As I mentioned on Monday, our family spent some time in Waterton Lakes National Park last week. The scenery is stunning, and without a doubt has inspired some great artists. I mean, honestly. This was the view from about 100 feet away from our campsite:
Mt. Blakiston
So, as I walked the streets of Waterton Village with my family, I came across the Lost Art Jewelery studio. I was struck immediately by a couple of rings in the display window and managed to convince my very hungry family to wait for a couple of minutes while I looked around. Such gorgeous pieces, created right in the on-site workshop with the artist, David Sommerfeld, often on hand to answer questions or offer a consultation for custom work.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera with me at the time, so you’ll just have to pop over to the Lost Art Jewelery gallery to take a look at some of his stunning work. Here’s an example from the site, but the gallery is full of rings, earrings, pendants, hair pieces and more.
I was so pleasantly surprised to find pieces of such quality in tiny little Waterton with a population 2,000 in the summer months, a mere 50 in the winter! Mr. Sommerfeld uses traditional direct metal work techniques to create his pieces (rather than molds), with Canadian diamonds, Alberta ammolite and other fine gems. I wanted to get back to the studio to speak with him myself before we left (that very hungry baby didn’t allow much browsing time during our first visit!), but the next time I dropped by the shop, the sign on the door said that he’d gone out “for some fresh air”. There’s plenty of that in Waterton, and I’m sure that fresh air helps to inspire his fresh designs.
If you’re ever in southern Alberta, do take some time to visit Waterton and the Lost Art studio!
Cheers,|
~Sarah
I’ve said it before, but I’m a big fan of stationery, and when you combine that with my love of travelling, I’m sold. I spotted this journal last week on Canada Day which seems rather fitting!
Created by Laura of Prairie Peasant, this fun little notebook would be perfect for a summer road trip journal (or just to dream about all those summer road trips you’ll take one day)! The covers are made from vintage atlas pages, handbound to lie flat when open. If you look on her shop, you’ll see that the pages are made from reclaimed computer paper, hand torn and with the tractor feed holes still intact!
Her World Map envelopes also caught my eye – I love these so much, I’d have to make sure that the receiver was going to properly appreciate the fun of getting a little piece of the world in the mail. Our young daughter, who is very curious about other parts of the world, would get a big kick out of getting one of these in the mail! Laura has hand chosen each set of envelopes to include a variety of world geographical features.
Laura hails from Winnipeg, and in a little twist of fate, the funky Cosmic notebook below features paper from Botanical Paperworks, a Winnipeg company that we highlighted last week! Sometimes, Canada really does feel like everyone knows everyone else ;)
In addition to her Etsy shop, you can also find Laura and Prairie Peasant online at Twitter, Facebook and her blog! Drop by for a visit!
Cheers,
~Sarah
Oh, how I love a snuggly baby blanket. We have 2 little girls, and while we do have lots of kid-size blankets (I’d estimate about 15, including the hand-knitted lovelies that they sleep with every night and nap!), I’m always looking for one that’s just a bit bigger or a bit smaller or lighter weight or thicker or longer or fuzzier or… you get the idea. Depending on the situation, you need just the right blanket. Which is why, I say, you can never have enough. And if you do end up with extras, the big girl will just confiscate them for her dolls anyway.
All that to say that, um, I *love* these pretty and cozy-looking blankets from Julie at Superfly Lullabies. This Whimsical Woodland blankie struck my fancy:
As did this stripey-blanket that, conveniently, matches my baby’s nursery.
LOVE the stripes! Gorgeous!
Julie also offers pretty bibs, long enough to tuck under the high chair tray (she’s definitely a Mom!). All of her items are sewn in her home, prewashed and preshrunk, ready for your little one.
Drop by for a visit to this White Rock, BC seller’s Etsy shop, her Cargoh shop, find her on Twitter @superflyjulie or on Facebook, too! I think every baby deserves 1 (or 2 or 3 or more!) special blankets to snuggle with!
Cheers,
~Sarah
Lisa Roy describes herself as a “designer obsessed with handbags”, and it’s a good thing for us that she’s turned her passion from graphic design to textiles because her handbags are stellar. Her Etsy shop is full of really lovely bags, each with a bit of flair that made me stop and take another look. (Maybe I’m a little obsessed with handbags, too?!)
This is the one that caught my eye first:
*swoon*
And then I saw this one…
That, my friends, is raspberry ultra-suede.
Lisa has a graphic design and art direction background, but at some point decided to combine her design chops, her sewing skills and her obsession for handbags. Each of Lisa’s bags is a truly unique, one of a kind bag, so if you see one you like I advise you to snatch it up quickly! You can find more of Lisa on her personal website and by visiting her blog.
Love the rugged/pretty combo of this bag!
Happy shopping!
~Sarah
Searching for a little tranquility the other day (after 4 days home alone with my 2 little girls while my husband was away on business! I needed some peace!), I came across the photography of The Garden Shed on Etsy.
