Modern Mouse

Artist Profile: Bella Beads Originals

Katrina — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:03:55 +0000

Marguerite Irvine Payne - Alameda, CA

The Bella Beads Originals Story
I started making jewelry, as a hobby, in 2003. My sister gave me some vintage beads and a beading magazine. That peaked my interest and I took some beading classes. The next thing I knew, friends were asking me to make jewelry for them. And, as they say, the rest is history.

I love the creative process of finding a beautiful strand of beads or a great pendant and creating a piece of jewelry that bring’s a smile and a little bit of happiness into someone’s life. And, I have a thing for making one-of-a-kind pieces. I think it makes people feel special to know they’re the only ones with that particular necklace, bracelet or earrings. It makes their smile even bigger!

In my other life…
My current job is my jewelry business!

Did you know?
I have a wonderful, lovable yellow lab named Schooner. She’s my furbaby and a momma’s girl!

I’ve also been known to answer to…
My husband calls me “love of my life” otherwise, no nickname!

Gift Ideas for Anyone

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:04:12 +0000

To wrap up our gift guide series, we bring you 17 gift ideas suitable for just about anyone: sweetheart, coworker, teacher, friend, family member…you get the picture!

Clockwise, from top left:

Honey Bee Mine Soap and Dish Gift Set, by Sirona Springs, $10
Roll-On Perfume, by mi SPA, $14 (now on sale for $11.20)
Deep Sea Hand Creams, by Ho’ola Kai, $15 (now on sale for $12)
Hugs and Kisses Soap, by Sirona Springs, $5
9oz Soy Tumbler Candle, by Senses and Scents, $16

Clockwise, from top left:

Panda Bums Art Print, by steppie, $14 (frame not included)
Eco-Friendly Cashmere Elephant, by buttercupbloom, $30
Hammer Rose Paper Robot, by PIPEROID, $12.95
Valentine’s Day Octopus, by Parami Panda, $25
Birds Flying Over Flowers Archival Print, by Rachel Austin, $18
Tiny Tiny Terrariums, by Tortoise Loves Donkey, $5 – $5.50
Hand-Painted Wooden Hoot Owl, by myfriendamy, $10
Vintage Silverware Garden Markers, by Monkeys Always Look, $9 each
Individual Felted Wool Bowl, by Papaver Vert, $30 each

And last but not least, we’ve got gift certificates available in any amount of your choosing!

We think they’re perfectly paired with these 2-pack Valentine’s Day gift boxes of gourmet rice crispy treats by Milk & Krunchies. Yum!

As usual, you can find these fine goods — and more! — at Modern Mouse in Alameda. Come on down! Also find fabulous gifts for yourself from this amazing set of designers while you’re there.

Photo credits: Product images in this post are courtesy of the individual artists listed above.

Gift Ideas for Her: Wearables

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:19:14 +0000

Wanna impress your girl with a stylish top or accessory she’ll actually love to wear? Grab any of the items made by the talented apparel and accessory designers in this series of our gift guides, and you’ll be good to go! Be sure to check out both sets of recommendations below, and then come on in to see what else we have in store!

Clockwise, from top left:

Bike Girl Scoop Neck, by fiftyseven-thirtythree, $34 (on sale for $28.90 through 2/14/10)
Chandra Elephant Hoodie, by Colette Kids, $28
Palm Berries Cap Sleeve Top, by stellarocco, $26
Kitty Face Scoop Tee, by WilloToons, $20
Magnolia Boatneck Top, by stellarocco, $28
Fish Bicycle Tee, by The Girl & Rhino, $24

Clockwise, from top left:

Hand-dyed Chiffon Scarf, by Swim, $18.50
Fabric-Covered Button Bobby Pins, by Cookie and The Dude, $12 per pair
Fleece Kitty Hat, by Rabbhats, $17
Fabric Headband, by Queen Puff Puff, $12
Valentine’s Day Diva Scarf, by Crickets Creations, $40
Ranunculus Cluster Brooch, by Happenstance Designs, $18.50

Coming up next in our Gift Guide series are more gift ideas for her, from some of our other departments.

