Wishing all of our C+H friends a very Happy New Year. May your year be filled with successes that encourage you and challenges that lead you forward!
We’ve got some ideas for Canadian+Handmade in 2011, and we’re thrilled to have you coming along with us. Thanks for a great start in 2010, and we’ll see you on the flip side! Come back on Monday, because Sarah’s first resolution of 2011 is to get her Handmade Holiday Challenge wrap-up post written this weekend, so you can peek in on all the handmade fun!
Cheers,
~Sarah and Jennifer
We would like to wish our readers a very, very happy celebration this weekend – we will be having turkey withour families in Alberta (Sarah) and Ontario (Jenn and the rest of our family) and probably hanging out together via Skype and long distance phone bills. Likely some texting and wifi Mario Kart tournaments, too!
Wherever you are, and whether you are celebrating Christmas or just the joy of a weekend well-spent, we wish you peace, happiness and the laughter of friends and family to surround you all year long.
We’ll be taking a few days off to enjoy our families, but we’ll be back later next week to kick off 2011 with some more handcrafted goodies… And Sarah will offer up a final report on her “Handmade Holiday Challenge” results!
Cheers and warm wishes to you all, friends!
~Sarah and Jennifer
Eye catching. Bold. Fun. Bright. Really, really cool. I could go on, but rather than break out the thesaurus to tease you further, why don’t I just get on with it and show you the awesomeness (thesaurus be darned) that is Pulp & Paisley.
So. Very. Fun! Youthful and bright without being childish...
The Pulp & Paisley shops (you can find them at Cargoh or on Etsy), are packed with really pretty and sweet jewelry for those who don’t mind standing out from the crowd… In a very good way!
A little bit preppy, a whole lot pretty. J'adore!
Make a statement without saying a word. This big, beautiful necklace is sure to catch the eye!
Cara (the talent behind Pulp & Paisley) calls Belleville, Ontario home. A happy wife and mom of two, she loves music, the occasional frosty brew, and creating fabulous jewelry.
Ok, normally I really do not like orange (it's a long story, ask my mother about her orange kitchen) but these earrings are CUTE!
If you know someone who would love one of her pieces, but you aren’t sure exactly which one, you can get Pulp & Paisley gift certificates at the Etsy shop. She can even email them to you if you need them quickly to top off a stocking or tuck under the tree!
Click over to the Cargoh store or Etsy shop to see more, then join in the fun on Facebook and Twitter.
I’m off to feast my eyes, and conveniently bookmark some favorites (*ahem, dear husband*)
;-)
Jennifer
Every girl understands the value (and necessity) of a good handbag. The right one can tell the world about your personal style and what’s important to you. So I am seriously kicking myself that I didn’t find out about Kitty Empire until it was too late to ask Santa for more room on my Christmas list! These vegan friendly bags are made with vinyl and vintage fabrics, and the graphics are modern but earthy. Erin (or should we call her the Empress?) gets her inspiration from her collection of ceramic woodland animals, as well as art and literary characters.
I love the rich burgundy of this messenger bag, and the flower and bird motif is lovely!
Is the Cheshire Cat a childhood favorite? Check out this Alice in Wonderland tote!
I think this bunny is playfully watching the leaves swoop and swirl in an autumn breeze...
Not in the market for a whole new bag? Maybe your wallet has seen better days? There are some very cute little wallets that might just be calling your name! I am particularly fond of the little deer, or this wise old owl:
"Whoo Whoo" better to join you on a night out? ;-)
Kitty Empire is a member of Etsy for Animals, and 5% of this month’s sales will be donated to Farm Sanctuary, so animal lovers can feel extra-jolly about their purchases!
You can find Kitty Empire on her Etsy shop.
Cheers!
~Jennifer
Ah, mais oui. Il me fait du bon quand j’ai occasion de parler francais, et à Vancouver il y avait plusieurs vendeurs Québecois tellement doué. One of those vendors from the fair province of Québec was Oöm Ethikwear.
I’ll be honest, I fell in love with a little dress that is currently out of stock (but I’m keeping my eye on it, because there are certain little people who have birthdays coming up!), but the rest of their line intrigued me as well. Lovely designs, and the fabrics were gorgeously soft!
