It’s an almost magical moment for a kid. Getting everything ready for the jolly old elf’s arrival. Hanging (or placing) your stocking, putting out the milk and cookies, and trying (really trying!) to feel sleepy so that morning can come THAT much faster. The stocking is so special, and it is so much fun to dig through it the next morning and see all the little goodies inside. I know that as a new parent, one of the things I am most excited about is watching my little girl experience the holiday magic for the very first time.
So what to do if your stocking is looking a little worse for wear? Or you have a new little person who needs a stocking of their own? Try a handmade felt stocking from Rikrak! They are stylish and fun, and even eco-friendly. Custom work is also available for those truly unique folks (or critters) gathered around your tree.
So pretty! I love the cool white and bright turquoise together.
You can even personalize it with the name of your precious pooch.
A holiday classic.
Don’t miss these stylish retro themed ornaments to dress up your tree!
These colourful ornaments are so fun and pretty!
You can find the whole selection at the Rikrak Etsy shop. You can also visit the Rikrak Studio Art and Design blog to see all kinds of beautiful, inspiring, and creative things. Or, if you like to Twitter (and you know we do!) follow the Rikrak twitter stream.
Wishing you all a beautiful day,
~Jennifer
UPDATE: The RikRak Studio is running a fabulous Mega Happy Holidays contest on their blog – gorgeous handmade goodies to be won! Head on over there and get your entries in (tons of ways to enter!) Click here for all the details.
This time of year we revel in the weird, the different, and yes, the strange. So why not embrace the unique aspects of your personality, right down to your toes? Strange Shoes offers a fun way to do just that! Taking plain canvas sneakers and turning them into mobile works of art is no small feet (ok, feat, but the pun was worth it, I think). How much fun would it be to walk around town in some one of a kind footwear?
Could these puzzle shoes be the final piece to complete an outfit?
Ghost shoes for the halloween lover, or the Pacman fan!
These nautical themed ship shoes bring the coast with you anywhere you go.
Strange Shoes is a husband and wife team based in Saskatoon. They are always happy to do custom orders if you have a particular theme or design in mind. You can follow their new twitter stream, or check out the Etsy shop to see more!
Cheers to all things weird and wonderful,
~Jennifer
p.s. thanks to The Doors’ “People are Strange” for the post title… it’s stuck in my head, now is it in yours??? :-)
Sometimes it is the little things that really do make a difference. Spoiling yourself just a bit every day, or that one extra touch of decorating that really makes you feel festive. Sometimes, it is even possible to do both at the same time. A fun and festive soap can act as decor, while still making you feel a little bit pampered. That’s where Batty’s Bath comes in. This London, Ontario company has whimsical halloween themed soaps that are all natural and will leave your skin feeling great. There are plenty of vegan products available, and everything is earth and body friendly. Even their name fits with this fun season!
Give your guests a little fright with these creepy skull soaps
Pumpkin Cheesecake flavoured lip balm... Yummy!
They smell like maple + pumpkin...but they look like brains!
I know the spider in this soap isn't actually real... but I'm still not sure I could make myself pick it up! Shudder.
Jamie is the creative force behind Batty’s Bath. She absolutely loves Halloween, but you will also find plenty of non-ghoulish bath and body care products to use once all the trick or treaters have gone home. Want to know more? Check out the Batty’s Bath home page ,the blog, or fill your virtual shopping cart at her Etsy shop. You can even be a friend or follower by joining the Facebook page and Twitter stream.
Here’s to spooky suds!
~Jennifer
When I was a kid, I used to love digging through my mom’s big jar of mismatched or discarded buttons, searching for the perfect one for whatever crafty project I was currently working on. I loved how they were all different textures, colours, sizes and shapes. It was like my very own little treasure hunt! That magical jar of buttons came to mind the other day when I saw the pottery buttons from Janson Pottery. These unique, hand formed buttons would have been a fantastic addition to the collection.
Wildflower impressions give these buttons their textured look and feel.
After reminiscing over the buttons, I ventured further, and found that Janson Pottery has lots more to offer! Like this fun Happy Birthday Bowl.
Wouldn't it be a neat family tradition if once a year, on your special day, you got to eat breakfast out of the Birthday Bowl??
The answer to keeping garlic fresh and delicious
Check out the Janson Pottery website for details and product listings, or if you prefer, head over to the Etsy shop, there’s lots to see there too. You can also follow Janet (she’s the talent behind the potter’s wheel) on Twitter or friend her on Facebook.
Here’s to fond memories, new and old…
~Jennifer
When you think of belt buckles, what image comes to mind? Is it the silver cowboy type buckle? If that is your personal style, then great! I know many people who wear them and look good doing it, but if those ones don’t suit your taste, what are you to do? You don’t have to be stuck with the boring, plain, department store belt with zero personality.
One great example: Flight Path Designs. They make handmade leather belt buckles with funky graphic designs. The images range from girly and flowery, to 50′s retro, even travel and animal themes. What a fun and unexpected way to add a little personal touch to an outfit.
