. Typography nerd? Try some word art. Whatever your thing, Tattly's got you, well, covered.

Butcher & Larder

Some may call Rob's profession a dying one but Chicago's Butcher & Larder is doing just fine. Rob's mission is to have Butcher & Larder be Chicago's first, all whole animal butcher shop, and provide the community with the highest quality meat cut to order. Watch this beautiful video shot by Sergio Salgado that we stumbled upon on Those Who Make.

Illuminating Design

Sometimes a simple household item can be so beautifully designed that it borders on becoming art. The Cerno Group has elevated modern lighting and furniture to that level. Started in 2009 in Southern California, Cerno aims to "fuse quality, performance and resource efficiency with modern design," while keeping their manufacturing here. They blend form and function into sustainably-made, usable sculpture for your home.

Backpacks for Good

Matthew Clough has a beautiful story to tell. On his incredible journey through Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, he met a cheery man named Benson. Benson worked as a porter and after several days, the group learned Benson did not earn enough money to even put a child through school.

Although he conquered hiking the mountain, Matthew knew there was more to be accomplished when he returned home.

And that friends, is how Stone + Cloth began.

Stone + Cloth makes U.S.A. made canvas backpacks, where every $10 goes to their partnered supporter Knock Foundation, a company who believes in education and health care (among other things), for under privileged populations.

These well-built backpacks are made right here in Los Angeles, so not only does that make them super cool, but it also means if you buy one, you’re a supporter of better education. This is what we like to call, a win-win situation.

And for inspiration, their blog at: stoneandcloth.tumblr.com

Bauer Wow Wow

Anyone who has ever been to a flea market would recognize Bauer Pottery. The iconic shapes and colors are are a favorite of collectors. Starting in Kentucky and then hitting its stride in Los Angeles, CA, J. A. Bauer Pottery Company created beautiful colorful stoneware from the late 1880s to the early 1960s. Well, you no longer have to scour estate sales and swap meets for Bauer classics. A ceramics studio in LA just minutes from the original plant has reintroduced much of the Bauer line with an emphasis on the styles from the 30s and 40s. These new pieces are called Bauer 2000. An American classic once again being made in America.

Public Transport?

A while back I wrote a story about Vintage Los Angeles, a Facebook page dedicated to the lovely, lost world of L.A. Since then, the neverending stream of eye candy (and mind candy) delivered by the amazing Alison Martino has made it a daily stop on my online travels. Last year, for the Carmageddon that never came, Alison posted a string of transit- and freeway-related content, including this incredible 1968 educational film. According to the YouTube text, it was ”distributed to libraries, schools and community groups by the Southern California Rapid Transit District in advance of a 1968 ballot initiative.” I’m guessing it was an initiative that didn’t pass.

Be sure to watch Part 2 and Part 3, too. Highly entertaining and also informative. I admit I learned a few things!

Atomic Theory

If that retro look is your thing, have I got the company for you: Atomic Living Design by Detschermitsch located near Denver in Englewood, CO. Husband and wife team Lisa and Jesse Detschermitsch have always loved the look of mid-century modern architecture and furnishings that recall the homes they grew up in. They were inspired to design and build their own line of "modern furnishings for the mid-century minded."Environmentally conscientious, they use low and very low VOC water-based lacquers and eco-friendly sheet goods wherever possible. Available for purchase online here.

Jessica Barensfeld Adornment

Back in grade school, before Jessica Barensfeld had her own adornment line, before she had been trained as a goldsmith, and before jewelry design was "her thing", she made some pretty wild neon jewelry. Her medium of choice: puffy paint. Her vehicle: Keds, laces, socks, the whole bit. Oh, and of course their were woven friendship bracelets sure to grab the attention of passersby, and her constant best seller her glow in the dark snake earrings.

Based in NYC, Jessica has since left her days of school pop up shops for more stable gigs, yet her crafty roots remain. Today, Jessica's commute to work is several rungs down a ladder to a work space full of plants, books, music and two black cats. The space is large, airy, well-lit, and comes up in my Pinterest feed often. She is a self-proclaimed lover of old Cartier, Elsa Peretti, and pretty much all adornment from the beginning of time. Her most precious piece of jewelry is a jade ring, from her grandmother. A gift so dear she once jumped onto subway tracks to retrieve it after it had fallen off her finger; proclaiming that her favorite trait about jewelry is that it often holds value that is way beyond it's worth.

Her jewelry has a delicate nature about it, an inherit femininity that doesn't need to be defined with such obvious things as flowers. It is vibrant and detailed. It is bright, with plenty of brass and gold. The angel hair wrap bracelets, the garland rings, the topaz necklaces, the clove bangles, are all more reminiscent of lost treasure than an online find

If you are interested in perusing her fine wares you can visit her online boutique. The jewelry will also be available at a few select stores this fall, and will be posted on the site in coming months.

