Design + Decor

9 Handmade Female Art & Decor Finds That Beautifully & Hilariously Celebrate Womanhood

published on October 5, 2021 by Mindy Chung
updated on October 7, 2021

I know that art has always had a subjective element to it—that’s why some contemporary pieces will have one person on their knees and another just scratching their head. And as long as art has been made, there’s always been some tortured artist-type painting naked ladies while patting themselves on the back for getting the left titty *just* right.

To a degree, women have always tried to reclaim the narrative in artistic circles; drawing focus to nature landscapes or depicting scenes where the woman is shown in a position of power, and less as an object. That’s why I love the female-focused art that’s surged in the last decade or so—art that’s about representations of real female figures with curves, and bellies, and stretch marks.

That’s why I’ve rounded up these unique female art and home décor items for you to consider including in your next round of redecorating or upcoming holiday gifting. From vases to candles, these pieces, all offered by small businesses, will fit perfectly as a centerpiece in any home that wants to scream, “women.”

I absolutely adore this Pottery Lodge boob planter. The listing has a variety of color options and boobs that aren’t perky enough to poke an eye out.

This ring holder by Redwood Stoneworks definitely caters to aesthetic more than practicality (how many rings can you really fit with only one finger?) But with the option of adding a ring dish with the hand, this plaster beauty would be perfect “F the Patriarchy” statement at anyone’s front entrance or mantle.

I don’t know who first thought to make candle molds of the female form, but I love the fact that Pretty Honest Candles offers a range of shapes and sizes named after Greek goddesses. Ancient art of the female form has always been addressed as “Venus” and every one of the melting muses in this shop definitely live up to that name.

I know this one may be a bit tongue-in-cheek (pun ABSOLUTELY intended) but when I saw the words “jiggly” and “butt” associated with this candle from Nervous Art Store, I knew someone out there would appreciate this amazing piece of art.

Okay, I know there seems to be a booty-ful reoccurring theme of butts here, but this incense burner is just too good. Jenny Dawn of Stony Point Pottery also does a range of other pieces, i.e. mugs with boobs, but the concept of an incense burner shaped like a butt was just too hilarious for me not to spread the love (and quirky gift idea).

This wire-art hanging by Switzerland-based mirusartworks can be both a wall-piece and a jewelry holder, and really radiates bad b*tch energy.

These female-centered art prints by Constanza Illustrates are refreshingly unique and bold—making them ideal as a stand out piece for that space right above your couch, or in your bedroom.

Gravel and Gold has this excellent lavender shower curtain of minimalistically rendered tatas. They also offer the same print on a range of goods like pillowcases, laundry baskets, and even face masks to make sure you can maximize the cohesivity of your female-inspired living space.

Okay, who here suddenly can’t get enough of metal and wire art? This portrait of a woman with plants from Black Ivy Craft is the perfect modern wall art. And you can choose from gold or black!

Which female-inspired products would you put on display?

Cute Handmade Mugs by Our Favorite Ceramic Artists to Follow on Instagram

published on July 7, 2021 by Angela Hamilton
updated on June 30, 2021

One of my biggest dreams in life is to have an expansive collection of entirely handmade mugs. I’m only exaggerating slightly. Don’t get me wrong, I actually like my current mix of sassy vintage and souvenir gift shop mugs with the occasional handmade beauty sprinkled in. But a cupboard chockfull of one-of-a-kind drinkable pieces of art? That’s when you know you’ve made it as a mug collector. More cute handmade mugs as discovered on Instagram, below!

The Creative Traveller‘s handmade mugs and ceramics are inspired by Canada’s natural landscapes.

Alt Vessel Ceramics is home to the dreamiest handmade mugs in sunset inspired hues.

We have been longtime fans of Rachael Williams of Hey Neighbor Ceramics‘ handmade mugs! I own one of her earlier designs, from her PDX shop and drink from it almost daily. Beautiful and verrry functional, if ya ask me.

Ham Council Face Mugs from Mantel PDX make the sweetest quirky gifts.

Just A Moment Shop doesn’t just make the loveliest handmade planters, but matching mugs too!

base ceramics makes funky and adorable homes for your plants and coffee, made in Brooklyn. The photo above proves that one handmade mug is never enough… one requires an entire collection.

This cute handmade mug is a slab-built check cup by Beige Motel from Mantel PDX.

Yes this shelfie is amazing and yes you should be following Sarah of Not Work Related for the most colorful ceramics around.

