tinywarbler

the finished quilt

2012-02-09T05:41:00.001-08:00

i finally got around to taking a few photos of this quilt i made for alice. it's made from scraps of fog linen and some dusty pink linen i picked up at dressew.

it's been washed and dried so many times that it's starting to get that crinkly look and feel that i love. the linen is also much softer now, way better for a little one's skin.

it has been a great playmat for alice and to keep her warm on walks in the fall. it will also work nicely when she is old enough to have a blanket to snuggle with in her crib. i love the thought that she may take comfort in something that i made for her.

but for now i'm just happy that she's scooting around on it.

leftovers

2012-02-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

i love to take leftovers and make a pasta for lunch. this one was using leftover baby kale, leftover shrimp from taco night and some spaghettini.

and to all a good night.....

2012-02-03T16:54:00.000-08:00

so......the year has been off to an interesting start round these parts. that's okay. things can only go up right?

we have embarked on the wonderful journey of sleep training as of last night and it wasn't quite as bad as i thought it would be. a few tears (but we can't handle the CIO method), lots of gentle words, back rubs, hand holding, soft kisses and some actual sleep! in the crib! for the baby! can you believe it? unless you are one of those people who are lucky enough to have that fabled, magical baby who loves to sleep in their crib all through the night from week 2, you will know how i feel today.

elated!!!! oh joy of joys!
have a great weekend!

merry christmas

2011-12-25T04:45:00.001-08:00

merry christmas! however you are spending the day, i hope you are having as much fun as this monkey........ (i'm so glad he survived the trip home from hawaii last year!)

christmas crafts

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

we wanted a wreath to hang over the fireplace this year but had a hard time finding what we had in mind. so i made one. it was way easier than trying to look for one to buy!

get wreath ring from craft store. wrap tinsel garland around it. affix a couple vintage ornaments and some sparkling flowers.

hang from ceiling and enjoy!!

i also made a snowy home for my favorite little fawn that was brought back from australia. he has been living in various terrariums that have failed, so i figured this was a safe bet, no watering required!

shopping!

2011-12-13T18:03:00.000-08:00

some new duds for the baby.
although i would probably wear these if i could...

new york magazine

2011-11-24T07:59:00.000-08:00

wow! so exciting, this little giraffe is listed in the 2011 ny mag gift guide! you can pick him (or her...) up at sweet william if you happen to be in brooklyn, but they also have a store now in manhattan.

thank you ny mag and sweet william!

liberty bibs

2011-11-22T08:39:00.000-08:00

i purchased a liberty baby bib kit from purl months ago when i was pregnant with the intent to have some bibs ready for her arrival. nope. didn't happen. turned out ok because a newborn doesn't really need a bib. now that she is 3.5 months and in the beginning stages of teething, yup, she needs bibs!
i made two out of the four and i'm really pleased with how easy they were and how they turned out. plus i now have the pattern and can make more. i already have some gingham fabric set aside, and maybe some the new lotta.

i'm also happy to be using some great bibs that were given as gifts. thank you lindsay and nikki and sonja! she is really putting them all to good use!

pink!

2011-11-14T07:02:00.003-08:00

i got this airplant over the weekend and it's pink! love it. i can't stop touching it.

when the light is brighter it is a lighter shade of pink and when the clouds roll overhead it's a little darker. (or maybe it's all in my head since i keep staring at it....) i've had an airplant in my kitchen for months now and it is still thriving so i have high hopes for this one. (that one is green and burgundy)

i love it.
have i mentioned how much i love it? sometimes it just takes a little thing........

american baby

2011-11-04T08:10:00.001-07:00

the lovely people at american baby magazine decided to include a tinywarbler elephant in it's october issue.

for a story about putting together a modern yellow nursery.

and it even found it's way onto the table of contents! sweet!

thank you american baby!

boo!

2011-10-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

i hope you are having a very happy (and spooky) halloween!

this is alice's first. we kept it simple by using one of her sleepers as inspiration. i made a quick mask out of a linen scrap and a money bag and voila! a baby bank robber. (the mask lasted all of five seconds on her)

pumpkin patch

2011-10-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

we took alice on her first visit to a pumpkin patch on the weekend in preparation for her first halloween. fun times! we went to southlands farm and it was perfect. not big, or crowded. easy to park, manoeuvre the stroller and wasn't bogged down with water from the rain we've been having. i didn't even know this place existed in the city! i think we'll be back.

