Who: Bradley Hartzell
Where: The Sugar Gallery
Photo by: Rhys Balmer

I’m not sure exactly what a “Spirit of Portland” award really means, but it sure is a nice gesture, and Tito Chowdhury, one of the main men behind Portland Fashion Week is about to get one next Thursday, 12/13. I do know, having worked with him in an advisory capacity, that he has worked (and continues to work) damn hard on this event, and deserves recognition.

And they just keep coming… Now through Sunday enjoy sale prices at Seaplane (827 NW 23rd): 15% off storewide, 20% off jewelry, and 15-40% off select Fall clothing. This is a truly singular place to shop in PDX—hit it to impress all the people “on your list” who’re intrigued by all the hype over NW design.

AH! All of my favorite stores are having sales right when I’m trying not to spend any money on myself. Now Lille Boutique (1007 E Burnside) is really testing the limits of my discipline: My favorite pair of panties ever are these super soft ones from Dessous, purchased at Lille. I usually go for French-made underthings, but I’m ass over tincups for Dessous. And today, from 6-9 pm, Lille is offering egg nog and 20% off all their Dessous merch, which I don’t think I can resist. Meanwhile, you can check out their other new arrivals, from Beau Bra, The Lake and Stars, and more. And if you’re biting your nails in anticipation of work being done and lingerie shopping beginning, tide yourself over with Lille’s newish blog.

Today at 4 pm sharp, local artist Kristen Yount of Urbana will be giving an on-line video tutorial on how to make a stash book. A stash book is a great way to hide your precious treasures without getting an ugly safe.

The tutorial is part of Etsy’s Virtual Labs. So go grab these supplies and get in front of the computer at 4.

* One old book
* White glue
* Utility knife and extra blades
* Gesso, black or white
* Collage ideas

Need something to keep your kids or even yourself busy during this upcoming holiday break? Well, check out the Star Wars crafts and projects archive for some ideas. Thanks to Susan at West Coast Crafty, I found this amazing archive full of projects ranging from making an R2 Droidel Dreidel to building your own Dagobah Terrarium. WOW!

For the more experienced geek, I mean craftster, you can try this fantastic pattern by Bleu Arts. If i can get my mom to make this for me, I am so going as Leia next Halloween!

Another reason to love Una (2802 SE Ankeny):

Dec. 1st through dec. 15th Una will be taking donations for the Community Warehouse in the form of blankets, sheets, towels and sleeping pillows. if you bring these items in i will be happy to drop them off at the warehouse and you will receive 10% off your purchase at Una. Please only donate items in ready to use condition. http://www.communitywarehouse.org/index.html

Families need twin, double and queen bed linens and
rarely have the room to accommodate a king bed.
The Community Warehouse takes plenty more… please
have a look at the website to see what is needed, they
will also pick up larger donations from your home.
a thank you to those who have already donated.

As for your 10% here are some new images of the store’s new arrivals:

Here’s another event to make your holiday shopping easy and pleasant: SOFIA (1313 NE Fremont) is holding its 2nd Annual Holiday Salon this coming Sunday 12/9 from 11 am-5 pm, with beauty and makeup products, locally made clothing, scarves and wraps, as well as the store’s many European imports. I like the idea of giving nice socks as stocking stuffers, and there will be plenty on hand via the Portland Sock Exchange, as well as jewelry from Konfections.

(These simple socks are made of super soft pima cotton and are only $7 a pair.)

(My favorite are the rings, but Konfections also does necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.)

This Saturday (Dec. 8), Scrap is having its 6th annual Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale! If you do not know already, SCRAP stands for The School and Community Reuse Action Project and is a non-profit whose “mission is to promote creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the community.”

All items available for sale are made from a minimum of 75% reused materials, including these great necklaces by Dead Dino created from old scratched records.

The sale is from 11am-6pm at 3901-A N Williams (Williams & Failing). Don’t forget to bring your wallet and an empty stomach.

Tonight, author Donald Miller (of NYT bestseller Blue Like Jazz fame) reads from his new work, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years at the great Olio United store (1028 SE Water, 7 pm). During the event, have a glass of wine and find 15% off the merchandise (including items already on sale) in the store! For instance, check out these earrings made from a vintage children’s book by Vancouver, B.C.’s Lauren Elgee:

This Friday is the 2nd Anniversary Party for Motokitty (1117 SE Division), and they’re celebrating with a triple-pronged trunk show featuring Noah Illustration, Kicklet Creations, and Paper Treasure. Party runs from 6-9 pm, and is part of an ongoing Friday night countdown of trunk shows—also check out PDXSoftgoods, The Buttongirl, and Perrystar on 12/14, and Ladymade and Martin McBride on 12/21—same time, same place.

(A print from Noah Illustration)

Little guys first: Kristen Robison of MINOUX jewelry is having a trunk show and sale today from 5-9 pm at Fuchsia (6658 SE Milwaukee). She’ll be showing limited edition pieces not ordinarily available in stores, new winter/holiday designs, and a large selection of necklaces discounted at 50% off.

Meanwhile, also today is a big designer sample sale, from 11 am-8 pm at 1801 NW Upshur, Ste 760, with goods from DB Clay, Acme Made, Sameunderneath, Michelle DeCourcy, and more.

this year, or so they say based on its first mention in Vogue in 1907. For those of you who watch TV, tonight is the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, at which the Spice Girls reunite. Alas, I think I’ll be skipping that. However, to mark the occasion, USA Today has a li’l piece in which Helena Stuart of Only Hearts and Nathalia Bacca, spokesperson for Eres (which I love, which you can get at Lille Boutique) comment on some of the bra’s famous moments. (Madonna’s Gaultier romp, Mrs. Robinson, etc.) My suggestion to mark the occasion is to go and buy a beautiful bra from local independent retailers like the aforementioned Lille, or Oh Baby or Jane’s Vanity instead of the rancidly gross corporate schlock of Victoria’s Secret.

Tonight, check out this book event going down at Powell’s downtown at 7:30 pm:

From the haute couture houses of the ruling class to DIY girls who make restorative clothing and create their own hodgepodge style, It’s So You (Seal) is the first book to explore women’s ambivalence, suspicion, indulgence, and love of fashion on every level. Here 35 women writers explore the intersection between personal style and personal expression; essayists include Six Feet Under producer Jill Soloway, transgender icon Kate Bornstein, Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, poet Diane di Prima, NPR regular Sandra Tsing Loh, novelist Beth Lisick, Calvin Klein model Jenny Shimizu, actress Laura Fraser, and writer/”herstorian” Trina Robbins. Contributors appearing at the event will be Debbie Rasmussen, Nicole Georges, Dexter Flowers, and Mary Christmas.

I haven’t read this collection edited by Michelle Tea, but I sure want to… if anyone has, or goes to this event tonight, let me know how it is!

I love me some lingerie, although the thought of someone else buying it for me is a little uncomfortable—fit is so key, especially in the bra department, where the same chest can be a B-cup according to one line, and a D-cup according to another. If you’re hoping someone is going to gift you with some undie gear this year, consider trying on a few things in their presence at Oh Baby’s (1811 NE Broadway) annual “Yes, I do want lingerie” holiday party, complete with libations and sundry merriment. Because underpants should be fun. (This Friday, 12/7, 7-9 pm)

At a time when sustainability is the main buzzword in Portland fashion, we can all be proud that entermodal calls PDX home. One of the most sophisticated of green-minded design firms, their collection of leather bags are intensely researched to maximize durability and minimize waste. They don’t, however, come cheap, so you won’t want to miss the chance to score samples at a discounted rate: This Friday, from 3-8 pm join them at the entermodal studio and score pieces from photo shoots, prototypes, and experiments (239 NW 11th, Ste 211).