a creative whim...

Kelly went crazy tonight and randomly decided to update/redesign our website! 6 hours after initiation (and about 3 cokes worth of caffeine later) Kelly has finally completed the new face of bennykelly. Check out this very productive creative whim at www.bennykelly.com!

we must admit the contact page and home page are totally our favorites! What is yours?

last minute SAVE THE DATE...

Sorry for the late notice but benny and I decided to participate in Urban Stitch the sunday, Feb 21st in the city!!  We are really excited and have been sewing up a storm all week in order to bring you some of our newest spring tanks.  So if you have some free time on sunday, stop by for some awesome shopping, good music, and strong drinks!

just listed...

new amazingly lovely bennykelly styles just listed...enjoy!!

more after the jump...

sneak peek...

Here is a little sneak peak at the lovely new pieces awaiting to be snatched up tomorrow at the Remake Lounge Holiday Craft Fair...enjoy!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="296" caption="$5 circle shawls out of flannel blankets!!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="316" caption="get yours plain or spray painted!"][/caption]

fashion feud

We recently found out about this sweet event called fashion feud and we are loving the concept!  At the event, two designers face off with a bag of unknown fabric, their sewing machines and a model.  Each designer has one hour to come up with and create an awesome new style!  Think project runway compressed into one hour.  And for the added entertainment  of the crowd there will be a bunch of vendors (us included!) selling their amazing goods.  Come experience this creative battle for yourself, tomorrow night at Mighty in the city!



When:  september 29th 7pm - 10pm (duel starts at 8pm)
Where:  Mighty 119 utah st, san francisco

Dueling Artists:  Alexandria Von Bromseen & Ashton Miyako
Vendors: daisy vintage, J. Prince Dash, Judy Indy, Kate Moore, Kue King, Laura Ellington, Project Transaction, Rigged Outfit

just listed...

check out these sweet new pieces we just listed in our store...

next up...Urban Stitch

We had a fabulous time at Indie Mart and  it was one of our best shows yet!  Thanks soo much to everyone that came out and showed us some love!

Next up, we will be doing a new shopping event called Urban Stitch.  Once again we will be heading out to the city for this awesome event, featuring a ton of local fashion designers, art and great music.  There will also be gift bags full of awesome goodies given to the first 150 people to show up!

When:  Sunday Aug 23rd  12pm - 5pm
Where:  Roe  651 howard street, san francisco
Cost:  $5  (you can buy tickets in advance here)

about Urban Stitch....

an Stitch is Fashion, Art, & Beauty: a F.A.B. collective.

Urban Stitch is fashion, art & beauty:  a F.A.B. collective!  this organization was created based on the founding principle of a modern cross-cultural renaissance: exposure, marketing, and talents. Mindful of the current grassroots artist revival and a consumer population thirsty for original flavor, their network will facilitate an on-going venue that is at once fresh and familiar.

sneak peek...indie mart!

We have seriously been having sleepless nights trying to make so much new awesome pieces for you to shop this sunday at indie mart!!  If you like what you see below come check us out in our first san francisco show, we could use the love!!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="385" caption="new reusable lunchsacks!!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="415" caption="if you can't tell we are currently OBSESSED with stenciling leather..."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="418" caption="wide wale corduroy for fall!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="363" caption="new cotton shawls....a great transition piece for summer to fall"][/caption]

Also we will be offering a free temporary tattoo of our awesome oak tree design to anyone that spends $40+ (while supplies last)!!

Best of the East Bay Party 2009

We are so excited to have a space at the biggest party in oakland, Best of the East Bay Party 2009!  Join us this friday at the Oakland Museum to help us celebrate all that is great east of the bay.  We will have a small space with our favorite vintage store, Pretty Penny, who has been nominated for 3 best of the bays!!  The event will also feature a style lounge with 60 local designers and artists for your shopping pleasure.

But what we are most excited for is the science!  Chabot Space and Science Center will be host a party area where you can do all sorts of space related activities.  You can learn how to make your own air compressor rocket or discover the complexities and hazards of working in space by examining the components of a spacesuit.  You can even receive some Astronaut training with the black hole toss, space toliet and vestibular boards!

