When you think of belt buckles, what image comes to mind? Is it the silver cowboy type buckle? If that is your personal style, then great! I know many people who wear them and look good doing it, but if those ones don’t suit your taste, what are you to do? You don’t have to be stuck with the boring, plain, department store belt with zero personality.
One great example: Flight Path Designs. They make handmade leather belt buckles with funky graphic designs. The images range from girly and flowery, to 50′s retro, even travel and animal themes. What a fun and unexpected way to add a little personal touch to an outfit.
Can't you just see this paired with some vintage clothes on a stylish urban photographer?
Bright and colourful, this butterfly buckle is definitely a statement piece!
To me, this one looks like diagrams out of a science notebook. Perfect for that fun loving "geek" in your life
This just warms my little Canadian heart...
Flight Path is attempting to have a new buckle in the Etsy shop every day from now until Christmas, so check back often to see all the new pieces! You can also see new additions and updates on the Facebook page, or follow on Twitter so you won’t miss a thing.
Here’s to finding new and creative ways to express yourself,
~Jennifer
Every outfit gets a little bit better when you add that last perfect piece, and I recently found a treasure trove full of sparkly, lovely, finishing touches. It’s called Luv 2 Have, and it is full of beautiful dichroic fused glass jewelry. Leah is the P.E.I artist who makes these fantasic pieces, and if you have never heard of dichroic glass, you aren’t alone! Using a high-tech process (seriously, there are electron beam guns and vacuum chambers involved!) the glass is given a multi-layered coating that gives it unique dimension and sparkle. Combine that with Leah’s artistry and style, and the results are shimmery, gorgeous glass creations.
You can almost feel the heat of the african sunset over the sand...
I love the leaves in fall, so why not bring that to your accessories?
Dramatic and elegant in deep red... fantastic!
Simply stunning calla lillies
If you have a particular request, or don’t see exactly what you are looking for, custom orders are available. Plus, if you buy more that one item at a time, Leah will refund your shipping charges! Head to the Luv 2 Have Etsy shop to see the whole selection, including rings, purse hooks and many more pretty pendants.
Happy accessorizing!
~Jennifer
Confession: I love baked goods and desserts. I can easily be lured anywhere with the promise of cake, and my eyes light up at the prospect of gooey brownies with ice cream on top. You don’t even want to get me started about the time my poor husband thought we didn’t need cookies because we had bought some the week before… puhlease…. In fact, there is a package of cookies by my side even as I write this post. Sadly though, they are of the mass-produced machine-made variety, and not anything nearly as delicious as these sweet treats from Vanilla Bean Desserts.
Jane and Evelyn are a mother-daughter team from Halifax, who share a lifelong love of baking. With one week lead time, orders for cookies and brownies are able to be shipped wherever you like. However, some of the more perishable items are not able to be shipped (like the delicious looking cakes… sigh), so those of you in Halifax definitely win out!
These Chocolate Truffle cookies made my mouth water just looking at them!
Perfect for a kids halloween party. Think of them as edible decorations!
The thoughtful beauty of flowers, with the delicious indulgence of cookies. What better way to brighten someone's day?
Now that I’ve wet your appetite (ha!), head on over to the Vanilla Bean Etsy Shop, visit them on Facebook or see the whole range of products on their website. Be warned: there is a distinct possibility that you may start to drool. Just remember to lean away from the keyboard. :-)
~Jennifer
I’ve come to appreciate a well-played djembe drum in the past few years, and when I saw the gorgeous drums from Sylvan Temple I immediately thought of a few people who would love to play something so beautiful!
Handmade on Vancouver Island by Robin Shackleton, these one of a kind instruments are built with great care. Robin makes just 70 or so drums a year, and believes that “ideally, no drum is made until it is called forth”. I love that!
Sylvan Temple’s mission statement:
To uphold the ancient art of the craftsman drum-maker, and so strengthen intimacy, accountability and quality in the marketplace; To inspire choices that will allow Earth to heal us and so initiate the circle that will sweep us into balance.
Roped Djembe Drums
Cypress, Arbutus and Garry Oak, all with fish skin
Sylvan Temple is very focused on creating drums that leave a small environmental footprint – using wood that has been salvaged from various waste and burn sites on Vancouver Island, as well as sourcing skins and hardware that are “as local and considerate as possible“. Obviously, much care is taken with each drum and I’m quite sure that anyone lucky enough to play a Sylvan Temple drum would feel that.
