Last night was the grand opening of Modern Domestic, the new sewing studio and machine store from Bolt Neighborhood Fabric Boutique. Bolt is hands down my favorite fabric store for gorgeous fabrics, patterns, and special notions. Once not too long ago I even got some adorable lemur buttons. Buttons shaped like lemurs!

The new shop is chock full of shiny new machines, bright and spacious work spaces, and all kinds of sewing accessories that you've always wanted.

You can check out the class list here, my favorites so far: make a cover for your machine, kimono dress and obi belt, and even a camisole and undies! How lucky are we to have such a great resource right here in Portland!

Spring has finally made it to Portland! I'm thrilled!

Sun dresses! Patios! Hooray!

I've also just set up a quick survey here: Click here to take survey

and I'd love it if you could give up 5 minutes and take it!

When you're finished, just email me or let me know somehow that you've finished and you'll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate for Hopeful Monsters!

It's seriously easy! 10 quick questions, and you can win!

(And since the sale is still going on in the Etsy store, you could get way more bang for your winning buck!)

The sale continues! But just a note, I'll be out of town (and obviously, the studio) from March 11 - March 15.

You can expect orders to ship just as soon as I return!

The new spring and summer collections are available online now!

Some of my favorites are finally for sale! I've been waiting and getting excited for so long now, I'm thrilled to have them in my hot little hands, to share them with you, and to wear them as often as I want!

I hope you love the new stuff as much as I do!!

You might also be interested to know that a lot of items have been moved to the SALE section of my Etsy store!

**Somehow, half of everything is underlined. Who knows why, just indulge me...

As 2010 marches on, things here in the studio are getting busier and busier.

Inventory, taxes, fabric and boxes and boxes of beakers are arriving, and I'm already working away on new dresses for the fall.

In addition to the new projects I've got in the works, I've just added a new item for Valentines Day. The Manly Grooming Travel Kit is a simple, classic travel kit for your gentleman on the go.

A hand printed handkerchief (Gesundheit!) and an antique wooden comb. This compact set fits in a pocket and keeps you (or your gentleman) looking polished and prepared for anything.

As a special for Valentines Day this set is for sale in my Etsy shop for just $6 (and with reduced shipping to boot.)

Things here at the world of Hopeful Monsters are bustling along in preparation for the Spring releases. I've been ordering, snipping, printing, and planning. Good things are coming!

I am very excited. I hope you are also very excited!

Snip snip snip!

PSST!

I'm having a New Year's Sale! Get 30% any and everything in the shop from right now through the end of January.

Use code: CHEERS

If you had your eye on something during the holidays, but didn't find it in your stocking - now is the time to snatch it up.

And just because I love you, every order will get an extra special little something tucked in with your purchase! Yay!

*I'll even allow this code to be used through the Etsy store, just type the code in the message to seller box and I'll email you an updated invoice with a link to pay. *

Illustration by http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurageorge

The holiday craziness is more or less over now, and I'm looking towards 2010 with hope, glee, and tons and tons of giddy ideas.

I hope 2009 was a blast for you, and that you ring in 2010 with a big grin on your face!

Yesterday was Crafty Wonderland, and it was a pretty darn good time!

Josh put on his game face and helped me out all day and lots of our lovely friends came out to visit. They even brought us homemade treats! Lemon sandwich cookies! Candied Nuts! Caramels!

How lucky are we!

We also managed to snag some great loot for ourselves and for holiday presents! Here's some of our favorites!

Oddvark! From Perfect Children!

Hedgehog Knuckler Keychain!

Slug Hoodie from Frock!

Brown Bag Bottle Cozy! (Here, Josh is doing homework even after our long long day.)

This morning I've got to face the studio mess. Honestly, it looks like someone shook it up. And then tipped it upside down. So....yeah. I'll get back to you after I've faced that.

This weekend I'll be at the Super Collosal Crafty Wonderland Show!

You can come see me and get some new goodies not available anywhere else, and everything will be just a bit cheaper than you can get anywhere else - just a little gesture to make your holiday shopping a little bit easier on your pocket this year.

And seriously, if you're in the area and aren't already planning on coming, check out the vendor list. 200 amazing crafters and artists! I am personally super duper excited!

Dear lovelies!

It's finally time to unveil one of my newest and most exciting endeavors in the continued development of the Hopeful Monsters reign.

The Adelaide Cowl Dress:

The first Hopeful Monsters 100% designed from the ground up and made in Portland, Oregon garment.

I love it. It's flattering, comfortable, and makes you feel very polished and pretty and ready for anything.

You can tie the drawstring waist in front, or wrap it around and tie it with a tiny bow in the back. (That's my favorite way to wear to it.)

It's available in my 2 web shops, the home shop and the Etsy shop, as well as at The Portland Garment Factory. The Portland garment factory also has it in a couple of different lengths. You should go check it out, not only for my dress but to have a gander at all the amazing local designers that they stock. It'll be worth the trip!