We can't wait to party with you friday!!

When:  Friday aug 16th
Where: Oakland Museum of California 1000 oak street, oakland
Free Bike Valet: (provided by East Bay Bicycle Coalition) on 10th street near the intersection of Fallon street

*please note the parking garage at the museum will not be available to the public.  They are asking that people take public transit as Lake Merritt bart station is just a short walk away...

The Bazaar

Don't forget, saturday is the day Pretty Penny and the Parlour Gallery present the Craft Bazaar!!  We are soo excited to be participating and can't wait to see all your smiling faces tomorrow.  And to make things even more enticing we kindly donated one of our one-of-a-kind beer cozies to the bazaar's one dollar raffle!

So come to shop or come to win the raffle either way we would love you to be there!



When:  Saturday!!
Where: Pretty Penny  5488 college ave, oakland

Participating Artists:
Wonderwear , bennykelly , Crooked Sister , It's Scrap , Queen of Hearts Apparel , Volta Press , kittinhawk , Pollyannacowgirl , Salvaged Beauty , Abeo Bestia Design , BirdversusBird Design

one dollar RAFFLE!
we will be having a raffle where you can win all these awesome prizes...
$25 gift certificate from SLASH DENIM
$25 gift certificate from VOLTA PRESS
custom made beer cozy by BENNYKELLY
fabric flower hair piece by CROOKED SISTER
leather earrings by IT'S SCRAP
handmade coin purse by BIRDVERSUSBIRD
Handmade brooch by SALVAGED BEAUTY

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="298" caption="you could win this at the raffle!"][/caption]

SAVE THE DATE...

We have been silent for the past few weeks and we wanted to let you in on why.  First off kelly got a job...so her time is, unfortunately, more limited but at least now she can pay the bills!  Secondly we have been helping Pretty Penny and The Parlour Gallery plan and promote their very first Craft Bazaar!

The Bazaar will be a day focused on a small number of handpicked local fashion and craft designers and their amazing fares.  With an intimated feel, shoppers will have the chance to come say hello and talk with each designers about their goodies, all while shopping the best vintage in the bay. Best of all Pretty Penny and The Parlour are hoping to make this a reoccurring event!



So mark your calendars and come see how talented your neighbors really are!  There will be good music and FREE libations!!

When:  Saturday July 25th  11am - 7pm
Where:  Pretty Penny 5488 college ave, oakland
Cost:  FREE!

Introducing...Beer Cozies!!

We are oh so proud to introduce our latest bennykelly accessory, the beer cozy!  Now that the weather is warming up and a cool drink is all that can refresh you, we bring you a means to drink your liquids in style.  These hand stenciled creations will be up for grabs first at tomorrow's spring craft show, after which they will be available at our etsy store!

So come on down to the spring craft show and shop local just in time for both mother's and father's day! Also remember to drop the "code word" (click the spring craft show link above...) to received 10% off one item of your choice!



[caption id="" align="alignright" width="363" caption="our favorite one!"][/caption]

It was a day full of spray paint!

We have had our hands in spray paint and fabric all day and couldn't be more excited!  Today benny and I worked feverishly on some new renewed styles for your shopping pleasure at this weekend's craft show.  Since niether of us can seem to keep our excitement to ourselves, we had to break out the camera and bring you a few preview snaps.  Enjoy!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="this one's organic!!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="we are all about the oversized cardigan this summer!"][/caption]

We Challenge You!

In honor of a Earth Day we are asking everyone to support local artists/designers as much as possible this weekend!  So to help you achieve this goal, we have a few events that are sure to entertain you with nothing but local love!

CA Modern Art Gallery:  Alchemy

This is supposed to be an must see fashion show and overall awesome event hosted by Lost Profit and Missing Piece.  Besides great fashion you can make your own sock puppets, get your face painted, create balloon animals and help tattoo the already tattooed lady!  What more could you really want out of one night!



When:  Saturday April 25th  9pm - 2am
Where:  CA Modern Art Gallery 1035 market st, san francisco

Indie Mart Western Addy

Indie Mart is a wonder event that brings together a huge gathering of local artist to sell their awesome wares to the san francisco masses!  Stop by and buy yourself a little something before heading east to swap n stencil!

