We’ve still got moose on the brain here at our house – my girls are drawing pictures of the moose we saw while we were camping, they’re playing Mama and Baby Moose and so, forgive me, but I’m going to indulge the moose obsession a little more today!
The work of Anneke van Bommel (Touch the Dutch, on Etsy) is beautifully simple, with a sense of humour and nostalgia, especially in the Canadiana series, that spoke to me.
Anneke has been an Etsy Featured seller recently and shared a bit about the inspiration and themes behind her Canadiana series:
These works explore an “idea” of Canada, and allude to the souvenir. The desire to take a “piece” of a place home with us and to somehow authenticate a journey is a shared one. This common need allows us, to relate to one another across vast distances and to share our stories.
The organic shape of the antlers is truly beautiful!
A wee little brooch - love the "rings" swirled in the cut!
The icons featured range from lumberjacks, narwhals, the east coast lobster, wolves and, of course, the ultimate in Canadian symbols: the beaver! I’ll leave you to click through and discover just what, exactly, the “Secret Order of the Beaver Legionnaires Trophy Brooch” might be (other than the best product name EVER!) and show off my favourite of the flat-tailed creatures:
Ah, the beaver. A perfectly adorable little nod to Canadian cliché!
I almost feel like I need to do a separate post for each category in her shop, but for now I’ll share a few of my favourites from the rest of her line and encourage you to visit her shop for yourself!
Thrifted spoons are repurposed into functional works of art! Such unexpected beauty!
A little one-of-a-kind piece of art on your finger!
You can find Touch the Dutch on Etsy and in various galleries and shops. You can also follow along with her creative pursuits on her blog. Enjoy!
Cheers,
~Sarah
My family and I spent last week in the foothills of the Rockies, and woke up Tuesday morning to see a Mama moose and her twin 1-week old babies playing and snacking near our campsite. We watched them for close to an hour before a park ranger drove by and they wandered off down the road.
The babies!
Our girls have been talking about moose ever since, so we went looking yesterday for Etsy’s version of moose, and found Toronto’s Sparrow Avenue. Barbara di Lella works her magic drawing, painting and silk screening her artwork onto linens fashioned in to pillows, bags, wallets, aprons and more.
Perfect for a cabin, or any place where the outdoors can be brought inside!
I also love this little tea towel – “Dogs have owners. Cats have staff”. As a family with 2 cats and a dog, I’m fairly qualified to say this is an accurate statement!
Ah, sweet puppy
Barbara also has an interesting blog where she features more of her work and the projects she’s tackling! I really love seeing the process from idea to finished product, and the challenges along the way.
You can find her work on Etsy at Sparrow Avenue and on the blog.
Cheers,
~Sarah
P.S. One more moose:
A sweet little moose pouch!
With my passport dusted off, and tickets in hand, I am off discovering foreign lands with my dear husband. So naturally we have had travel on the brain for quite a few weeks, and I have stumbled upon some very cool handmade items that are perfect for any global adventurer! So I thought I would share a few of them with you, while I am away soaking up some European sun…
I really love this travel journal from Prairie Peasant:
A perfect home for all your precious memories!
And LaPetiteBoheme’s “whole wide world” earrings are a lovely accent to finish off any outfit with some international flair:
I bet someone with some crafty skills could turn these into some fabulous cuff-links too! (father's day anyone?)
Nellyvansee from Montreal has this lovely globe pendant that lets you keep the whole world in your hand (or at least near your heart…)
it's a small world after all...
You can even bring lots of international appeal to your very own home sweet home. A little touch like this fabulous aviator map pillow from Atelier688 could be just what you are looking for:
This one shows the Peking region... so neat!
And just in case you need something to help pass some time while you wait for a plane, train, or automobile… Check out this cute little travel tic-tac-toe game from MyHappyHobbies :
The fabric "board" is a pouch to hold the pieces, and you don't have to hunt for a paper and pen!
Whether you are having a “stay-cation” this summer, or crossing the globe on an epic adventure, we are all neigbours on this crazy spinning planet of ours… and now you can embrace your inner global citizen while supporting the Canadian handmade community. I call that a definite win-win!
~Jennifer
This week is going to be quiet here at C+H because Jennifer and I are both enjoying some summer vacation time!
Jenn is off gallivanting around Europe (Paris, Rome and the Amalfi Coast, Barcelona!) with her husband, while my family and I will be significantly less glamorous as we hang out by the campfire in the Rockies. This is Jenn’s first trip overseas and I am so happy that she is taking the opportunity to explore. A well-deserved adventure for them, and I can’t wait to hear all about it when she gets back (oh my, I do miss Paris!!).