Upper Call makes the happiest mugs and pots, like this party blob mug. 🙃

mimi ceramics makes these stackable mugs (among other lovely creations) that you can get in your fave colorways.

Where do you shop for cute handmade mugs? Tag your favorite artists!

PS Looking for more beautiful ceramics? See our favorite colorful handmade planters.

Colorful Handmade Planters and Vases for Summer

published on June 25, 2021 by Angela Hamilton
updated on March 9, 2023

Lately my explore feed has been covered in beautiful ceramics, from handmade planters and vases to tableware and more. Ceramics are fascinating to me and one of the prettiest forms of functional art. I tried wheel throwing once in high school and as a DIY lover, it’s pretty safe to say this is one craft I’ll leave to the pros. But the forms, the natural materials, the glazing, the hand-painting, there’s just so much to love about these vessels! These are our favorites for those of you going green with your houseplant collection.

Love the sleek look and sophisticated palette of @capradesigns vases, available at @pinkys_store_melbourne.

Enamored with these beautiful celestial vessels by @justamomentshop, in sunset hues.

Love the softness of Summer School Shop’s BFF duo.

ceramics by neen are cheerful and wiggly with lots of sunny primary colors.

Sunny Shop LA makes simple planters in really fun bold, but earthy hues.

I love the yellow sun burst and matte mustard planter designs by PNW designer Left on Olive.

Bay Area interior designer and potter Luna Sibai makes planters in super fun color combos.

Choose from several pretty landscapes in these indoor planters by Jazzmine Jones of Ultralight Dreams.

Heidi Anderson Pots have handpainted geometric motifs inspired by California.

Holistic Habitat has a full range of handmade planters like these retro double dipped handmade planters.

Where do you find handmade planters? Which colors are your favorite?

18 Ethical Home Decor Shops You Should Know About

published on June 18, 2021 by Angela Hamilton

Being big fans of bold and inspiring interiors with a conscious maximalist twist, we are always looking for ethical home goods that have stories behind them, whether it’s living room decor or artwork to adorn own walls, and of course to gift (and to prove just how beautiful ethical goods can be!). I remember when I first started blogging about sustainable living, I had only two or three home decor shops to pull from, and most weren’t really my style, just as close as I could get (and way out of my price range, anyway). Luckily, there are tons more options these days, as evidenced below! I started this list in 2021 and it’s been growing ever since. I’ll continue to update with the best of our finds!

where to buy ethical home goods

Koraa, an online marketplace with a Berkeley storefront, offers an impressive catalog of home goods ranging from practical wares for sustainable living like dish cloths and napkins to creative wall and living room decor like throws and art prints. They also offer womens and mens clothing and other lifestyle goods.

Bon Femmes is an art, home decor, and lifestyle shop featuring goods made by women. If you’re local to Chicago, you can shop-in person at their storefront.

Quinta Esencia Studio offers wall art, furniture, ceramics, and other slow-made goods by makers in El Salvador. And did we mention hammocks?! Their products are all natural, made with earthy neutrals, so they fit right in with a minimalist home but can also be paired with more colorful artisan goods for a balanced design. Their goods are also super affordable. I think I love this fringe mirror most!

Casa Ojo’s colorful home goods are handmade in Oaxaca, proving that ethical can be affordable.

Here & There Collective offers rugs, decor, and accessories made in Indonesia, Guatemala, and Mexico, where they’ve partnered with individual artisans, artisan cooperatives, and small, family-owned businesses. Their plant-dyed textiles are modern takes on traditional goods. Love the colors!

Social enterprise Minzuu works directly with artisan cooperatives to produce modern, minimalist home goods, decor, art, bedding, tabletop wares and more. (Photo featuring Soil to Studio goods–see below!)

Tierra y Mano is a lifestyle brand that partners with female artisans in Latin America to create handcrafted, one of a kind pieces for the home and to wear. They offer unique ethical rugs, pottery, candles, tableware + living room decor as well as accessories and earrings.

One of our favorite alternatives to shops like Anthropologie, Tribe Bohemian Home offers a bold, colorful take on treasured bohemian designs, from kantha quilts to woven baskets and cactus pillows. She’s a genius in curating basket walls, too!

One of few shops on our list that isn’t based in the US, Woven Rosa is a UK home decor boutique with a colorful selection of pillow covers and throws from Peru, glassware made in Mallorca, and ceramics from Spain. The colors above are an instant mood booster!

