To make a long story short, the owner of the shop was a self proclaimed “outcast” growing up and throughout high school, she felt as I am sure many young women do, that sex would somehow make her more popular and accepted among her peers.  Unfortunately she was wrong and overtime became ashamed of herself and her vagina.  It even became so bad for her that any thought of her vagina would result in a sick feeling in her stomach, feeling dirty, ashamed and useless.  This was until a friend of hers took her to see the show The Vagina Monologues.  It was this experience that helped her feel more confident and proud of who she was.  Looking for away to turn her past into something positive she started VulvaLoveLovelys.  The shop allowed her to express and celebrate herself and the female anatomy.

I think it’s absolutely incredible for someone to take something so negative in their life and turn it into something completely positive, especially when we are talking about something as taboo as a vagina.   Some of the shops items range from pendants, pillows, key chains and even vulva lip balm.  With over 327 satisfied customers the shop seems to be gaining popularity and a strong following.  While these products aren’t for the timid or meek; actually most of these products look about as real as possible; I can definitely see a home for them with many women.

You can check out the full line of products at: VulvaLoveLovelys

Earmark Invitations creates chic and unique invitations and other paper goods, including stationary, greeting cards and handmade journals. They also make some very cool party banners that have a great vintage feel to them. Each letter is printed on a separate card and then all of them are strung together with cording. The banners are for any occasion as they also do custom orders!

Another batch of fun products that they produce are the pencils with witty little phrases on them and also the various magnets as well. I noticed again with these, that the artwork on not just the banners and
cards, but the magnets as well, is very detailed with a lot of variation in color.

Wedding invitations are also a big thing over at Earmark Invitations and I will say that they do some stunning work! The styles and colors available are so wide that there is a little bit of something for everyone!

Prices are pretty reasonable for the stationary and cards varying from about 4 dollars for one card, to about 12-15 for a set. They also sell stationary kits that include a little bit of everything that they offer! These cost around 30 dollars.

Earmark Invitations came about in 2003 with the help of founder and creator Bridgette Salvon. She is the designer behind all of these wonderful products! In 2005, her husband Mike Berndt joined in on the
fun and now runs the operations department of the company. They not only sell their products through their own website, (which I must add is currently doing a promotion where you can get 10% off!)
but they also sell on their Etsy website as well. Having also been featured in publications such as Bridal Guide, Women’s Health, InStyle, Poppytalk Handmade and Glamour Magazine online, just to name a few, they are more than well on their way to spreading these wonderful products to every corner of the globe!

I highly recommend checking out everything that they have to offer and maybe picking up a little something for yourself as well!

www.earmarkinvitations.com

A few items that caught my eye were some of the awesome glycerin novelty soaps that they produce. You can get everything from horror staples like a mini Jason mask, or Leatherface, and even Michael Meyers. (And did you know that the original Michael Meyers mask was created from a William Shatner mask from a Star Trek costume? I think that adds to the creepiness factor…)

Also check out the gross anatomy soaps of the human eyeball and the human heart; you can’t go wrong on Halloween with body parts! You can also suffice your craving for movie monsters by picking up a Creature of the Black Lagoon, Hellboy or even Nosferatu soap! Saving the best for last though I will have to say that Spellbound Soapworks’ version of ”soap on a rope” is quite awesome. Instead of just your traditional rope with said soap attached, they have put a new twist on an old classic, adding a noose for the rope! It’s simple, but clever!

Not only are the soaps very reasonably priced, from about 4 dollars to 7 dollars a soap, most of them can be custom scented as well! They also carry a wide array of bath and body products that range from 2 dollars to 10, from lip balms and glosses to body lotions and scrubs!

Spellbound Soapworks is located out of Indianapolis Indiana and is run by owner Maura and her sister Chris. Every bar of soap that comes out of Spellbound Soapworks is handmade, starting from the hand sculpted molds to the pouring and scenting of the soap, and some are even hand painted! They also attend conventions to show off their spooky soaps so check them out sometime if you are in the area! Just last weekend they attended the Flashback Week-End Convention in Rosemont, IL and they will also be at the Horror Hound Week-End in Cincinnati, OH from November 20th-22nd!