lotta love

2011-10-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

i found out a few days ago (i'm a little behind i guess) that lotta jansdotter is releasing a new line of quilting weight cotton from windham fabrics! whoohoo! it's called 'echo' and i'm loving the blue/grey/mustard combo. i just placed an order through purl soho and i'm excited to see them in person.

i was lucky enough to snag this stack of her older prints from when my friend leslie had her shop in japan. they are in great muted colors and are a heavier weight, but i'm thinking maybe they could be blended with the new fabrics and made into a large quilt top for our bed like the one in her handmade living book.

bounty

2011-10-18T17:20:00.000-07:00

we planted a tomato plant in may, perhaps a little late? it was called 'lemon boy'. i was really looking forward to fresh tomatoes all summer but we had such a lousy one, that this was our bounty from the plant.

yup. this little bowl of four, small tomatoes. picked on the weekend.
thanks summer.

has anyone else had any luck with this type? i loved the name and had high hopes.

(in all fairness, it could also have something to do with our exposure, and that we didn't water it super regularly once the baby was born. but i think i'll still blame summer.)

how did that happen?

2011-10-14T11:41:00.001-07:00

is it really mid-october? did i really have a baby in july? was my last post really in august? yup, i've neglected this space. and reading other blogs. but i'm fixing to change that.
we've been out alot this week and i'm proud to say that yesterday we walked to the grocery store, i did laundry, had a shower, cooked dinner last night AND made a banana bread! i will admit that today i'm exhausted and still in my pj's (it's getting on to noon) but whatevs. one day at a time.

i even managed to take a few photos today. latte and banana bread? check.

sweet little lady bouncing away while i type? check.

(those googly eyes look like how i feel today.......)

(and a BIG thank you for all of your lovely comments of support and congratulations for alice being born. they were all so sweet and it really means alot to me!)

the baby's quilt (in her room!)

2011-08-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

so, i haven't gotten around to taking any pictures of the nursery yet. i've been waiting for the drapes to be made and a lamp to arrive and be hung, but they are both delayed. what i really wanted to take a picture of is the quilt that i finished for her. i've been all over these colors lately and i'm so happy with how it turned out!

that was what i was going to post about on july 22nd, but i actually started to go into labour that morning and obviously had other things on my mind. that evening, our daughter was born! alice mae weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces and was 22 inches long!

during our hospital stay (bc women's was amazing!) my husband had to come home to pick up some things and he excitedly wrote a welcome message for alice on a little chalkboard we had hanging on the nursery room door. neither of us realized that in his sleep deprived, new father excitement he forgot to include the letter 'c' in welcome. i thought it was sweet so we left it that way.

it's been really wonderful so far, even with the lack of sleep. she is a little doll. the biggest adjustment for me right now is trying to find a little bit of time to catch up on emails, or brush my teeth, or even eat sometimes! but that's okay, i imagine soon enough we will both have a little more of a routine. and i already know how quickly this time is going by, so i just want to enjoy it.

new animals at mini mioche

2011-07-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

there are a fresh assortment of giraffes and elephants that have made their way to the flagship mini mioche store. i can't wait to visit it next time i'm in toronto. they have an amazing selection of organic and eco-friendly baby and kids clothing that is all designed and made in toronto. (i wouldn't mind some of the pieces in my size!) you can order online too!

dress up

2011-07-14T13:05:00.001-07:00

is it weird that i already have a favorite outfit for her, and she's not even here yet?

sweater- h&m
dress- american apparel
scarf- smoking lily (thanks sis!)
moccasins-minnetonka
rattle- made by me

a first!

2011-06-28T07:56:00.002-07:00

it was my husband's birthday last week and i thought that perhaps it was time that i actually baked a cake (after all my talk back way back when, and even after this cake-i barely had anything to do with it!)
my first cake!! it was a guinness cake, which i thought fitting since he loves the dark stout, with cocoa and a cream cheese frosting to resemble the frothy head of a pint of guinness.

from this recipe (which i think is actually a recipe from nigella but slightly re-worded.)

once it was finished i thought it could use a little dressing up, so inspired by the fabrics i've been using lately (for the aforementioned quilt) i made a few mini flags. using pinking shears, regular old glue and a few bamboo skewers they were ready in about 30 minutes (drying time included).

it was rich and tasty and fun to do for him. happy birthday!!

soon-to-be quilt top

2011-06-23T08:40:00.001-07:00

squares washed, pressed, cut and ready to go for another quilt top. i really love these colors together.

