Plaid Tooth Fairy Pillow by cmh design

The cmh design Story
I am greatly inspired by words. One day I heard Peter Schiff (an American Economist) say this: [For our economy to survive] “We have to start making stuff again.” And I thought—well, that pretty much sums it up. I don’t know if Peter knows he encouraged me to start my own business, but he did. Thanks, Pete.

Well, that, and ~ I decided that the world needs more whimsy.

I draw on the skills I learned as a girl. At a very young age, my Mom taught me how to sew, how to do needlework, crochet ~ basically how to keep my hands busy creating. I took sewing classes in school, but the really good stuff I learned from my Mom — who at age 91 still sews every day. The best trick I learned from Mom? Cut patterns conservatively and never, ever waste a thing. She grew up during the Great Depression; I call her the Original Recycler.

I have always had a penchant for anything whimsical ~ anything that made me smile, evoked a memory or provided an allegorical hug. So I decided to create things that made me smile, hoping when I sent them out into the world you would smile, too.

I feel I am finally doing what I was meant to do. My days are full of laughter and warm fuzzies. Literally.

In my other life…
Past work experience:
-Administrative Assistant in Public Schools
-Personal Assistant in a Public Relations firm and a Cable Programming Network
-Programming and Public Affairs for Time Warner

Did you know?
-I find inspiration everywhere! I always have a camera with me and snap pix for later
review. I also keep notes in my iPhone.
-My cat, A-choo, is my constant companion and sleeps in a little blue bed in my studio all
day long. Sometimes my dog, Simba, saunters in and plops down for a chat.
-Most of my items are made from remnants of fabric used in other projects ~ remnants
that would normally have been discarded and gone on to clog up landfills. If I use
larger pieces of fabric, the remnants then find new life in another project. Win-win.
-All of my items are my original designs.

I’ve also been known to answer to…
My given name is Cynthia. I am so not Cynthia. Hence, Cindi.

Cindi Miller Herleman - Denver, CO

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"Bert" Fisher Price Little People Print - Meredith Steele Paintings

The Meredith Steele Paintings Story

I started making these small paintings of vintage toys after watching my own daughter play with the very same toys I enjoyed as a youngster.

In my other life…
I have an MFA degree in painting from Winthrop University and taught art for ten years. Now I spend my days painting and playing fairy-unicorn-princess with my young daughter.

Did you know?
Representing the South! I relocated from North Carolina to the Bay Area in 2009, ya’ll.

Meredith Steele - Oakland, CA

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Bowties by Intwined

The Intwined Story
A company that seeks to combine two elements that fundamentally clash, but when paired together, are a match made in heaven. Intwined proves that opposites attract and can form a beautiful piece that strangely match. Our bow ties are as unique as the personalities that wear them. They are dressy accessories that can fit into a classy affair or add class to something as simple as a Sunday stroll in the park.

In my other life…
My past work experience was as an assistant merchandiser. With positive feedback from my friends, I decided to make a career of my hobby and I’m loving every minute of it!

Did you know?
I probably have over 100 different types of fabrics/patterns in my house!

I’ve also been known to answer to…
People call me Jenn – sometimes bill calculator & mom :P

Jenn Lui - Daly City, CA

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Linocut Latte Stuffie by Blockhead Press

The Blockhead Press Story
Blockhead Press is a Petaluma-based printing operation owned and operated by me, Jennifer Ruffing Paisley. Blockhead Press offers simple, crisp (and often humorous) graphics on a variety of items including household items, cards, prints, and bags as well as unique products such as belt buckles and graphic paintings. All of Blockhead Press’s work is imagined in my personal noggin and then 100% handcrafted.

Each image originates in a linocut – a hand-carved sheet of linoleum, which is then inked and printed on to a substrate (this is often called relief printing). I started printing more than twenty years, when my dad offered me his old linocutting tools and a few blocks (he had been into linocuts 20 years earlier). I loved it and printed various things for the next several years, but it wasn’t until my kids were born that I really began printing regularly and obsessively. The craft offered me the flexibility of working in stops and starts, which
was necessary with young kids, but was not possible with painting, my primary artistic outlet at the time. Since that time, I’ve learned to screenprint, which has opened up a whole new frontier for my images.