All of these fine goods — and more! — are available now at Modern Mouse in Alameda. Come on down! Also find fabulous gifts for yourself from this amazing set of designers while you’re there.

Photo credits: Product images in this post are courtesy of the individual artists listed above.

Gift Ideas for Her: Bags & Purses

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:50:41 +0000

What else can a girl never have enough of? Bags! And little purses to organize the things inside our bags! Twelve ideas for you, and more colors, styles and shapes where these came from.

Clockwise, from top left:

Reversible Canvas Eco-Tote, by Green Girl, $55
Market Tote, by Queen Puff Puff, $28
French Olive Hobo, by The Enchanted Square, $64
Everyday Tote, by Planet Penelope, $75 (now on sale for $56.25)
BYOB Eco Jute Bag, by Green Girl, $28
I Am a Ninja Tote Bag, by steppie, $15

Clockwise, from top left:

Large Kyoto Kimono Organizer, by Angelina Fong Designs, $30
Lingerie Bag, by Queen Puff Puff, $20
Canvas Wallet, by Chikabird / randL, $28
Polopolo Multi Pocket Pouch, by Yokomono Studio, $28
Cherry Wallflower Pouch, by DrikaB, $29.50
Polopolo Pocket Tissue Holder, by Yokomono Studio, $15

Coming up next in our Gift Guide series are more gift ideas for her, from some of our other departments.

All of these fine goods — and more! — are available now at Modern Mouse in Alameda. Come on down! Also find fabulous gifts for yourself from this amazing set of designers while you’re there.

Photo credits: Product images in this post are courtesy of the individual artists listed above.

Gift Ideas for Her: Jewelry

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:22:42 +0000

We ladies love us some adornments, and Modern Mouse has got plenty of that to offer. From cutesy (e.g. Hello Kitty rings) to casual (e.g. ebony wood bead bracelets) to chic and sophisticated (e.g. ruby rosary necklaces), we’ve got a little bit of jewelry for just about everyone. Try a few of these on for size! Eighteen ideas for you, and much much more on our shelves!

Ladies, feel free to use one of the “Drop ‘Em a Hint” wishlist cards we’ve got in the store so that your Valentine knows exactly what you’ve got your eye on for Valentine’s Day…and beyond!

Clockwise, from top left:

Tiny Heart Stud Earrings, by Periphery Designs, $12
Love Pendant Necklace, by Everything Tiny, $20
Red Turquoise and Wood Bracelet, by Brooklyn Thread, $24
Panda Bums Ring, by steppie, $8
Peas in a Pod Necklace, by Mu Yin Jewelry, $34
Midnight Sakura Washi Necklace, by Sparkle Candy, $14

Clockwise, from top left:

Map Pendant Necklace, by Rachel Austin, $20
Game Piece Letter Pendant Necklace, by XO Handworks, $20
Circle Lovebirds Necklace, by Figs & Ginger, $45
Ruby Rosary Double-Strand Necklace, by Bella Beads Originals, $88
Hello Kitty Face Plate Ring, by Destination Design, $7
Cell Formation Necklace, by Emily P-S, $75

Clockwise, from top left:

Magenta Dahlia Laser-Cut Wool Felt Earrings, Feisty Elle, $28
Pink Heart Adjustable Ring, by Yeah Hello, $9
Anatomical Heart Pendant w/ tinted concrete, by Lulu Bug Jewelry, $56
Lovely Maidens All in a Row Necklace, by Unkamengifts, $16
Tiny Heart Fine Silver Pendant Necklace, by Lulu Bug Jewelry, $28
Vintage Heart Bracelet, by MaeBee Jewelry, $22

Looking for something other than jewelry? Coming up next in our Gift Guide series are more gift ideas for her, from some of our other departments.

All of these fine goods — and more! — are available now at Modern Mouse in Alameda. Come on down! Also find fabulous gifts for yourself from this amazing set of designers while you’re there.

Photo credits: Product images in this post are courtesy of the individual artists listed above.

