Are you as excited as I am? Of course you are!

Good afternoon, artisans of the world! Join with me, will you, in a celebratory leap of excitement--clap your hands, squeal with joy, and dance around like a little school girl.

We have the button hats.

Oh, but it's not just the button hats. It's the button gloves. And... drumroll, please... a whole new line of greeting cards that will appeal to anyone who loves classic, vintage designs and cherishes the spelling bees of their youth. These are none other than "flashcards"--greeting cards made from genuine 1960s flashcards. And we're making them for every occasion.

I am getting ahead of myself--forgive me.

Yes, the button hats have finally come in. Thank you so much to "Lola" of Button Up! designs, for hand-selecting all the vintage buttons that will make every hat and pair of gloves not only beautiful, but one-of-a-kind. The hats and gloves in the WWYB inventory are absolutely gorgeous. Each hat and glove set seems to have its own unique thing to say. I look forward to selling many more like them!

Two more flower hats have also been added to the shop, officially. You've already seen the black one with the heather-gray rose, but have you seen this (dare I say, Superman-inspired?) blue and red design? A little spunkier than the other retro designs, I think:

And I have saved my latest treasure for last. A month or so ago, I logged onto Etsy to see on the homepage a truly must-have item, which I purchased without stopping to think twice: Thirty-three genuine 1960s vintage flashcards in blue, yellow, and pink. I just thought, "I know there's something I can do with this!" The price was fair; there was nothing stopping me.

Surrounded by other artists as the founder of Wacky Wanita's YOUnique Boutique, I got feedback from several creative minds on how to make the most of this gem--a special thanks goes out to Deborah, the creator of the button earrings you all love so much, because she was the one to suggest scanning them for multiple-use. Now the possibilities are only limited by my capacity for new ideas! I am so, so excited. Here are the first in the collection:

Also, after a bit of research into the art of (cue music) fabric printing, there is an excellent chance that in the very near future you will be seeing truly original scarf and headwrap designs by Wacky Wanita--not only the product sewing pattern, but the fabric patterns themselves!

So much happening! See it all this week at the Wacky Wanita Etsy shop. And don't forget--we love feedback! Drop us a line and tell us what you think!

Love to everyone!

Until next time,

Wanita

PS--Some more pictures for your enjoyment!

Hats uploaded!

Hello, Wacky Wanita fans!

The hats have been loaded to Etsy! You can get the full lowdown on what makes these babies so special by visiting the shop. But in the meantime, here's a taste of two colors mentioned in the last blog but not pictured.

True gray with mustard flower:

Thyme with cerulean flower:

The flowers are detachable and can be worn on the clothes or in the hair! (This feature means you can detach the flower, which is made of wool, and wash the hat.) Here's what they look like from the back:

Modeled by yours truly!

Can't wait for you to see the button hats! Until next time,

Wanita

Hats! Hats! Hats!

Greetings, one and all!

After much ado, the hats are in! The flower hats, that is. I received my 100% merino wool felt last week, and just Friday I went and picked out my hat colors, so now the combined products of hand-crotcheted hats (with yarn made in the USA!) and wool felt flowers are underway! Colors to be made available are:

* Dusty Teal with Crimson flower (above)
* Black with Heather Gray flower (beneath)
* True Gray with Mustard flower
* Thyme with Cerulean flower
* Soft Navy with Crimson flower

All buttons are made in Italy and Spain, the final touch that makes these hats sophisticated and slave-free.

Coming next week are the button hats and gloves, by new Wacky Wanita artist Laura. The hats are the same style, but colorfully adorned with multi-sized and multi-colored buttons on one side. They're a perfect wacky addition to any artist's wardrobe!

Stay tuned to hear about the soon-to-come hand-printed scarves and funky purses! So much on the horizon for Wacky Wanita's--you won't want to miss it!

Hey, there! In case you were wondering...

