Just a quick public service announcement for guys, and girls with boyfriends.  If I had more money to spend than I usually would to dress myself up, I’d be all over these: http://www.cutbywesley.com/

He was down the corner from us at the last Unique LA shindig, and was tempted to get a tie or two.  But I realised, that I don’t have the shirts to wear a tie with, so I put it off for a randy dandy rainy day.  And there are days that I wish I looked spiffy with a Cut by Wes tie, and a soft pair of Fluevogs, so I can conquer the world in style.

I love Bob Dylan. I listen to mostly his early music, and there is something about his voice that I find so calming, it does make one sit and pause. (And we do need that occasional moments now don’t we?) Along with that distinctive singing voice of his in comes his harmonica, an instrument that naturally blends in with him, like bread and butter does. With his intelligently written lyrics and guitar, it all blends in… music so natural, music that’s real, music that refreshes one’s soul.

I scored a chromatic harmonica some few years back, with hopes that I can someday play it Bob Dylan style. And although I’m not quite the blues playing little cat that I want to be, it’s been fun playing it to children or just to myself. Something that just passes time!

I’ve also heard that there are these mini harp necklaces too that you can just wear around and play music with, but never actually got to get my hands on one. For the love of Bob Dylan and the harp, it’s something that I’ve always wanted, a teeny tiny music maker that I could just wear around with me…

Lo and behold! One happy Unique LA day, it was found for me by Paul, the perfect harp necklace, from  Charcoal Designs, who was the table right next to us!

My own teeny harp!

It was meant to be. It doesn’t work the same way as real harmonicas do, but hey, you can still blow away one or two note solos now can’t you?

In between selling we’d chit chat a bit with Laura and Mike from Charcoal Designs, and I found it really interesting on how much attention to detail Laura puts in into her work on creating her intricately designed hand cast resin pieces. A lot of lovely little playful accessories in her site one just ought to check out! (Makes it even more special knowing that there’s a lot of love that comes with these whimsical and unique vintage-esque items!)

Totally unrelated, but I find myself singing a lyric from the Killers: “I got soul, but I’m not a soldier.”  Now I’ll probably have LSS on my head each time I take a picture or pickup the guitar.

I found the Souldier Straps booth towards the end of RCF’s first day, and I knew I was going to get something.  It was just a matter of wiping the drool off my face and choosing a pattern that spoke to my personality.  And boy, do they speak!  Kat actually beat me to it, and got me a new camera strap!  I’ve always wanted to replace the camera strap I use since I get bothered by the huge corporate logos that usually adorn them (ehem, Nikon/Canon), and I’ve always liked being nondescript about gear.

My Souldier

Aside from the camera strap, I also decided to pickup a new guitar strap even though the one I’ve had for 13 years was holding up fine – I’m sure this one would stay with the guitar for quite awhile.

We love not only their gear, but their name also.  Show your soul.

Besides the wonderful beard that Paul snagged from I Made You a Beard, there was one real want that was staring right at us all throughout. It was the Monster Mustache from our neighbors Fuzzy Ink. And by monster, I mean 45″ of delightful fuzziness!

Almost every other hour Paul and I would be talking about how incredible it’d be to have that very stache at the back of Vanessa, our VW bus. It was such a tease for us to find out that there was an ongoing raffle to actually win it. Even more a tease when we saw someone walking away happily with one of ‘em!

Sneaking a David Copafeel while John isn't looking

Halfway through the second day, Paul’s sister drops by, and we express our thoughts on the stache and just how perfect it’d be sitting at the back of our bus joining us in our road adventures. In a snap, she goes on and buys the last piece as a birthday present for Paul. Hooray! Our bus is looking spiffy now with the new stache, all set for adventure!

It’s incredibly soft by the way, the kind that will just shut you up and lull you into space. Best for keeping the monkeys quiet. And handmade with a lot of love by John himself. Thanks!

Here’s John (who makes the staches) and Jon who makes awesome leather belts and shirts. It was great meeting you guys!

One of our customers asked us during the Renegade Craft Fair (RCF) if the vendors were adhering to certain themes.  A bit befuddled, I asked her what she meant, and she mentioned that owls and gnomes were a pretty popular craft among several vendors.  I mean, even the RCF logo is an owl!  I never thought about it, but I guess great minds must think alike.

by Sweet and Sour Goodies

The first thing that caught my attention was the gnome cutout where people could have their pictures taken at the Sweet and Sour Goodies booth.  And then I saw him!  Along with the lumberjack, and a few luchadores.. I honestly wanted the whole gang, but I knew this one was special.  I just knew we had to become friends, and imagined having a new companion across our travels.  And so I ran back to the booth to report a gnome sighting, and found out that Kat also saw him earlier and had the same sentiments!

Long story short, we had him watch over our table as the rest of the fair went on.  With his own Runaway Gnome button, of course.

Thank you, Sweet and Sour Goodies!

You know those paper fortune games that are just so fun to play? I don’t think the guys ever played them, but us girls did to pass time between (or even during!) classes back in the day of high school laziness. And guess what, I was just dropping by Pop + Shorty’s booth to say hi, (a twitter friend, with such a cute blog!) and this just stopped me at my tracks:

It’s a fold your own fortune teller, and it comes in a pack of two! I just had to get it for my lucky friend Beverly, it’s so girly, reminiscent and just so ADORABLE. She’ll definitely love this!

Pop + Shorty makes real sweet cards too, check them out at their site.

Since I couldn’t stop talking about the Renegade Fair, Kat and I decided to feature a few of our favorites – little did she know I was trying to get home as fast as I could so I can checkout the pictures and share them with you!

Today’s favorite is something that is so cool that I’d wear it everyday if it weren’t for triple digit weather where I live. As my friends very well know, I’ve tried valiantly – and in vain – to grow chops, a mustache, a beard.. anything! I first saw Erin’s yarn beards on Etsy and immediately fell in love. When we found out she was attending RCF, I already knew that a beard was going to be one of my first purchases (as soon as I could sneak away from the booth).

Lo and behold, it fits like a glove, and I literally had to stop counting the number of people who did double takes of the magnificent forest under my nose that was my beard. The best part was seeing even the most stoic faces break into a smile when they realize how amazingly dashing and manly a little man can be.

Thank you, Imadeyouabeard.etsy.com, you have made me several steps closer to awesome!!

Life as a Rubber Stamp

This little bugger was waiting inside our mailbox last week, and boy, what a treat to find him! We still need to get a pool of ink for him to swim in, as I’m sure he’s raring for some action.

Props to Teresa at Tickled Pink Paper Ink, the quality of her product is amazing! Now we all know where to go for custom rubber stamps, in case our little monster needs a few more friends

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Feel free to drop by her shop, she features wonderful vintage illustrations and handpainted graphics on timber pieces. We especially love her Timber greeting cards and Sushibird tiles.

More at The Red Thread!