Karon lives in New Brunswick, and spends a great deal of time in her garden – planting, tending and designing. Her love of flowers and all things green and alive is quite obvious. I spent a long time in her shop that night, much of it wishing that I had the patience and talent to cultivate such a peaceful feeling in my own backyard.
Simplicity - Chives in a Jar - 5x7 Print
Creamsicle curl!
Wishing you all some peace + tranquility among busy days,
~Sarah
It’s finally feeling like summer in Alberta, so when I saw this lovely halter top from Tangente (pronounced like tangent, but in true Canadian style, Cathy chose to include a little french flair with the added “e”!) I definitely wanted to check out more of this designer’s collection!
Love the bold graphic
Cathy now lives in Ottawa but grew up in New Brunswick. She creates her own patterns and sews each unique piece herself, often including vintage fabric and scarves. I enjoyed browsing through her Spring/Summer 2010 collection on Etsy, which she also has available in a few independent boutiques.
That halter top above is really versatile – it comes with one of her vintage scarves, but you could switch it out for another of your own, or use a ribbon or fabric braid for a different look altogether. Very fun.
Here are a few more of my favourites from Tangente:
Love the gather on the hip!
Such a stylish twist on the standard cardigan
You can see more of Cathy’s designs and keep up with her at her blog and on Facebook.
Cheers,
~Sarah
Sitting in my family room last night, watching So You Think You Can Dance (don’t you just love Cat Deeley?), I literally gasped out loud when I saw this ring from bstudio.
A little piece of drama on your finger!
The artist is Brenda Kee, and her shop is filled with beautiful pieces, all featuring silk ribbon. The ring above has been made by gathering hand-dyed silk ribbon onto an adjustable ring, and also comes in a gorgeous red.
Brenda’s shop is full of a beautiful variety of products – from hand embroidered cards to pillow covers, framed artwork pieces and more lovely jewellery.
Decadent!
So pretty, I'd have a hard time putting this card in the mail!
The flowers on her pillows are multi-layered, with silk embroidered centers, and the designs on her cards are stitched on silk dupioni fabric with great attention to detail. I just love the ladybug!
Brenda also shares her talent, and has a book available on Chapters.ca (and on that other big American online bookstore but we’re supporting Canada here, right?!) Her Ribbon Art Book & Kit includes instructions for 10 projects, and even supplies to complete one of them. I love it when artists aren’t afraid to let others in on their secrets!
Just one last thing – it was pretty cool and gloomy yesterday in Alberta, but these daffodils would brighten any wall.
Spring, 365 days of the year!
You can find Brenda online on her Etsy shop, Facebook, Flickr and on her blog.
Enjoy!
~Sarah
Children love things that are made just for them – when you can include their favourite colours or some of their favourite things, they just light up! If you have a little one, Bouncing off the Walls would be a great place to start looking for that perfect custom gift.
Kristina, the Cochrane, Alberta artist behind these fabulous hand-cut and hand-painted pieces of art, started out painting wall murals back in 2004. She painted her first set of wall letters in 2006, and has since purchased a scroll saw and cuts all her own products! With the ability to start from a blank piece of wood, she creates some truly stunning custom pieces.
Bouncing off the Walls specializes in wall letters, and it’s easy to see why. The detail on these handpainted letters is incredible!
Such a classic look for a little boy's room
The detail on each letter is fabulous!
Kristina claims that her Hair Bow Holders are one-of-a-kind, and I have to agree. They are the perfect addition to any little girl’s room to keep their barrettes and clips organized and tidy! If you don’t have a daughter of your own, you might not get why this is such a good idea… so just trust me, as Mom to 2 little girls, I can vouch for this one!
Loving the bright, sunny feel and tons of space for barrettes & bows!
My other favourite from her site? This adorable giraffe made from 4 separate painted canvasses, linked together to create a personalized growth chart. How ingenious, and certainly more creative than using a doorframe to measure your little one!
Since all of Kristina’s products are custom made-to-order, her turn around times are 6-8 weeks so we recommend that you plan ahead for that birthday or Christmas gift.
You can also find Bouncing off the Walls on Facebook, Twitter and at her blog! Drop by and say hello!
Cheers,
~Sarah
Back in high school and university, I indulged in a mild office supply addiction. Living in France for a year, with fountain pens and all the lovely notebooks and papers, didn’t help. Sadly, for the last few years my laptop has taken over and I hardly ever write with pen and paper anymore.
I just discovered these handbound journals, though, and they are so lovely that I’m already dreaming about a trip to the office supply store to stock up on my favourite inks and pens!
Rhonda, at Etsy’s My Handbound Books, lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia with her family. She discovered book binding while she was still at library school and immediately felt a connection to the art. Rhonda’s collection of handbound journals and notebooks are often covered in leather or suede, with straps, buttons or twine to help keep them closed and tidy.
