Something a little bit different today. I’ve discovered a fantastic Etsy shop set up by artist/maker Elena Mary Siff. Handmade books, zines, collages, assemblages, note cards and twig ladders are a few of the items for sale. There are some real gems to be found.

I couldn’t decide which items to share - they’re all so beautiful. Here are some more.

Buy from www.elenamary.etsy.com.

Browse at www.elenamarysiff.com.

And just to give you the heads-up, look out for Elena’s jewellery in ‘1000 Jewelry Details’ to be published by Rockport Publishers/Quarry Books and a number of her collages will be featured in ‘Cost of Freedom: An American Anthology of Activism’ (Howling Dog Press, Colorado).

tomate d’?pingles is a wonderful Etsy store offering a quirky range of jewellery, accessories and stationery made from vintage, recycled, retro and new materials. Like the flat notecards for example, shown at the top of the post. They’re hand embroidered and feature gorgeous multicoloured vintage repurposed buttons.

I’ve picked out a few more of my favourite pieces to share with you. Second from top is ‘Le Temps des Cerises’ - cherry vintage button necklace and earring set.

Oh yes, and the pretty vintage daisies on silver filled ear wires and last but not least the hand wrapped coconut ring, made from polished coconut shell and hand wrapped with copper wire.

Take a look for yourself at www.tomatedepingles.etsy.com . It’s a great site to browse. I’m off to buy a set of the notecards.

I’d never heard of a bookartist until I came across Rachel Hazell’s website a few weeks ago. Rachel designs, illustrates, binds and exhibits book-related work. Everything is handmade using age-old labour intensive techniques. I recently bought one of her Seventh Wave books, which is just lovely. Measuring just 37 x 48 x 13mm, it is hand painted and hand sewn using a medieval long stitch. The book is beautiful in its own right but could be filled with quotes, extracts, poems, photos etc. to make a personal and unique gift.

And if you’re looking for a romantic gift, take a look at the Lantern Poem. It’s a fun lampshade made from wire, tissue and felt and adorned with poetic snippets.

For further details go to www.hazelldesignsbooks.co.uk.

I think I mentioned a while ago that I’ve been looking for unusual stationery. A few weeks ago I discovered Sarah Hough. Sarah set up her card publishing business in 2004 and creates beautifully illustrated notecards and greetings cards, inspired by life in Piddletrenthide, West Dorset.

I love these new notecards that seem to be around at the moment. A couple of years back you could only really buy notelets or writing paper. There was nothing in between. Have you noticed that or is just me?

I’ve already bought a couple of sets of Sarah Hough cards (the ones shown above - Home Sweet Home and T-4-2) and they’re really lovely. Good quality cardstock and envelopes and they cost only £5.95 for 8. They arrive beautifully packaged in opaque covers, fastened with twine.

Take a look at Sarah’s website or order online at www.notonthehighstreet.com.

Feeling sad today. Remember I told you a while ago that my sister is about to move to Scotland? Well, she leaves today. We said our goodbyes last night and I left to her finish the remaining packing (and repaper the wall that Monty the cat had scratched). So today’s post has a Scottish theme. The following indie designers/online shops are all based north of the border.

First up is Velvet Boutique. If you haven’t visited this site before you should definitely take a look. Velvet Boutique prides itself on showcasing new, innovative and award winning Scottish design. You can buy clothes, accessories, jewellery, cards and interiors.

I’m sure that many of you will be familiar with Miso Funky - crafty gals based in Glasgow who not only create a host of handmade goodies but have pioneered the Miso Market.

Planet Boo have a crazy range of quirky shirts, cards, badges, keyrings, mirrors, mouse mats and lots of other little gems, all of which are made in a converted coal shed off the north coast of Scotland. They’ve recently revamped their website. Take a look at www.planetboo.co.uk.

Andreea Florisca is based in Edinburgh. I’ve blogged about her gorgeous bags before and even have one of my own, which is currently sat in the hallway downstairs. Andreea’s work is really unusual as she combines knitting and crochet with luxurious fabrics.

Jewellery designers everywhere will be familiar with Hannah Zakari. The pink polka dot online shop has the largest range of jewellery by independent designers that I’m aware of. It covers everything from cute felted accessories to revamped vintage treasures. The site is owned and maintained by Rachael Lamb who sells her own designs through the site, along with a pretty range of handmade bags.

And not forgetting Stella my Star - keeper of crafty blog and creative jewellery designer. Check out her Etsy store at www.stellamystar.etsy.com.

And although this isn’t strictly indie related, I thought I’d mention a fantastic blog that I’ve recently discovered called Forever Amber. Written by freelance journalist, Amber McNaught, the blog is all about her life. Some of the posts are hilarious and it’s definitely worth a read.

Of course, these are just a few sites that I’m aware of. Leave me a comment or drop me an email if there are other sites that you would like me to mention. Have a good weekend!

Vanessa’s obsession with paper began after completing a tutorial on book binding. The next day she went straight to her local craft store and purchased lots of paper and the idea for Paper Zombie ‘unfolded’. She began by selling her signature matchbook notepads from her MySpace page and then opened an online shop earlier this year.

Her specialty is still the matchbook notepads which are available in a variety of different patterns and hues and can even be customised to your own requirements. She also sells a range of scratch cards, buttons, magnets and mirrors. The Halloween themed magnets are particularly cute.

A couple of weeks ago I found out that my sister, Cassie is moving to Scotland. I’m over the moon for her but also a little sad that she’s not going to be just around the corner anymore. So for the past week I’ve been hunting around for quirky postcards, notelets and stationery that I can send to her when she moves.

During my search I stumbled across Bird in a Skirt and their beautiful range of custom stationery. My favourites are the Austen note cards which come in steely blue and salmon pink and can be customised with your own initials. The note cards are inspired by Vickey Jang’s favourite novelist, Jane Austen, who also happens to be one of my favourites. (Jane Austen also had a sister called Cassandra. Must be fate!)

There are a number of classic and contemporary styles to choose from in the Bird in Skirt online shop. All of the designs are printed on good cardstock, reminiscent of handmade paper. Take a look at www.birdinaskirt.com.

Meet Boris. He’s the one on the left. Boris is not your ordinary, run of the mill robot. He doesn’t perform menial tasks and he isn’t plotting to enslave the human race. Designed by WHiRR, he features in a variety of paper goods, artwork, gifts and novelties, along with various robot friends.

The keychain on the left is 3 dimensional and made out of vinyl. At only $8 it would make an ideal stocking filler gift. There is also a good range of cute cards like the one on the right, along with invitations, journals, calendars and stationery.

WHiRR is dedicated to designing and producing robot-themed products. Each piece depicts robots involved in leisurely activities, challenging the idea that robots only exist to serve.

The full range can be found at www.blissfullybitter.com.