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
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
In keeping with the world wide obsession with all things Royal this week, I have decided to celebrate something wholeheartedly English… Tea! I love tea, as my collection of teapots can attest, so I thought I would share a few tea related items with you today. Each would make a great gift for any upcoming wedding (even if your invite to Friday’s main event *did* get lost in the mail.. just like mine!). No vow-swapping events in your near future? You may wind up wanting one for yourself!
- What’s mine is yours? hmmm… maybe not when it comes to your favorite beverage!
<image source> This set from Vancouver’s Petrulia finds a nice balance between “couple-y” and “personal space”… love it! Also, everything in the shop is recycled/reclaimed and then given a new (and beautiful) lease on life with handpainted designs.
oooh... this would be a perfect addition to my collection!
<image source> This hand-thrown set from Chalk and Mud has such a beautiful blue colour. It would be a lovely accent to almost any kitchen.
You could say this one is just about Purr-fect... (*groan*)
<image source> This unique wavy piece is courtesy of Caroline Bousquet from Montreal. I think the shape is appealing, and the mischievous cat makes me chuckle. Caroline also has some great hand painted glass items in her shop, including this super-cute turtle that stole my heart.
No matter if you are a tea fanatic, a coffee aficionado, or a hot chocolate chugger, everyone can appreciate a little bit of style and fun when you are sipping your drink of choice!
~Jennifer
*My mother swears that the number of teapots you receive at your wedding symbolizes how many children you will have. Has anyone else heard of this before? Or is she just wishful thinking? (We got *five* at our wedding, and I treasure them… but not sure that I need a kiddo for each!)
So, apparently, there’s a big wedding coming up next week?! Prince, Princess, royals everywhere and oh, the fashion! Prince William and Kate Middleton will be married April 29th at Westminster Abbey, and while I will admit that I haven’t paid much attention to the details, I have definitely noticed Ms. Middleton’s fabulous style.
The blue dress she wore for their engagement announcement has become a huge seller, and I’ve been seeing more press about her gorgeous choices of headwear. She is, it seems, a big fan of the fascinator.
Fascinators are headpieces that traditionally attach to the hair using a comb or a clip (but some use a headband), and are an alternative to the more traditional hats worn at important social events – like royal weddings! – or as evening wear. These delicate, fanciful headpieces most often include feathers and flowers, and add a definite punch of drama to your fanciest outfit.
In my search, I came across Vancouver’s LuLu Island Studio and Powder Blue Bijoux – both shops operated by jewelery and fashion designer Alana Belton. Her passion for beautiful materials including Swarovski crystals, silver and gold translates into really gorgeous accessories!
Make a statement on your big day.
Simply stunning!
Ivory Fascinator with French Tulle
In response to customer requests for a little more colour in her traditionally white bridal options at Powder Blue Bijoux, the LuLu Island line was created. Since I’m not currently in the market for bridal wear, I’m thrilled to see the rich peacock blues and vibrant reds that she creates for LuLu Island!
A gorgeous addition to any evening outfit! Love it!
Fuschia fabulous
Be sure to drop by Powder Blue Bijoux and LuLu Island Studio for more fabulous headpiece options – really, some drop-dead gorgeous pieces available, and she is willing to do custom adjustments as well!
Cheers,
~Sarah
P.S. Bonus points to the reader who can reference the post title, and in so doing, gets a small glimpse into my early-teen-years obsession with British music ;)
Yesterday I spent the day working at the MS Walk near my hometown. It’s a great fundraiser, and I really enjoy helping to organize the event each spring. But there is one thing that is not-so-great almost every year… the weather. Doesn’t matter if the weekend before was beautiful (it was), or the weekend after an absolute delight (it probably will be). Without fail, come Walk weekend, it will be cold, windy, possibly raining, or even hail and a mini-blizzard. This year we had a wonderful combo-pack including a little bit from all of the above. Understandably, much of the conversations after the event were about the weather, and someone was telling me how sad she was that she hadn’t thought to bring her thrummed mittens. Since I had never heard of thrummed mitts before, I had to ask what she meant. Her eyes lit up and she said that they are truly The. Warmest. Mittens. Ever.
I am told that thrumming is an East Coast tradition where raw fleece is knitted directly into the mitten. This gives it an incredibly warm lining that is even water resistant, and keeps your fingers toasty and snug in any weather. The process gives the mitts a distinctive appearance, with little “v” or heart-shaped dots spaced regularly across the whole thing.
They may not look that different from your average mitten...
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... but check out the inside! How could your fingers be cold when they are all snuggled into this?
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There are several colour options to choose from, I particularly like these brown/beige ones:
Nice and neutral
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Now it just wouldn’t be fair if the adults in the house had toasty warm hands, and the wee ones were left shivering… so of course there are thrummed baby mittens. (all together now… awwww)
Cute and cozy thumbless mitts for baby
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I know what you are thinking “Gee thanks Jenn, but where can I get some of these super fleece-powered mittens for myself?”. I found these ones at the abitofthisabitofthat Etsy shop. Lucky Maritimer’s can probably find them easily at Church Bazaars and such, but we know that there are crafty East Coast folks scattered all over the country, so ask around! You may find someone who could make you a pair, or maybe even teach you to make your own (if you are so inclined).