I have a bit of an affinity for the Medieval era, and this notebook made in the style of the 1600′s struck my fancy immediately:
Love the button and strap detail!
I love the different straps and wraps that she uses to keep the notebook together in your bag or on your desk – this mini journal looks very elegant, and I think it would be perfect to use as a small travel journal or idea book!
The perfect size for an always-handy notebook!
All of the notebooks have torn-edge paper, many with recycled papers, and the combination of the rough paper and the leathers and suedes make these notebooks very special.
Charming, for grocery lists or your next manuscript!
You can find Rhonda’s books at her shop on Etsy, or visit her at her blog (check out this post, where she makes notebooks out of the boxes from “As Advertised on TV” products like the SlapChop and the Snuggie!). You can also follow her on Twitter (@myhandboundbook) or on Facebook! Rhonda is everywhere!
Cheers,
~Sarah
As I mentioned on Wednesday, I had the pleasure of meeting Nikki Kelly at the Make It Edmonton show at the end of May. I hadn’t planned on going to the show, since we were supposed to be camping… but this is Edmonton, and we were chased out of the campground by an impending blizzard. Yes, really.
The silver lining to our aborted camping trip was a trip to Make It! I met many great crafters and designers, and was pleased to see some familiar faces and companies.
Nikki agreed, on the spot, to be our first “Feature Friday” interview candidate – as we discover the amazing talent in Canada, we wanted to learn a little more about the people behind the products, and so we’ll be asking a few of the artists to answer our C+H questionnaire! With no further ado, allow me to introduce Nikki:
C+H: What started the creative fire burning for you? Do you remember a particular moment, a favourite childhood activity, something you saw and wanted to recreate or improve upon?
Nikki: Ever since I can remember I’ve always loved drawing and if you look at my illustrations now, it’s pretty obvious my style hasn’t developed much over the years. Of course that’s all part of my shtick though… My cards intentionally look sweet, but have a very vulgar edge. As for how I came about designing greeting cards, I was reading cards in a local gift shop one day and it occurred to me how awesome it would be if there was a really sweet looking birthday card that said something really crude and unexpected on the inside. Since I had diplomas in both Journalism and Design I figured I’d start creating cards like that myself!
C+H: Where do you look for inspiration?
Nikki: Inspiration comes from everywhere for me. Sometimes I hear a word on tv that will inspire a card idea, other times it’s thinking about a certain friend or family member and developing a card around a certain personality trait they have. Though ideas really occur anytime and anywhere so I’m almost always carrying a notebook with me so I can jot them down as they arrive.
C+H: What part of creating your pieces gives you the most joy and satisfaction?
Nikki: The most joy I get in creating my cards is seeing how people react to the finished product. Since most of my sales are through retailers and online orders, I only get to see my customer reactions a few times a year at various craft shows. It’s reassuring to me to see that I’m not the only one with a twisted sense of humour.
C+H: What is it about your creations that sets you apart?
Nikki: Hug and Kiss cards are different from other cards lines because we look so sweet, but have such a sassy, sarcastic, sinister sense of humour. Sure there are other vulgar greeting cards out there, but you can usually tell what sense of humour they have because of the illustrations on the front. Having ours looking like they were drawn by a child really throws the reader off when they see all the swearing inside.
C+H: Why do you choose to work in this medium or format?
Nikki: Greeting cards were a medium that I just sort of fell into, but I think there’s room for my company to expand into other formats. I’ve already expanded to magnets, t-shirts and paintings, but I’m hoping to branch out even more in the next few years.
C+H: How long does it take to create one of your pieces?
Nikki: A card can take anywhere from five minutes to a few weeks to create. The copywriting has never been the hard part for me, it’s coming up with the illustrations that can take time.
C+H: Do you feel that living in Canada has influenced your work?
Nikki: I think in general Canadians have a really great sense of humour, which has made my cards really well-received. It helps that we can laugh at ourselves too, which is almost needed as the receipiant of one of my cards. Also, it seems we really like to support local talent, so people are happy to learn that my cards are all 100% hand-made here in Canada.
C+H: What advice would you give someone who is just starting out? Who has provided you with inspiration or mentorship on your journey?
Nikki: When you’re just starting out, you have to take risks. Sometimes they can be really scary, but you have to get out there and give it a try. I’ve been really lucky in having a very supportive family that has encouraged me not only to start this business, but to take it to the next level. My husband helped me out a lot when I decided to devote myself to the company 100% by quitting my part-time job. Hug and Kiss Designs certainly wouldn’t be where it is without him.
C+H: Where can we find you online? (webpage, twitter, facebook, etc)
Nikki: My entire catalogue is available online at www.hugandkissdesigns.com You can also find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=22701847512&ref=ts
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Thanks so much, Nikki! We look forward to seeing you at many more shows, and to seeing where you take Hug + Kiss Designs in the years to come!
Cheers,
~Sarah and Jennifer
