It’s the quintessential fathers’ day gift, and a Christmas time staple. The tie. Almost every man has a selection to choose from, but lets be honest, most of the time they are just like every other tie out there. Bo-ring. So why not shake it up a little and get your husband, father, son, or even your boss, wrapped up in some handmade style. Nadine De Lange is an Ottawa artist who creates these fabulous marble effect hand painted silk ties.
From her "brights" collection, this one definitely makes a statement!
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Have an upcoming wedding that needs a splash of unique style? Nadine can hook the entire bridal party up with some one of a kind dapper duds. Take these cumberbund and bowtie combos, for example:
Subtle enough not to offend Great Aunt Betty, but fun enough for a modern groom and his merry men.
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Nadine’s work is done in batches, with a very cool “floating paint” technique that gives her pieces great dimension. You can see the whole process, step by step, right here on her website.
Suspenders never looked this good!
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This reminds me of cells through a microscope. Perfect for the fun brainiac in your life!
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Custom work is available, and Nadine prides herself on 100% customer satisfaction. Visit her website to see the whole range of colours and styles, from demure to dramatic!
Have a great day everyone,
~Jennifer
My husband picked up a pepper mill in a shop the other day, and was making moves toward buying it… and my “somebody in Canada MUST make pepper grinders” antenna went up.
It didn’t take long for me to find the lovely, simple grinders from Mapleseed Gallery:
The Owen Sound couple behind Mapleseed Gallery are a talented pair – Irwin Seidman’s wood turning skills are on display in their Etsy shop, as well as Susan Seidman’s original artwork.
I love the detail on the grinders, which can be used for pepper, sea salt or other spices, but this figured maple bowl is fabulous. Obviously decorative, the grain and knots are featured prominently.
Mapleseed Gallery is Canadian in origin, in materials and in subject. This little 4″ x 4″ Snowplow watercolour by Susan is such a classic scene, especially this winter in Alberta (so much snow. My goodness we are ready for spring!)
To see more of the special work from the duo behind Mapleseed Gallery, check out their shop at Etsy.
Enjoy!
~Sarah
Beat those February blahs with these fun, brightly coloured accessories from Quebec’s Button Infatuation.
Spring in button form!
Love the monochromatic look of this white set, and the sweet flower in the middle is lovely!
Sweet and fun, with a vintage-looking twist
The creator behind these lovely pieces is Marylène, of Saguenay, Quebec. She obviously has a passion for buttons, and yellow! You can see some of her other favourites on her Tumblr account (also? Yellow!)
These bright colours are just so... fun!
I really like the asymmetrical styling of these necklaces, and the little birdie on this “Pinkish Pistachio” necklace is a nice touch.
Perfect hit of colour with a t-shirt and jeans. Simple, but fun and unique!
You can check out Marylène’s shop here, visit her Tumblr blog or find and follow on Facebook!
Happy Thursday!
~Sarah
P.S. Spring is only 33 days away. Yes, I’m counting now.
It is supposed to be relatively warm-ish in Ontario this week. Everyone I know is pretty excited by the prospect of maybe seeing those temperatures climb into some positive digits, (so much so that my dear husband is already planning to dig the bbq out of the snow to have some steaks on Friday!).
Maybe it’s a bit of pessimism due to a long sleepless weekend with the toddler, but I can’t help reminding myself that we are not out of the wintery woods quite yet. I expect that once this little warm spell passes, we will still have a few blasts of frigid arctic air to contend with before the *real* warm-up starts to happen. So, instead of being sad, I have decided to celebrate our Canadian wintery-ness by sharing some sweet and pretty cold weather gear from Knittles.
Baby can look this adorable *and* have warm ears? Win-win!
Calgarians Mavis and Olga create these cozy and cute pieces, along with an occasional “guest designer” named Marcy.
Eeee! It's a Baby Beret!
What’s that you say? Adult sized ears have been known to get chilly as well? Don’t worry, the Knittles crew have you covered (literally).
They call it a "wooly helmet"... it's like your personal armour against the icy air.
They also have a whole selection of neck warmers and scarves, some fingerless mittens, and even patterns for the crafty guy or gal who would rather DIY.
Visit Knittles at their Etsy shop, their icraft site, or follow along on Twitter.
