Update

Sarah — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:44:39 +0000

Thanks for checking in! We know it’s been a while since we posted here, but we’re excited to be getting back on track with a new design and some new features we think you’ll like as well. After a fall full of major life changes and busy, busy home lives (renovations galore, babies and a move across the country!) we’re out on the holiday craft show circuit finding more fabulous new artists and crafters to share with you.

Please follow us on Twitter @canadahandmade and @mrsgryphon, or join us on our Facebook page. We’ll be back soon, and we’d love to share with you.

Cheers,
~Sarah

Summer vacation!

Sarah — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:11:36 +0000

Dear Canadian+Handmade friends… if you follow us on Twitter or Facebook, you likely know that my family is just days away from the moving truck arriving to start the journey from Alberta to Ontario. Jenn has some exciting news as well (I’ll let her share in her own time), but all of this means that we have made the difficult decision to take some time off from C+H for the rest of the summer.

I will be road-tripping across Alberta, Saskatechewan, Manitoba, through Northern Ontario (including a trip on the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, which I’ve never done and yet heard about my entire childhood!) to our new home just outside of Guelph, Ontario. A month-long odyssey of camping and adventuring with our 2 little girls – and 2 cats and a dog! – means I won’t have much access to internet until Fall.

We’ll be back then, with regular posting and (hopefully) a new website look to go with our cute new logo that we debuted back in the spring. In the meantime, please follow us on Twitter (@canadahandmade and @mrsgryphon), or visit us on Facebook (Canadian Handmade) where I’ll post trip updates when I can, and Jenn will pop in once in a while as well.

Stay safe, enjoy the rest of the summer, and we’ll see you in September!

~Sarah + Jenn

Sarah's "Home away from home"!

Indulging an Obsession

Jennifer — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:00:54 +0000

It has been a while since I last wrote about pretty coloured glass. I have made an “executive decision” (ha!) that this needs to change… today. When I was away on my European Adventure, one of my favorite things was seeing so many incredible stained glass windows. It seemed like everywhere we looked there was clear summer sun streaming through beautiful colours, throwing ever-changing patterns of light that danced on the floors. So I think there is no better time to share some authentic and lovely *Canadian* stained glass with you, our lovely C+H readers!

Tara Sawchuk is a Winnipeg artist who designs and creates her own unique stained glass panels. Art has always been a lifelong passion for Tara, and while she has produced works in several mediums (including designing tatoos!), her glass works have been her biggest calling since 2006. Take a peek at some of Tara’s lovely panels:

I love the colour scheme, and the "lucky sevens" theme

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The graceful, clean lines of this panel really appeal to my eye!

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Maybe you don’t have a spot to hang a whole panel, but you still want a little piece to dress up a room? Maybe something like this gorgeous music box would be just the ticket.

Pretty colours, and pretty music, a fabulous combination!

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My absolute favorite though, is this awesome celtic symbol with an abstract twist. A little bit different, a whole lot fabulous!

Deep colours, but still light and airy feeling, it just begs for you to keep looking a little closer

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To see more of Tara’s work (including an adorable panda, and super-sweet fox), drop by the Etsy shop!

Have a great day, and go ahead and indulge *your* obsession,
~Jennifer

Romance in recycled materials

Sarah — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:43:55 +0000

If you’re looking for something unique and a little romantic to wear this summer, look no further than Edmonton-based Pondhopper.

These gorgeous dresses and accessories are all made with reclaimed, previously- loved garments and bits and pieces of textiles and sparkle. The many layers and overstitching are Pondhopper signatures, and lend even more texture to these pretty pieces.

The dresses in particular, with their jagged hemlines and almost patchwork effect, remind me of some long-ago (and imaginary) Shakespearean wood-nymph!

Something as simple as grey and white t-shirts can become… this breezy little number:

Swing it, girl!

The "Unchain My Heart" dress - so romantic!

This Promenade Jacket is In.Credible. Incredible!

Stunning and gorgeous and spectacular.

What a fun, summer-filled skirt!

Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d say: These spats are so pretty!

A fun way to add some spice to your outfit!

You can find out more about Lorraine and her creative, organic pieces on her blog, her Facebook page and you can certainly do some shopping from this Edmonton based artist at her Pondhopper Etsy shop!

Enjoy!
~Sarah

Flipping out over Filomene

Jennifer — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:00:24 +0000

I admire people who get dressed up every day. That whole “pulled together, with just the right accessories, make-up on and hair nicely done” look eludes me almost daily, so I truly am impressed by those who pull it off on a regular basis! If I had unlimited time and wardrobe options, I would likely choose a simple but classic knee-length dress, some super cute peep-toe kitten heels, and just the right bold and eye-catching accessories to top it all off. In reality though, I am usually happy if my outfit is clean, co-ordinated, and not terribly wrinkled. When I can sneak in a pair of cute shoes I am on a roll!

When I spotted these fabulous pieces by Filomene, I immediately added them to my mental collection… (to go with all those perfect Audrey Hepburn dresses of course!). Just check out this fun and bold bracelet, and you’ll see what I mean:

Pretty and versatile, you can pair it with casual wear or something a little dressier!

Filomene is the work of Audrey, a graphic designer from Quebec. Her inspirations include life, colour, buttons and even candy.

: This “Sunny Dalhia” necklace feels organic, fun and lively.