You can find out more about Robin and Sylvan Temple at www.sylvantemple.ca or on Facebook. Robin seems a little reluctant to embrace the wonders of Facebook, so maybe we can get him some new fans :)
Here’s hoping you find your own drumbeat and march to it every day,
~Sarah
P.S. If you’d like to hear some djembe playing, as well as a really lovely story, check out a little film called “The Visitor“.
I love this time of year. The days are still comfortably warm (usually), and the nights are cool and clear. It does, however, add an extra challenge when making daily wardrobe choices. How best to be prepared for variable temperatures without taking a whole closet along wherever you go?
A search for comfortable, versatile layering options led me to find Anny May‘s Etsy shop. I immediately loved the drapey soft look of her pieces, and was even more delighted to find that Anny May items are eco-friendly! Everything is made with either recycled or natural/organic fabrics like hemp and bamboo, and they still look fantastic.
This bamboo poncho is perfect to keep the fall chill off your shoulders
Just in case you aren't quite ready to let go of summer just yet...
The texture and detail in this bamboo shawl give it added interest while keeping you warm
Anny May also has fingerless gloves, hats, and fun little flower pins like these:
What an easy way to add a bright accent to any outfit!
Anny May is a multi-talented Quebecois, and has other great Etsy shops for you to check out too! La Chiffonierre focuses on rag dolls, plush items and quilts. Meanwhile, Mayapar is home to kits, patterns and supplies to help you create your own fantastic outfits. You can also stay informed with all of her creative works on her Facebook page.
~Jennifer
I discovered a new musical love the other day, and since it’s currently on repeat in my ears and they are quintessentially Canadian, it’s only fitting that I share Chic Gamine with you.
Chic Gamine is a gorgeous-sounding quintet, consisting of singers Ariane Jean, Andrina Turenne, Alexa Dirks, Annick Brémault and drummer Sacha Daoud. Some of the members hail from Winnipeg, and the rest from Montreal. When they’re working on new material or getting ready for a tour they meet in one city for a week or two and put in long hours to polish their sound. I love that about them – so Canadian ;) They describe themselves as “impishly charming”, and have been performing together since 2007. I’m a little bummed that I didn’t find out about them until this week, but the good news is that I won’t have to wait long for more Chic Gamine music… their second independent album is ready to launch mid-October. If you’re in Winnipeg or Montreal, you’re in luck because they’re selling tickets for the CD release parties right now.
photo by : niki trosky -- found on their FB page!
From their website, which I think describes them better than I ever could:
With a solo percussionist as their main musical support, Chic Gamine use their voices as instruments, effortlessly launching into intricate string arrangements, bass-heavy rhythm sections and lush harmonies. These multifariously talented songwriters create a sound that resonates with soul, passion and an unabashedly random and sometimes downright peculiar brand of humour that reels audiences in and leaves them begging for more. Gospel, Soul, R’n’B, 50’s Doo-Wop, Brazilian forro and French Chanson are infused into the voices and rhythms of these 5 schemers and effervescent songmakers. And the whole is liberally doused with the happy-go-lucky impulsiveness unique to Chic Gamine.
Here’s a taste of their sound…
You can find them on iTunes, and I humbly suggest that you listen to Butterfly Woman and Days and Days – the preview clips for those 2 sold me on the whole album :) With their first Juno award under their belts already (a 2009 Juno for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year), I think it’s safe to say that we’ll all be hearing more from them in the future!
You can find the ladies (and one gent) of Chic Gamine on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, www.chicgamine.com and probably elsewhere! For a giggle, check out the video of their Juno acceptance speech, post-celebration in Hamilton, Montana where they were performing that night.
Happy listening!
~Sarah
P.S. Chic Gamine, if you’re reading this… when are you coming to Edmonton?!
There is something extra special about little baby feet. I find them so delectable that it is a shame to cover them up. But, as the temperature drops, I find myself having to put socks and shoes on my little munchkin. While this does make me a little bit sad, I am so glad that there are talented crafty types who make adorable footwear to keep those precious little toes warm and cozy. Right now I am madly in love with these sweet booties from Little Knits on the Prairie. Inspired by the colours (and weather) of Manitoba, these great booties would look fantastic on any baby from coast to coast!
Eeeee! Seriously. Tiny plump little baby feet. In these perfect booties... Cute overload!