"L'amour ne se calcule pas"
Penseur
Flamenco!
I love that their tagline is “Ethical Organic Canadian”… and they really do stand by their clothing. Not only are they made with organic and environmentally responsible fabrics (recycled cotton etc.), but Oöm offers a $5 gift card for every piece of clothing that the buyer returns to them at the end of it’s life cycle in their closet. This means that they carry the responsibility for their products and their impact on the environment right through it’s life span and ensure that the clothing is integrated back into the marketplace by donation or recycling. It’s also nice to know that since their inception in 2005 they have donated 1% of profits to several chosen charities. All around, the folks at Oöm seem like they’ve got a great attitude about working within, and for, their larger community and environment. Plus, they make really cute clothes!
Robe 60's Dress
The "Astronaut"
Their children’s line (Bébé Oöm!) is really adorable – I love the superhero jammies, and the designs are young and hip (although I really don’t like that word. Hip. We need to think of another word that means the same thing!) Whatever word we use, any little one sporting Bébé Oöm will be just a little bit cuter than the generic-clad youngster nearby ;) The messages passed on through Oöm aren’t just in the fabric and the business, I also love the little taglines on the clothing – positive, reinforcing, something I’d be proud for my daughters to wear.
Superhero bébé!
The key to my heart...
"Mes souliers sont fait pour marcher et ils iront loin!"
You can find out more about Oöm on their website at www.oom.ca (mostly in French) and shop in their online boutique (which is bilingual). They are also on Facebook and Twitter, like everyone else these days :)
Enjoy,
~Sarah
No, I don’t mean poked on Facebook or even Punk’d by Ashton Kutcher… I’m talking about Pook Toques.What could be more Canadian than a toque, right? Add in a great sense of humour, some classic styles like the “moose”, the “turtleneck” and the “mullet” and we’ve got ourselves a winner! You’re probably confused right now. That’s okay, so was I.
At the OOAK show in Vancouver, my friends and I almost walked right past a rather empty-looking booth with a table of grey and red sock hats on it. Until the pitch started and we were hooked… Pook Toques are all about the variety, my friends. Made out of traditional grey wool socks, and lined with a cozy fleece, the hats are designed to offer a multitude of styling options. Roll up the “ears” or tuck them into the folded toque or flip it inside out and pull the toes over your ears… the Pook Toque manual offers over 30 ways of wearing this one ingenious little hat.
The original Pook Toque
Not convinced it’s possible to wear that hat 30+ different ways? Check out the manual. Go ahead, I’ll wait until you get back…
… See? Now, imagine you’re at a craft show and a guy stops you in the aisle and performs all of those varieties at top speed with full narration and explanations. It was, frankly, hilarious. My friend Shannon bought 4 hats.
Pook Toques is the creation of Tony Pook and Kevin McCotter from St. Mary’s, Ontario – it all started with a few (*ahem*) beverages, but has turned into a bit of a phenomenon to say the least. They’ve even pitched their business on Dragon’s Den! Since the initial hat design, they’ve also added Pook Dukes (mittens), the Pook Loop (a scarf), the Pookie Toquie (for the stylin’ little person in your life), Pook Boots (fleece lined socks – they sound so cozy!!) and, of course, a Pook Monkey.
Toques and Dukes come in pink for the ladies (or dudes who like pink!)
Cutie Pa-toquie!
For the hockey fan in your life, there’s also the Hockey Sockey, which is nothing if not arena-approved. The Hockey Sockey comes in a variety of team colours (13 NHL teams to choose from, plus Team Canada) and is made out of actual hockey socks.
Go Habs!
And here’s the Pook Toque in action:
You can shop online at PookToque.com or find them on Facebook as well!
Cheers,
~Sarah
P.S. for anyone suffering from a case of Bieber Fever, you might want to view this particular video.
Holiday parties and festivities are in full swing, and it is certainly a busy time of year for everyone. If you still have a few gifts to pick up, or have some room left in your budget for a special treat for yourself… be sure to look around for a craft show or handmade vendor to support, there’s sure to be last-minute shopping options in your neighbourhood!
