Annual Shop Small Guide - 2023

Hey howdy friends,

I’ve been deep into expanding my sewing knowledge through vintage machine repairs. It’s a sickness really and I have yet to gain control over it. So, I haven’t made any kanzashi or spent time here to connect. I hope you all are connecting with me on other platforms though. (IG & YouTube).

However, you must know that I am passionate about my long time maker community and showing support for them during the holidays seasons.

First, I too would love to have a discount on groceries, utilities and gas rather than a brand new tv or the like from a big box store. Things are TOUGH. A thing that you can do for free is send out links of recommendations to your own social circles to spread the word. It really is appreciated and does truly help.

So let’s get down to it.

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Personal Care Goods:

Render Skincare - PNW Made Tallow Skincare Goods. Your skin will love you for this.

Seattle Sundries - Seattle brick and mortar store location open by appointment. Online shop too.

Handmade LaConner - For my Whidbey Island friends be sure to stop in to the shop! Online shopping is available as well.

Estrella Soap - A long standing family favorite of ours. I cannot recommend them enough.

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Home Decor & Entertainment Goods:

Vinyl Devotion - For my vinyl collecting fans, if you want superb customer service and high quality vinyls - shop here. They have some band tees too.

Candy Relics - I use their “paper cups” everyday. I love them and highly recommend.

Monster - A bit of everything for some who might be hard to shop for. DIY kits, local classes and wearables.

The Handmade Showroom - Another beautifully curated store in Downtown Seattle with wide selection of gifts. Including gift bundles that can be mailed directly to your recipient.

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Wearables -

Slow Loris - Guemes Island based brand and my all time favorite illustration designer (Jessica Lynch). I get compliments every time I wear their pieces.

Backstitch Bruja - Year round spooky wearables plus bags and more. I love her stuff.

elSage - A Mount Vernon, WA based shop. The owners are wonderful people and they make some beautiful high quality designs in shop.

Sun Rae Dolls Vintage - Plus sized cottage core themed attire and goods handmade by a fellow sewist I’ve befriended through my sewing journey.

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Craft Supply and Kids:

Smile Mercantile - Adorable craft supplies and miniatures with a retro vibe.

Poison Grrls - Vintage style knitting sweater / top patterns.

Woven Wilde - Small California based company that makes the cutest rattan kid’s toys.

Mymy & Me - Felted toys. So adorable. (Canadian based company)

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And of course I have shops too:

6 by 6 Arts - Pretty plant stands, PNW themed goods, wall and shelf decor pieces with a splash of profanity.

Darkness Drive - For the year round ghouls and goblins. Spooky home decor.

My Etsy shop - a place where I’ve typically listed my vintage fabric destash and some kanzashi as well.

Finally my shop here. (Use code SAVE25) at checkout here.

All of the above have 25% off orders of $25. *US only.

This is definitely geared towards my local area but I welcome recommendations from your local area in the comments below.

Please shop small this holiday season.

xo-Thea

Green

I get asked about leaf clips often. They are the perfect little detail to add to your ‘do.

I just listed five new sets in the shop for those of you who have been waiting for them.

Have a great weekend friends!

xo-thea

Weekend Sale!

I’m having a little weekend sale over in my Etsy shop! Vintage clothing, vintage fabrics and kanzashi are all included. No code necessary.

15% off orders $30 and up.

Sale ends Monday.

I need to make room for new pieces and autumnal themed things that are coming soon!

xo-Thea

New Stock and My Sister In Law's YouTube Channel

I’m continuing to add new casual pieces to my shop. I only have a few more to share here and then it’s on to making new pieces.

I have to admit, with damaging my main lens on vacation earlier this month I am having a little learning curve with my replacement lens. I’m not 100% happy with these photos. But I am an artist, are artists ever 100% happy? (Hahahaha)

Speaking of my vacation and happy - my sister in law Laura is a vintage seller and YouTuber. This is temporary until Survivor chooses her as a contestant or until Rick Steves takes her on as a side kick.

She pops into antique malls and thrift stores and shares what she finds. She is into the bohemian and MCM aesthetic a bit different from my taste, but like how she is in real life she’s fun human and entertaining to watch. Also, she’s my sister in law, so if you have a connection to our beloved Rick Steves let us know if not, give her a follow.

In her latest episode she shared a little bit of our family vacation and some Oregon Coast antique/thrift finds.

During her hunt she came up on some vintage kimono. They were all in good condition, nothing I would use for my work. She mentions my work in the video too.

While I have new items soon to be in the works for my shop here, I am also cranking out new prototypes for 6 by 6. I’m pretty excited about what I am doing over there so I’ll be bouncing back and forth between here and there with posts. Follow me on Instagram for daily updates if you’re interested in following along.

xo-Thea

Shop Update!