makin' stuff

2011-06-17T12:29:00.002-07:00

i made a receiving blanket a little while ago for the baby out of some nani iro double gauze and backed it with some robert kaufman flannel. really easy to make and i think it will look nice in her stroller. (and keep her warm!!)

i also made a few baby rattles from a pattern in this book. they were quick and fun too. it's a great book and there are some clothing patterns like a simple dress and bloomers that i wouldn't mind trying, once i get up the nerve. i've never sewn any clothes before and it intimidates me. has anyone else made anything from that book? any tips?

happy weekend!

go bananas

2011-06-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

we made banana whoopie pies and i have eaten almost all of them. good thing i'm all about the dresses and drawstring pants these days!

ours turned out looking a little more......er, rustic then martha's due to a too small piping tip, but they still taste great. and the recipe was super easy too!

little bits

2011-06-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

finally getting around to washing some baby clothes. so tiny.

a lovely present of some limited edition heath ceramics (our favourite. very slowly building a full dinnerware set.) available locally at provide.

i am starting to really have to look to find my feet. that's okay, they are too swollen to be looking at anyway. (or wearing these sandals anymore...)

hope you had a lovely weekend filled with sunshine. we finally did!! i hope it sticks around a bit.

lunch!

2011-05-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

spaghettini with cherry tomatoes, garlic, arugula and fresh grated parmesan. what i really wanted was some sushi and a cold beer, but since that can't happen for a little while, i made this with what was kicking around (about to go bad) in our fridge. it turned out pretty tasty!

and thank you for the baby excitement! it is pretty exciting for us (and just a little bit scary at times...)

have a nice weekend!

it's a .......

2011-05-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

we found out a little while ago what we were having.

this was how we told our families via email. (all of my family is across the country. or in australia)

did you figure it out? we thought it was pretty simple but a couple of my family members weren't too sure. (in their defense, the cake was meant to be a little more pink. oh well, i still managed to eat most of it.) it's a girl!

it's a good thing because a few months before we found out i had already pieced together this quilt top for her out of fog linen scraps and some dusty pink linen i had on hand. i guess maybe i already knew?

cheery

2011-05-10T09:45:00.008-07:00

it's been pretty lousy spring weather here lately and i've been really sick with a super sized cold. so some cheery flowers placed around the house have been helping me along.

some incredible technicolor roses to mark an important 5 year anniversary for me. they are fair trade too, so they are doubly good!

fragrant peonies brighten up a sunday filled with kleenex and vicks vapo rub.

and i'm surprised how much i'm digging the simple carnation these days. super affordable and they last forever, i like them all one color and kept tight in the vase. they have been my go-to flower for our little memorial for sara.

not so focused....

2011-05-03T07:27:00.002-07:00

so, what do you do when you need to be working on store orders, custom orders, a quilt to be finished (with a fast approaching deadline) and a bad head cold while you are 7 months pregnant?

why, you make a couple lavender/flax eye pillows of course. what's wrong with me?

(thank you denyse schmidt for the pattern!)

2011-04-18T07:21:00.002-07:00

this was my present to myself while we were away. an amethyst druzy and geode.
love.

palm springs

2011-04-12T08:51:00.004-07:00

first off, thank you so much for your sweet comments and emails about our gal sara. it's still quite hard to get used to the new routine, but it was really lovely to hear such kind words about her, thank you.
we are now back from a little getaway to palm springs. it was perfect, exactly what we needed! also, it was SO much better then our last trip there a couple of years ago. without getting into it too much, let's just say that anything that could have gone wrong, did. i'm talking a fight on the airplane, unseasonably cold weather, a car accident, the flu, cockroaches, massive wind storms causing power outages on christmas day, terrible chinese food for christmas dinner, there is more but that should be for another post....

this trip was perfect though. thank you palm springs. we stayed at the ace hotel and thoroughly enjoyed our room with a private outdoor patio. in fact, we spent most of our time there when at the hotel. every meal was eaten there.

i spent hours watching the hummingbirds sit and fly about the tree (a blue palo verde) along with bees. they were so active and there were so many of them! on our last morning, one flew directly to eye level and hovered there, staring, as i finished my breakfast. at night we sat by the fire stargazing while eating banana toffee pie (no picture of that, gone too soon!)

we went to the palm springs art museum to take in the amazing exhibit they had on about donald wexler and saw the baldessari exhibit as well. they also have a pretty great permanent collection with an amazing mix of everything from nara (the dog is much bigger in person then i had thought) to chagall to navajo rugs. loved all of it.

we went on a driving tour to check out some of the mid century homes in the area, many of which were wexler designed steel homes. amazing. they are still so timeless and beautiful. oh, how incredible it would be to have one as your getaway home. nice to dream isn't it?

we also saw the elvis honeymoon home or 'the house of tomorrow' which it clearly was, i mean, just look at it! the website has great pictures of the inside set to some groovy music to really set the mood.

the weather was also cooperating on this trip, it was sunny and hot but there was a nice breeze most of the time and the nights were perfect. which was a blessing since i am running a little hot these days, being 26 weeks pregnant. this was our last little getaway probably until after the baby is born this summer, although i am now looking forward to going back there with a little one, so much more fun in the pool!