Even if the weather is chilly outside, all Cupid needs is one of those precious little aviator hats!
Here’s hoping that your heart is warm with love on this Valentine’s Day.
~Jennifer
It’s still winter, despite the balmy +4 temperatures in Edmonton right now, and I don’t think a person could ever have too many scarves. Or, cowls for that matter!
Pip Robins is a shop chock full of stylish cowls made with fabulous thrifted and salvaged fabrics. Gillian Hyde, the creative energy behind the Nova Scotia-based business, spends time every week seeking out fabrics that will eventually be transformed into her lovely cowls of all shapes and sizes.
100% silk, reversible cowl. Sumptuous.
Gorgeous for a night out!
It is obvious that Gillian takes pride in her self-taught seamstress status, and each cowl is made 100% by her from beginning to end, including the modeling. I love her mysterious one-eye peeking look! Because the fabric that she uses is often limited, you can be assured that each piece is either one of a kind or a limited edition.
So posh!
Pip Robins has a wide range of colours, fabrics and sizes to choose from (and options for the man in your life, too!). You can visit the Etsy shop, her website, Facebook and Twitter, too! And here’s a challenge for you… see if you can find the listing in her shop that actually shows her whole (very lovely) face – there is one, I promise!
Stay warm, wear a cowl!
~Sarah
P.S. Rumour has it (okay, it was in an article in the Halifax Commoner that featured her work) that Gillian used her earnings from last year’s holiday sales to buy herself a motorcycle! Fun!
A good bag or purse can be more than just a way of carrying around all those little items that a woman needs to have nearby at all times. It can be portable art or a hand-held billboard to showcase your style and mood. Also: it’s just really fun to have a selection of fabulous bags to pick from at any time! The ones catching my eye lately are these colourful clutches from Kimberly Jones Designs. I am already picturing the outfits that would be perfectly accented by some of these great pieces!
Fresh and bright, a great way to brighten up your look for spring!
This hot pink beehive design is so fun and vibrant! Picture it with a killer little black dress...
Classic and elegant in black and white, with a modern flair!
Not only is there an incredible selection of clutches to choose from, there are even sweet little coin purses and eyeglass cases. It is so much fun to browse through all the great pieces, I just wish I could take them all home! I guess I would need a bigger closet though…
No more digging around the bottom of your bag looking for loose change! (or maybe that's just me??)
So much more stylish than the plain boring cases that came with your glasses.
Kimberly will gladly do custom orders, so if you have something you have been trying to find, just ask! If you are getting married this summer, how great would these be in your bridal colours as a bridesmaid’s gift? Or maybe someone you know is graduating or embarking on a new career, and the perfect clutch could be just the confidence booster they need to take the working world by storm. Or maybe, like me, you just want something new and great, for no other reason than to admire it’s beauty.
Want to see more? The Etsy shop has everything your little heart could desire. Now, if I could just get that walk-in closet I’ve been dreaming about!
~Jennifer
The world outside my window is snow-covered and cold. Yes, it’s January in Canada, so I am not exactly surprised or even too dismayed by this. But that doesn’t stop me from dreaming of some place a little warmer, maybe even tropical. It has been far too many years since my husband and I last sat ocean-side with drinks in hand and the warm sun beating down. So I am looking for ways to infuse my snowbound daily life with some tropical colour and a fresh, summery, lively look. I definitely think these accessories from Rosella Resin are just what the doctor ordered!
The colour is so summery, and the delicate feather is so light and wispy!
Jessica & Gwynne are sisters currently living in Ontario. Rosella Resin was born when Jessica (a trained mold maker and resin caster) returned from living abroad in Australia. A self-proclaimed feather collecting junkie, Jessica realized that resin is a perfect medium to contain and showcase some of natures most beautiful items! Add Gwynne and her talent for design, and you have a winning combination.
Ooooh! The colour, the shells... it's like a little piece of the ocean even on the most snowy day!
The wheat fields may be covered right now, but their golden beauty is captured in this wheat bangle.
Rest assured that Jessica and Gwynne get all their feathers and shells from licensed vendors that are cruelty free. No creature great or small is harmed to create these fantastically fresh pieces.
Because we are *Canadian* + Handmade after all!
You can find Rosella Resin on their website, or at their Etsy shop.