Oooooh, I wonder if they make thrummed socks*.. We could banish cold feet forever!
~All thawed out and ready for a new week ahead,
Jenn
*Update: Of course they do, I knew that idea was so great there was no way I was the first to think it up!
Now that spring has arrived, if you’re anything like me, you might be looking for something… something to add a little boost of colour or a bit of change in your environment.
Well, voilà! mazizmuse|home can help! These handcrafted modern-chic pillows are a fantastic (and affordable!) way to change things up for the season. This silk appliqued tulip pillow is so vibrant and would bring a shot of warmth into any space!
Tulips always mean the arrival of spring for me!
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So graphic and lovely!
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I also really love these outdoor pillows! No April showers could keep me down if these were around…
This stripe takes me right to the beach. Summer!
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Mazizmuse is the creation of Laura Mazzerolle in Vancouver. With training in fashion design, textiles and more, she moved into interior design and is treating us to some bold home accents. For example, the graphic screenprinted black design below can be trimmed in any of 9 colours. Bam! Colour.
Aboriginal-inspired design is trimmed with vibrant colours
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To find out more about Laura’s work, you can find mazizmuse|home at these fine internet locations: Etsy shop mazizmuse|home, Facebook, Twitter and her blog!
Cheers,
~Sarah
Everyone loves a cute furry little critter. The little round bellies, the soft ears, their sweet little noses… But not everyone really wants them all living in their house. I think chipmunks are adorable, and have a well-known affection for little monkeys, but that in no way means I want one in my living room! (Good Lord, I would need a live-in maid and a lot of Prozac!). But don’t worry, you can indulge your love of precious furry faces without having to turn your home into a small zoo.
In a small town in New Brunswick you can find McBride House, home to some of the most lovable critter-types you could ever hope to see. Bella is a talented (and patient) needle felting artist, and she loves to create these fantastic fluffy friends:
oooh, the perfect finishing touch for an Easter basket!
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Introducing: Cornelius Montgomery Maximilian McBride... He *looooves* acorns. Good thing he comes with his own stash!
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With Easter fast approaching, Bella has reduced the price of all her bunny and chick sculptures by 10%… all the more reason to bring one home for the holiday!
"Little Yellow" is a bit shy, but she really likes *chick* flicks... :-)
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Wise old Owl would love to come and hang out on your bookshelf!
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- HA! “Grumpy Birds”!
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If you want to bring one of these sweet creations home to live with you, stop by the McBride House Etsy shop. You can also learn more about Bella and see new works on her blog, or drop by for a visit on Facebook.
Enjoy!
~Jennifer
P.S. I know that it is just barely spring, and Christmas is a loooong way off, but if you are a “shop-ahead” kind of person, you won’t want to miss Bella’s felted Santa sculptures, they are lovely!
Sometimes you don’t know that you were looking for something until you find it. Such was the case for me when I stumbled upon Polymer Playin’. These pieces of wearable art made out of polymer clay left me wondering how I have ever gone this long without one!
- The colour, the pattern, the bold chunky-ness… I love it all!
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Oh My. How have I gotten this far in my life without owning this? How?
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A love of colour combined with the versatility of clay combine to produce these great works. The somewhat mysterious artist behind Polymer Playin’ resides on the east coast, (Nova Scotia to be exact).
The swirl has drawn me in... I cannot look away
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There’s even some that are suitable for those whose tastes run a bit more to the rocker side of the spectrum. Like this fantastic “flaming” guitar:
- *throws the goat*
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See what else Polymer Playin’ has to offer by visiting the Etsy shop. You might just find something you never knew you couldn’t live without…
~Jennifer
I met the lovely Jolanta of Jola V. Designs on Twitter, and then at the OOAK Vancouver show last December. Not only is she on the “tall girls” team with me, but she also has a bag called the “Sarah”. Match made in heaven!
The Sarah bag, like all of Jolanta’s pieces, is made using leather that is pre-cut, overstock, repurposed or liquidated. I appreciate that the hides she uses are being being turned into beautiful bags rather than shredded or sent to landfill. This means that Jolanta often has limited (but fabulous) colour runs for her bags, making them that much more special.
A group of Sarah bags - love the colours!
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Having seen Jolanta’s super-soft bags in person, I love the extra special details (the ruffles, the braided strap, the added knot of leather) and the way those are incorporated into very functional and roomy construction.
The "Katie" bag
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The lacing is a great detail on this Jaki tote
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She has also recently added canvas totes to her line, which are adorable (no surprise there!). These would add a little fun to your travel or beach wardrobe, or fill it up at the local farmers market!
The ruffles! I love the ruffles!
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So, do you love them?! Here’s some good news – Jola V Designs is celebrating 2 years in business, and Jolanta is offering a chance to win one of her popular Sarah bags – drop by the Facebook page and comment here for a chance to win!
You can also find Jolanta on Twitter, and all of her bags are available on her website at JolaVDesigns.com. If you’re an Etsy fan, you can visit her shop there, too but it is a limited selection – check her website for full range of colours and styles!
Enjoy!
~Sarah
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
