Thursday, December 21, 2006

Happy almost birthday, me!


I bought myself a little birthday present yesterday at the Saturday Market's "Festival of the Last Minute": this skirt. It's a wrap-around made of all recycled clothing, and I love it! You can get a glimpse of my silly shoes here, too. You may already know I'm a platform-shoe-junkie and regularly transform myself from my own humble 5'4" to more like 5'9" or even, in these, 5'10". And then when I take them off, I feel teeny tiny. Anyway, the skirt: so cozy! I love handmade clothes, and the Portland Saturday Market is a great place to find them, and to buy them in such a way that the artist gets almost all the profit, rather than a store.

I was a Saturday Market vendor for 3-4 years, and I stood out there under a measly bit of canvas awning in the rain and snow, too. It changed my life and I will be forever grateful to it. There were always more customers who didn't understand about "handmade prices" than did. People who would say, "God, at Target this would only be $10!" or "Huh! I could make this." But you just try to ignore those people. It's increasingly rare in this country to be able to buy handmade local goods from the people who made them, and it's COOL. So, if you have craft fairs in your area, support them. Put bread (and cake!) in artists' bellies. That's why I didn't feel guilty about buying myself a present -- because I was supporting the arts. See how that works? Tee hee. No guilt! Just doing my part!

Oh, and the artist who made this is named Lizzy and her company is Shabby Knapsack, but she doesn't have a website. Drat!

23 comments:

Alex S said...

Very cute skirt!! And see, you are a Compactor and you didn't even know it! I am in the process of compiling a gift of recycled things to present to you at your birthday festivities this evening. I'll go ahead and blow the surprise and let you know that so far it includes found Burnside Avenue gutter dental floss, a perfectly good bicycle tire, and half a found candybar. See you later Lainitoot!!! Happy Early Birthday to one of my favorite souls in the whole wide world!

Annie Jeffries said...

That is one very cool skirt Laini and I love the shoes. I have a young friend here who would probably do justice to both as you clearly do.

meghan said...

HEY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Which day is it? I hope that you have a wonderful, WONDERFUL day and that you get only good, magical and beautiful things.

I'm out of the email loop this week - I can't access it without my laptop (computerally challenged) so until Mark gets here with it, I will be out of touch - know that I am thinking about you and wishing you the happiest of days and Christmases!!!!

xoox

gerry rosser said...

We like going to outdoor markets and outdoor art shows, and seldom fail to find something to bring home. I admire the making of things, people who make things, if I have had an unfulfilled dream it is of being a person who makes things.
As for value and price, I would sooner eat cottage cheese (yuck!!!!!!!) than tell some artist/artisan that I disagreed with their pricing, or felt little talent went into their product. If their things are "overpriced" they won't sell, and the artist can consider re-pricing.
Anyway, I like checking in here.

Anonymous said...

When's your birthday?! A fellow Cap! ;) I thought this post was going to be about the SHOES. Girl, you talk here about your platform shoes...but I had NO IDEA. :) Cute skirt...and yes, Saturday Market rocks BIG TIME. I used to love to grab Yakisoba noodles and an elephant ear (okay, not at the same time) and just wander and wander. (And Jeffrey played hundreds of times at Key Largo...later, and probably still, Ohm...so I'm very familiar with the neighborhood.)

kelly rae said...

laini, i am in love with that skirt! and happy birthday! it's tomorrow, right??

Alex S said...

Yes, Laini's birthday is tomorrow Kelly and you can send her presents to my address and then I will be "sure" to pass them along!

Anonymous said...

i want to party with you!

~bluepoppy

Left-handed Trees... said...

Happy happy happy birthday, Laini! I wonder what wonderful wishes you'll make when you blow out your birthday candles this year? (cannot wait to find out as you bring them into fruition) This skirt, with the shoes of course, is absolutely beautiful. I could never pull those platforms off, can you say clumsy???
--D.--

sophie said...

I just bought a skirt like that
(no lace though) from a vendor of
indonesian skirts and i love it!!

I love how it flounces about -
you look terrific in it with those
marvellous shoes.

Alex S said...

The day has arrived! Happy Birthday Fatwa! I hope the glitter is still on your cheeks BUT in case not I shall bring my magic glitter ball with me this evening too! Don't forget to wear your special pantyhose!

HoBess said...

It goes along with the thoughts Alexandra started stirring in my head with her post about that S.F. group ... and that skirt is adorable! I would actually wear it, much to my daughter's surprise and celebration. (I almost never find skirts I'd wear!)

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Anonymous said...

Just saw Alexandra's birthday post for you...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAINI! xoxo

Amber said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAINI!!

You are a simply a beautiful person, and I am so thankful we have people like you in the world! So I am happy you were born, so you could shine your creative, wonderful light on and on...
I hope the day is full of smiles and laughter!

oxox
:)

mipmup. said...

*love* that skirt!

Anonymous said...

those shooeezzz...so japanese-manga, somehow, and soo cute!!

i really admire artists who sell their crafts at fairs and all. seriously. i wanna do just exactly that in my 20's and 30's.

Anonymous said...

as a hobby, that is :D

Anonymous said...

My comment just vanished, so will try again. Love the skirt, but I still don't understand how you manage to walk around in those shoes. At the last Fashion Week in Paris, models were literally falling off the runway due to their platform shoes. :)

Anonymous said...

SWOONS! I just LOVE those shoes!
Where did you get those Sassy things???
They are so smart- coming from a girl who is 5'5 I could use the height too...

Lovely Journal! Happy Belated Birthday...
XoxoxoX
Jane

Anonymous said...

Love the skirt! I was doing a search for her website and I came across your blog instead. I hope you don't mind but I posted this blog on my own to show my friends back on the east coast the cool clothing from the Saturday Market.

Anonymous said...

MESSAGE

Anonymous said...

MESSAGE

Anonymous said...

First, I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you, for being so kind as to show off one of my creations. I'm really happy you like it. Second, in response to "Drat!" - I now have a website (cue hallelujah chorus). It would be great if you could spread the news (starving artist talking). shabbyknapsack.com. Hope you like it. Thanks again. Lizzy.