Daiquiri anyone?
~Jennifer
I met Christine from Sugar Soul Studio last year and have made it a personal goal to buy one of her hats this year. No, really, they are that cute!
Lots of people make the “Oh, I’m not a hat person” claim, but I personally think everyone can be a hat person, they just aren’t used to seeing themselves wearing the RIGHT hat. Maybe a fab Sugar Soul cloche is your style – like this one:
This is a summer-weight hat (I'm wishful thinking, here in snowbound Alberta!)
Or, the inspired Cadet - a little touch of femininity goes a long way! There are sparkle accents on that bow, friends!
Such a cute look for a wintery day!
Love the bright colour, and the upcycled sweater-turned-toque!
With the change to a new year, Christine decided to challenge herself to work on a 365 Hat Project. She’ll be making and posting a new hat to her blog (and to her Etsy shop) each day. She’s on day 11, and it’s been fun seeing new fabrics and styles pop up every day. You can check out her blog here.
My favourite from the 365 series so far was Day 6′s beige and blue plaid. It sold at a local market this past weekend, I’m told, so I’m just going to have to keep watching for my next favourite!
The one that got away...
You can see all of Christine’s offerings on her Etsy shop (she also sells bags and hair accessories), drop by her blog or follow her on Twitter and Facebook! If you live in the Edmonton area, she’s a fixture on the local craft show and market scene – even heading to Calgary and Vancouver once in a while – and has a great selection of styles and one-of-a-kind offerings! Come join me on the “hat person” team!
Cheers,
~Sarah
I’m in love. It’s true – this cuff from Ruby Star Designs has me swooning. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to wait until this post goes live before I buy it (I like to give you guys a shot, but all’s fair in love and war, right?!)
I'm already picturing the outfit I'd wear this with...
The artist is a photographer and graphic designer from Vancouver, who doesn’t share their name on Etsy but does let us know that as a child they once made a set of blue corduroy, satin trimmed shoes for their cat. That’s creativity that I can get behind. What I’d like to know is whether or not the cat deigned to wear the shoes!
Back to the current project – the cuffs are decorated with the artist’s own illustrations and photos, mixed up with some vintage illustrations as well. They are unique, modern yet retro at the same time, and somehow the thought of wearing a moose on my wrist seems classic and elegant in this form.
Pair this with your favourite LBD. Dare you. You'll be the best-dressed in the room!
*dreaming of Spring*
Someone we know well here at Canadian+Handmade (ahem *mygirlthursday*) is planning a craft-themed tattoo. The less adventurous among us craft-lovers might choose this cuff instead!
Classically elegant machinery
The cuffs are all adjustable for small to medium sized wrists, and some are available in a narrower version as well. You can check out the full selection on the Etsy shop at Ruby Star Design!
Cheers,
~Sarah
Lately Sarah and I have both been feeling the need for a little “me time”, some quiet space within our busy days that is just for us. A peaceful moment filled with things that inspire us and make us happy. Since lovely jewelry always makes me smile, I knew that I wanted to share some with you today. Billy Would Designs are made with reclaimed hardwood, and feature smooth, elegant, organic shapes and designs. The moment I saw Adea’s work, it was as though a wave of calm washed over me, and it was just what I needed during an otherwise hectic morning!
This serene tree within a circle is just perfect
Let go of what is weighing you down and soar with these graceful feather shaped earrings!
Of course we believe that men should accessorize too, and Billy Would has a whole selection of items made from used and broken skateboard decks that would be perfect for any gender! I know that Sarah’s husband received a fantastic pair of cuff links for Christmas, and I am tempted to play follow the leader* and get a pair for my dear husband! I also really love the belt buckles and the vintage feel… so cool.
The wear and scratches are a constant reminder to have fun and let loose, just like whoever used to ride this board.
You can find Billy Would products in her Cargoh store, or click here for a list of retail locations, maybe there’s one near you! You also won’t want to miss her website to see an even bigger assortment of her beautiful work. If you tweet, then follow along on Twitter, or join the party on Facebook!
~Jennifer
*hey, I am the little sister, and while I heartily deny ever “copying” Sarah, I will admit that from time to time she has been known to get to a good idea first! At which point it’s not so much copying as it is a vote of agreement. :-p