Gift Ideas for Him

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:59:11 +0000

In need of ideas for man-worthy gifts for Valentine’s Day? Try these on for size! Everything you see here is under $50, and you could stick within that range even if you bundled some of these things together. And who doesn’t love a good bundle?! Especially if you present it in one of the Publique Living BoxWood gift boxes (down in our 2nd batch of photos below).

Clockwise, from top left:

Rocket Ship Lasercut Acrylic Belt Buckle w/ Belt, by Everything Tiny, $27
Cool Pint Limited Edition Linocut Print, by 3 Fish Studios, $25
Oakland Eastside Men’s Tee, by 57-thirtythree, $26 (15% off through 2/15/10!)
Tengking and Tsubuten Piperoid paper robot, by Magnote, $15.95
Concrete Planter, by Tortoise Loves Donkey, $20
Beer Shampoo Bar, by mi SPA, $8.50

Clockwise, from top left:

Lego Cufflinks, by Bits and Badges, $12.95
BoxWood Gift Box, by Publique Living, $12-$28
Antique Bicycle Screenprinted Microfiber Tie, by Cyberoptix TieLab, $30
Twain Adventure Pencil 6-Pack, by Earmark Invitations, $6.50
Journey Journal, by Earmark Invitations, $8.50
Screenprinted Moleskine Notebook, by Girls Can Tell, $10

Clockwise, from top left:

Hand-Crocheted Mobius Cowl, by ARCHICRAFT, $40
Screenprinted Keyholder, by Tiny Sparks Design, $25
Nerdy Teardrop Glasses, by steppie, $12
Honeycomb Soap, by Sirona Springs, $5
AT-AT Tee Shirt, by The Girl & Rhino, $24
Lighthouse Photo mounted on 2mm polystyrene, by Topflight Photography, $30

All of these fine goods — and more! — are available now at Modern Mouse in Alameda. Come on down! Also find fabulous gifts for yourself from this amazing set of designers while you’re there.

Photo credits: Product images in this post are courtesy of the individual artists listed above.

Introducing…a Valentine’s Day Gift Guide Series!

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:00:39 +0000

Anatomical Heart necklace - fine silver inlaid with tinted concrete, by Lulu Bug Jewelry

Love is in the air, friends, and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Now we all know that you don’t need a specific day to express your love to the special people in your life, and love ain’t just expressed through material things. BUT, a thoughtful gift is such fun to give and equally fun to receive!

I’ve always really enjoyed silly little occasions like Valentine’s Day, and this little ditty kicks off a series of short posts I’m putting together to help you find the perfect little something to hand over to your Valentine(s) this year. These items can all be found right here at Modern Mouse in Alameda and (soon) in our online store as well!

Note: These fine photos are from each respective designers’ websites (LuluBugJewelry, Periphery Designs and Mae Bee Jewelry).

Silver and Concrete Necklaces, by Lulu Bug Jewelry

If you haven’t yet seen Lulu Bug Jewelry’s silver and concrete jewelry, you simply must come by to see for yourself! Silver and…concrete?! Yes! If that ain’t unique I don’t know what is.

Tiny Heart Necklace in silver and concrete, by Lulu Bug Jewelry

Love the concept, but think that hearts are too been-there-done-that? How ’bout this little guy? It’s a beet! (Mm, beets.)

Beet Necklace in silver and concrete, by Lulu Bug Jewelry

Organic Wood Jewelry, by Periphery Designs

Angela from Alameda’s Periphery Designs loaded us up with some new jewelry just in time for Valentine’s Day, and a few of my favorite pieces are the ones made with these beautiful, lightweight wood beads.

Organic Wood Bracelet, by Periphery Designs

And a matching necklace:

Organic Wood and Turquoise Necklace, by Periphery Designs

Wait, what? Doesn’t scream Valentine’s Day enough for you? Try these precious sterling silver heart-stamped stud earrings:

Tiny Heart Stud Earrings, by Periphery Designs

or this delicate, goes-with-everything necklace:

A Little Piece of My Heart Necklace, by Periphery Designs

Leather, Linen and Metal Bracelets, by Mae Bee Jewelry

Mae Bee Jewelry brought us a new batch of irresistible bracelets that have been so well-loved that I’m not sure it’ll last through the week, so hurry on over if you’re gonna pick one up!