Baby needs a matching cardigan and hat to complete the outfit? No problem!
Even the coldest winter days will be no match for these snuggly ankle booties!
There are other products available in the shop as well, like cute headbands and legwarmers. Custom orders are welcome too, just ask!
Little Knits on the prairie has recently joined facebook, so be sure to head over and make her feel welcome. She also has a blog, and of course, the Etsy shop. Rumour has it that there may even be lovely soft knitted clothes for “grown up” ladies sometime in the near future, so stay tuned!
~Jennifer
Update: Amanda now has another shop on Etsy, The Prairie Sparrow, featuring cozy knit cowls, felted bowls and more!
Sometimes, I find what I’m looking for even when I don’t know I’m looking for it. Tonight, I loaded up my Etsy page and the first thing I saw was this print:
"Healing"
The piece is called “Healing” and this original artwork was created by Shira Sela of Montreal, QC. Ms. Sela is an accomplished artist, with her works appearing in compilations, calendars and magazines around the world and I’m sure many of you have seen her pieces featured on Etsy in the past. I’ve always enjoyed her graphic style in passing, but tonight I stopped and really looked for the first time.
"Finally Safe"
While I don’t have a “traditional” broken heart (I’m quite happily in love with my husband of 12 years!) I do feel like I’m always looking for ways to make myself a little better – to patch a little wound there, think more positively, make a difference, stitching up the tears that happen when my babies are disappointed in me or I’m not the kind of person I want to be. “Healing”, indeed. And the print above – “Finally Safe” – well, who hasn’t sought out the strongest, most solid support they could find in a time of need? My tree is my husband – he bends, he grows, but I know I’m safe and protected from the storm when he’s nearby.
Wow, that got a little sappy there. Sorry, but that’s where I’m at this Sunday night in September :)
The other piece from her collection that really grabbed my attention was “Bliss”:
"Bliss"
I looked at “Bliss” and saw my little girls, spinning in the backyard… and the room they will be sharing soon is decorated with red accents and well, sometimes, serendipity strikes and one must take advantage. It’s already been purchased and will be framed as a Christmas gift. I love the saturated colours, and the gorgeous organic feel of her work. Sela uses graphite, inks, pastels as well as enhancing through digital media – a great blending of techniques.
You can find Shira Sela’s lovely artwork on Etsy, her website, her blog and her brand new Facebook page.
Enjoy!
~Sarah
Ah September… prime time for great fall events! If you are in the Milton area (just a quick drive on the 401 from Toronto), be sure to check out The Milton Farm Fall Craft Show. The show runs on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, at Country Heritage Park. Cost for admission is only $6.00 (kids are free), and it is well worth it! I attended the spring show, and had a great time. There are over 140 vendors showcasing a great mix of woodworking, jewellery, glass works, clothing, decor, toys, and even delicious gourmet homemade treats.
If you are someone whose style is modern (or “not Country”) don’t let the word Farm scare you away. There are plenty of options to suit every personal style, from funky, to modern, classic, and yes- country.
Directions to Country Heritage Park can be found here. You can find more info about the show on the show site, or call 1-888-307-3276.
Enjoy!
~Jennifer
p.s. Don’t forget about the hundreds of local Fall Fairs going on across the country over the next couple of weeks! Find one near you and head out to support your local agricultural society. You will be sure to see local crafty talent on display in the home crafts area and have lots of fun while you discover the events, competitions, games and rides!
Something about the fall season pulls me towards things that are earthy and cozy. The air gets a little cooler, and I am drawn to pottery, wool, stone, and wood. So today, I have chosen to share some pottery and ceramics with a timeless twist. Lurearts pottery does have wonderful bowls and mugs (and trust me, I love those too!), but what really made me do a double take were the clocks.
This gorgeous blue damask clock has charm and style
The impression on the face of this feminine and classic clock was made from an antique doily
Love is timeless, and this beautiful clock is too!
There are also other fabulous items to be found, including cupcake stands, mugs, bowls, pendants, coasters and more! If you are one of those people who are already in full holiday preparation mode (seriously? Who ARE those people?!) you may especially like these sweet snowflake ornaments:
Ok, so I haven't yet started any holiday shopping, but these ornaments have me inspired!
Pam is the Toronto artist and ceramics teacher behind Lurearts Pottery. You can learn more about her work and inspiration on her blog, or go shopping in her Etsy shop!
~Jennifer