Photos via jessicabarensfeld.com

Surf's Up!

With summer right around the corner I thought I'd put together a little collection of goods for us beach bums. Inspired by Jeff Spicoli, one of the best characters in film EVER, it's time to hit the beach! Like everything on our website all these radical things are, like, totally made in the USA.

Apolis Board Shorts  //  Pendleton Blanket  //  Bessell Surfboard  //  Skin Trip Lotion  //  Zinka Nosecoat  //  Sire's Crown Sunglasses  //  Surf Vans Poster  //  Sub_Urban Riot Classic Hawaiian Tank  //  Lolli Bikini  //  WOR Beach Bum T 

Oh So Darling!

Echo-Park-living husband and wife team Steve and Sarah Dubbeldam, are just beginning to make waves with their intelligent, positive and well-respected webzine called Darling Magazine. Only started seven months ago, Darling has readers from all over the world and contributing writers from all backgrounds. Discussing true topics for women about finance, art, entertaining, body image, relationships and many other things, it is just now spreading its wings to becoming a quarterly print issue. Want one? You’ll have to check out their video (that I just happen to make small cameo in, no big deal) on KickStarter and then fork over some cash-ola to become one of already over a hundred backers.

Take a little time out and dive into their honest and inspiring articles, and then make a pledge to helping this little L.A. magazine gain the support they deserve.

Roy Denim

Roy Slaper has one obsession - making jeans. Watching Roy passionately run Roy Denim all by himself out in the back streets of Oakland is really inspiring on so many levels. His obsessive attention to detail and his unique machine driven approach to creating jeans is what makes Roy Denim such a success.

Watch this great video produced by the good people over at Cool Hunting.

Thread & Stone Jewelry

In 2008, Alana Mock and Nicole Cabebe met through their boyfriends. They both made and sold their own jewelry for years, but as of last summer, they finally decided to join forces and collaborate ideas to pursue what they really love. Based out of Costa Mesa in sunny Orange County, California, they introduce to us Thread & Stone, a beautiful handmade jewelry collection that is more than just pretty, it's extremely hip. Check out the rest of the collection, along with their inspiring video introduction on their website.

Help Make This Movie!

We have discovered a delicious project to sink your teeth into...Decades is a beautiful/quirky/fresh/insightful film that has been 10 years in-the-making. I've become obsessed with it and hope you will too, because the film needs our help to get made. My talented friend Chris Redman, who you may recognize, came up with an idea with his friend 10 years ago that is truly magical - and totally genius. They filmed interviews with each other, with a plan to meet in exactly 10 years to see what changes or stays the same. The idea of documenting oneself discussing what the future will hold, investigating what life may be like, if tastes/political views/hopes and dreams have changed or not is such an intriguing subject. Chris has always been one of those guys that shines and stands out in a room filled with people but now that I know he has a tattoo on his body that literally features a date and time (May 3, 2010 / 1ish), I'm even more captivated! I'll let his words and trailer say it all...

"Ten years ago we filmed half a movie. Scenes and interviews with our future selves. Realizing that we'd captured something special, we got tattoos as reminders to meet and finish the film. It's time."

Since starting to raise funds for their film last month they've secured over $10k in donations. The pair needs $9000 more to finish the film, which will no doubt be a hit on the film festival-circuit. Let's show them the love y'all... Whether you 'like' their Facebook page, tweet about them, or share their website and donate, let's help get this amazing film made!

MADE IN LA - Dustbin

This 'dustbin', designed by Brendan Ravenhill, is quite possibly the last trash can you will ever need. And... It's entirely made in Los Angeles. Watch the video to see how.

*UPDATE

More Brendan Ravenhill designs made in LA:   Cord Lamp. Simplicity at its best, a pair makes great bedside lights. Made from ceramic, steel and aluminum with a cloth electrical cord.

Signal Shelves. Made from two telescoping U-Channels, the shelves slide on the brackets and lock in place with a set screw. The shelf supports make great bookends too.

Future Family Heirlooms

In a small rural shop in Minnesota, Eastvold Furniture builds finely crafted furniture from sustainable materials. They are timeless and beautiful, at home in either a loft or a farmhouse. They are built to last in the hopes that they will be past down to future generations. I wish I was inheriting some!

Cuppow!

Thanks to KC (of MakeShopLive) I've got a great new product for you... I introduce the (switch to Super Hero voice) Cuppow! Made in the USA, the Cuppow allows you to turn a canning jar into a travel mug/beverage container! The idea is so simple, it's genius. Plus they've executed the design and packaging perfectly. I'll be using mine all spring/summer to take homemade lemonade along in the car. I also tested using it for hot tea and simply used an old tennis wristband as a cup sleeve.

Put that in your canning jar and sip it.