( a few more pics here)

heartbroken

2011-03-24T11:04:00.003-07:00

it has been a rough couple of weeks. after watching our dalmatian, sara, slowly age over the last couple of years, she really took a rapid decline and after much bedside care and many tears, we had to put her to sleep last week.

she was such a wonderful dog with a beautiful and unique personality. she was more than just a pet to us, she truly was a strong member of our little family. my husband took her to work with him for so many years and then once i started to mainly work from home, about 4 or 5 years ago, she was never more then 6 feet away from me.

she never learned how to play fetch and didn't get along with too many adult dogs (she preferred puppies. and babies.) but she loved going on walks with us. and sitting with us at the park. and just being anywhere we were. she loved having her 'pack' together. that was when she was most relaxed. just the three of us.

she was a little prone to injury and sickness but was always such a trouper at the vet, never making a fuss and always putting up with whatever contraption was needed. read: multiple sizes and types of cones, boots, leg wraps, multiple head wraps, large t-shirts, gruesome stitches, a near amputation etc.

she had such a caring and observant personality. if voices were raised she would get concerned and start to shake. if tears were shed she would instantly wake up (if sleeping) and come over to try to help console by licking and pressing her body into you. if sickness struck she would be extra good and always watching.

i miss her with my whole being. i guess with pets you get used to being in a routine and that is what i'm struggling with the most. as the daily routine goes on, it really emphasizes just how involved in our lives she was. waking up, leaving the house, coming home, dropping a scrap while cooking, watching tv, saying goodnight, they are all constant reminders that she is gone.

we feel fortunate we had so many good years with her. she held on until she was almost 14. we have a ton of photos that we've been pouring through (over 1100 on the computer alone) and videos which remind us of the good times. we love and miss her so much. she will always be in our hearts and thoughts. and always a part of our family.

shrove tuesday

2011-03-08T17:46:00.002-08:00

i almost missed it! i won't be eating pancakes today, but i will have this song on repeat in my head. i first saw it on dooce like a year ago or something and every now and then it gets stuck in my head.
these kids are rad.
and i too like that flapjacks don't talk smack.

growing

2011-03-07T08:41:00.007-08:00

i've really been enjoying watching my orchids re-bloom over the last few weeks.

i've had the small orchid for at least 3 years now. a gift from a sweet friend.

i'm truly shocked they keep coming back each year, since all i do is water them once a week. that's it. and cut the stalk back once the blossoms are gone. i hope that's what you're supposed to do, cause i am.

is there a trick to make them rebloom twice a year or am i pushing my luck? i like the pop of color in an all white bathroom.

new linen

2011-02-17T11:55:00.001-08:00

i'm under the weather so this stack of linen will have to wait to be washed and pressed. (i love preparing new fabric, although with a foggy head, not so much....)

it's almost the weekend so i hope i start to feel better. i hope you enjoy yours!

i'm trying something new

2011-02-11T06:31:00.009-08:00

happy friday!

made to order

i have listed some animals in the shop but this time there is a little difference. i am now listing animals that i have made and are ready to ship (as usual) but i am also listing animals that are made to order. meaning, you place the order and i make it. i figure they can take up to two weeks to complete and ship, but i will do my best to have to done sooner. hopefully this way there will be a little more choice and i hope to find a nice balance between keeping my shop somewhat stocked and working on store orders.

ready to ship

each listing will be marked in the description whether it is ready to ship or made to order and it will be grouped into either section, if you use the 'sections' tool in the left hand column. easy peasy.

have a great weekend!

finally

2011-01-31T10:19:00.005-08:00

whoa, after a long, somewhat unintentional blog break i have finally logged back on. i hope everyone had a lovely holiday break and the new year is off to a wonderful start!

mine is, and to add to it, i just managed to score my own calendar for 2011. whoohoo! i was a little slow in december, but after much stalking, i just noticed that janis just posted a couple more calendars in her shop.
each month highlights one of her beautiful photographs and is sent with a colored bulldog clip of your choice ( i chose aqua). i'm also happy that the image for my birthday month is one of my favorite shots, peter's ford. perfect! i can't wait to hang it in my work space.
get yours here.
(photos by janis nicolay)

and a little more........

