Now on Etsy: The Stella Moonshine Chemise

It's official: my first Moonshine Chemise is up in the Etsy shop! Stella boasts a decidedly Deco paneled construction, featuring a straight-cut bodice paired with a flowy bias-cut skirt. She makes the perfect gift - the ideal Valentine's Day treat for the Flapper closest to your heart.

Stella Moonshine Chemise

Keep your eyes peeled for the Moonshine Chemise in different colors over the next few weeks, and as always, don't hesitate to contact me directly for custom work!

Now on Etsy: The Chloris and Sundara Private Eye Sleep Masks

Having worked in a lingerie store for a good portion of my time in California, I can say that the hardest part of gifting lingerie is not knowing the giftee's size. When it comes to Valentine's Day, birthday, or bachelorette party gifting, sometimes you just need to find a present that's easy, sweet and uncomplicated.

Enter Honey Cooler Handmade's newest product: the Private Eye Sleep Mask. Made from the same silk jacquard as all my other pieces, these masks give a taste of the insertion lace detailing I love so much, in a perfectly compact package where size is no object. As featured on the blog a few days ago, Delinda is already in the Etsy shop along with two other pretties: Chloris and Sundara.

Chloris (top) and Sundara (bottom) Private Eye Sleep Masks

I've already had some special requests for certain color and lace combinations. If you'd like a special mask made just for you, shoot me a message!

Preview: Stella Moonshine Chemise and Delinda Private Eye Sleep Mask

I'm pleased to announce that I've draped, drafted and sewn up two new pieces for the Honey Cooler Handmade shop. The first is a pretty time-intensive bias-cut chemise, and the next is the perfect gift idea: a sleep mask.

Stella Moonshine Chemise

Delinda Private Eye Sleep Mask

Both will be available in the HCH shop well before Valentine's Day. Due to San Francisco's gross weather, the light in my apartment today was not suitable for official product photography. Here's hoping for a better day tomorrow!

A Valentine's Day Makeover

The Honey Cooler Handmade shop has a new look for Valentine's Day. Check it out!

And while you're at it, sign up for the mailing list. There's lots of exciting news ahead and it's the perfect way to stay on top of what's going on in the world of HCH!

Films to Covet: Daniel Deronda

I recently started watching Downton Abbey... and finished all available episodes within a day. Let's just say that the show's Golden Globe was well-deserved, and that the stereotype of stiff and dreary television about Victorian England has been roundly squashed by this amazing series. Whether you're a costume nerd, historical buff or a sucker for unrequited love, it has something for everyone and I really can't recommend it enough.

Coming down from Downton Abbey was difficult, so I threw another BBC gem into the mix: Daniel Deronda. I'd seen it before, but was delighted to rewatch it. Romola Garai is lovely and Hugh Dancey is empathic and dashing. It's a great film and the costuming is top-notch. No one does Victorian regality like the BBC.

Behind the Scenes of DList Magazine's "Home Alone" Shoot

Gorgeous.

A Parade of Press

Wow, what a week.

I'm feeling pleasantly overwhelmed by the amazing love I'm getting for my little business. DList Magazine's "Home Alone" spread would have been enough to keep me floating on Cloud 9 until NEXT January, but then my Knickers got an awesome shout-out on Mango & Salt, a gorgeous French blog.

Now, the topper on the cake? I found out my Susie Ribbon Corset was featured in the Etsy Dudes email this week!

Susie takes the stage!

And this morning, I checked my shop stats only to discover that they were about 5 times higher than they'd be at the end of a really good day. A little bit of sleuthing led me to discover my Glory Knickers were featured on the Etsy front page thanks to this adorable treasury by Bobbi Bankston of Poppy & Pearl Co.

Oh, Glory!

Every Etsy seller knows that making it to the Front Page is pretty much the tops. It took me 11 months to get there, so I'm going to hold onto this buzz for awhile!

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's had a good past few days, so fill me in: what's been panning out for you this week?

Fashion Love Affair: Previously Garters

One of the best parts of selling on Etsy is coming across like-minded crafters and artisans. By now I'm sure it's clear that I'm a historical fashion nerd so it's fitting that my newest crush is on an equally-minded seller, Previously! Chicago-based designer Elide has not only perfected Deco-era style and construction, but she's got an eye for all things pretty. Her painstakingly-crafted garters are a sight to behold. Elide's ribbonwork is at once breathlessly delicate and technically magnificent. Take a peek below!

Left, Right

Left, Right

Though I don't wear socks that require garters, I've got my eye on a few pieces in Elide's shop. Check out her blog and adorable storefront and I'm sure you'll find yourself similarly obsessed before long!

HCH in DList Magazine, January 2012

I've been trying to keep my cool over having my lingerie featured in DList Magazine's January 2012 issue, but why even try? Just in time for Valentine's Day, the magazine's "Home Alone" spread is gorgeous and I was so excited to see my Kitty Bow Belt and Luna Garconne Tap Shorts on a lovely model in a fantastically styled shoot. Click on the below photos to see larger versions.

On model at right: Kitty Bow Belt

Luna Garconne Tap Shorts

Many thanks to Kayleigh Capelle and the DList crew for featuring Honey Cooler Handmade this month. The entire magazine can be viewed online here.

There's No Feeling Like...

...completing custom order pieces.

Here's the first of three pieces I'm sewing up this month for an Etsy customer and I'm so pleased with the results.

What projects are you working on these days?

Christmas in Maui!

This week, my husband and I returned from our Christmas vacation to Maui. It was such an amazing trip and I wish I'd taken more photos. We went whale watching, swam with more sea turtles than I ever dreamed I'd see in one spot, went surfing (and stood up!), witnessed the grandest sunrise ever at the Haleakala Crater, swam in a jungle waterfall pool and drove the Hana Highway.

One of seven rainbows we saw on our trip. This one popped up on our drive from the airport to Pa'ia.

The H.A. Baldwin Park beach in Pa'ia at sundown.

An amazing view of Lower Puohokamoa Falls on Hana Highway.

The view from the Kaumahina State Wayside along Hana Highway.

The lovely Hana Highway and its itsy-bitsy hairpin turns were a little daunting at times...

The lava rock beach at Ke'anae, a tiny town along the Hana Highway.

I found this little crab critter hanging out in one of the tide pools at Ke'anae's beach. The photo doesn't do this duder justice. His eyes were the prettiest blue I've ever seen!

Sunrise from Haleakala Crater. We left our hotel at 4:30am to get to the top on time. The ascent was 10,000 feet and the temperature dropped into the low 40's. Needless to say we were decked out in ski gear and were still barely able to stand being outside for more than a few minutes at a time.

Sunrise continues.

The surprisingly lush Haleakala Crater in the light of day.

This Haleakala Crater overlook hangs out above the clouds!

Hawaiian hula dancers at our most touristy destination, The Feast at Lele.

The view of Lanai from our hotel room in Ka'anapali.

There were stunning birds at our second hotel destination: parrots, black swans, flamingos (which sleep standing on one leg!) and penguins.

A humpback whale tail!

This humpback kept slapping her tail on the ocean's surface over and over. Our boat's naturalist said that behavior is believed to be a way to attract males.

I love packaged coconut water, but the real thing is out of this world.

And that's that. Time to go back to the grind. But hey, when the grind is sewing lingerie, one can't complain too much. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!

The Hill Farm

I'm starting off the new year quietly, with a nod to my simpler self (the one that wants to raise chickens, live in the woods and sell plum pierogies by the side of the road).

So if things are feeling a bit too hurried or stressful, sit down and watch The Hill Farm. It will definitely slow things down and make you appreciate your uncomplicated side.