Yesterday I shared on my Instagram, that I recently found a cache of vintage kimono fabrics that I hide from myself. Or put in a “safe” place for later. But before I will allow myself to start working on new pieces, I have to share some pieces I never photographed.

Thea Starr on Instagram

I have a handful of casual wear pieces. No formal occasion pieces will be in this update. These pieces were all made last year before I knew that there wouldn’t be any in person craft or wholesale shows.

Thea Starr on Instagram

Thea Starr on Instagram

Purple has long been a favorite with my customers and I already got a couple of messages about these gals.

I still do all of my own photography and photo editing.

I wanted to have everything listed yesterday, but spending most of the day in the photo booth with those lights fried my eyes. So, I’m listing things today. I will send direct links to those who asked about pieces already. But check back this evening (Pacific Time) and I should have things up by then.

Thanks so much for continuing to follow my maker’s journey. If you follow me on YouTube, I took a little break after my boys moved out. I had lots of cleaning (and still have) lots of rearranging to do. Every kid, just leaves massive amounts of stuff in the family home as per tradition and mom gets to figure out where it all goes. But I hope to film later today or tomorrow.

xo-Thea

1960s Vintage Vibin'

In my constant quest for vintage fabrics, I often happen upon vintage clothing. I am compelled to save them and find them new homes on selling sites like my Etsy store. I just can’t leave goodies behind.

On a recent hunt, I found a handful of vintage dresses and one romper that were not 24’ waist. Bigger (normal) sizes are a bit harder to find in the vintage department.

I upswept my grays for this shoot. :)

Most of the items were in the 1960s style like the dress pictured above. The 60’s isn’t my vibe. I prefer some uptight secretary look from the 40’s or 80s with longer hems. The world got enough of my bare gams when I played roller derby.

But there was something about this print that reminded me of my Aunt Onalee. There is a picture some where with my Aunt wearing something very similar to this with the flash brightening up her face an illuminating her smile. If I were to keep this dress, I’d call it my Onalee. Since I felt the connection, I had to do a little 60’s shoot.

I’m hoping to find this gal a new home. She’s a vintage size 14 with a ton of stretch. Up to a 42” bust/38” waist and 38” in length. For reference I’m a 38F/44” hips and I’m 5’4” on a good day. I had tons of room to move and stretch in this. The Brand is Sacony and you know it’s polyester. I do already have it listed but if you are interested, leave me a comment below to inquire about it’s status.

The kanzashi worn in this shoot will be available in my shop shortly.

xo-thea

Everyone needs a cape.

I’ve been sitting on a yard of wool tartan fabric for a bit now. I decided after being influenced by some Youtubers and my rewatching of Outlander - i needed to make a cape. What eccentric’s wardrobe doesn’t have a cape?!?!

I didn’t have a pattern. But it’s a cape, how hard could it be? In my vlog video I describe that I used a round tablecloth as a “pattern”. I also swoosh around in the cape for visuals. Now I have at least 5 more capes to make and have had some great conversations about capes with friends. I wasn’t expecting that, but I’m glad for it.

I am trying by best to have a healthy balance of continuing my kanzashi work, laser cutting work and growing past my intermediate sewing skills. I have hopes to turn my sewing skills into a part of my business. I’ll go more into that soon. I do address a bit of that in my vlog too.

I am feeling the spring vibe, both visually and with allergies and I’m adding some new pretty spring blossoms to my shop. As the vaccines roll out, wedding and other celebratory events are happening again in the not too distant future. I am open to discussing some custom work but my availability will be very select. While I am able to employ my two daughters for administration help, I am the sole creator of my pieces at this time.

As always thank you for following my adventures!

-xo Thea

Vlog video, 1940's dress inspiration and new kanzashi.

As seen in the vlog below, my daughter Jina helped me out with some product photography for some new kanzashi pieces.

Kanzashi and model (Jina Starr) by - Thea Starr

I’m slowly editing the photos as I’ve also been sewing a few experimental things. I’m honing in on some long unused skills to become reacquainted with them again.

If it wasn’t obvious, although the dress turned out well and I succeeded in achieving using some skills. The colors just are not my flavor. Then there’s also the intentional oversizing due to the layout of the fabric. I do plan on altering it, so maybe it might make a trip out of the house this spring.

Made from thrifted fabric and a vintage Butterick pattern. | An Original By Thea Starr

Stay tuned for more shop and sewing adventure updates. xo-Thea

Shop update.

As promised in yesterday’s post, here is the finished product.

Made from vintage kimono silks, reclaimed from the same kimono. These flowers are double tiered with double petals.

There are currently two available. Each one measures approximately 2.5” in diameter.

You have the choice on hardware upon checkout.

