Etsy Love: Dagmar's Designs

The only thing I love more than creative, eco-friendly, handmade treasures is a good story behind them. Dagmar, of Dagmar's Designs, grew up in communist Europe where artistic expression was stifled, to say the least. Her mother bought Dagmar her first sewing machine at age 13 and she proceeded to fill the void for fashionable, trendy clothing for herself in her birthplace of Slovakia. Fast forward a few decades, and Dagmar now lives in Canada with her husband and two children where she flourishes as a designer and craftswoman, once out of need, now out of passion.


Vintage buttons and fabrics on 100% organic cotton canvas means this Owl Family Pillow would be the 2nd cutest thing in your nursery!!


As someone who believes that no box of tissue should be without a cover, I'm loving Dagmar's ingenious 100% organic cotton canvas tissue cover (custom designs and sizes available).


Combining organic cotton canvas, lamp sheep fleece, and bits of wool felt and printed organic cotton, this Green Sleeping Birdie Pillow is green in more ways than one.


Wishing I had a daughter right now!! These wool felt hair clips are adorable (other styles available) and completely glue-free!

Etsy Love: Bird Mafia

It's Saturday and spring has decided to visit us again! Birds are returning from migration, the air is fresh and my to-do list is getting lots of checkmarks today! My happy energy and spring fever led me to an Etsy shop called Bird Mafia today, where I promptly fell in love with every offering. Adorable printed organic cotton pillows (including ones shaped like assorted wildlife), organic cotton toddler tees, funky handmade scenic shadow boxes, and innovative coffee cuffs (the eco beer cozy!) are all equally lovable. Astonishingly, every screen-print and shadow box starts with artfully cut paper, the basis of Bird Mafia's intricate crafts.


This is the cut paper printed pillow that drew me to Bird Mafia initially: organic cotton Star Pillow in Marigold (also available in Teal).


"Ever Green I" cut paper shadow box featuring vintage maps.


Organic cotton Owl Pillows (also available in the shapes of raccoons and bears).


Handmade organic cotton Coffee Cuffs.


Organic cotton Kids Owl T-shirt (several other designs available).

Etsy Love: My Bearded Pigeon

With recent natural devastation turning a sympathetic focus overseas, the feeling of a global community is profoundly more present and real than usual. Before we all go back to our default single-mindedness within our constructed geographical borders, I wish to take a moment to appreciate this feeling and imagine how it would be if it were always like this. (Especially for us Americans, many of whom, I hate to say, behave as if there are no other lands beyond our shores much of the time.)

For today's Etsy shop pick, I found a seller who crafts organic cotton pillows emblazoned with maps of the world, various countries, states and even cities, bringing a quirky global accent to any room. My Bearded Pigeon is an Australia-based shop, specializing in these fun pillows. Featured below is a map of Japan and states from both coasts as well as a few picks from their non-map designs including an inspiring quotation on lined notebook paper and blank notebook paper. I love the simplicity and old school design feel of all of My Bearded Pigeon pillows.