I can’t help it, I’m kind of wrapped up in Valentine’s Day fever this year… and it doesn’t help that I’m finding so many fantastic handmade hearts from shops that we already know and love!
Our friends at Cloud + Lolly (featured here), have the cutest little “Key to my Heart” brooch, available in their Cargoh shop.
You've got the key to my heart...
Little Lion Studio (featured here) has created this lovely little print, made from thousands of variously sized circles… and personalized, if you’d like!
Beautiful, simple expression of love!
Billy Would’s jewellery is incredible (featured here), and these earrings are a bold but lightweight addition to your Valentine’s Day dinner outfit.
Make a statement with these gorgeous earrings!
Also, if you’re looking to get a little crafty yourself this holiday – check out this pretty little heart garland tutorial over at the fabulous Oh my! Handmade Goodness. Love it!
X O X O
~Sarah
There is something so magical about the ocean. How anything so huge and powerful can also be calming and soothing is a mystery to me. Whenever I am near the sea I find it almost impossible to tear myself away. I love that feeling of being a part of something so much bigger than yourself, and the beauty of nature as the water crashes into the shoreline.
It has been a few years since I have been able to sit ocean-side, and lately I am definitely feeling like I need to feel some salt water in my hair! But, since that is not in the cards at the moment, I have been feasting my eyes on jewelry that has been touched by the sand and surf. I especially love the light and lovely pieces by Victoria BC’s Swept From The Sea Designs.
sea glass + beach pottery pieces + freshwater pearls + sterling silver = one fabulous bangle!
The little turtle charm looks perfectly at home on the green glass, so cute!
Picture the warm glow when the summer sun hits these sweet earrings.
I love the soft, tumbled look of the sea glass. It has an earthy feel that sets it apart from straight coloured glass (of which I am also a HUGE fan, as many of you know by now).
I love the deep blues in these pretty dangly earrings! Sea glass in those shades is apparently quite rare, that must be why I like it so much!
Would a little bit of sea glass be the perfect finishing touch to a crafty project you have in mind? Swept From The Sea Designs has groups of glass pieces for sale in different colours, and even some sea glass buttons that could be just the ticket.
Indulge your inner mermaid with a visit to the Etsy shop, and don’t miss the Winter White sale section! I am off to feast my eyes on a little piece of the west coast… Enjoy!
~Jennifer
Once in a while we like to take a moment to help you get to know some of our amazingly talented Canadian Artists and Crafters. It is a fun way to learn more about what makes these creative folks tick, and how they feel about the work that they do. When I first saw the incredible wooden models by Tom McAllister (aka The Woodman), I was absolutely blown away. I knew right away that I needed to share his wonderful work with you, our dear C+H readers.
Is it a tractor, or a work of art? I think it's both!
I also asked Tom to share some of his thoughts on inspiration, being Canadian, and how he likes to work. Meet The Woodman, in his own words:
I have been designing and building thing for most of my 65 years, mostly in wood but I have done things in plastic, (acrylic) and paper mache too.
This gorgeous giraffe is one of Tom's paper mache creations from several years ago.
Where the ideas come from is as much a mystery to me as anybody.A word, a song, a sight, may get me going on something that for the most part has nothing to do with what I heard or seen. I don’t think I look for inspiration, I’m pretty sure it seeks me out.
So intricate and detailed, and I love the colour variety from the different types of wood!
The vast majority of what I do is not preplanned, I have a cursory idea in my head and I just run with it.That for me is much more satisfying then following a plan even if the plan was mine.
Who knew a tow truck could look this good?
The favorite thing I ever did is usually the last thing I did. I am proud of the detail I try to put into the models I do, and often finish them and can’t believe I did them.
Tom also makes fantastic outdoor rocking chairs, perfect for the deck or fireside at the cottage!
I can almost hear the call of the loons, and smell the marshmallows toasting...
Any one that has seen my business card or web site has to be well aware I am Canadian top to bottom side to side, couldn’t imagine being any thing else and would have no interest living any where but here.
Be sure to visit his website to see all the intricate and lovely models, or to request a custom item.
Thanks for sharing with us Tom!
~Jennifer
Valentine’s Day is sneaking up on us! 1 week from today, wouldn’t it be fun to have something a little unique and, dare I say, handmade to offer your sweetie? Or, if you’ve already planned ahead and have got it all under control, just send the link to this post to your chosen one just in case they aren’t as organized as you are!
Check out these sweet valentine’s day postcards from Jasonda at Dotty Logic – just download and print! You can spread a little love, too, by donating to one of her favourite causes, The Hearts on Noses Mini Pig Sanctuary in Maple Ridge, BC (details on her blog post!)
So CUTE!
Taking your honey out for Chinese food for dinner? Slip these little valentines across the table after the meal. These adorable felt fortune cookies are from Montreal’s Yummy Pocket.