Simple Love Bracelet - hammered heart on waxed linen, by Mae Bee Jewelry

Vintage Heart Bracelet, by Mae Bee Jewelry

Sterling Perched Heart Bracelet, by Mae Bee Jewelry

That’s it for today, but more ideas are coming your way. Stay tuned!

Modern Mouse in the SF Chronicle’s “In Alameda” Blog!

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:06:43 +0000

I’ve been waiting for the day when my Google Web Alert for Modern Mouse (an automated alert that sends me email any time Google finds the words “modern mouse” published online) would turn up something other than updates about computer mice and video games that look like this:

Google Alerts, before

Occasionally, Google picks up Alix’s “where to buy” info on her Parami Panda Crochet blog which is always nice to see. And it was cool when the East Bay Loop city guide helped spread the word about our Black Friday Sale back in November.

But today! Today, my friends, I was tickled green and blue (our colors, of course!) to see THIS alert in my inbox!

Google Alerts, after

Thanks so much to San Francisco Chronicle blog writer Susan David for a) being a loyal customer of Modern Mouse and b) helping us spread the word about the happy news that we’ve decided to keep the goodness flowing and extend our stay here at the Alameda Towne Centre (or, for the old schoolers, South Shore)!

Here’s a screenshot of the piece, which you can click on to read the full article:

My sincere thanks all around: to our beloved customers for your patronage and support, to the Alameda Towne Centre for providing a great space to be in, and to Susan Davis for the write-up!

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

admin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 06:30:25 +0000

Greetings and warm wishes from the Modern Mouse family to you and yours for a happy holiday season! Thank you so much for being a Modern Mouse customer — we truly appreciate the support and enthusiasm from each and every one of you. You’ve made our holiday season that much brighter by allowing us to be a part of yours!

As a token of our appreciation to our loyal customers (and of course our Facebook fans and Twitter followers), Modern Mouse would like to offer you a Happy Shopping coupon! From now through the end of 2009, receive $5 off of every $50 you spend at the shop by bringing in a printer-friendly version of our Happy Shopping coupon. Christmas Day is come and gone. Now it’s time to treat yourself to something nice!

We look forward to offering you lots more handmade goodness in 2010 (but of course we hope to see you back in the shop before then too)! Our holiday hours for the rest of the year are:

Sat – Sun, 12/26 – 12/27: 10:00am – 6:00pm (regular weekend hours)
Mon – Thur, 12/28 – 12/30: 10:00am – 7:00pm (regular weekday hours)
Fri, 12/31: 10:00am – 5:00pm
New Year’s Day, 1/1: Closed. Happy New Year!
Sat – Sun, 1/2 – 1/3: Taking a short breather, then open regular hours beginning Mon 1/4!

For more frequent updates on store and new designer/product news, please join us on Facebook and/or Twitter!

xo,
-eleen (aka “mouse”)

Shop handmade specials at Modern Mouse this Friday!

More handmade goodness in store!

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:51:21 +0000

A couple of weeks ago we announced a fresh new wave of designers whose goods have now made their way into Modern Mouse, and this week we’ve got even more to scream our heads off about! So let’s not waste any time, shall we? Just in time for the holiday shopping rush, we’ve added awesome products from these exciting folks:

fiftyseven-thirtythree (men’s and women’s tees)
Milk & Krunchies (gourmet rice crispy treats)
Yeah Hello (jewelry and hair accessories)
Parami Panda (crocheted creatures)
Mochi Studios (plushies)
Bonjour Teaspoon (bags from reclaimed textiles)

A sneak peek at some of their items:

We’ve ALSO got new stuff in from some of our original vendors, including:

More/bigger sizes of your favorite gnome, deer and giraffe designs from Jasper Hearts Wren
New pouches, and more tissue box covers in new fabrics from Yokomono Studio
Soothingly scented lavender sachets from Cookie and The Dude
More hats with ears from Colette Kids

…and more!

“Whoa, it feels like I’m in an Etsy store!”