Get the Message

Ever since I started this blog, a kind of uncanny series of coincidences has occurred related to my posts.  A couple of installments ago I wrote about Jo James of The Cart Before the Horse and the wierdly interwoven pieces of art and craft that have found their way into both of our otherwise unconnected lives.  Well, today I did a little browsing in Portland’s West End, which is fast becoming my favorite shopping district on the west side, with shops that feel like like welcoming, down-to-earth galleries.  Shops like Radish Underground that feature locally made, beautiful clothes, accessories, & art:   

 While perusing some of my regular salivating destinations, I saw a few items that could have been pulled right out of my blog-head.  Some were items that I hadn’t specifically identified in a post, but that fit into themes I’ve already covered — like feather earrings at Tender Loving Empire, or gorgeous pieces by Portland jewelry-maker Paper Treasure at Narcisse: 

I also saw the exact headband by DartHeart I featured in my feather-related post.  Ok, not a completely mind-blowing coincidence seeing that both DartHeart and Paper Treasure are Portland based, but I’m sure you’ll cut me some slack.  It’s a blog post, not a documentary, right?  

While poking around in TLE, I saw a familiar box of outrageously crass and shockingly hilarious handmade cards.  I’ve seen these Snarky Cards around in shops before, and reading them always makes me guffaw embarrassingly loudly and sometimes pee a little.  While I’ve enjoyed thumbing through the cards and giggling many times, I’ve never before seen one that touches my heart like this one:  

Now, I deliberately try to stay positive on my blog, but I felt that the message on this card was so current and so locally relevant (see my moustache comment on previous post Objet de Stuffie) that I just have to let the snark flag fly, if only briefly.  The cards are made by Alisa Starr, who is obviously a genius and whom I now have a crush on.  See, positive outcome after all!  

Where’s the coincidence you ask, rather impatiently.  The thing is, I was thinking that my next blog post would be about sending and receiving messages.  And there was Alisa’s card, sending a much-needed message, poetic in its brevity, accuracy, and timeliness.  (Young men of Portland, hear this plea.)  

Wow, I really had to go the long way around for that intro.  

So, to carry on with the promised theme, here are some creative ways to make your feelings known!  

Message in a bottle kits from Miniature Rhino:  

Ah, the mother of snarky craft-shock – Julie Jackson of Subversive Cross Stitch doesn’t mince words:  

Just when you’ve lost all hope for mankind, someone comes along and makes something so dern funny it restores your faith.  Like this powerful message from Portland based Power and Light.  It really makes you think . . . WTF would he do?   Yeah . . .  

Maybe I’m corny, but there are several people I can think of who I’d like to give this necklace to.  Or I could just buy it for myself and have them read it while I’m wearing it . . .  

Need help with that heartfelt sentiment?  Maybe these cards will do the trick.  Check out this amazing pop-up card from Crank Bunny.  

Tired of being told to “Keep Calm,” etc?  

 How ingenious of Vixen’s Empire to anticipate the need for a card just for fort-building compulsions!   

  And to end on the oh-so-imporant positive note, a card from Here My Dear to cover a multitude of occasions.  

Until next time!  

Carrie xxx