All right, for those who were wondering why the felt flowers advertized in my previous post have not yet shown up on Etsy, here's the answer:

The flowers you anticipated so eagerly--and rightly so!--are about to get even better. After making a few prototypes (above are the first two), I began exploring material options to ensure that I was offering the best product possible. During my price-comparison process between wool felt distributors (the prototypes were acrylic), I found two types of wool felt: a 100% wool felt, and a 35% wool, 65% rayon blend. I contacted a manufacturer of 100% merino wool felt for information to make an informed decision, and here is what I learned!

As far as the consumer goes, products made with 100% wool felt are less bound to shed, fray, and lose their shape. Definitely a plus. From the artist's point of view, working with 100% wool means easier cutting and shaping without the hassle of that same shedding and fraying.

Merino wool is wool that is sheared close to the sheep's skin, making it the softest wool available. The manufacturer I spoke to also promised that there was no sheen or stiffness, as one would find in typical craft felts--and his felts are Oeko Tex-certified, meaning that the lack of flammability and the limited use of dyes make the wool safe for products that will be used by children.

But the real selling point for me? If I purchase from this particular manufacturer, the felt comes from Europe. I don't have to worry about answering to my customers (or, really, my own conscience) about materials made in China.

I even followed up my purchase with the merino wool manufacturer by purchasing a variety of decorative buttons from Italy and Spain so that this element of the product is also slave-free. These flower pins (which are also going to appear on hats!--but more on that in my next post) are not only going to be of excellent quality; they are also going to be perfectly affordable, and guiltless.

I will post a link the minute they go up!

Thanks for shopping! Stay creative,

Wanita

VLOG: Lost in cyberspace

Well, greetings again, everyone.

Today's lesson: One should not make promises which one cannot keep. Although I did create an introductory video to Wacky Wanita style and merchandise (complete with witty captions), due to technical difficulties I was unable to load it. To Blogspot or YouTube. Therefore, vlog #1 = bust.

However.

On an up note, some new products have been added to the lineup! Check out the full smorgasbord of fortune cookie cards!

They come in three colors. You've already seen the red, in my last post. (More pictures available on Etsy.) This is the blue! It was highlighted in my would-be video, which had a blue theme.

Here is the green. It has already gotten some "favorites" on Etsy, and repins on Pinterest!

Also on the item train is this new flower pin, inspired by Make&DoGirl, but with some Wacky Wanita modifications (note the button!):

Likewise, it comes in three colors--blue, red, and sunflower. Every flower ordered is slightly unique, however, as the button in the center changes. The pin serves as both a boutonniere, for a jacket, hat, or purse, and a hairpin.

Soon coming are the laundry-day cards, pop-out cards like you've never seen before. There will be a design for guys and a design for girls!

And I've gotten inspiration for a piece of wall art that I am convinced has never before been conceived. My one obstacle is material for the template, as without the template, I cannot complete the piece. Also, shipping may pose some challenges; but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

In any event, stay posted! Creativity is flowing at Wacky Wanita's--you won't want to miss what comes of it!

It's Finally Here!

Greetings, one and all!

Wacky Wanita's YOUnique Boutique is officially up and running. Already you can get fun greeting cards, dangling button earrings, and at least one piece of wall art. And this is just the beginning!

This wacky store was born because I (Wanita) at long last decided to go for it and start selling the greeting cards I've made for friends and auctions since I was fifteen years old. More than a decade of practice has honed my skill--and certainly accumulated many products for my supply inventory--making this the perfect time to make the leap. And what is even more exciting?

I've partnered with a handful of other artists who have also decided that the Time is Now. Under my umbrella, our collaboration is going to bring you all kinds of wacky products that you've never seen--items that I hope will make you laugh and cry (because you're laughing so hard) and then tell all your friends. Next on the agenda is purses like no purses you've ever seen, and throw-pillows with sayings on them that will make you check yourself twice.

Look forward to a video blog (henceforth referred to as "vlog") within the week. I want to get myself a nice haircut before I go on the air to tell you about all the adventures ahead with Wacky Wanita Designs. Until then, peruse the pages of our blog and, most importantly, visit our store, now on Etsy!

www.etsy.com/shop/wackywanitadesigns

See you soon!