Everyone has different aspects of their personality, even if they don’t often get to see the light of day. Right now I am usually wearing my “busy working mother” hat, with the occasional “goofy friend” or “cheesy romantic wife” thrown in for good measure. But lately I am missing a few other sides of myself. I am currently working on re-introducing myself to the “adventuring traveler”, and maybe someday I’ll have the time to get reacquainted with the “wistful daydreamer” who used to hang out for hours in the branches of a favorite tree.
It is she, the wistful daydreamer who would feel perfectly carefree and at ease in the beautiful bohemian inspired clothing from the Barefoot Modiste.
It has a hippie feel without being shapeless, and the fabrics are lovely
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Milli is a self-taught seamstress who calls Edmonton home. She started sewing at the tender age of eight, and hasn’t looked back since. You can sometimes see the influence of her African roots in her work, and there is a freewheeling gypsy vibe that brings to mind music, laughter, and stories around a campfire.
- I love the colours, and the fitted top/flowy bottom combination in this skirt!
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This shift dress has such a simple shape, but the African print gives it such energy and personality!
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Milli has a mild obsession with fabrics, and is always on the lookout for fabulous finds that make their way into her pieces. Many of the materials she uses are reclaimed from thrift store or garage sale finds, so you can be sure that anything she makes is truly one of a kind.
- I really like the textures in this skirt, and the mod feel of the shapes on the front!
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You can see more of the Barefoot Modiste’s free-spirited creations in her Etsy shop, or stop in and say “Hi!” on her Facebook page.
~Here’s to embracing all the different sides of our many-faceted selves!
Jennifer
As the parent of a toddler, it sometimes feels like I am living in the eye of a hurricane. My girl is one pudgy-cheeked ball of motion, noise, and sometimes utter chaos. So when bedtime arrives and she is feeling snuggly and quiet, my husband and I really soak up those moments! Of course when a kiddo feels like cuddling there is nothing better than a special squishy friend, and these adorable buddies from Stephanimals are so cool that every kid is bound to love them.
Each one is handcrafted to be “Unique Like Nature”, and they even come with a soft story book that helps kids learn about the animal and their habitat! The quiet moments are a great opportunity to talk with kids about things that are important to your family, and Stephanimals share stories of conservation and knowledge about the world’s critters.
This sweet duck would make a great Easter gift, don't you think?
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At the moment, my girl makes a "Roar" sound for almost every animal... perhaps she is trying to tell us she wants a lion?
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But wait! It gets even better! Stephanimals donates $2 from every single sale to charity, (in 2011 all funds raised will go to Nature Canada) Awesome, right? They don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk… and you can too!
Counting sheep never looked cuter!
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There are lots of different fabric choices for each animal, make sure you visit the Stephanimals site to see them all. There’s also links to lots of eco-friendly groups and products, a fun page full of activity ideas, and an animal info section where curious minds can go to learn and explore!
~Remembering my special childhood bedtime buddy. Her name was Ellie… she was an elephant. Yes I know, the creative juices run deep in me, can’t you tell?
:-) Jennifer
Oh my. If you love shoes, have I got the indulgence of a lifetime for you. Forget the Manolos or Jimmy Choo’s… how about custom, hand-painted, made-to-order super-swank stilettos?!
Welcome to the world of Vancouver’s Cocopunkz. Just feast your eyes on these:
These are called "Infatuation". Why, yes, yes I am infatuated!
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Or these:
"Mystery Shoes - Rain City"
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Ada Fu and Miranda Pang love shoes and love to paint, and the combination of their creative talents is pretty spectacular. They have a selection available on their website (specific sizes and paint treatments) but the part that intrigues me the most is the custom option – send them your shoes, give them a theme to run with and voilà, you have a one-of-a-kind shoe to knock ‘em dead with.
Seriously gorgeous, these yellow tapered heels are called “Ink Flared”. I’m seeing a night out on the town, little black dress, and these. Who needs jewellery when you’re wearing shoes this freakin’ fabulous?!
*swoon*
You can see more of the girls’ past work at cocopunkz.com, and on their Etsy shop. You can also follow along on the blog, Facebook and Twitter for more fun with Ada and Miranda!