"I love you more than my iPhone"
Drug store chocolates won’t do this holiday. Try the handmade chocolates from Vancouver’s Giggle Sweets (if they taste half as good as they look, it’s a total win-win). Of all things, I can’t believe I’ve never had salted caramels. Time to rectify that situation, I think!
Valetine's Day + Chocolate = match made in heaven
Original art is a very personal gift, and these pieces from Jellybeans are so lovely for Valentine’s Day.
"Hanging Heart" original watercolour
Jellybeans, based in the Toronto area, also does custom family tree paintings which would be a great gift to celebrate the love of your family this Valentine’s Day!
Family love!
If you’ve got a great Valentine’s Day gift idea, let us know in the comments! We’d be happy to “share the love”!
xoxo,
~Sarah
It’s still winter, despite the balmy +4 temperatures in Edmonton right now, and I don’t think a person could ever have too many scarves. Or, cowls for that matter!
Pip Robins is a shop chock full of stylish cowls made with fabulous thrifted and salvaged fabrics. Gillian Hyde, the creative energy behind the Nova Scotia-based business, spends time every week seeking out fabrics that will eventually be transformed into her lovely cowls of all shapes and sizes.
100% silk, reversible cowl. Sumptuous.
Gorgeous for a night out!
It is obvious that Gillian takes pride in her self-taught seamstress status, and each cowl is made 100% by her from beginning to end, including the modeling. I love her mysterious one-eye peeking look! Because the fabric that she uses is often limited, you can be assured that each piece is either one of a kind or a limited edition.
So posh!
Pip Robins has a wide range of colours, fabrics and sizes to choose from (and options for the man in your life, too!). You can visit the Etsy shop, her website, Facebook and Twitter, too! And here’s a challenge for you… see if you can find the listing in her shop that actually shows her whole (very lovely) face – there is one, I promise!
Stay warm, wear a cowl!
~Sarah
P.S. Rumour has it (okay, it was in an article in the Halifax Commoner that featured her work) that Gillian used her earnings from last year’s holiday sales to buy herself a motorcycle! Fun!
I love it when I get a chance to hear the story behind an artist’s work – in this case, Amanda of Small Box Design was inspired by a trip to Peru. Seeing children in the villages playing with vintage soapbox cars, riding and sitting on them, she decided she wanted to take a children’s stool design she’d made in the past and take it to the next level! Something functional, but also something a child would love.
And so, Creature Comforts was born.
What a great accent to a playroom or bedroom!
These adorable stools are so fun, and a great way to add a little personality to a child’s room or playspace. Also? They look like they might be a little more comfortable for the, um, more mature members of the family when they’re invited to the tea party. Those little plastic stools from the big blue and yellow store (coughIkeacough) are not conducive to a long leisurely “lunch” made in the “kitchen” with (plastic) “food” by the 5 year old. I speak from experience.
Amanda first ventured into the craft show scene at December’s Make It! show in Edmonton (how great is it that we have shows like Make It! that really support emerging artists! Love it!), but she’s already working on new concepts to include storage and mobility. I see wheels in the future. Also, maybe, a flower table? A girl can dream…
What a cutie pie (and the caterpillar is sweet, too!)
The whole set would be so colourful and fun in a garden theme playroom!
Amanda has been taking orders at shows and via email, but has recently launched her Etsy shop at Small Box Design. Don’t forget to check out the fly, he’s really cute… for a fly ;)
~Sarah
A good bag or purse can be more than just a way of carrying around all those little items that a woman needs to have nearby at all times. It can be portable art or a hand-held billboard to showcase your style and mood. Also: it’s just really fun to have a selection of fabulous bags to pick from at any time! The ones catching my eye lately are these colourful clutches from Kimberly Jones Designs. I am already picturing the outfits that would be perfectly accented by some of these great pieces!
Fresh and bright, a great way to brighten up your look for spring!
This hot pink beehive design is so fun and vibrant! Picture it with a killer little black dress...
Classic and elegant in black and white, with a modern flair!
Not only is there an incredible selection of clutches to choose from, there are even sweet little coin purses and eyeglass cases. It is so much fun to browse through all the great pieces, I just wish I could take them all home! I guess I would need a bigger closet though…
No more digging around the bottom of your bag looking for loose change! (or maybe that's just me??)
So much more stylish than the plain boring cases that came with your glasses.
Kimberly will gladly do custom orders, so if you have something you have been trying to find, just ask! If you are getting married this summer, how great would these be in your bridal colours as a bridesmaid’s gift? Or maybe someone you know is graduating or embarking on a new career, and the perfect clutch could be just the confidence booster they need to take the working world by storm. Or maybe, like me, you just want something new and great, for no other reason than to admire it’s beauty.
Want to see more? The Etsy shop has everything your little heart could desire. Now, if I could just get that walk-in closet I’ve been dreaming about!
~Jennifer