New York based Bolé Road Textiles are handwoven in Ethiopia. Owner Hana Getachew’s designs are an homage to her upbringing in a home filled with traditional Ethiopian textiles.

Archive New York works with indigenous artisans from all around Guatemala and Mexico to continue and revive weaving techniques and patterns in danger of dying out. They are known for their pillows and gorgeous table linens!

Eco club member Made Trade is a marketplace dedicated to sustainable and ethical home goods for the modern lifestyle. They carry tons of the most coveted artisan made goods! Featured above are pillows and a gorgeous basket from member Zuahaza!

While a selection of Zuahaza’s products are sold at Made Trade, you can purchase the full line through their website. Founded by Tatiana Ordoñez in 2019, Zuahaza is a group of passionate artisans and designers crafting home textiles between their creative lab in Bogotá and their production studio in Charalá, Colombia.

You may recognize social enterprise Kazi as they are sold in virtually every shop with ethical home goods (including our boutique, wallflower)! If you love their woven baskets, bowls, and wall art, but prefer to see their designs in other color combos and patterns, you can shop the full collection directly on site for 20 pages of goodies! (So good that I felt the need to make you a pretty collage!) PS–when the time rolls around, if you’re into fair trade Christmas decor, they have THE CUTEST ornaments.

Soil To Studio works with artisans in India to produce the most beautiful handwoven and plant dyed textiles and home goods. They also offer botanically dyed collections made in their Brooklyn studio.

Affordable ethical home decor shop Pokoloko, based in Ottawa, offers design-driven, ethically-made pieces rooted in cultural craft. Find handcrafted products by 100 independent artisans.

MINNA is essentially a one-stop shop for elegant ethical decor and wares. They believe that contemporary design should not sacrifice social responsibility, and that our homes should be a reflection of our values. Here you can find a closer peek at all their artisan partners.

Our new member Charlie Sprout offers luxury home goods that are handwoven and artisan made, and come in the most joyful and vibrant colors and patterns.

Did any if your favorite ethical home goods make this list? And, were any of these new-to-you brands? Let us know your favorite shops, and we’ll add them to the list!

DIY Onion Skin Dye – Natural Dye Tutorial for Cotton & Silk

published on May 12, 2021 by Angela Hamilton

If you tuned into our IG Live with Tatiana of Zuahaza for Earth Month, you may know that we’re getting very into natural dyes over here! Learning about Zuahaza’s process of dyeing with organic cotton opened our eyes to the many ways you can go about dyeing your own fabrics naturally. I’ve had natural dye on my DIY bucket list for years, and the DIY avocado dye Tatiana shared a while back got me even more excited to give this a go. For this project, she shared her recipe for DIY onion skin dye, which is a way to dye cotton, silk, and other natural fabrics a range of yellow, mustard, and orange hues. I followed her lead with my own silk scarves and cotton yarn, and we all got very different results!

Keep reading for the DIY from Zuahaza, as well as photos of my own results of the tutorial.

diy onion skin dye – what you’ll need

ONION SKINS

Store your onion skins in a dry place for at least a week. If you see mold collecting, you can move your onion skins to your fridge. Try to get them as dry as possible before you freeze them. The number of onion skins will vary, but as a rule-of-thumb, collect as much as your fabric weighs. A 1:1 ratio is always a good place to start.

Note: Onion skins are extremely lightweight when dried, so you might need to collect more than what you think.

Tip: If you can’t collect enough onion skins from your kitchen, head to your local farmers’ market and ask them for a few. They generally peel onions and throw away the skins, anyway!

FABRIC OF CHOICE

If you are planning to store 200g of onion skins, then you’ll need your yarn skein or your cotton t-shirt to weigh at least 200g. We encourage exact measurements.

ALUM POWDER OR AN ALUMINUM STONE

Some great websites sell natural dyeing materials. You can order alum powder from Dharma Trading here. If you are using powder, you will need only 1 tablespoon of powder per 100g of fiber. If you are in Colombia or in other countries outside the US and Europe, I recommend buying an aluminum stone, which you can easily find in pharmacies or online. You just need one or two for this project.

Note: I (Angela) used alum powder, and Tatiana used a stone for hers.