Cheers,
~Sarah
Spring has officially arrived and with it, the full spring show calendar gets underway. This weekend we’ve got a few stellar choices for you:
VANCOUVER: Portebello West
This monthly art market returns after a brief post-holiday-season break to kick off the spring season. Their new location at the Creekside Recreation Centre in the Olympic Village has enough space for 90 vendors and, according to their website, has a fantastic view too :)
March 26th and 27th from 11am to 5pm
Admission: $2 for non-members.
CALGARY: Market Collective
Calgary’s Market Collective sounds like a really fun event, with a different featured artist and musician each time. This Market they are showcasing Light and Soul Creations and Raleigh, respectively. A huge list of fabulous vendors, and some of our C+H favourites will be there, too!
March 26th 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
March 27th 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
148 10th St NW – in the old Ant Hill building, Kensington, Calgary.
ST. CATHARINES: Brocante Lux Fashion and Art Market
The Brocante Lux is a fashion and art event, with a clothing swap too! Music, art, good food and even a swing dance demonstration all while you browse some of the best the Niagara creative scene has to offer.
Friday March 25th 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Market Square, St. Catharines
If you live nearby any of these events, take some time out to visit and support your local artisans! As always, if you know of an event happening near you that we haven’t included (or one that’s coming up so we can add it to our calendar!) do let us know at events@canadianhandmade.ca
Cheers,
~Sarah
I am always amazed by the way an artist can convey a certain feeling so clearly, just through the use of colour and shape. The way that they can capture movement, emotion, and even bring to mind particular sounds and smells is truly amazing. One such talented artist is Shelagh Duffett, better known as Alice in Paris. The moment that I saw her bold and energetic prints, I was immediately drawn in and transported into the seaside world that she creates.
Can't you just feel the salty summer breeze?
Many of Shelagh’s prints celebrate her Nova Scotia home, and there is often a friendly feline or two making an appearance as well. They strike a perfect balance, managing to be both youthful and vibrant without being childish.
So peaceful and calm...
This just sums up a carefree childhood, doesn't it?
I love the strong colours, and the composition of her work. Each one can send you into a new set of daydreams, losing yourself into a whole different world full of possibilities and adventure. Even a few flowers in a vase have an element of lighthearted fun:
I don't know what I love more: the whimsical spirals on the vase, or the "kapow!" red background...
To get a taste of what Alice in Paris is all about, you won’t want to miss her great Blog. Then grab a cup of tea (yes, this is a requirement!) and cruise through the Etsy shop to check out all the wonderful prints. Once you’ve done all that, come on over and join the conversation on Twitter!
Daydream believer…Oui oui!
~Jennifer
We use so many little things in our daily lives without even thinking about them. But how much fun is it when something useful can be beautiful and even have some special meaning to you? That’s why I love these coasters from Jonathon Wayne Design. They have an old-school vintage feel, with plenty of opportunity to customize a set that really speaks to your personality. You could capture the soundtrack to a special time in your life, or have a daily reminder of that incredible road trip with your best friend as you sip your morning coffee.
Available with Broadway favorites, Christmas carols, timeless Opera... or whatever music sings to your heart...
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There's just something about a map that makes me want to grab my keys and hit the road!
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Encyclopedia and Dictionary themed coasters could protect your tables while you are doing the Sunday crossword, reading a favorite novel, or engaging in a spirited game of Scrabble… (on that note, how DOES my husband get 62 points from the word “spell”… How??!!?)
Word nerds unite!
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John is a full-time student, activist, and artist, based in Winnipeg. His coasters have a cork backing, and he is always open to custom orders and special requests. Check out his Etsy shop for more details (and the scoop on whether or not he was really named after *that* John Wayne…)
Here’s hoping we can all infuse a little bit of individual flair into our daily lives!
~Jennifer
I discovered NeededWanted a little while ago, and fell in love with the idea of Megan’s custom neighbourhood street maps. Honestly, how fun to have your own local world to play with your cars and build Lego villages around?!
Custom play map, designed to match any neighbourhood of your choice!