For more details please see the listing in the shop.

So, it did decide to snow today. We are staying cozy indoors and I taking more photos of additional updates for the shop. Stay tuned and stay cozy. xo-Thea

Out of focus.

Today was me vs. my camera. For the life of me I couldn’t get the lighting right and I couldn’t get anything to focus right. I admire the bloggers and IG peeps who go to great lengths of creating the perfect setting for photos. It’s a lot of work and require a lot of movement for set up. Space in my home is at a premium so I deal with what I have. I usually take photos in my living or dining room where lighting can be meh, at times. Like today.

One minute it’s dark, the next the sun decides to appear. I chose not to set up my lights for this and it shows. But we are doing some rearranging this weekend so I hope to remedy this problem. Work at home problems amirite???

At the very least, I got to wear my new dress from Pinup Girl Clothing. It’s the Luna dress in Witchy Toile Crepe. I love it and it has the deepest pockets. I love me a good 1940’s reproduction dress.

I also listed a single of a kind piece. I’m wearing it in the photos. It’s a very unusual color. I’m slowly but surely getting things listed.

Happy Thursday evening friends, I hope it’s a restful one. xo-Thea

Vlog, shop update and other gibberish.

First, my vlog about last week:

Nice thumbnail there eh? Yeah, so last week and my first online show was a bust. Whomp whomp. Of course that makes me nervous for other online shows. I’ve only committed to one with 6 by 6 so far because of the fear. However, instead of getting into Debbie Downer mode, I’m just going to sew a bunch of random things and be weird. Which is what I excel at.

In all seriousness, I just ride the life rollercoaster and hope for the best.

With the show out of the way, I can focus on other things now. Like listing.

Me in my fancy spiderweb blouse wearing four simply red kanzashi hair clips as you do.

First up is a classic : Simply Red Kanzashi Hair Clips. I usually end up with tons of vintage kimono red silk lining. So I’ve made versions of these clips for the entirety of my business. They are a vibrant red and classic. They are available in ye olde shop.

Then lastly, this is a bit odd for me but the vintage clothing purge has commenced and it’s happening over in my Etsy shop. Why not here you might ask? Well friends, you come here for hair doodads and bouquets and not random vintage clothes. People shop of vintage on Etsy and I’m legit trying to let go of these things. But in the off chance that you’d like to buy something from here and there, just let me know and I can make that happen for you.

That’s all from me for now. I hope you’re all well - as well as we can all be right now. Ride that rollercoaster homies. xo-Thea

Vlog and Spooky Skeleton Kanzashi

First up, yesterday’s vlog:

Admittedly, it was a bit rushed as time kind of got away from me yesterday. I’m also still acclimating to using Premier Pro rather than iMovie. But we wanted to mention the little information that we have about Adobe Max/Marketplace that 6 by 6 will be a part of. Reminder that Max is free this year!!! SIGN UP!!! John and I have attended the past two years and each time we left filled to the brim with inspiration. As well as new insights on how to use Adobe’s products for our creative endeavors. I know that sounds a bit like a sales pitch, but we use a ton of their applications for many aspects for both companies. And who doesn’t like Free?

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you might have caught this little teaser yesterday. I whipped up a few Skeleton Kanzashi clips for spooky season. They are available in my shop. Sadly, there won’t be a cotton alternative for these. Perhaps in the future though. I get random requests for these throughout the year.

I’m glued to my computer, sewing machine and kanzashi table this week. I have some fun videos, projects and photoshoots on my list week. Whatever I can do to power through to election day. :)

xo-Thea

Vlog and Cotton Spooky Kitty Kanzashi Flowers

This week’s vlog was short and sweet. Mostly because I’m learning to edit with Premier Pro. I’m an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber, so I figured I’d make the switch. But currently, I barely know what I am doing so I kept things short.

As promised, I have a cotton (cotton-poly blend) Spooky Kitty kanzashi available in the shop now! They are single layer flowers unlike the original silk ones. I had to do some searching in my fabric stash to find the right non silk fabric for these. I hope you like what I came up with.

Again, thank you so much for the support with my new items and keep your eyes peeled for more.

xo-Thea

Spooky Kitty Kanzashi in stock!

Continuing with the Spooky Season festivities, Spooky Kitty kanzashi have hit the shop!

If you’ve been with me for a bit, you’ll probably recognize these spooky black kitties. But this time around they are not made from non recyclable plastic. I laser cut my own version of these spooky kitties out of alder wood and hand painted them. They are the purrrfect Spooky Season flower centerpiece.

I used all black vintage kimono silk for the two tiered flowers. I will have a non silk version available very soon as well. You have the option of a hair clip or a brooch for the hardware.

Currently, I am only doing a limited run on these due to the fabrics I have available.