In my other life…
My left brain works part-time in the affordable housing industry for low-income seniors. It’s a tangled web, but challenging and fun on a geek level.

Did you know?
I live with four boys at home – two sons, one husband, and a papillion/pomeranian mix. The only other girls around are our three hens – Princess Leia Eggwalker, Madame Ovary, and Yoko Eggo.

I’ve also been known to answer to…
Just mommy and sweetheart, and the occasional unmentionables.

Jenny Paisley - Petaluma, CA

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In this class, students will learn to connect wire links to make bracelets, necklaces and/or earrings. Depending on your speed, students will go home with 1~2 colored pearl bracelets and/or earrings. Mollie will supply base metal wire, pearl beads in assorted colors so that students can create a color mix of their design. Tools will be provided and will also available to purchase after the class!

You too can make a bracelet that looks similar to this!*

*Pearls supplied for the class will be slightly different.

More class details:

• Class: Wire Worked Pearl Jewelry
• Date: Saturday, July 31st from 10:00am – 11:30am
• Instructor: Mollie Chen, Mu-Yin Jewelry
• Price: $45 per student, all materials included
• Materials: Base metal wire and colored pearls in assorted colors will be provided. No need to bring a thing but your fine selves!
• Class size: maximum 6 students (2 minimum)
• Levels: Beginner
• Techniques: jewelry layout and design, creating and connecting wire links, attaching jump rings and clasps

To sign up:

Or, reserve your space by paying in full using one of the options below.

• Call us at 510-814-8830 with your Visa, MC or Discover Card payment info.
• Email us at eleen@modernmousegifts.com to let us know you’re interested, and we’ll contact you to arrange payment.
• Visit and pay in store by cash or credit card.

More about Mollie:

Mollie’s been making jewelry for 5 years and runs her own successful shop on Etsy. Her jewelry has been featured on multiple blogs as well as on Figure Magazine, and her work has even attracted the attention of Elle Magazine last year.

Mollie’s blog includes lots of jewelry making tips and one of her jewelry tutorials was published in Bead Trends magazine. She also had some jewelry making tips published in BeadStyle Magazine back in 2008.

To top it all off, Mollie is the fearless leader of our Full Time Etsy Crafters Team, an Etsy Street Team that’s been spotlighted a few times on Etsy’s widely read blog:

• Featured Team: Full Time Etsy Crafters Team
• Etsy Finds: The A-Team
• Before and After With Etsy’s Old Timers & Full-Timers

You can read even more about Mollie in her interview for Inc.com’s recent article, “How to Make Money on Etsy“.

The fine print:

• If you register but are unable to attend the class, simply contact us at least 7 days before your class for a full refund.
• Sorry, we cannot offer refunds for missed classes.
• If your class is canceled due to low registration, we’ll call to notify you of the cancellation and you will be issued a refund or class credit for the fees you paid in advance.

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If I could grab both your hands right now and jump up and down in ecstatic, squealing jubilation…you can bet I would!

The Best of Alameda 2010 cover

As soon as I got home from the store last night, Jimmy (aka Mr. Mouse) strolled casually out the door to greet me.

Jimmy: “Have you seen the Best Of issue yet?”
Me: “Ooh it’s out? Not yet, why?”
Jimmy (giving me a look of sympathy): “Sorry M, you didn’t get Best Gift Shop”.
Me (waving my hand dismissively): “Oh, I didn’t expect to win that at all. It’d have been a miracle if we did!”
Jimmy: “That’s true, but still. I know you would have loved to see Modern Mouse in there. Wanna see it anyway?”

We walk to the kitchen table, where the magazine is of course strategically opened to page 57.

The Spread

I scan the pages. The MaeBee Jewelry and BrooklynThread bracelets catch my eye. Wait. I gasp. “Best Indie Design Store. Modern Mouse??? Editor’s Choice! OMIGOSH OMIGOSH OMIGOSH!!!” Clapping, jumping and squealing ensue.