Check out all of the products at www.spellboundsoapworks.com

Throwboy pillows comes from the mind of a gentleman named Roberto. They create unique pillows that really capture the spirit of what computers have become to us as individuals and the attachments we have to certain programs. As they state on their website “We know your computer is more than a tool. It’s a constant companion, a friend. A gateway to the great heights of “risqué.” The hub to your very life and existence. But we think it should be more. It should be snuggled close to you as you sleep and clutched tightly in your clammy hands during that especially gruesome scene in The Ring. And, since polycarbonate and aluminum hardly lend themselves to cuddly-comfort, we’ve got the solution.” having said all of that their pillows are created out of quality matierals; they’re hand crafted pillows filled with polyester and one hunderead percent fleace.

As of now they have a three lines of pillows. One set of pillows that represents most of the programs you would find in the “ilife” suite and in the near future they will begin their text pillows. They have also just recently released a line of Halloween inspired pillows, which are my favorite! You can order an individual pillow for twenty nine dollars or you can purchase in sets which can save you some coin!

The pillows themselves measure roughly 9″ x 11″ so if you plan on taking a nap on them they might be a bit small, but as far as a decorative pillow goes they have hit a home run. If your a huge Apple fan boy, or even just like unique and interesting wares for your house,

Mastermind Jeff Davis created Vinylux over 5 years ago while he was attending the Rhode Island School of Design. The mission is, “Active participation in the green revolution.” Over the years, Vinylux has recycled and repurposed roughly 400,000 vinyl records. Everything is used including the cardboard sleeves, and whatever scraps are left are again recycled.

Mostly the records used come from dealers and collectors, but they will also use your own records to make bowls and coasters, which are some of the most popular items! They also create customized items as well for businesses and such as well!

Like I just said, the bowls and coasters are some of the most popular items, but they also make things like clocks, picture frames, bracelets, journals and even an LP snack tray! Prices range on the lower end for the ornaments and go up to twenty dollars for a coaster set, twenty-eight for the bowls or snack trays, and then fourty-eight
dollars for the sweet bracelet/wrist cuffs.

Check out Vinylux and all of their earth-friendly and amazing goods at: vinylux.net

WEBSITE: fuzzy-ink.com

So lets start off by introducing yourself and what you do at Fuzzy Ink?

Fuzzy Ink has quite a fascination with all things mustache, and a few furry creatures to boot. Currently residing in Raleigh, NC our company consists of 3 people and with our powers combined we are…oh wait, wrong interview. I (John) am responsible for basically running the business side of things, which includes order fulfillment, marketing, networking and building customer relationships. I’m also a self taught screen printer and responsible for most of the printed designs. Mike, the hodge-podgerist of the company, is responsible for most of the creative things you see and read including design ideas, blog posts and product descriptions. He’s also the person behind the Fuzzies, spending countless hours on his sewing machine, Matilda. Justin, our creative director, is the right brained side of Fuzzy Ink. He’s responsible for most of our designs and handles all of our website needs.

I have to get this out of the way, where did you come up with the name Fuzzy Ink?

The name Fuzzy Ink was chosen after the concept of our brand and niche had already been sorted out. We really wanted something that played off of our mustache inspired designs, yet still gave us room to expand our ideas and illustrations in the future.

How would you describe your line to someone that isn’t familiar with it?

I would describe our line as mustache driven with an artistic feel to it. There’s definitely a humorous undertone to a lot of our designs, which can be seen with Game Over, Stache Anything and Mustache Ride, but we try to offer more artistically driven pieces as well (Striking, Sunstache Kid). If nothing else, we at least know that people will leave our website with a smile.

I love the use of the Lego’s and Mario Characters on your shirts. Can we expect more 80′s and 90′s inspired throwbacks?

Identity Crisis and Game Over have definitely been very popular designs with our customers and we’ll certainly be offering more designs of that nature in the future. Parody inspired designs are always really fun to come up with, but it’s just about finding the ones that fit with our brand.

So lets talk a bit more about these Mustaches you have mentioned. I see that you just released a line of plush staches, Where did you guys come up with that?

We’re always playing around with new concepts and potential products and Fuzzies were something that we’d talked about for quite some time. The hardest part was actually taking them from the idea phase to production. But through a lot of trial and error we were able to get them to the look and feel that we desired. Most people may not realize it, but Fuzzies (and most of our other products) are made completely in house (literally in my house). From creating the template on the fabric, sewing, stuffing and tagging, everything is done by us. So each plushie is truly a one of a kind piece.

Any other major plans for this year at Fuzzy Ink HQ?

We’re always striving to come up with something different so we’ll continue to push ourselves in that department. We’re going to be quite busy with upcoming shows around the country so our goal is to meet new people everywhere we go and keep growing as a company. We still plan to release a new design/product once a month, but we’re also very picky about the quality of our work. If we’re not happy with the way something looks, we’re certainly not going to compromise the integrity of our designs. One thing I can offer is that we’re going to try and bring more of the women’s demographic into our brand. That’s all I’m going to say, so stay tuned.