A LARGE STAINING STEEL POT

HEAT-RESISTANT GLOVES

A WOODEN SPOON

I had collected these onion skins in my freezer for many moons before the tutorial. It was a pretty big pile!

before dyeing, mordant your fibers

First, we are going to prepare your fibers to soak up and adhere to the color as much as possible. I prefer to mordant all my fibers with aluminum before dyeing because it makes the colors stronger and even more long-lasting. It’s a simple step that helps guarantee your color won’t wash off after dyeing.

Boil enough water in a medium-size pot. Just enough to cover your fibers.

Introduce 1 aluminum stone or 1-2 teaspoons of aluminum powder (based on the weight of your fibers)
Mix thoroughly until dissolved.
Wet your fibers. Make sure your fibers (t-shirt or yarn skein) are fully wet before introducing them.
Introduce your fibers to the hot pot and simmer for 1 hour.
Move your fibers around every once in a while. Do not let the fibers sit. This will avoid having uneven color and help you get nice even results
Remove and wash with cold water.

diy natural dye tutorial – how to dye onion skins

1. In a medium-size pot, bring water to a boil and then keep it at a simmering temperature. How much water you might ask? This is not as important as the exact measurement for your dyestuff and dry goods. Enough water to cover your fibers is good.

2. When the temperature is simmering, add your dry onion skins to the pot. DO NOT let the water get to a boiling temperature as this might burn the dye and you might get results that end up brown.

3. Keep at a simmering temperature (medium to low heat) for about an hour.

4. You can either filter out your onion skins in this step or keep them in the bath, is up to you.

I read that some people do not mordant silk before use (it is good at keeping color naturally), but that it is possible to do so. So I used the mordant for one of the two scarves – the darker one was treated with the mordant before dyeing, and I skipped that step with the one that came out lighter. Love them both!

5. Introduce your fibers. I recommend always washing with water your yarn skein or fabric before introducing it to the dye bath. This opens up the fiber molecules to receive the dye better and avoid uneven dye spots.

6. Move your fibers around constantly. You can use metal tongs, wooden spoons, or heat-resistant gloves to move it around the dye bath. This is crucial to getting even colors.

7. Leave your fibers between 1-2 hours in the dye bath and move around constantly.

8. Carefully use your heat-resistant gloves to take out your fibers and wash with water until water runs clear and discard your onion skins in compost or organic material waste.

As for my cotton yarn, the onion skins produced a very light peachy-orange dye, like a faded creamsicle hue. It looks a bit more orange-y in real life, but my phone didn’t capture it perfectly.

This DIY onion dye recipe is actually the same one that Zuahaza uses to produce their own yellow hue on their textiles! Just look for the one with the Pitaya Yellow shade.

How that you’ve seen MY results, head to Zuahaza’s blog to see Tatiana’s! She dyed a towel and a t-shirt, and got a much more mustard color! She also reveals what happens when you add iron and other modifiers, as well as more tips and tricks for successful dyeing.

Love Anthropologie Home Décor? Try These Ethical & Sustainable Alternatives

published on March 22, 2021 by Angela Hamilton
updated on May 11, 2023

If you’ve come across this post while searching for sustainable alternatives to Anthropologie, you probably already know why they are a problematic company (as well as Urban Outfitters, which owns Anthro, Free People, BHLDN, and Terrain. Ugh.). From their abysmal rating on Goodonyou to claims of racial profiling in stores (and racism in the workplace) to lack of transparency in production and their CEO’s disconcerting political donations, to finally straight up ripping off independent artists for years (this latest instance involves indigenous owned Orenda Tribe), there are many reasons one might feel just a little icky about supporting Anthro.

It’s ironic of course that Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban all cater to more progressive minded shoppers, who love their globally “influenced” style and easygoing vibe. In the midst of various greenwashing techniques, they do partner with independent artists–just, I suppose, the ones they’re not stealing from. (And no, I’m not asserting that the exposure this provides for an artist is something one could even consider turning down.)

Many of my peers know at least some of this to be true, but if it’s not Anthro’s captivating branding drawing them in, it’s this thought that there is definitively no other option for those who desire this so extremely coveted look. But given the fact that these brands succeed by ripping off other artists’ designs, I do know there indeed are options.

So, if you love Anthropologie home decor, but not their ethics, this post is for you. The caveat is that there currently isn’t one single marketplace to get all of the dreamy home decor AND fashion Anthro fans love. But there are some that offer one or the other (decor or fashion, and we’ll get to fashion in another post soon!), and other indie designers to fill in the gaps. So yeah, it’s definitely harder to curate, but it IS a worthy option, to choose three or four of these shops rather than the URBN empire.