2010-12-20T16:08:00.002-08:00

christmas around the house.

i am frantically trying to finish a store order and have it sent off to new york, last order of the year. no time to waste....must get stuffing animals!

slow starter

2010-12-15T05:48:00.001-08:00

it's slowly starting to look a little like christmas around here.

and the second one....

2010-12-01T09:45:00.002-08:00

a little late

2010-11-17T06:47:00.002-08:00

i realized that i never posted photos of the two custom quilts i made over the summer. here is one to start.

a mix of some of my favorite fabrics. some japanese, some new...

...and some out of print.

i only cursed a handful of times sewing the binding this time......

happy halloween

2010-11-01T07:25:00.005-07:00

i hope everyone had a spooky halloween! i have been super sick with the flu leading up to the holiday, but i made sure that i finished my medusa wreath (thanks martha for the idea! i can't find it on the website, but it was in the october issue)

and we carved us a couple of jack-o-lanterns, of course not blowing them out until midnight.

i love this time of year and always get a little sad once all of my favorite movies are not being shown on a regular basis anymore on fear fest.

something blue

2010-10-25T08:46:00.005-07:00

i made this handkerchief over the weekend for a dear friend of mine who is about to become a missus. i used some liberty tana lawn that i had and hand stitched the rolled edges. perfect for catching a stray tear on the big day!

i always carry a hankie for myself especially in the summer, so i know i will be making many more of these.

weekend

2010-10-18T17:49:00.008-07:00

we went to the IDS west this weekend (which was nice, alot of familiar faces and work there) and of course this was one of the two photos i took, at the entrance of the convention centre. (which is amazing BTW)

however i also took these photos on our walk back to the car, of the art deco marine building.

(click on the images if you want to see them in more detail)

it was finished in 1930 and used to have uniformed doorman standing at the entrance.

i used to work a couple of buildings over, and after passing the marine building each day i guess i just kind of got used to it, took it's beauty for granted. well on sunday it was like i was seeing for the first time. it is so beautiful!

i love the canada geese and the ship detail.

aloha, again

2010-10-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

these are the only other pictures i took on our trip. i favored holding a drink more than a camera i guess.
notice a theme?

this was the other apparent theme. birds looking into the camera.

aloha!

2010-10-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

we are back from our relaxing vacation in waikiki. well, sometimes i don't find waikiki itself particularly relaxing since it can be quite busy, but our hotel always is and we made sure not to do too much of anything other than eat and drink.

drinking the best mai tai's (see this post) and watching kanoe miller dance the hula at our hotel.

view of diamond head as the sun was setting. (and trying not to torch my hair.)

our view of the spectacular pool and beach.
oh it's always so hard to leave..

on it's way out

2010-09-23T08:07:00.005-07:00

well, it's lasted well over a month so i'm happy about that. but i fear this fern is my latest victim.
was it the move to the guest bathroom that did it? did i over water it? not enough water? hard to say but i'm not giving up hope.

beach fossils

2010-09-17T08:53:00.003-07:00

i can't stop listening to this song.
the whole album actually. on repeat.
have a great weekend!

cuteness!

2010-08-27T13:42:00.003-07:00

have a good weekend!!
(more cuteness. #28 makes me laugh. total photo-bombing seal!)

minerals

2010-08-18T08:12:00.002-07:00

i bought a few more pretty minerals to add to my collection while we were away. a couple in hedley (had to get some pyrite in mining country) and a couple in osoyoos.

the desert

2010-08-13T11:55:00.010-07:00

we are back from our brief getaway to osoyoos. boy i love it there.
i think the contrast between the desert and the lush vineyards is amazing.

we went to a couple wine tastings, not too many this trip. we did go to a new one for us, church and state, and it was wonderful! the tasting room was beautiful, very clean and modern and the wine was delicious.

we went on a few walks around the property we stayed at and saw beautiful osprey that were hunting to feed their babies.

we also were really hoping to see a rattlesnake and we did!! it was avoiding the sun under the foot bridge we were standing on. it looked like it was sleeping, but somehow i doubt it. i'm sure it knew we were very close trying to snap a picture.

and on our last morning, before i learned how to play ping pong (must get a table!) and took a dip in the pool, we went for a very early morning walk down to the lake and saw a deer. we weren't quick enough to get a picture though.

i hope you had a great week and enjoy the weekend!

another fern

2010-08-06T07:10:00.006-07:00

i bought this maidenhair fern yesterday to put in my new plant container from a lovely lady. i love it. thanks again!
i sure hope i don't kill it as quickly as i did the last one. any great tips on ferns out there?

have a great weekend! i'm off to the okanagan for a few days of walks in the desert, fresh fruit and wine.

makin' sandwiches!