I hope you’re spooky season has started off well! I began my marathon of spooky/Halloween theme TV show and movie watching yesterday. I’ll be sharing my full watch list here on the blog tomorrow for those who are looking for some spooky movie/show inspiration.

xo-Thea

Spiderweb earrings/charms + Vlog!

With September coming to an end, I felt like it’s social acceptable (I actually don’t care) to start sharing spooky season goods!

First up, some spiderweb earrings!

Thea Starr | Spiderweb earrings.

Another collar between my two companies. This is a little unusual for my regular products. But it is definitely a hint of a few things to come. Don’t worry fabric and kanzashi fans, my true love lies with those two things.

Stay tuned for new things coming to the shop this week and for the rest of 2020. Meanwhile, check out my vlog. My husband and I talk about a couple things coming up for us and another spooky season product coming to our 6 by 6 Arts shop.

xo- Thea

Little by little.

After a long stretch of talking shit, I’m finally updating my shop.

I guess I just needed a show or a pandemic in this case to finally go through my excess inventory. I have listed a few things already and I will be continue listing daily.

I’ve mostly listed minis so far, but a few two tiered singles hair clips too.

I have a wide array of colors and fabric types. Some vintage cotton kanzashi even!

After I list my current inventory, I will be creating new more elaborate pieces like I did in my early years of my career. I am very excited about that.

I’ve been posting more on my public Instagram. Posts about my garden, current sewing projects and that sort of thing. I hope you’ll connect with me there!

xo-Thea

Circle clips are back!

Well hello! For the first time in forever I posted on my IG today, so I figured I should post a little note here too.

If you’ve been following me for awhile now, you’ll know that I’ve been working on my business with my husband John. We’re actually into our 5th year this month. My fire and inspiration for kanzashi making had cooled a bit with the laser cutting adventure. However, I have had a recent rekindling of wanting to create again. It feels totally awesome. My long time assistant - my daughter Jina is engaged now and I’m sure that has everything to do with being inspired again.

First thing out of the gate is a new batch of circle clips!

Thea Starr | Vintage Kimono Circle Clips

I’m totally in love with these. They are super easy to wear and are a bit of eye candy. I currently have them available in a couple of color ways as noted in the listing. Apparently hair clips are “in” again this summer. Honestly, I didn’t know they were “out”. I need something to keep my flyways in check since I’m not into using product in my hair. I’ve been rocking these for my everyday wear.

New kanzashi is on the horizon as well. I mean it! I did a little polling privately among my friends to see if everyone still loves pink and purple. The answer was a big “duh Thea”. So be on the look out for those.

xo- Thea

About an inch around.

Whomever I come into contact with while I am working, they always stop and marvel how tiny the pieces of fabric are. 

The standard sizes that I cut my fabrics are either 2"x 2" or 1" x 1".  The typical cuts for my regular sized and my mini sized kanzashi.

Small Bamboo Leaves Clips

It can be tedious work with the tiny delicate folds, but I equate it to knitting. I've done the repetitive motions for so long now, it is soothing and familiar. For the tiniest pieces I will often use tweezers to maneuver petals into position. The smaller they are, the harder they are to make. It is totally well worth it though!

Many of my tiny kanzashi sets become bridal gifts, flower girl hair pieces and even Blythe doll accessories. There are a few minis available in the shop right now with more on the way. I had hoped that I would have time to list them this week. But alas, my youngest had all of her wisdom teeth removed and requires a bit more assistance we thought. (Mom life!)

Happy Friday!

xo-Thea 

Circle Clips

I might be a little too excited about these. This is the second collaboration product between my two companies. As some of you know I own a laser cutting and engraving company with my husband John called 6 by 6 Arts. We primarily make home decor items. However, I've found a couple ways to marry my two companies.

This time around I wanted to keep things simple. Sometimes that is the best thing! Circle Clips frame vintage kimono fabric within a walnut wood frame. These are more simple yet more showy compared to my Starr Flowers.  

With simple barrette clips attached to the backs, these were designed for everyday wear. 

I have my first batch (all one of a kind pieces) available in my Etsy shop. I'll soon have multiple prints in quantity available here very soon. 

Let me know what you think of these. Happy Friday the 13th too!

xo-Thea

In Full Bloom

With a few days of sun, it seems as if everything is in full bloom right now. Even here in my shop!

Pink Blossoms 3 Piece Formal Kanzashi Set

I'm a true Pacific Northwestener, so I don't mind the long fall/winter gloom. But it is nice to see things come alive outdoors. I took that inspiration and created a few pink items to celebrate! 

I hope you all have enjoyed the spring renewal a little so far! There's more to come from me and for a limited time I am accepting custom orders for summer and fall weddings/events. Please contact me for more information.

xo-Thea