When:  Sunday April 26th  11am - 4pm
Where:  The Independent 628 divisadero st, san francisco

It's Etsy Day!!!

This has turned out to be a delightful week full of awesome events and days of celebration!  And to continue in this wonderful direction today is ESTY DAY!!  Esty sellers and conersors have come together and designated April 24th a day to celebrate the community of handmade love that esty fosters.  So go to esty.com and buy yourself something pretty, while knowing you are heling support independent and handmade artists!

Don't forget to drop in on our esty store and show some love!

SAVE THE DATE: oakland DIY Spring Craft Show!

We are stoked to announce our participation in oakland DIY's Spring Craft Show and we are sure it is to be bigger and better than the holiday show!!  The show will be taking place on saturday May 9th in this amazingly awesome abandoned factory turned into artist living/show space.  This place even has a kitchen where oakland DIY will be whipping up some fantastic treats!  So mark your calendars...we'll see you soon!

When:  Saturday May 9th  doors open at 6pm

Where:  Sunshine Biscuit Factory  851 81st ave, oakland

*To make this show just a bit sweeter benny & I are offering 10% off one item of your choice if you use the code word "stenciled geese"!!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

What is more fun than getting decked out in your favorite team's colors and cheering til your throat goes dry at a live baseball game?  This classic American sport has held both Benny and my hearts since we were little.  There is just something magical about all that blind faith, unrelenting hope, overwhelming camaraderie and the ability to not get embarrassed in even the most ridiculous outfit that will make us forever love this sport (and our home team the Dodgers!)

So we decided to combine our love for the game and fabric in general to bring you a dress that screams your team love, without making you look a fool!  Introducing our latest in the wearable art collection, the classic cheerleader!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="486" caption="You can now feel confident to wear your team love anywhere!"][/caption]

Each dress is handmade and made to order, ensuring the perfect fit.  The logo for whichever team you pick will be hand stenciled in spray paint.  We can even put the number/name of your favorite player on it!! Stop on by our etsy store to check out more of this beautiful gem and order one of your own.  Just to warn you, we may have to charge an extra dollar if you're a Giants fan...Go Blue!!

Time for a Revival...fabric & beats!

We are so excited to be welcoming back our most beloved project, fabric & beats! "Just what is fabric & beats?", you ask.  Well, as back as Kelly can remember she made a habit of sitting in living rooms listening to her friends play their multitude of instruments.  Never quite having the technical flare to play an instrument, kelly often only participated through encouragement.  Recently though the idea of encouraging her friends brought her to one realization: fashion + music = encouragement in the best way possible, stylish promotion!

So since we love nothing more than great music and new fashion, benny & kelly reintroduces fabric & beats, a dedication to those friends we have who love the music more than anything else!  And to start this project off we have an amazing band from the Los Angeles area, SHMOE!!

SHMOE is a great rock band that is always surprising us with goodness.  Recording in the home of founding member

Indie Sacramento this Sunday!

Here is another crafty one for those locals whom are a bit more inland then us.  Enjoy and send pictures if you get the chance!!

Show and Tell: SF Indie Fashion

We are starting a new series "Show and Tell" where we will be highlighting blogs/websites that are just too good not to share!  And to jump right in and start off this series, we have the fantastic website SF Indie Fashion.

SF Indie Fashion is a site and online resource dedicated to the independent fashion scene in the Bay Area.  Edited and managed by Lorraine Sanders, this site is an invaluable source for up and coming designers.  Here in the Bay Area, we actually have VERY few trade resources for our local fashion industry.  Before trying to find information was a shot in the dark (and meant talking to everyone you know until someone had your answer), but now we have a place to go for information out about all the different craft shows, fashion shows, and other design events needing local artists.

Another reason we love SF Indie Fashion is that they have a strong belief in the importance of conscious consumerism and supporting your local independent fashion scene-locally-owned boutiques and businesses and creative endeavors of all kinds.  If all us little guys are to survive through this economic downturn we need all the local support we can get!  So spread around the community love and make SF Indie Fashion your go to source for store/designer reviews and the latest in local events!

If you have a site that you just cannot live without...share it with us!!