New stuff is in the store now!

A couple ladies tops, a couple gentlemen's tops, throw pillows, coasters, and some brand new printed wood jewelry.

I'm really excited about the new wood products - the coasters and jewelry are hand printed on natural wood so that the grain and color can really show through and they look great.

A little fancy, a little natural - and they make lovely gifts. I'm already plotting away on my gift list!

There is still one more item coming soon, trust me, it will be worth the wait! But until then, check out some of the new goods and the fun pictures from our photoshoot.

And thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of my work. I mean you - my customers, my family, my friends, and even you lurkers who visit from time to time just to take a peek.

I feel so darn lucky and full of warm fuzzies to be where I am and doing what I want to do.

Thank you!

Some special winter items will be in the shops soon! Here's a sneak peek!

Sunday before last was the Content event in Portland, OR.

28 rooms in the Ace Hotel, each with a different designer or duo.
Music. Drinks. Live Models. Fashion. Jewelry. It was great!

Below are a photos from a few of my favorites from the evening! You can see much better, more representative photos here, on the Content site!

This time of year in Portland we're all scrambling to make time in our schedules to get out to the orchards and the pumpkin patches. It's apple picking time and the pumpkins are ripe for the taking!

I was lucky enough to make it out recently for some apple picking and snagged some pumpkins along the way. So today, the theme is A Day in the Orchard.

(Clockwise)

1. Cast Iron Spice Grinder from Canoe

2. Frye Harness Boots

3. Jackee Muntz vs Thomas Samson from Andrews and Dunham Damn Fine Teas

4. Limited Edition Stanley Classic Thermos

5. Wooden Radio from The Curiosity Shoppe

6. Freya Dress from Gaia Conceptions

7. Hand picked apples from the Draper Girls Country Farm, Oregon.

8. Zebrawood Gem Necklace by Somethings Hiding in Here

9. Wide Chocolate Leather Belt by The Pila Shoppe

(As usual, all photos belong to the linked purveyors of these lovely goods. Well, except the apples. I took that photo.)

Between today (Oct 18) and the end of the month, 25% of all sales will be donated to the Wheels for Henry fundraiser.

The money will be used to buy a convertible wheelchair van for an awesome Portland family, Chloe Eudaly (of Reading Frenzy) and her son Henry.

Check out the website for a list of other particpants and stock up on holiday gifts now - what better way to shop for others when some of that money will also go to helping others!

Today's theme is based on my very own name, Hopeful Monsters.

Hopeful Monsters: [hohp-fuhl mon-ster] noun -
Creatures displaying novel, possibly fortuitous mutations or behaviors that may allow them to be more successful and survive better. These "monsters" are different, but hope to thrive because of their differences and become successful, happy monsters. -Origin 1933, in reference to evolutionary changes and biology.

In honor of this, I give you an assortment of goods relating to the world of evolutionary biology. (And all from Etsy this time!)

1. Darwin's Finch Tee by Isotope

2. Anger Fish Tee by Siempre La Lucha

3. The Charles Darwin Organic Tote by Snoozer Loser

4. Copulating Earthworm Necklace by Heron Adornment

5. Axon Terminal Earrings by Nanopod

6. Survival of the Fittest Beer Drinker I.D. case by To Funky Town

7. Domestic Science Beaker Candles by yours truly (Hopeful Monsters)

8. Cytomorphic Ring by Disco Medusa

9. Charles Darwin Brooch by Rikki B

Enjoy!

*All photo credits belong to the artists linked above.*

As an avid blog reader (design, fashion, humor, small animals - you name it) I've been thinking of instigating a weekly feature here on my very own blog.

A sort of habitat appropriate fashion and accessorie montage showcasing some of my favorite finds from my internet "window-shopping" of the past week.

Where: A day at the Natural History museum. (Something which Portland is sorely lacking.)

1. Snake Rib Ring by Macha Jewelry

2. The Warm Your Bones Jumper by Necessity is the Mother / Fancy Clothing

3. Original Seaweed Pressing by AlgaNet

4. Miner's Bottles from Anthropologie

5. Danburite Bullet Pendant by scarletbegonia11

6. Reading the Stars embroidered constellations by Miniature Rhino

7. Tramway Heels from Mod Cloth

8. Handcrank Automato by Cartoon Monster (see it in action here)

*all photos belong to the respective artists*

Tomorrow is the Skating with Scissors roller derby carft show!

Admission is free, there will be fantastic crafters, artists, and me! It's all day, so come down and hang out with me for a while. I'll have all the new clothes, most of the summer collection, as well as some brand new housewares you haven't seen before!

Mention the blog and get 10% off anything you buy!

This Sunday was the photo shoot for the end-of-summer / pre-fall clothing (women's only, sorry gents!)

We had a great time and I love the photos! I'm working away to get everything up on the site and into the store, but in the mean time you can enjoy some behind the scene shots!

Hopefully everything will be ready by Thursday! I'll keep you posted!