Monday, November 21, 2011

Why I Love Handmade

The Toaster Project,  by Thomas Thwaites

I was recently watching the Colbert Report and he had an interesting guest:  designer Thomas Thwaites, author of The Toaster Project.  In his short interview, Thwaites told Colbert about how he set out with the intention of creating the quintessential household appliance from start to finish, starting out by mining the raw materials himself - including the smelting of iron ore for some of the metal components.  His goal was to create a working toaster that looked like the one you could pick up from a shop down the street.  Of course, along the way, Thwaites discovers the near impossibility of creating these components on a small domestic scale, and says in the interview with Colbert that the toaster turned on for about a second once, but never actually toasted bread.  You can read more about this incredibly fascinating project by visiting Thwaites' site devoted to the project: http://www.thetoasterproject.org/

Now this a somewhat roundabout way of introducing why I love handmade items, but during the four minutes in which I watched this interview, I had a rare moment of clarity.  I often wonder why I burn the midnight oil, squeezing in a full day of work during my daughter's nap times and bed times, literally killing myself to make handmade items for customers I will most likely never meet.

There are of course, many great reasons - I work at home, it's fulfilling to have my job be so creative, I get enormous satisfaction from selling things I've made - all of these are high on my priority list.  But what I love about the challenging time in which we are currently living is that something like Thwaites' project is relevant because we have learned to live with a lot less.

This unstable economy we've been navigating for the last few years has opened up a huge opportunity for a handmade revolution.  Which is to say, because we have less money to spend we have a greater appreciation for the items we care to spend our money on.  So we demand more from the goods we want.  Instead of having 10 commercially made scarves from an outsourced sweatshop overseas, we'd rather have one handknit scarf from a stay-at-home Mom trying to make a little extra cash.  It's a simpler life, to be sure, but one that is a little more conscious of the maker who created the accessory around your neck that's going to keep you warm all winter, instead of the typical blind consumer spending that makes up our daily life.  Don't get me wrong - there are huge advantages to the way we buy products these days - I would be a hypocrite to say I only buy handmade. But I like that making handmade goods has changed the way I consume other goods - ones that I really don't have a choice to buy handmade (a toaster), because if we actually paid what this item would truly cost for one person to make - we'd never be able to afford it and it would only turn on for a second.  I like that buying and selling handmade goods has made me appreciate the few items I do have, because I now appreciate the time-consuming and financial cost of the goods in my life, commercial and handmade.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

A Quick One While He's Away...

Just some quick news: goodmarvin is having a mega clearance sale on selected items.  50% off!  Here's a few photos of items that can be yours on the cheap:
Teal and Black Houndstooth Reversible Scarf made from 100% recycled fabric: $14
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70868576/ladies-scarf-teal-black-recycled

 Schoolmarm Clutch in Purple and Orange Plaid - $16
http://www.etsy.com/listing/59852811/schoolmarm-fold-over-clutch-in-red

Pencil Pouch in Mod Florals and Embroidered Linen - $6
http://www.etsy.com/listing/50011261/pencil-purse-zipper-pouch-in-mod-flowers

And there's many more items on sale, so check it out here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/goodmarvin?section_id=7966675&page=1

Also, Julie from etsystalkers has written a nice little feature on some of the bags in my shop.  You can check the feature and her blog out here: http://www.etsystalkers.com/

I'm planning another post featuring a fellow etsian in the next day or so, so check back soon to see who I'm featuring!

xoxo
goodmarvin

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Fun New Journals from Subtleacts on Etsy

Being a seller on etsy has a few occupational pitfalls: one being that I regularly covet items popping up in my activity feed.  I can't seem to favorite these items fast enough, and often find that when sales are slow, I end up purchasing a favorited item in the hopes of cheering myself up and playing into the paying-it-forward etsy sales karma (if such a thing exists - it always seems to in my case.)


I have been admiring these lovely moleskine journals hand-stamped from rubber stamps that etsy shop owner Subtleacts designed and carved, and finally decided to get a couple for myself.  (Or my husband for Christmas - I haven't decided yet who they belong to, so shhh!  keep mum about it.)  I love her whimsical hand - each carving retains a sense of character and has just the right amount of positive and negative space in it.  Check this out:

 Mr. Hemingway Moleskine Journal by Subtleacts on etsy

Begging Dog Moleskine Journal by Subtleacts on etsy

They are super affordable at $9, the perfect size to shove in your back pocket or in your purse and are a must-have for anyone who wants to fly in the face of technology by admiring their own written words on paper and not a phone!  Keep all of your memorable, and (maybe not so proud) thoughts here.  

xoxo
goodmarvin

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Hit Etsy's Front Page this Morning and a 9/11 Tribute Treasury

Woohoo! One of my Sexy Librarian Handbags hit Etsy's Front Page this morning at 10am. That's always a nice feeling. Check out the lovely treasury below.