Can't you just see this paired with some vintage clothes on a stylish urban photographer?
Bright and colourful, this butterfly buckle is definitely a statement piece!
To me, this one looks like diagrams out of a science notebook. Perfect for that fun loving "geek" in your life
This just warms my little Canadian heart...
Flight Path is attempting to have a new buckle in the Etsy shop every day from now until Christmas, so check back often to see all the new pieces! You can also see new additions and updates on the Facebook page, or follow on Twitter so you won’t miss a thing.
Here’s to finding new and creative ways to express yourself,
~Jennifer
A few weeks ago, I wrote about finding DaWanda online, and one of the shops that really caught my eye was KaysK9s from Prince Edward Island.
Kay creates incredible sculptures of animals, using a technique called needle felting. Her creations are lifelike and adorable, and she even does custom work! You can send her photos of your precious Fido (or in my case Sunshine the semi-wonder cat**), and have a gorgeous replica made to treasure forever.
This precious pooch seems to be enjoying bath time!
Not only does she make these fantastic pet sculptures, she also does incredible wildlife pieces. Check out this amazing bengal tiger!
I am blown away by the lifelike detail on this tiger. Wow!
This adorable panda looks sweet enough to snuggle.
There is also a selection of smaller items, like key chains and purse clips, so that your favorite animal can stay with you anywhere.
This meerkat makes me chuckle. Cute!
Aside from her DaWanda shop, Kay also has an Etsy shop, her own website, twitter, and a facebook page, so you can always find a way to see the latest and greatest creations!
~Jennifer (and her furry companion Bijou)
** Sunshine was the family cat when Sarah and I were growing up… a very special kitty to be sure! Bijou is the feline queen of my current home, and is also very special.
No matter where you are, I bet you can take a look around and see at least one techno-gadget… Either a cell phone, blackberry, iPod, iPhone, or any number of other gizmos are probably lurking nearby. Sometimes we even have multiples of the same items. My husband and I had identical cellphones for a year or so, which was a pain, and I was always having to check and make sure to grab the right one while rushing out the door. We no longer have that problem, but I still have an affinity for things that help distinguish, decorate, and even protect those handy little gadgets that keep us in touch and entertained. So I was definitely excited when I found NORMandLOU from Thunder Bay, Ontario. They put together fun and functional hand cut felt covers and cases for the hand held devices that we use every day.
Colourful and cute, an ipod touch could live happily in one of these!
Smart retro styles for a blackberry curve
I couldn't resist the Canadian theme... Patriotism for your iphone!
Head to the NORMandLOU shop on Etsy for the full range of products. You can also follow on Twitter or Facebook to get all the latest scoop. Custom orders are welcomed, just let them know what you would like!
Yours in techno-geekery,
~Jennifer
I often find that choosing gifts for the men in our lives can be somewhat challenging. Once you’ve exhausted the favorite sports team logos and cliche’d golf gadgets, it can get pretty tough! What if you are looking for something a little more classy or unique? Something a bit luxurious, even?
Then be sure to check out Green Leaf Wood Studio. They have a selection of hand turned pens, pepper mills, and gorgeous bowls, but my favorite are the shaving sets. What better way to pamper that special man in your life than an old-school shaving brush, paired with an elegant and sleek handcrafted razor?
Fits Gillette Mach 3 razors, for a modern shave with retro charm!
I love the feel of a good, solid, smooth-writing pen. A little bit of luxury.
This peppermill wasn't originally intended to be purple, but I think "plan B" looks pretty wonderful!
The man behind Green Leaf Wood is Steven, he hails from Ajax, Ontario. He chooses reclaimed and responsibly harvested wood, and uses safe finishes on all his pieces. You can learn more about Steven, his work, and wood turning, on his blog. Or, if you prefer, follow him on Facebook and Twitter!
~Jennifer
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
I’ve just recently learned about Make It, a company putting a brand new spin on the traditional craft show scene. With 3 shows in Western Canada this year (Vancouver just a couple of weeks ago, Edmonton this coming weekend and Calgary in November), Make It’s brother/sister management team is giving craft shows a new look and feel.
According to their website:
“Make It is the largest event of its kind in Western Canada. It is an upbeat experience that gives enlightened shoppers the opportunity to buy directly from Canada’s top urban artisans and designers!”
Each 3 day event features music by top local DJ’s, yummy treats and over 100 funky, modern, urban vendors. Definitely sounds like my kind of event… unfortunately, prior commitments will keep me away from the Edmonton show this weekend, but I’ve already booked the Calgary weekend (November 5 -7th) on my calendar!
To learn more about this show, you can follow @makeitshow on Twitter or join their Facebook page at Make It: The Handmade Revolution
I love that there is a new option on the craft show circuit, and can’t wait to check it out in November. Until then, I’ll be stalking their exhibitor list!
Cheers,
~Sarah
Show Details for this weekend!
Make It Edmonton
May 29: 11 am – 7 pm
May 30: 11 am – 6 pm
Alberta Aviation Museum
11410 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton
