With our crazy, hectic, work-a-day world I know that while most of us would love to take the time to search out all that is indie and good, most of us settle for what is simple and inexpensive. Well, what if you didn’t have to choose? *Insert a mental image of a velvet curtain being drawn back.* Tah-dah! There you have it, Modish is the website you’ve been waiting for. Consider Jena Coray, the creator of Modish your new best friend. She patrols this great world wide web daily, digging deep to come up with the best indie gems around. Her site is dedicated to promoting indie businesses which she does with relish, featuring the most beautiful and creative indie finds, from jewelry to clothing, to artwork. And, like your best friend, she has your best interest in mind. Her most recent blog features artwork that is pleasing to both the eye and the wallet. Check out the awesome print below that goes for just $10 ($10!! For original artwork? That’s nearly unheard of.) And, like a true friend, she likes to give gifts. Every month she gives away an indie goodie box if you sign up for her newsletter. So raise your glass to friends!

P.S. This little guy’s called “Fluke, the Mutant Blue Cardinal.” How clever is that? He’s good by himself, or paper a whole wall with him!

Nothing is better than people who don’t take them selves too seriously. And Rob and Corinne of Threadbanger.com, are definitely those kind of people. Their online show covers all my major areas of obsession, such as thrift shopping, clothing repurposing and general d.i.y. projects. The nice thing about their tutorials is that they don’t get bogged down in unnecessary tangents and explanations. They are quick, to the point, and leave plenty of room for personal variation. And, as I was mentioning before, they are so loveably dorky that you can only describe them as cool. Their shows are full of song parodies and weird little sketches. Like the Napolean Dynamite tribute in their most recent episode. Plus, they are a great place to find out about cool new indie projects, like the guys from inspir(re)d who are riffing on the Gap’s inspi(red) clothing line, selling their stuff on ebay and donating the money to charaties that help fight AIDS in Africa. But why tell you about it when you can see it yourself? Check it out below and go to their website where they have a new episode every Friday after 12pm.

Mad cool that is! The Crafty Scientist is a hip website run by one of the lovely ladies from CROQ. Here is where she vends her wares, and how very wearable they are. She cleverly pairs together retro fabrics and re-purposed threads to make unique creations. Although everything is reasonably priced, her cute handmade soaps are the best steal at $4 or less a bar. But her talents really shine in her sewn creations. I have a total crush on her “retro gnome” skirt and her tote bags made from place mats just scream with the kind of creative ingenuity that we here at Pack Rat drool over. I bet you won’t be able to look away. See her archer tote bag and re-purposed place mat tote below.

Resist the awesome allure of The Sampler. What is The Sampler you might ask? Well, although it sounds like a radio drama super hero (”tonight’s episode of The Shadow features special guest, The Sampler”), it is actually an indie craft breeding ground. Check this out, if you subscribe then every month The Sampler sends you a little bundle of indie products from an assortment of indie businesses (think “kid kits” from the BSC, except with cool indie trinkets instead of chinese checkers). Can you imagine? Every month a gift bundle in your mail? It’s like you get 12 birthdays a year instead of one. What’s good for the goose is great for the gander (whatever the hell that means). The only thing better than being a member to The Sampler is being a contributor. If you have an indie business, The Sampler is where you want to be. It will get your name and your URL out to your potential clientèle and you’ll be in good company, having your name associated with other popular indie business such as CROQ zine, Sublime Stitching and more. Plus, if you contribute you get a free Sampler for that month. Sa-weet. Roll on over to the website to see samples and read cool how-tos like these featured lamps made out of colanders.

I cannot get enough of boygirlparty.com. Susie Ghahremani is just too talented. Her art often centers around folksy animals in dreamy settings. I especially heart the constellation owls and the spitting squids. The squid to-do list, with its little bubbles for “done” and “not yet” can only be described as clever. And, as if visual arts weren’t enough, Ghahremani also is a musician. You can hear a bevy of her catchy pop tunes for free on her website. I find her stuff truly inspiring and (best of all) affordable. Her post cards are 4 for $4 (and totally framable), her owl tote bag is $10 and her must-have apparel line starts at $20. She is officially a Pack Rat favorite!