June is just around the corner, and that means that beach and pool season is nearly here! There are endless ways to bring some handmade creations along on your summer adventures. For those who are feeling brave, you can even find beautiful hand dyed bikinis like these ones from Daub + Design! Just slather on the sunscreen first… please!
- This pretty halter is a great choice!
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Blue sky, blue water, blue bikini... sounds like a good choice to me!
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Now maybe you aren’t feeling particularly bikini-ready, but you still like the look of the fabrics… Daub + Design has some beautiful lightweight scarves or tights that would be a great accent to any outfit.
- A summer feel, but perfect any time of year!
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When the sun starts shining and the mercury starts to rise, I know that many of us feel like our wardrobe needs a little freshening up… so why do we end up wearing the same bathing suit year after year? (or maybe that’s just me). Why not make your beach attire as unique and personal as you are, and take a little handmade goodness to the beach this year? Check out the Daub + Design Cargoh Store to see what is available!
~dreaming of warm sand between my toes, and a cold drink with an umbrella in it…
Jennifer
As we celebrate our first year of spreading the handmade love here at C+H, we invite you to spread a little love to your local crafters and artisans this weekend. Hunt down a market, show, or independent/handmade retailer near you, and let them know you appreciate all that they are doing to keep handmade alive and strong in Canada! If you are in Vancouver, Winnipeg, or Toronto, look no further than these great gatherings of talent… they can’t wait to show you what they have to offer!
Vancouver, BC: This month’s Portobello West market is happening on the 29th, and as always, it’s a great place to find a huge mix of handmade goodies. Head to the Creekside Community Recreation Centre (1 Athlete’s Way, Vancouver) on this Sunday. Become a member for only $15 and you get free admission every time you come back this year! And trust us, you *will* want to come back!
Winnipeg, MB: Aqua Books plays host to the awesomely-named Crafty Minions show and sale this Saturday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Featuring “guerrilla DIY craft” with funk and flair, and admission is free. Aqua Books is at 274 Garry Street, so make sure you stop by and say “hi!”.
Toronto, ON: Fashionistas of any age will want to stop by The Clothing Show this Friday through Sunday in Toronto. Showing a mix of handmade, independent, and vintage clothing, it is certain to be a feast for the eyes. Avoid the lines and get tickets online here, then make your way to the show in the Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place.
Have a great weekend everyone!
~Jennifer
Our Stars series is a new feature here at Canadian+Handmade where we’ll highlight a few of our favourite blogs, individual posts and other online goodies that we come across in our internet travels! All of these have been “starred” in our Google Reader – so you know they are shining, glittery STARS of blog land!
If you have a blog yourself, or have a favourite Canadian blog that features crafts, fine art, craftsmanship, industry shows and support, discussions about handmade etc, please let us know, we’d love to check it out.
This week, we are loving this post at ohmyhandmade.com – 60 Ways to Build Community, Save Your Sanity and Change the World. This month’s theme at OMH is all about finding that balance as working Moms, and so much of it rings true for me.
I discovered my next must-have crafting tool over at Aubrey and Lindsay’s Little House Blog. Did you know that you can buy a mat cutter? All my abandoned framing projects have a hope of coming to fruition now! Thank you, Lindsay!
Mélanie Kimmett writes a lovely blog that I just discovered today. It’s filled with gorgeous images, and I’m already looking forward to what she’ll post next.
This post from the Canadian Living craft blog made me laugh out loud. Finishing a quilt (no matter how tiny!) in one day is something I could only dream of. My sewing machine and I don’t get along very well.
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And those are just a few of the “Stars” in my Google Reader this week – don’t forget to let us know your favourite craft or inspiration blog, we’d love to visit!
Cheers,
~Sarah
Jenn and I are toasting all of our C+H friends, featured artists, crafters, Twitter-buddies and Facebook pals this week (that includes you! Cheers!) as we celebrate our first anniversary!
It was a little over a year ago that Jenn and I put our heads together in my family room in central Alberta and hatched a plot to help share our love of handmade, and particularly focus on the beautiful, talented Canadian artists we’ve come across online and at local shows. Thank you for coming along on that ride with us for the last 12 months and for cheering on the artisans that we’ve shared.
