Pop Deluxe is owned by John and Amber Westerman and includes a brick and mortar store in Madison, Wisconsin. Their collection of products is somewhat similar to Fred Flare but includes more items that exist outside the realm of the notably quirky. But, of course, I decided to feature some of their more unusual products.
If I hung this first product in my house, I would fully dedicate myself and paint some additional images (heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) in the background.

LIfe Line Coat and Hat Hanger Rack, $16.00

Gamiworks offers “a contemporary collection of Japanese chiyogami inspired gifts and accessories.” Chiyogami  is a type of brightly colored Japanese paper that has a pattern done by woodblock printing. The papers are used in origami and a variety of handicrafts. Gamiworks utilizes the chiyogami in jewelry and household goods. The lines of the products are kept traditional and simple so that the colors of the paper can be the highlight.

Summer Blossom Dog Tag, $19.00

Los Angeles based Regeneration focuses on recycled and eco-friendly products. The few items they sell that aren’t on organic materials are recycled from items found at thrift stores. The graphic designs are really quirky. I’m in love with the leggings that have cell division printed up the back of the legs.

Bee Wrap Top, $35.00

If you’re in the market for some sartorial non sequiturs, buy shirts from Beta. Graphic designs like a mixed tape throwing ninja or a unicorn warding off F15 jets are screen printed onto American Apparel t shirts. The shirts I marked as unisex are technically men’s shirts but are great for women who don’t like a super snug fit in their tees. If you don’t buy one of their shirts, there’s a chance they’ll send their army of gun toting rabbits in your direction.  You haven’t seen battle until you’ve …

From now on, the Friday Indie Retailer spots are going to be dedicated to revisiting stores we’ve featured before to see what new products they’ve created since we last checked in on them.
Anderson Soap Co.

Last Featured: March 8, 2008
The first time I wrote about the Anderson Soap Co., I focused on the bars he makes from beer. I bought two of the beer bars for my grandfather for his birthday and he loved him so much he was telling his dentist about them. The Guinness and Sam Adams bars …

Poketo is a unique company that helps artists get their works translated to accessible materials and out into the world. That’s a fancy way of saying they put graphics created by some of the world’s best artist’s on vinyl wallets, t shirts, accessories, paper goods and household items. I decided to focus on the vinyl wallets since they’re a popular subject for Moue readers. The name of the artist is included in the product name. The pictures show the wallets expanded- they fold in half before going into your pocket.

Yusaku …

Hippos are kind of a random subject matter for a Mixed Bag (not that randomness has ever stopped me before) but I got the idea from the Wall Hanger Set I saw at Rare Bird Finds. I recently gave my cousin’s young son the “Disney lied to you” talk where I explained that hippos aren’t nearly as friendly as Walt and friends like to perpetuate. They’re less about the dancing and more about the biting in real life.

Hippo Wall Hanger Set, $55.00 from Sprout Home

I came across Robinosities when I did an Etsy search for fortune cookie shaped soap. Those cookie scented soaps containing actual fortunes (or quotations) are neat but it was really the garden gnome soap that won my heart.

Garden Gnome Soap, $7.00

“Make art not trash” is the motto of Jak Random Art and Design. Their vinyl wrist cuffs are made of recycled records and have a durable resin coating to make them stronger. You can specify what size you need when ordering (a great thing for people with ridiculously small wrists like myself). All cuffs are on sale for $10 until August 9th.

Acoustic Guitar Recycled Vinyl Cuff, $10

Today is my little brother’s seventh birthday (which puts a whopping twenty years between us in age). I’m clear across country from him so this (and a cartoon e-card) is my best way of being there since he hates speaking on the phone. Happy birthday, Bubby. I love you.

Fun Fish-in-a-Bag Soap, $6.00