“Lemon Twist” is fresh and bright, the perfect accent to a little summer sundress:

The hollow circles remind me of lifesavers!

Of course we can’t forget about earrings, and Filomene has some great ones, including these two very different but equally awesome pairs:

: I like the green colour, and the teeny tiny buttons!

Just like little picture frames for around your face!

See more of Filomene over at the Etsy shop, you’ll be flipping out too!

Cheers,
Jenn

Oh Canada!

Sarah — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:47:57 +0000

Today’s the day! Happy 144th Birthday, Canada! We hope your day includes bbq, parades, maple leaf temporary tattoos on faces, unabashed flag-waving, fireworks and some sponataneous singing of the Canadian national anthem. Maybe also a chance to see Will & Kate if you’re in the Ottawa area, or to take in a ball game, climb a mountain, or head to one of the best fresh water beaches in the world (my vote goes to Wasaga Beach… no, maybe Sauble. No, wait, Grand Bend!!)

However you choose to spend today, we hope that you’ll celebrate Canada with more than just a red t-shirt and a Sleeman beer – take a few minutes to support a Canadian artist! They’ll be out at plenty of events across the country, sharing their work and talents.

And, just to get into the Canada Day spirit, some YouTube link love!

So bad it’s (sort of) good! Canadian, please!

(I know. Ridiculous. But also hilarious!)

Cheers, Canada! Here’s to another great year!
~Sarah and Jennifer

Community Day #4: For Everything There Is A Season

Jennifer — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:00:12 +0000

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!

Please join us here in the comments or on your social media avenue of choice (Facebook, Twitter) for our 4th Community Day session!

It’s summer! The snowy cold of winter is a distant, chilly memory, the crunch of fall leaves underfoot is still far off in the future… So we can’t help but wonder:

“How do the changing seasons affect what you create? Do you find yourself using different supplies? A different selection of colours or patterns? Does your creative process itself change with the weather patterns?”

We’d love to hear what you have to say!

Wilk watches definitely work for me!

Sarah — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:47:07 +0000

I am in love.

Stunning - sterling silver, yellow gold and a lovely resin enameled pattern.

I get an extra little thrill when I find a beautiful, handcrafted item that I have absolutely no idea how to make myself. Some things I can imagine the process, or have even tried myself over the years, but watchmaking is not one of them. The watch above, created by Wilk Watchworks, is so pretty – and handmade by Scott Wilk in Ontario.

Trained in Metalsmithing and Gemmology, Scott brings his talents together in making the lovely cases and dials for his watches. The resin enamel patterns on the dials add some flair and colour to the otherwise understated cases.

Love the dial pattern!

Solid, but the pattern is so light. Love the contrast!

And, oh oh oh! Look at this one! These are certainly unique pieces to save up for, but well worth it for the pride of ownership, I’d say.

Ladies watch with diamond bezel. Gorge.OUS.

You can see more of Scott Wilk’s work in his Cargoh shop, Etsy shop, on his own website and follow along on Twitter as well!

Enjoy,

~Sarah

Cargoh, renewed

Sarah — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:46:55 +0000

Last week, Vancouver-based Cargoh.com blasted out of their beta status and launched a lovely new version of their site – clean, bright, fun and packed full of highly talented, creative artists sharing their hard work. We’ve been a fan of Cargoh since they launched last spring, and I’m thrilled to see more and more artists joining in. As a curated marketplace, Cargoh is focused on ensuring that there is a certain standard of design and quality in each shop, and I know every time I log on that I’m going to see something I haven’t seen before… like today’s C+H featured artist, Wilk Watchworks!

If you haven’t visited yet, go take a look – and be sure to share your favourites with the fab social tools that are built right in to make it easy to Facebook, Tweet or Pin your wishlist, or just give a shout-out to a new designer :)

Cheers,
~Sarah

Something Sweet about Summer Time

Jennifer — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:33:41 +0000

For both of us here at C+H, time is of the essence. As in, we just plain don’t have enough of it! A few extra hours in the day would be worth their weight in gold (metaphorically of course). I know we are not alone, as so many of you are struggling with the same challenges. There is just so much that we want to do, especially now that it is finally, officially, SUMMER! So, in honour of this fresh new season, and the jam-packed 24 hours that we are each get to share every day, may I present these fabulous clocks from Sunshine in the Summer.

: Natural, peaceful, and easy on the eyes!

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I love the earthy, sun-soaked feel of driftwood. It brings a little touch of summer any time of the year, and that really matters when we are suffering through those frigid days of February!

It would be pretty hard to be stressed out when looking at *this* clock, no matter what time it shows!

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Sunshine in the Summer Time is the creation of British Columbia’s Brandy Nohr. Despite a fear of the water, her career (and her heart) have always kept her near the ocean. Her love of all things nautical shows through in her work, and especially for those of us who are a bit land-locked, it is a breath of fresh salt air!

While I was admiring Brandy’s clocks, I also couldn’t help but notice these lovely little votive holders. Perfect to nestle among your seaside treasures in the summer, or tuck among some holly and evergreens at Christmas-time!

: Maybe you can’t have a bonfire on the beach, but maybe this can bring a little of that magic to your home!

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No matter how busy and hectic your days may be, here’s hoping that you can find a peaceful moment or two to refresh your mind. Maybe we can’t get any extra hours in our days, but we can celebrate the moments that we do have, and embrace a new season as well!

Sun-soaked and loving it,
Jennifer