Spotlight: Anna Butler of Custom Made

Shannon Shirley — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:23:13 +0000

In 2004, designer Anna Butler launched Custom Made out of her love for handcrafting, accessories, and all things adorable. Anna grew up in Oxford in the UK, where she inherited the sewing gene from her “mum and gram”. [My mom bought me a sewing machine that sits in the back of my closet taunting me. I'm lucky if I can stitch a button back on ... and so is my mom for that matter!] A friend of mine in London tipped me off to Anna’s goods and I raved about the Tweet Brooches and French Daisy Necklace in one of my previous posts. Anna creates some of the most darling handcrafted items I have seen in awhile … and with a sense of humor! Check out this awesome “Beware of the Yeti” Brooch – guys can wear this too!

Or these super cute “Mushie Cushies” to dress up your bed, sofa, or children’s room!

And last, but certainly not least, a beautiful Vintage Flower Ring – a perfect spring/summer accessory!

Custom Made’s merchandise has received the praises of London’s Sunday Times Style Guide, Print and Pattern, Indie Quarter, and several trendy magazines and blogs across Europe and the US. Here in the States, you can find Custom Made wares at Renegade Handmade and Komoda in Chicago as well as The Makery in Louisville, KY or you can always order online at the Custom Made shop. Anna also has a BLOG to check out!

Q & A

Anna Butler, Creator of Custom Made [How awesome is this pic? LOVE IT!]

What is the first craft you remember making?
“I used to make outfits for my Barbies. The first item I made using a pattern was a Barbie sun hat!”

What inspires you?
“Inspiration for me comes from everywhere – it can be a fabric I see, a button, a pretty charm. I am really into bright and pretty colors so I fill my head with them at all times.”

Your favorite color combination?
“For me, black and black! For products, anything that goes well with a very pretty turq.”

What are your best selling items?
“At the moment, the Little Dolly Brooch – everyone loves them!”

Five things you couldn’t live without.
“Anthony, my sewing machine, music, books, and at the moment Guitar Hero [sad, but true].”
[Note - No worries, Anna ... I am addicted to Mario Kart on the Wii ... addictive.]

Two things most people don’t know about you.
“I have watched Napoleon Dynamite so many times I know all the words, and I wish I could fly. I dream about flying regularly.”

BIG THANKS to Anna from CUSTOM MADE! I have a feeling this brand is only getting started! XO

Thursday: “Get Dressed”

Shannon Shirley — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:28:24 +0000

Little Ava [aka Furious Shirley] is just about to turn six months old and I can finally fit back into three pairs of my pre-baby jeans! Getting back into shape has been tough – I gained close to 65 pounds during my pregnancy thanks to my, “Hey, if I’m going to get fat anyway I might as well eat whatever I want” attitude. And unfortunately, whatever I wanted was ice cream. I have no time to get to the gym, so I have had to come up with ways to combine working out with play time. Ava loves watching me do floor exercises while she rolls around on her play mat. I count reps out loud to sneak in some number fun and it amuses her to watch my legs going up and down and up and down. I’m pretty sure it would amuse just about anyone – lol. For cardio, I usually “dance”. I put that in quotes because dancing consists of jumping jacks, squats, lunges, and some ridiculous flailing about in time to the music to keep the babers entertained. So far it has been working and I am down to my last 18 pounds! Getting dressed is probably one of the most frustrating times of the day for me because I’m not happy with the way my body looks in anything anymore. So, today’s fashion focus is going to be accessories because a cute bracelet or bag will always be cute no matter what your weight.

I’ll start off with my favorite mother’s day gift – a personlized birthstone sterling tag necklace from MamaBethBling. There are several variations to choose from and the price is just right at $22 USD.

And what would a post about accessories be without a great bag? A purse is a great way to add some color and flair to any outfit and Bayan Hippo has a great collection of colorful and stylish purses that are also eco-friendly!

They also have some totally cute kimono dresses for your little one and I could not resist posting at least one!

Another fabulous accessory choice is a brooch. You can add a dash of pizazz to your jackets, blouses, scarves, and bags with one of these Tweet brooches from Custom Made.

I also fell in love with their French Daisy Necklace.

And yes, even coffee has become an accessory. I know I can’t live without mine in the morning. Reusable coffee sleeves are becoming all the rage and are good for the environment too. I found the best selection of patterns at The Doe and The Mouse , which happens to be based here in Brooklyn [and could be the reason I keep seeing people sipping fashionable coffee!].

If you are an independent designer or make some sort of handmade goods that you think would be perfect for the blog, send me an email! Now, GO GET DRESSED!

Shop the link below for some great fair trade and eco-friendly clothing/jewlerly/accessory finds!

Furious Shirley » Custom Made

Spotlight: Anna Butler of Custom Made

Thursday: “Get Dressed”