Let’s begin with 10 home decor alternatives for Anthropologie… Edited October 2022 with new shops… Enjoy!

Archive New York, who we’ve mentioned before as a great spot for conscious maximalist decor and ethically made rugs, is a beautiful stop for handwoven artisan home goods as well as vintage & market finds.

Antigua Pillow

White and Orange Kitchen Towel

wallflower is a brand created by eco club founders Jennifer and Angela (me!). It’s a small online boutique dedicated to objects, makers, and spaces that inspire. Perhaps not everything (we’re a bit quirky and we love it!), but many of our home decor selections follow a similar aesthetic. (If you choose to visit our shop, thank you in advance!!!)

We have a collection of design-inspired coffee table books

As well as a selection of handmade and ethically sourced decor and tabletop goods such as these porcelain plates, woven table runner, and candle holders. Shop all here!

Our next sustainable alternative to Anthropologie, Canada-based Baba Souk is a beautifully curated online store for Moroccan made decor and rugs, kids decor, art, and lots of lifestyle goodies that make great gifts. They’re totally the refined boho look that Anthro offers, except you know, authentic.

Terracotta Sabra Silk Cactus Pillow

Turquoise Sabra Silk Pillows – Handmade from Morocco

Goodee is an inclusive global marketplace where good design and good purpose intersect. They have such a large selection that not all of it vibes with Anthro… but the fact that they do carry pretty much every category Anthro has when it comes to lifestyle & décor, makes it a great alternative.

Eperara Siapidara Set of Twelve PET Lamps

Pakurigo Basket – Natural

New York based Pillowpia is a mecca of gorgeous, sustainable pillows and soft goods. With cozy neutrals accented by pinks, blues, and orange hues, you can achieve the Anthro look with a conscience.

Look at these gorgeous pastel pillows!

Besides the pillows, I’m also obsessed with these gorgeous placemats.

Australia based Koskela is a quality homeware and furniture shop. Everything in their design-forward catalog is made in Australia. (Note, only the decor is available for international shipping, the larger items are available Australia-wide.)

Minna Cartographer Pillow from Koskela

Better World Arts Cushion – Mitjili Napurrula from Koskela

Social enterprise Minzuu offers a gorgeous, extensive variety of globally inspired homewares from baskets and vases to bedding, bath, and entertaining. Their overall brand has a sophisticated, somewhat minimal look to it, so it doesn’t scream Anthropologie at first glance. But as you look through their selection, you find so many colors and textures to curate that sustainable, yet maximalist home. Learn all about their process on the Minzuu blog.

Minzuu Sunny Day Coasters

Side note: I wanted to mention that Minzuu and a handful of the other sustainable decor shops featured here carry baskets, pendants, and accessories like the coasters above from social enterprise Kazi Goods. They offer many accents that fit the Anthropologie look, and I love how the different shops curate from their selection.

Plant Dyed Linen Table Runner

Australian home decor brand Pampa is known for their textiles, rugs, and other sustainable goods. Their pieces are made by artisans in Argentina, and they ship worldwide. While they do carry some luxury pieces, a lot of their prices are comparable to Anthro, and even better if you consider how long each item will last.

Pampa Monte Pom Pom Cushion

Monte Bolster Pom Pom Pillow

We came across Tribe by Sonal on Instagram right before writing our conscious maximalism home decor piece, and I think we just have to include them in every guide we write from here on out! Tribe by Sonal is a curated collection of both US and internationally crafted goods made from sustainable and recycled materials in mesmerizing patterns, cozy textures, and playful colorways. New collections launch monthly so be sure to sign up for Sonal’s email list for updates!

Coral Pink Moroccan Floor Poufs

Faded Pink Moroccan Cactus Silk Pillow

Macrame Planter Set Black + Blush + Green

St Frank is a design-driven luxury home goods brand featuring only artisan and ethically made goods. They’re on the pricier end of the companies featured here, but offer custom made decor and textiles, a vintage collection, one-of-a-kind objects, and a virtual styling service. Did I mention they offer wallpaper?!

St Frank Wallpaper

Blush Daisy Suzani Throw Pillow

Pink Diamond Huipil Lumbar Pillow

Where do you shop for ethically made home decor? I know there are plenty of bloggers with their own lists of sustainable alternatives to Anthropologie, but I felt many of them struggled a bit to match up the actual style of their products. Super important to the Anthro shopper, I know! I hope these provided a few new-to-you options.