Our very first feature was Etsy shop TamamiKoBag, which is still one of my favourites (I have 2 of her gorgeous bags and use them all the time!). I look back and think that first post was pretty telling about what we do here at C+H – creative, beautifully made, and with a touch of something unique that makes it truly Canadian. This year we met lots of you as you commented (and we answered), you joined in on our Canada Day giveaway, more of you shared you thoughts on our C+H Handmade Holiday Challenge as it all came together and our Community Day questions allowed us to get to know you a little better, too!
We have big dreams for our corner of the internet and we’re working towards bringing some of them to fruition in the not-too-distant future. For now, though, we want to give you a little glimpse of our gorgeous new look – a sneak peek, if you will! We’re working behind the scenes to put it all together, but we’re so thrilled with this logo that Lindsay Brewda, owner and creative force behind Grace Announcements, created for us that we just didn’t want to wait any longer to show it off…
So, stay tuned for more C+H fun this year, we hope you’ll join us for our 2nd birthday next spring, too!
Thank you for being part of our community here,
~Sarah and Jennifer
Ah, feathers. I picked up some lovely little purple feather earrings recently, and I’ve been seeing feathers everywhere ever since.
Tianna Grey of Vancouver’s Tetrik has been making pretty accessories, many of them featuring feathers for years (and actually began crafting in high school making purses and other accessories for family and friends). After taking a little break, Tianna came back to Tetrik in 2008 and has been incorporating feathers and vintage bits and bobs ever since.
Image from Tetrik on Etsy
The parrot earrings above, and the fab colour of the peacock feather earrings below are calling my name…
Image by Tetrik on Etsy
… and this ostrich feather hair comb is so stunning!
Image by Tetrik on Etsy
Tetrik offers a range of accessories including pendants, rings and headbands! You can find Tetrik on Etsy, as well as at Cargoh and Facebook.
Enjoy!
~Sarah
Sometimes you need to put a fresh look on a space without spending a lot of time or money, and without all the mess and stress of a renovation project. For a quick and easy makeover in any room, a few stylish decals can add an interesting and unique flair, giving your space a new lease on life.
Whether you want to add a sense of humour, some dramatic design, or words of inspiration, the possibilities are endless! Vancouver’s Urban Walls have some fantastic options, and you can customize almost any decal to suit your own vision.
So true... so very true...
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This captures the freedom and joy of a childhood summer day so perfectly!
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The decals can come in a wide variety of colours to suit your room, so you can be sure to get just the right look. Or you can use multiple colours, like this gorgeous tree:
- I have a sudden urge to re-design my daughter’s nursery!
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I know several friends who are moving to new homes very soon, and I think a stylish and easy-to-use decal would be a wonderful housewarming gift. Because really, who has money left to decorate when you have just spent your life savings on your new home?! Even if you aren’t changing your geographical space any time soon, springtime still calls for a bit of updating and a fresh new look. If you are feeling inspired, stop by the Urban Walls Etsy shop and see all the great options!
Cheers to quick, easy, and fabulous design!
~Jennifer
If it ever stops raining here in Ontario, I am confident that warm and sunny weather will finally make an appearance. And with those longer, summery days come all kinds of wonderful outdoor activities for the whole family. More road trips, more all-day bbq’s, more days at the beach, more long and lazy afternoons at the park… *ahhh… bliss…*
But wait! we interrupt this daydream to bring you: Reality! Little persons like my own toddler sized munchkin still need to have a nap or two, often right when you want to be somewhere else. One possible solution? Napping on the go! A little bit of comfort and routine can go a long way, and these great nap mats from SewnNatural can give a little one their own familiar spot to rest, no matter where the summer breeze takes you.
- Lovely summer flowers for a girl on the go…
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All SewnNatural products are eco-friendly and organic, which is a great way to remind kids about protecting our earth! The underside is made of durable denim, and the inside can be any of the beautiful and soft cotton prints.
- What says earth-friendly better than trees?
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SewnNatural is an Ottawa based mother-daughter team who pair a love for sustainable and ethical products with a flair for fabrics that is not to be missed! Beyond the sweet and useful nap mats, there are toys, mobiles, bedding, bibs, and even these fantastic car seat organizers:
If I had one of these, I have a feeling my car would look a little less like a rolling garage sale! (*hangs head in shame*)
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Oh, and last but definitely not least… they also have super-cute dresses like this one:
I don't know who is cuter, the model or the elephant!