Ottawa, ON: If you are lucky enough to live in our nation’s capital, there is still a big show that you can take in this weekend. The Originals Ottawa Christmas Craft Sale wraps up this weekend, at Lansdowne Park. Doors are open today from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. There is still time to pick up that unique, handcrafted gift! Admission is $7.00 for adults, and $4.00 for seniors and youth, (re-entry is available). Want a sneak peek at who is participating? Check out the Exhibitor listing! There is plenty of on-site parking at Lansdowne Park, at a cost of $5.00 per day.
Toronto, ON: City of Craft is happening in several locations around Toronto this weekend – there’s the craft show event and workshops at The Theatre Centre (1087 Queen Street West), as well as installations at the Ontario Crafts Council Gallery and the Cream Tangerine Gallery. There’s a lot going on, but the craft show itself runs Saturday 11:00am-6:00pm and Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm. You can check it all out on their website, including a vendor listing and photos of this year’s products and past events!
Vancouver, BC: The “Last Stop Christmas Shop” features works from the artists behind Bronsino (gorgeous leather bags) and Patina (leather accessories), the stunning jewellery of Su Foster and the always lovely belts, buckles and accessories from Flight Path Designs. To check out the selection from these great artists, visit #225, 975 Vernon Drive in Vancouver.
Edited to add:
Calgary, AB: I knew there was another show that I’d heard about online! Calgary’s Market Collective is hosting an event this weekend with over 50 vendors and live music, too! Check it out at the old Ant Hill building in Kensington, Calgary (148 – 10th Street NW). Runs Saturday 10-6pm and Sunday 11-5pm.
Have a safe and fun weekend!
~Jennifer & Sarah
The Redfish Kids Clothing booth is one that I will readily admit was calling to me across the hall at the recent OOAK Vancouver show. As soon as I came within site of the booth with all of it’s brightly coloured and patterned dresses, I knew that I’d be taking home a couple of pieces for my girls.
Redfish Kids Clothing is described on their website as follows:
…inspired by the street fashion of cities like Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo. With strong images and expressive colors, Redfish fabrics are handpicked from around the world and purchased in limited quantities – rarely is the same fabric combination repeated. The prints we choose are reflective of many cultures and of our desire to embrace the new and current while simultaneously harnessing the old and historic in pattern, design and construction.
Now, it’s obvious that I love Canada, but I also love to travel and I can’t help but fall victim when Asian themes are present. The cultural influences at play in Redfish Kids clothing are integrated into the stylish clothes so beautifully, that it doesn’t seem odd for an 18 month old from the Alberta prairies to be wearing a kimono style dress. The fabrics are gorgeous, the colours vibrant and they even had several styles with enough colours (done tastefully, of course) to satisfy my rainbow-loving 5 year old!
The philosophy behind Redfish Kids Clothing is outlined in their tagline: “Clothing for the Courageous”. The masterminds behind Redfish, Kristy and Lorraine, want their clothes to help foster self-esteem and to encourage children to walk with confidence and courage. They even have a section of their site dedicated to stories of courage from Redfish-wearing families!
There are a wide variety of styles and ever-changing fabric combinations available on their site, including styles for boys and comfy lounge pajamas… but my favourites are the dresses. I can’t wait for my daughters to put their’s on for Christmas Eve. I only hope that I can get the little one to stand still long enough for a photo ;)
Mandarin Swing dress
Too adorable!
Dresses can be worn as tunics when the little ones get taller!
Don't these look super-comfy!?
You can find the 100% sweatshop-free and locally made (in Vancouver) Redfish Kids Clothing in their online store and in upscale boutiques worldwide, as well as on Facebook and Twitter! And ladies, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be interested to know that I heard a little rumour that adult sizes might be on the way soon…!!
Happy browsing,
~Sarah
P.S. I watched the movie Eat, Pray, Love with my friends when we were in Vancouver last weekend… little did I know that the dress that Julia Roberts’ character pulls out of her friend’s baby hope chest was a Redfish dress! Lorraine and Kristy share the moment that they first saw the dress on screen in a lovely blog post. Well done, ladies :)
Edited to add:
Here’s a photo of my girls, in their Redfish Kids holiday dresses!
I love our Christmas tree. I love that the ornaments are all different, and have been collected over the years. Sometimes I admire those colour co-ordinated, perfectly put together “decorator” trees, but in the end they always leave me feeling a little cold. For me, I think the heart and warmth of the tree comes from the tradition and stories behind all the decorations. The other day I found these cute little felt penny rug ornaments from Folky Dolky, and I think I may have to stock up for next year!