What are some brands that you looked up to when starting Fuzzy Ink?

A few names that come to mind are Linty Fresh, Seibei and Full Bleed. All of them had a very good grasp on their own sense of style and that was very important for us when launching. It’s one thing to have good designs, but it’s another thing to be easily recognizable with regard to a specific brand. Their work ethic was also quite evident as well (as seen with their new releases and craft show displays).

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in starting a clothing company?

I think the biggest challenge we faced when starting Fuzzy Ink was trying to enter into an already saturated industry. But successful branding and having a niche market identity ahead of time really helped us to break through those barriers. I think a lot of newer companies struggle with this and it makes it very difficult when trying to market to a specific demographic. You may lose customers with a very specific brand (as I’m sure we do), but people will always know where to come when they’re looking for your specific item.

Could you lend any advice to upstart clothing lines?

The biggest piece of advice that I offer anyone interested in starting a clothing line is to really think about what they’re really willing to sacrifice to become successful. Starting and running a clothing line never has and never will be a part-time job. It can’t be if you really want it to succeed. Speaking from my experience I can tell you that quitting my job to run Fuzzy Ink full time was a necessary measure to get the company to where it needed to be. And although there have been plenty of times when I was sick of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and mac n’ cheese for dinner I know that we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are today if I hadn’t made that decision. There’s a reason why most businesses fail, but if you have the passion and drive to succeed then there’s no reason why you have to be part of the statistic.

Well summer is now upon us, which means tons of summer shows! Will you be exhibiting at any craft shows or concerts this summer?

Summer is an amazing time for indie craft festivals and we’re lucky enough to be traveling around for a lot of them. We’re currently getting ready for both Renegade LA and SF and then we’ll be hitting a few along the North East until the Renegade and ICE holiday shows. Meeting new people and sharing our products is by far the biggest reason why I love doing what I do. These shows are also very important for gaining exposure and building a larger customer base.

Do you guys have any sales or coupons that our readers should know about?

We’d love to offer IATT an exclusive coupon for all of your loyal readers. Simply enter Trendy as a coupon code during checkout and save 10% off of your total order.

“Dynomighty Design established in 2002 seeks to create a vibrant array of products to complement and accentuate the modern urban lifestyle with the designs of Terrance Kelleman. Dynomighty seeks to educate and impact people with products that influence their lives and perceptions. We want you to reach out and touch the products, play, learn and discover. We want to achieve this with simplicity of materials and economy of design. The best product ideas are often the simplest ones. Products that have a simple use of materials and an elegant solution of form and function stand out in the marketplace, spark consumer interest and create demand.”

Dynomighty Design carries a wide array of awesome products, one of these being link-less magnetic jewelry. You can purchase everything from rings, to bracelets and chokers that are beautifully designed and hold themselves together simply by the force of magnets! They also have exclusive patent rights to this type of jewelry, which I think is uniquely awesome as well. Prices for the jewelry range from twelve dollars for a simple ring, to sixty-five dollars for a necklace.

You can also find some very cool totes, luggage tags and wallets that are all very eco- friendly and made from Tyvek material. You know like the express mailers you get at the post office that are impossible to break into or tear? Each wallet, tote, and luggage tag has a unique design or print on it and I especially love the wallets with the subway maps printed on them! They are also very reasonably priced at just ten dollars for the luggage tags, fifteen dollars for a snazzy wallet and only twenty dollars for a tote bag! You seriously can’t beat that!

Check out all of the awesome wares that Terrance Kelleman has to offer
at dynomighty.com

“Robot Candy was started in 2001 by Jenn Hill and Jenny Tiffany. Using recycled materials wherever possible, Robot Candy carefully handcrafts useful house wares that are visually pleasing as well as affordable.”

They have an eclectic mix of recycled ceramic tile coasters, light switch plates, magnets and greeting cards. Most of the images that are put onto the coasters and light switch plates are vintage, kitschy and very bright, making them an interesting addition to any household!

Robot Candy sells their wares everywhere from Los Angeles, to Portland to even Belgium! Prices are VERY reasonable, at ten dollars for light switch plates, and six dollars for the ceramic tile coasters and magnet sets. Greeting Cards cost around three dollars each.

Make sure to check out Robot Candy at their website www.robotcandy.com
or their Etsy website as well, www.robotcandy.etsy.com