Best Indie Design Store: Modern Mouse!

What a cool category to be in, and what a great write-up!

EDITORS CHOICE
Best Indie Design Store Modern Mouse
Part art gallery, part retail store, Modern Mouse in Alameda Towne Centre beckons you to stop inside and browse through the gift and household collections of original goods. Your eyes quickly scan the bold colors, cool graphics and sleek styles for items like hand-felted flower vases and bowls, bolts of fabric by Echino by Etsuko Furuya, hand-knit stuffed animals and neckties featuring hand silkscreen graphics of lobsters, honeybees or missiles. Owner Eleen Hsu believes in supporting the close-knit Bay Area artist community and showcases local talent by displaying their handicrafts while giving them a place to tell their story. Scattered among the store are cards featuring the artist’s picture, story behind the artist and interesting tidbit section. Now where did I see Lego cuff links?
2228 South Shore Center, (510) 814-8830, www.modernmouse.eleen.com — Karen Granados

A fat hug and huge thanks to Karen Granados and Alameda Magazine for the honor!

And congratulations for their Readers Choice awards, to my fellow local business owners whom I’ve recently gotten the pleasure to know!

• Best Asian Restaurant, Zen Fusion
• Best Dessert, Tucker’s Ice Cream
• Best Gift Shop, 3 Wishes
• Best Kids’ Clothes and Accessories Store, Monkey Bars

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Triple threat cuteness (clockwise from top left): pinwheel, Reagan, and new stuff signage

If you’ve walked through the shopping center anytime within the past few months, you’ve probably seen our colorful spinning wheel…and maybe even admired the artwork underneath it every now and then! That would be the work of Reagan Jones. For all who’ve appreciated it, and for those of you who’ve yet to, here’s a little walk down signage lane. {cue music!}

Aww. Remember these days, before we upgraded our whiteboard markers?

One of my favorite things each week is seeing what little nugget of happiness RJ will leave us with on the board. “Rain, Rain, GO AWAY!!” for example? Or little chickies declaring their love for each other! “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!” or peace, love and happiness (in symbols, of course).

Next time you stop by, we hope you’ll take a moment to check out RJ’s rainbow-brite work of art. It’s sure to bring a smile to your face, not to mention tip you off to what new goodness is in store!

One of Reagan's first Modern Mouse signs ever!

Thanks for the signage love, Reagan!

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Easter chicks by Parami Panda

Felt hair clips by The Pickled Pumpkin

Flower Power Swirl Necklaces by favmoongirl

1" pins by steppie

Do-It-Yourself Paper Robot Kits by PIPEROIDS

Robot in the City by Alexander Shen

Animal Ears Hat by Colette Kids

And hey, didja get invited to a potluck this Easter? Try surprising your host with one of these no-cook Easter meals!

Moody Toast Pillow by Wonder-Thunder

(Easter) Ham Plush Toy by Sweet Meats

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Ritz the Robot gets to know the PIPEROIDS

PIPEROIDS paper robots have long ruled the robot block here at Modern Mouse, but they’re now joined by a new friend — Ritz the Robot from Robot in the City! Ritz (seen here talking to Hammer Rose and Muscle Joe) and the PIPEROIDS have been getting to know each other since Ritz arrived at the store yesterday in the hands of Alexander Shen (whom we’re ever so grateful to fun and faithful Modern Mouse customer Shannon for introducing us to)!

Plushie Robot Invasion!

Of course, we can’t exactly say that PIPEROIDS have been the only robots in store. 3 Fish Studios‘ Retro Robots and Lonely Robots landed on our shelves shortly before Valentine’s Day, but they really kind of just kind of keep to themselves, occasionally intermingling with the Bears in Thoughtful Repose but for the most part reclusive.

Retro Robots postcard set by 3 Fish Studios

Especially the Lonely Robots. Never a peep out of these guys, I tell ya!

Lonely Robots postcard sets by 3 Fish Studios

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