Bling Bling Bitches: a super Yellaphant giveaway with Cut Out and Collect

A few weeks ago I was all "hey yaaaaa'll, who wants to be my bitches?" (this might be paraphrased) and I actually got an e-mail from someone who does. In this e-mail, Cheyne from Cut Out and Collect was all "F YES, I would be a perfect bitch, mostly because I rock and I make awesome things and let's make out and I'll bribe you" (this also might be paraphrased). And I was like "Cheyne, Cheyne, Cheyne. I don't take bribes. Unless they are in the form of money or presents." And then I got this in the mail.


And then I kind of squirted in my pants a little bit. Because have you ever seen anything so AWESOME? I've pretty much been carrying this zippy pouch around with me everywhere because it's PERFECT for things like keys and change and makeup and a camera and tampons and receipts and hand sanitizer to protect you from STDs.

And also, in the short time I've had this zippy, I've become completely obsessed with the phrase bling bling bitches and I've pretty much been finishing every sentence with bling bling bitches for the past 24 hours. Like last night at the Phillies game, whenever someone hit the ball I was all bling bling bitches. At work, whenever I finish a task I'm all bling bling bitches. And at home, whenever B says anything I'm all bling bling bitches. B thanks you for my new tagline, Cheyne. He's just jealous he doesn't have his own phrase to say every five minutes and I won't let him use mine. And you are so annoying doesn't count as an awesome tagline. Bling bling bitches!

And in case you didn't know, Cheyne MADE this. With her HANDS. Because that's what she does. She makes beautiful and awesome things which she sells on her online store, Cut Out and Collect and on her Cut Out and Collect shop on Etsy. Cheyne has an array of fantastic one-of-a-kind bags, wallets, and more created from bold and energetic patterns. You love octopus? How about an octupus zippy? Really into scooters? She's got the perfect wallet for you. Got a 'tude? She will cut you.

Just browsing the Cut Out and Collect gallery puts me in a good mood, because how can all of these fun patterns and happy colors and not lighten your mood a bit? Plus, her eye for design is fantastic, and I'm kind of all hung up on the fact that she whips these adorable pieces together with a needle, thread, and probably sometimes a little booze.

Naturally, I e-mailed Cheyne and was all, "marry me?" and she was all "I'll bring the wine," which is how we got to this little Q&A. And keep reading to see how you can enter the Cut Out and Collect giveaway.

On your website, you say Cut Out and Collect "began as your attempt to avoid graduate school, jobs involving fax machines, and other acceptable adult endeavors." When did you know you wanted the needle and thread to be more than just a hobby, and what specifically was the alternative? As someone who does work at a job that involves fax machines, but doesn't yet know how to use one without creating an office-wide paper jam and then having to hide in the ladies room for 20 minutes with nothing to do but stare at those pictures of Jeff Goldblum that I taped to the stalls so no one suspects it was me again, I just want to know, tradesies?

Well, I graduated with a BA in Art History/History which is basically a one-way ticket to either an art gallery or graduate school. My gallery internships slightly resembled your job description, except if someone was taping pictures to the bathroom stall doors, they'd include some totally smarty-pants art joke that only two people in the world would understand which is way less cool than "Jeff Goldblum is watching you poop" posters, because those are apparently funny to at least three extra people. AND! I was terrified I would never be allowed to start a sentence with a conjunction or write run-on sentences, which I love doing, if I continued onto graduate school.

The flip side of all of this? I'm my own boss and my own employee which kinda makes you feel like you have multiple personality disorder. I'm also a freaky perfectionist... so I end up working very long hours alone in my studio, cursing out my employee and muttering under my breath about what an idiot my boss is. But man, company parties can get preeeeetty crazy! Still wanna trade?

What do you look for in fabrics? What is it that catches your eye?

I love bright colors and cutesy prints. If you look at a piece of fabric and wonder "why the hell did someone put that on fabric!?" I want it.

What is the process you go through when creating new designs? Are you usually listening to music? If so, what? Do you have any quirky rituals that you go through before sitting down to create? Underwear dancing? Voodoo? Heavy petting?

Hmm. Give me some coffee along with loud music and I'm good to go. I do my best against deadlines. I'd like to think that I'm witty and creative and think of things like "tweet tweet bitches " all on my own, but I'm pretty sure it's just sleep deprivation.

I love love love Animal Collective, St. Vincent, TV on the Radio and Arcade Fire. I like to pretend there's a dance party going on in my studio but I don't actually dance. When anyone is looking.

Are there any artists who you find most inspiring for your work? Where else do you find inspiration?

Do lolcatz count as art? Oh shit, I already told you I actually have a degree in art history.

What is your number one, must-have, would-not-even-leave-the-house-during-the-Apocalypse-without accessory?

I have a tiny little zipper pouch than can hold my cell phone and my ID. Don't mess with my access to text messages or alcohol.

Where you drunk when you wrote these questions? Because I find that weirdly charming.

The answer is usually always yes. Do you feel like you're cheating on yourself when you use a bag or wallet designed by anyone else? Do you ever even do that? Feels dirty, doesn't it? Kind of like waking up on the kitchen floor in your underwear without even brushing your teeth the night before? Not brushing your teeth is the worst.

Nobody likes cheaters, Bridget. I mean, haven't you ever seen that show? That host guy totally got STABBED by a cheater. So I stick with my stuff.

You know what is almost as gross as not brushing your teeth? Bringing up that show, Cheaters, in an interview.

When you're at a party and someone asks you what you do for a living, do you ever tell them you're a "bag lady," and then cackle and pull a cat out of your homemade purse? THAT would be awesome.

When you show up at parties with a bunch of bags with cats in them, people first stop asking you what you do for a living. And eventually stop talking to you, altogether. Believe me, I know.

I always ask Yellaphant Featured artists to name their style. If you had to name your artistic style, what would you call it? "Stab you with my scissors cute?" "Okay, I guess?" "As adorable as a fat, smiling whale?" (which, by the way, is flipping adorable).

"I Am Cute and If You Disagree, I Will Cut You"

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE. Because Cheyne is so awesome, not only did she answer all my questions, but she offered to do a CUT OUT AND COLLECT GIVEAWAY. Cheyne's offering up a $22.22 gift certificate to her shop, so you can choose which adorable piece you want to adopt. You could totally get TWO zipper pouches with that, if you wanted to one up me or something.

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment and tell me what your tagline would be. Tweet the link to this post with @Yellaphant in the tweet, and you double your chances. The contest will be open until midnight on Thursday, June 4, and I'll announce the lucky winner on Friday, June 5. Bling bling bitches! Tweet