And this treasury was made by one of our awesome Clickety team captains lillyandlulu as a 9/11 tribute: 

It's been a crazy start to the semester with two significant floods in our basement due to hurricanes and tropical storms.  It's been putting my production schedule in goodmarvin behind a little bit.  I'm still hoping to release those smart phone cases in the next week or two and I have ideas for some cute shoulder bags for the fall.  Stay tuned!

xoxo
goodmarvin

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Looking forward to fall...

I have been dreading the return of fall for some reason this summer.  Usually I welcome the cooler nights, and the crisp sunny days, but this summer I have been grumpy thinking about the return of autumn.  You'd think I'd be sick of the hot dry summer followed by the ridiculously wet August (Hurricane Irene included) and would welcome September with open arms.

Well, it happened.  I must be driven by the weather entirely.  Because the cool night breeze that Irene ushered in this evening made me remember all my fall favorites - Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks (which should be returning soon), wearing hand knit cowls and scarves with just a t-shirt or light jacket, hell - I'm even generous towards football in the beginning of the season.  And for some reason, delicious spiced beers are always appealing once the weather starts to turn.  I made an etsy treasury tonight as I look forward to fall (if only I could have included a pumpkin spice latte!)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The baby's here! She arrived about 9 months ago...

Oops.  I told you Mommyhood would consume all of my activities.  My daughter was born last November and she is perfect.  She now models tote bags for goodmarvin (that is when she's not trying to knock them over!)






You can see more pics of her modeling skills on my website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/goodmarvin?section_id=7271778

Other news:  goodmarvin has added a few new designs for yoga bags for the fall:
A zippered top-loading yoga bag available in many patterns!




And an extra large open top-loading bag with magnetic snaps:






Psst!  And these haven't been released yet, but I'm hoping for a mid-September launch of gadget cases.  I was thinking it'd be awesome to have a miniature abstract painting in your pocket  - check these out:






  Well, that's it for now.  I promise to check back in more quickly this time and not let another 9 months go by!

xoxo
goodmarvin

Thursday, November 4, 2010

What's New in goodmarvin

Well, yesterday was my baby's due date and she still has not arrived.  So while I wait around, trying to keep busy, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share with you some new things that are going on in my shop.  That is, before the demands of mommyhood consume all of my time!

The first thing I'm really excited about is my new infinity/eternity/extra long cowls I've been knitting with specialty yarns.  They're super dramatic and fun - some look like Elizabethan ruffles when worn.
Extra Long Circle Scarf in Sage Green, Aqua Blue and Purple

Extra Long Circle Scarf in Plum and Sage Green
(so fuzzy, warm and fun to wear!)

Extra Long Circle Scarf in Blue, Green, and Lavender Gray

I have plans to make more - in fact, there is one in yellow and very light gray that is very long and beautiful that I plan to photograph today and list soon.  I will be knitting until this baby arrives so keep checking back!

Some other new things:  Man scarves!  They are exactly what they sound like - just good looking scarves for the men folk in colors and designs befitting of the manliest of men.  As usual, I can't just make plain boring scarves - all of these have been knitted using a combination of yarns so they are completely one-of-a-kind, unique, handmade items.  A perfect gift for the dude in your life.  

Black and Silvery Gray Man Scarf


Marbelized Teal, Sky Blue, and Spring Green Windy Day Scarf with Buttons
(Long title, but a wonderfully practical scarf.  My husband always complains that his scarf comes undone when he's out in the cold, so voila!  Buttons to hold it in place!)

Beige and Brown Boucle Striped Man Scarf
(I love how soft the yarn is in this one, but it still has a distinctly manly feel.)


Ribbed Manly Scarf in Oatmeal and Gray

I'm going to stop there and let you check out the rest for yourself here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/goodmarvin?section_id=7170541

The last, super exciting thing I will leave you with is my new line of Schoolmarm Clutches.  Based on the design of the Sexy Librarian series, but with a rectangular body and more everyday, practical type fabrics.  

 Schoolmarm Fold Over Clutch in Brown Plaid and Floral


 Schoolmarm Fold Over Clutch in Cerulean Gingham


Schoolmarm Clutch in Charcoal Gray and White Houndstooth

There are plenty of other exciting new things in the shop - fun pom-pom winter hats, pretty neckwarmers with buttons, and fringed cowls, but I will let you check them out for yourself.  

If you don't hear from me again soon, you'll know we've finally welcomed our little daughter into the world.  

xoxo
Melissa