Felted from upcycled wool clothing, they are an earth-friendly choice too!
Or get them with a monogram!
Then, after I had already fallen for Julie’s ornaments, I saw something else that caught my eye (and my breath!). These pretty little felt brooches would add a stylish touch to almost any outfit. They would also be a great stocking stuffer or gift exchange idea for the fashionista on your list.
These soft neutrals compliment almost anything, and the layers of petals give it added dimension!
This cream one is my favorite! The middle showcases a vintage reclaimed button.
Julie gets plenty of inspiration from living in Newfoundland, and loves the added touch of history that comes with using upcycled materials. I have to agree, and I think her pieces would fit right in on my tree… and in my wardrobe!
See it all in the Folky Dolky Etsy shop, and put a little bit of “the rock” on your tree.
~Jennifer
This post is part of a series related to the C+H Handmade Holiday Shopping Challenge. This holiday season, I am attempting to purchase all of our family’s gifts from Canadian handmade sources. I have plans to make a few gifts as well, and have allowed myself the exception of purchasing books (because I can’t imagine a Christmas without new books) from a local independent retailer. You can see all the details in the original post here, update #1 and update #2!
Thursday of last week, I packed up my rain boots and my umbrella (not really) and headed to Vancouver (yes, really) for a weekend with my very good friends Shannon and Melissa. Our weekend away was planned partly around spending a good chunk of time and the rest of our Christmas budgets at the One of a Kind Vancouver show, the Shiny Fuzzy Muddy show and in Vancouver-area shops. Let me just say: Mission Accomplished.
I have been to the OOAK show in Toronto many times, so I knew what caliber of vendor to expect and the feel of the show itself… my friends are new to this, though, and I loved walking the show with them! We all have our own strategies when shopping a show like OOAK (ie. Big!). If I really love something and know it’s perfect, I like to buy it right then. I will also ask vendors if I can take a picture of their shop (and their booth number!) so that I remember what it was I loved about their product. Shannon waited, wanting to check out the whole show before committing, and then went back the next day to get the ones she couldn’t leave without! Melissa kept a running tally of what she wanted to go back for but didn’t hesitate when she found something she loved… somehow she became an “accessories girl” over the weekend, stocking up on rings and bracelets!
You’ll be seeing plenty of OOAK vendors on C+H in the coming weeks – I love that there were vendors from across Canada, and can’t wait to share some of them with you!
Vancouver is a city that I could really grow to love, I think – except for the rain. I’m not a big fan of rain and humidity (neither is my hair. I wore a hat.) I love the small shops, the neighbourhoods, and everyone that we met was so friendly. On my “buy Canadian handmade” mission, I asked shop staff often if they could point me in the direction of any Canadian-made products in their store and each time they were so pleased to hear that I was focusing on buying Canadian and eager to help. I’ve been on the hunt for a certain gift for my husband (can’t share yet, sorry!) since the summer, and I managed to find it in an unlikely little shop in Gastown. I love the thrill of victory!
Our last foray into the handmade culture of Vancouver was to make a visit to Shiny Fuzzy Muddy, which was really a jewel of a show. If you’re in Vancouver, definitely be sure to check out their next event. If we hadn’t already blown our budgets at OOAK, Granville Island and Gastown, Melissa and I would definitely be wearing some clothes from LU in Love, a collaboration between Frances Felt and LU Prints, and I’d have an Astrosatchel bag!
I also really enjoyed this trip for the simple fact that I got to meet a few of the vendors that we’ve featured here at Canadian+Handmade, and some of our C+H Twitter friends, too! Cheers to Handmade in Vancouver!
Overall, this Handmade Holiday Challenge has really been a ton of fun – we’ve had to get creative, and we’ve had to bend the rules on a few things, but I can’t wait to share some of our most favourite finds with you. I also have to say that I am so happy to know that my husband has taken the challenge to heart, too, and is busily ordering online and working away in the garage on a handmade project of his own!
Do share about your favourite handmade purchase or creation for the holidays this year, we’d love to hear what you’re buying and making for your loved ones!
Cheers,
~Sarah