We are taking our oldest out of school and heading to the campground for what may be our last mountain camping adventure for a few years. We’ve decided to take a leap and tackle an opportunity that came up earlier this spring which means moving our family back to southern Ontario from central Alberta. Not a small undertaking (2 vehicles, 5th wheel, 2 kids, 2 cats and a dog… not to mention far too much IKEA furniture!!), but we’re working hard behind the scenes to pull it off and hoping it all comes together!
So, we’re taking a little break this week and will be back next week with plenty more fantastic Canadian creativity.
Hope summer has arrived, wherever you are!
~Sarah
Update: So far, we’ve had 24 hours of rain in the Rocky Mountain foothills, but we did get to watch a Mama Moose and her 1 week old twin babies roam around our campsite for an hour this morning :)
One of my favourite places to go online when it comes to handmade is Oh My! Handmade Goodness and when I stopped by yesterday, I was so thrilled to see this post from editor Jessika Hepburn.
The current trend toward deeply discounted deals à la Groupon or Living Social hit the handmade marketplace earlier this year when Heartsy arrived on the scene. When I first looked at Heartsy, I was surprised to see just how far makers were willing to discount their work to potentially attract new clients. 65% off for a handmade business is a huge cut! I wondered how many of those buyers would return to purchase at full price, and what additional costs the maker would have to incur to be able to fill those orders.
At the time, I remember being part of a conversation with Jessika (@ohmyhandmade) and others on Twitter about the true value of handmade. Does discounting handmade work devalue the work, does it sacrifice too much for the maker? Does offering beautifully crafted, well-designed, unique works of art at a discounted price (even below cost on occasion) hinder or help a small business in the long run? Shouldn’t we be willing to pay MORE for handmade, rather than less? How does a maker ensure that they are really charging what their work is worth, and what price will the buyer market support? All important questions, and all requiring more thought and discussion… and the conversation is still continuing. Now, though, there’s a place where we can really demonstrate how much we truly value handmade skill and creativity.
Enter: Worthsy! Brain child of Jessika (Oh My! Handmade Goodness) and Zoe (A Quick Study), Worthsy is a bit of an experiment in finding the highest bidder, not the lowest.
I love this concept – once a week on Wednesdays, a new handmade item will be put up for auction. Bidding will start at wholesale price (because makers should be profiting at the wholesale level as well!) and remain open until the next week. The artist will receive the full sale price, and the auction winner receives a handmade treasure that they love so much they wanted to bid higher and pay more! That sounds like a win all around to me!
Another thing I love? When you click the “More” button to bid, you are treated to an itemized list of costs to produce the item. It is amazing to see it all laid out, and to know what goes into the production of each piece will be so enlightening and valuable!
What do you think? Should we be willing to pay more for the pleasure of owning something handmade, something that we know has been lovingly crafted by someone passionate about their unique take on the world? As Jessika says in her post to launch Worthsy:
Let’s find out how much people will actually pay for handmade while building a culture of paying more to get more. More kindness, creativity, originality, prosperity, joy-just more. Not more for the sake of having more stuff or paying inflated prices, but more in the items we do choose to buy. More connection to each other in our buying and selling & more sustainability for the economy we are creating together. Plus show off how talented the handmade community is in the process, make friends and start conversations about the value of handmade.;)
It’s worth it to me. Now, who’s going to be the next bidder?
~Sarah
P.S. If you want to submit your own item to be auctioned off on Worthsy, you can do that, too!
I get a little thrill when I discover someone who’s doing something different – and I had that feeling when I saw the work of Heidi Denessen in her HD Art & Apparel shop.
First up, I saw the Big Thaw Tunic dress… and then discovered that it is her own artwork, printed on eco-friendly fabric, that adorns the back scoop of this reversible piece. Love it!
Love a pretty back detail!
And this – the reversible Deep Lake Tunic dress:
The shop tagline: make ART print art on FABRIC make CLOTHING
I really do love the idea of “wearable art”, and I like how Heidi has incorporated it in a more subtle way – a splash of colour at the neckline, or a peek along the hem.To see where the fabric inspiration comes from, I checked out some of her original artwork pieces and these are a couple of my favourites:
(image source: HeiditheArtist.ca)
(image source: HeiditheArtist.ca)
Heidi was born and raised in BC, and now makes her home in North Vancouver with her fellow artist husband and their little boys. Her artwork is focused on mixed media work, with bold colours and detailed collages incorporating paper and other materials. You can visit her website to see some examples of her work – it’s obvious that she is inspired by the gorgeous landscapes around her Vancouver home!
You can find Heidi’s apparel collection (including tunics, dresses, gloves and scarves) at her Etsy shop and her artwok at Heiditheartist.ca. You can also find her on Facebook and on Twitter!
Cheers,
~Sarah
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.
:: :: ::
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