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You can find out more about the ladies of SewnNatural by visiting Jen’s awesome blog, or by taking a few minutes to visit the Etsy shop (there are many, many great listings!)
Now, if we could just get some sunshine around here…
~Jennifer
Spring has finally, officially, sprung in Alberta – we actually saw LEAVES on the trees today!! So, in celebration, I’m going shopping ;)
Edmonton, AB: Make It! The Handmade Revolution
The Edmonton edition of Western Canada’s super-fab Make It show series kicks off today. Come visit with over 80 indie vendors at the Alberta Aviation Museum (11410 Kingsway Avenue), including some C+H fav’s like Cloud+Lolly, Flight Path Designs, Sushi Papercraft, Hug+Kiss Designs and more! You can also follow Jenna (1/2 of the Make It organizing dynamic duo) on Twitter @makeitshow and Chandler (the other 1/2 – I won’t say which of them is the “better” half, I don’t want to get caught in that sibling rivalry!) at @oleoriginals.
Friday May 13th 4:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday May 14th 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday May 15th 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
P.S. Don’t forget your $2 off coupon!
Brantford, ON: Busy Bee’s Spring Arts + Crafts Show
If you’re in southern Ontario, check out the 30+ vendors at the Busy Bee sale, Saturday from 10 – 4pm at the Branlyn Community Centre (238 Brantwood Park Road, Brantford N3P 1N9)
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As always, if you know of a show we should feature, please let us know and send us a note at events@canadianhandmade.ca.
Have a wonderful weekend!
~Sarah
Tyler Kilkenny of Russell, Manitoba is – piece by piece – rescuing bits of Canadian history and turning them into really stunning artwork. Inspired by his Grandfather’s general store and the crumbling farmhouses and barns around his home in rural Manitoba, he worked to find a way to preserve some of the stories of Canada’s settlers.
Years of oxidization have lent some amazing colour and texture to these reclaimed tin ceiling tiles. Found in abandoned stores, homes and businesses around Tyler’s hometown, these truly are little pieces of history. Including with each framed and matted piece is a chronology of the building where it was found, along with a limited edition designation.
From the TinHouse Designs website:
It’s a great way to have some art with a story that is relevant to the owner,” says Tyler. “We all have a stake in the stories of the men and women that settled this country. This is a small way to salute those that have made Canada what it is today.
Tyler Kilkenny is not only a collector of ceiling tin, but a collector of stories as well. Each piece of TinHouse artwork includes a chronology of the building that it was salvaged from, some of which have suffered through fires and years of neglect, and giving you a great conversation piece for your home! Until you have your own TinHouse piece, you can visit the Stories section of his website for a glimpse into prairie history – did you know that many of the village communities along the Assiniboine River are 7 miles apart, because that’s as far as the ox-drawn carts could travel during daylight? Often when the convoy stopped for the day, someone would leave the wagons and put down roots on a homestead.
Thanks, Tyler, for choosing to preserve and share these wonderful, oft-forgotten stories from our Canadian past.
Cheers,
~Sarah
*All images from TinHouseDesigns.com
Whimsical, lighthearted, amusing… call it whatever you like, but you won’t be able to resist a smile! Vancouver’s One Elf miniature wearable food are perfect for young-at-heart foodies with a flair for fun. Carefully crafted from polymer clay, they look just like the real thing, only smaller!
What summer evening would be complete without delicious, delicious s'mores?
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Peanuuut, peanut butter... jelly!
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Fair warning: It could be hazardous to your ears to wear those last ones near my peanut butter obsessed toddler! And how perfect would these cheeseburgers be at a casual summer bbq?
- Mmmmm…. don’t they look almost good enough to eat?
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Anyone who knows me, knows that I *love* cake… You never ever have to twist my arm when that delicious treat is involved! So it will come as no surprise that these caught my eye:
complete with sprinkles on top... perfect!
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So whether your favorite is waffles,tacos, avocado, hot dogs, or ice cream sandwiches, there’s a little something for everyone… Stop by the One Elf Etsy shop and see what’s on the menu!
~Jennifer