The NeededWanted play maps come in 3 sizes, with streets the perfect width for matchbox cars and hours of enjoyment. Now, as I investigated further, I realized there was much more to Megan and her products – there are also little custom-knitted monster critters, as well as her adorable little village pieces made out of cardboard and perfect for any kid to make their own!
This "Starter Home" comes with the required suburban tree and can be decorated however your child would like!
I love the little Starter Home, and that it requires no glue/staples/adhesive of any kind. Your child can decorate however they’d like, play with it, then fold it up and put it away until next time! Beautifully simple.
Also? The little monster guy? Perfectly sized to live inside the Starter Home, or the Bungalow or the Barn that are also available!
Needless to say, I was intrigued so I contacted Megan and she graciously agreed to answer a few questions for us, to give us a little more insight into her product and her process.
Canadian+Handmade: What does the name of your site, NeededWanted, mean for you?
NeededWanted: If something is both needed and wanted it is often loved in return.
Hours of fun, and easy to pack away when the cars (or the kids!) run out of gas!
NW: My husband is always my sounding board whether he realizes it or not. I don’t think that he is always listening to every detail that I tell him nor do I think that he needs to. Sometimes you need is to say your thoughts out loud to get the ball rolling or to find a solution to a problem.
~Sarah
This has been a long, strange week and while I don’t have a direct personal connection to Japan, like many people I feel the need to help in some way. If it’s more than a little overwhelming for me, here, in my comfy warm house then I feel like I need to be doing even more for those who are not (and maybe never again will be) in their homes tonight.
The craft community has rallied in many ways, and these are just a few of the initiatives that I’ve spotted so far. If you know of someone, somewhere in the art/craft/design community that is doing something to help, please leave a link here in the comments and we’ll help pass it on.
Rik Rak Studio – Helping Japan – collecting links to items and sales where proceeds (or a portion thereof) are going to Japan relief efforts.
If you’re wondering why some of your favourite blogs are silent today, they may be participating in Bloggers Day of Silence (For Japan with Love) which has so far raised over $20,000 to help.
At the time of writing this post, there were 5,910 results returned on an Etsy search for “Japan Relief“. 5,910. That’s amazing, and you can certainly find something you love from within that list if you’d like to donate AND support a independent artist at the same time. Win-win. Many of these items will be tagged with “artistaid” or “joyforjapan”, making them easier to find. Thinking of Japan on the Etsy blog has more links to teams that have organized to support the relief efforts as well.
The “Handmade for Japan” Facebook group was launched in response to the situation in Japan, and will be hosting an eBay auction March 24-27th featuring some amazing works, all donated to support the cause.
Jan over at Poppytalk has a great list of links to shops and artists donating proceeds, some students at UBC and their projects and more.
These are just a few of the projects going on – please share any others you might know of in the comments. There are also events happening all over Canada – just Google your city or town’s name and “Japan relief” and there’s bound to be a way to participate and get involved.
Be safe,
~Sarah
Feeling a little bit extra lucky today? You aren’t alone! Today we all get to be just a little bit Irish, so practice your brogue, put on something green, dance a jig, and (if you are so inclined) enjoy a cold, green beverage of choice. In honour of this fun-filled day, we have gathered a few handmade gems for the Irish at heart… Enjoy!
- These four hearts together form a lovely clover pendant. Beautiful any day of the year…
Why should us humans have all the fun? Let your beloved pooch get in on the St. Paddy's Day action with this cute collar!
And for those who really go green from head to toe, you’ll probably need something like these:
Warm, comfy, and festive to boot! (get it? boot... 'cause they're socks... *giggle*)
This would be perfect for those looking for an elegant and understated way to mark the day...
May the luck of the Irish be with you today and always!
~Jennifer
We know you’re out there, working, playing, being inspired and challenged every day by the world around you, and we would love to get to know you a little better!
So, please join us here in the comments or on your social media avenue of choice (Facebook, Twitter) for our second Community Day session. Here’s the question of the day:
Do you crave music in your day, or does silence soothe your soul? If music is important to you, who are your favourite artists? Do they change depending on your mood?
P.S. Did you miss the last Community Day? You can still comment and share, we’d love to hear from you!
Community Day #1: Inspiration
