Category Archives: fun finds

One of a Kind Craft show

Well I had fun, I bought some stuff, I bumped into some great people selling some awesome stuff . . . so basically it was a good day.

I bought a great screen printed wall hanging from Coucousalut, she has a lovely little blog, link to a shop and an Etsy shop of course. She drove all the way from Montreal to spend days and days sitting at her booth.

I grabbed some Pomegranate and Goji tea from Tealish, which is in downtown Toronto should you be in the area. The teas smelled amazing, AMAZING! I wanted to just crawl into the tins for some of them. I resisted and bought one, for now.

I also got some fun Misfit stickers from these lovely ladies. The stickers and felt dolls are ridiculously cute. They all have fun names and real life like quirks that might bother us but these little fellows embrace them.

I didn’t buy anything from Manitoba based Firewood but I thought the products were really great. Since they were screen printing I got talking to the guy manning the booth and found out they use remnants and found fabrics quite often.

I really wanted one of the book covers but I was having a case of the ‘I can make thats’ and just could do it. They even had little pouches made with fun Japanese cotton/linen prints, that they had screen printed on top of!! It took me a few minutes to mourn the hiding of cute prints.

They also have this great thing they’ll do – turn important clothing into bags.

The man at the booth told me they had made a bag for a girl because her dad played hockey and his dad played hockey and his dad played hockey and this one jacket was passed down and down. Then along she came, a girl who didn’t play hockey. So they turned this family heirloom jacket into a really awesome bag for her. Pretty cool!

Oh hello December.

I nearly missed saying hi, things are busy around here!

I’m heading to the One of a Kind Craft Show tomorrow and I can’t wait! I love seeing all the great handmade items and talking to so many creative people. It’s such a blast.

I’m hoping to bump into this lovely lady. I purchased one of her prints when I was selling my own stuff, this print was just soooo beautiful.

I told Laura I wanted to wake up every morning looking at it and I do. I’m starting a wall right next to my bed of handmade art and graphic prints I’ve gotten on Etsy. Just a few things to frame and hang and I can share a pic. She’s got her Etsy shop on vacation right now as she lugs her stock down to the show but in the meantime here are some more of Laura’s amazing prints.

This last one is a detail of a beautiful print she has of a hare sitting in the snow on a starry, starry night. I just think nursery when I see it, it’s so simple and beautiful.

Stickygram awesomeness.

Now as if the whole Instagram app wasn’t cool enough. Now along comes Stickygram and you can turn all your fun photos into magnets. If my children are Grandsons to you please go away or you’ll ruin the surprise.

I ordered 2 sets, one for Nana and one for Grandma & Grandpa. I didn’t order one for me, I was really torn about it but I figured they’re my kids, I see them everyday. I regret that choice now. These things are awesome!

Maybe I can do something with the little picture that’s on the ‘hey here are your Stickygrams’ note. Like stick them on the back of some ugly fridge magnet or something.

I broke my promise.


I said to myself I would work through the stash of fabric I have, but then I found some cute stuff online and well, you know how it goes. A few clicks and an order (possibly two) was placed. Yeah, I need help. But behold the pretty colours and prints.

Most of it is Khristian A Howell’s The Woodlands collection. There’s an Etsy search so you can see all the prettiness. I ordered mine from Fabricworm.

Need some stocking stuffers?

I recently made a purchase, a one for me one for you sort of deal. One Up Designs has some really fun pencils, notebooks and decals. Not only do I get some fun pencils for shopping there but I was also given a referral code that can get you 30% off your purchase. It’s a pretty super deal since the products are already really reasonably priced.

These little notebooks are super cute. I kinda regret not getting some, you know for my new pencils.

This fun owl decal is pretty awesome too.

Have you met these lovely ladies?

I sent them some homework and asked them to answer this question, “How did you come to be living this creative life?” Here’s their answers, some fun pics and clicky links.

I have always been creative from a very young age. I come from a family of artists and crafters and was lucky enough to be surrounded by grandparents and parents who nurtured my creative and quirky personality. Over 25 years of creating art and I’m not teaching my mentors tips and tricks.

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COUPON CODE: Friends (20% off in my shop)

Growing up, my mom was very creative. I would tag along with her to craft shows where she would sell hand-sewn rabbit dolls, hair bows, and various other items. She was always sketching and sewing around our home as well. As I aged, my home life and family changed quite a bit, and I turned to my creativity as a healthy way to express myself and to find comfort. Rather than taking band or choir in school, I took art classes and extra home-economics classes where I learned to cook and sew. I was the super cool middle schooler doing cross-stich as a hobby. In high school I joined more activities but continued taking as many home economics and art classes as possible and scribbling in my notebooks and journals in my free time. Since then I’ve earned an Associates of Arts and continued to take a class here and there, but have more so struck out on my own to see where my creativity can take me. I’m really excited to see and have plans of opening a handmade etsy shop in 2012.

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Kinda old news now but still cool

Did you see my cozy in the Etsy finds email? I’m the first little thumbnail!

That’s the second time I’ve popped up in the Etsy finds. I heart the community and sharing the love that goes on on Etsy.

Create Along Friday (a day early, I can’t wait)

Alright I actually did my homework quickly this time. I had plans to make this Saturday with a friend and it got me in the mood for it and even when she had to cancel I forged ahead and finished it.

For my 7 scalloped pieces I used vintage linen fat quarters I’ve been collecting for a bit. Most of them I got from this shop and some are from this one. I had plans for a quilt or something but it won’t hurt that I’ve cut into them a bit.

I made the rest of the bag with just plain black cotton, I liked how it looked with the flowery patterns. I also got fancy and added some interfacing and an inside pocket panel that I stitched to the lining to make with 3 sections. Sewing the scallops involved lost of needle in turning while sewing and when I turned my scalloped pieces right side out I had a lot of puckering, even after ironing. But I just strategically hid them with the other pieces and I picked the neatest one for the top row of scallops. I used some denim for the inside pocket and with the black inside a photo of this part wasn’t working so well.

Actually a photo at all wasn’t working so well. Home alone with 2 little ones it was tricky to get a great shot. As seen by these outtakes. Timer setting failed.

Mirror shot wasn’t working so well. So then I switched to an arty attempt, which is sort of silly.

I used the bag the next day when I took the kids to a birthday party and it got some attention. Thanks again to Kate for sharing such a fun tutorial. Be sure to check out the linky party to see all the great totes everyone made. Add your own of course.

Next on my list . . . a tablerunner!

I’ve admired these doily table runners for quite some time.  I think with snowy weather coming for some of us it will make a great festive decoration. There’s a great tutorial here, but it’s pretty straightforward – collect a ton of doilies and stitch them together in a neat way. Oh and come back and share!

Anyone else counting the days?

Until this book comes out?

Indigo or Amazon

And also this one, I want this one baaaaaaaad

Indigo or Amazon

Can’t wait!

Perhaps you’ve heard,

I’ve been published! Like on that paper stuff from real life!

Thanks to Sara for Tweeting about it and sharing an Instagram pic I could steal. Stitch is sending me a hard copy and I can’t wait to see it in person!