2010-07-28T08:52:00.005-07:00

quilt sandwiches, that is.

ps- thanks for the terrarium love! the mushrooms i bought on etsy a couple years back and it looks like the aren't sold anymore, but if you do a search there are plenty of others to choose from! have a great day!

making good on plans

2010-07-22T10:12:00.002-07:00

i finally did it! i made myself a terrarium after thinking i would well over a year ago. i'm not sure if it totally counts since the moss isn't completely surrounded by the glass, but it's good enough for me. i used some ceramic mushrooms i bought a couple of years ago and the little fawn was a gift from australia.

it makes me happy. i can see this becoming an obsession.
and hopefully i won't kill it. (like i did the strawberry plants. and the bugleweed. and possibly my lavender.....)

on to the next one

2010-07-19T09:34:00.002-07:00

fabrics for the next quilt to be made, gender neutral for a baby due during the summer.
i love the top pattern. and all of these colors.

giraffe

2010-07-15T07:28:00.004-07:00

firmly stuffed with lambswool. fabric has aqua, blue and shades of green. perfect for a boy or girl! (or adult too........)

in the shop.

this past week

2010-07-12T09:49:00.010-07:00

snippets from this past week when i wasn't working on multiple animal orders.

planted many things in our backyard including lavender

ate scrambled eggs with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and basil three times

caught a vancouver canadians ball game (complete with a hot dog and beer)

saw so many pretty shadows from the tree in the front of the house

wore my new shoes that were a birthday present

tutorial

2010-07-06T03:16:00.002-07:00

after receiving a few emails asking about how i made my paper garland, i thought i would post a wee tutorial. it was so easy to make, you can whip one up in no time and enjoy some paper cheerfulness. (as always, click on the images if you need to see them in more detail)
you will need paper, scissors and/or a circle punch (mine is 2") and a sewing machine.

start using the punch to cut out your circles or cut them out by hand. i've never counted how many i've punched, just make a bunch depending on how long you want your garland to be.

for mine, i used colored paper, old security envelopes and an old road map of ontario i had. you just want to make sure that what you use is double sided, since the garland likes to spin a bit.

now it's time to start sewing. make a few stitches so that you have a bit of a tail of thread, that is what you can use to hang the garland with. now start pushing through your circles.

i leave a little space between each and that is what gives it some drape and makes it spin, but if you don't want this, you can just sew each circle directly to one another.

now just keep sewing and soon you will be finished. leave another little tail on the end and then voila! hang up your garland wherever you like.

once you have enjoyed your new garland more than you thought you could, you can fold it up neatly and it will be ready for the next party or holiday.

to make these, you could use anything you wanted to really, depending on the event. wrapping paper or vintage holiday cards would be fun at christmas, you could use hearts for valentine's day or different ruled paper (from old cahiers) could be used for back to school or graduation. you get the idea. it's endless really.
happy garland making!

paper garlands

2010-06-25T12:13:00.003-07:00

after adding some circles that i cut out of an old map of ontario (gotta represent) what do you know, it did end up the way i had imagined it. raise the roof!

now all i want to do is make paper garlands.

have a great weekend everyone!

circles

2010-06-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

working on a project. we'll see if it ends up looking the way it does in my mind.

have a nice weekend

2010-06-18T11:46:00.003-07:00

i have been busy working on store orders lately and have completely neglected this blog and reading other blogs.
here is a flower to say sorry.
enjoy your weekend.

well that was quick.

2010-05-26T16:08:00.007-07:00

i finished this quilt posthaste since the baby shower it was going to was bumped up by about a month. i'm very happy with how it turned out! my friend (who commissioned the quilt) picked out the fabrics with me and they are both welcoming and soothing for a new little girl. gotta love that amy butler!

this quilt is very similar to the one i made for baby scarlet although the color palette has changed and i switched up how i did the back. i still went with my own pattern, i think this qualifies as a sort of coin quilt, and i'm hoping to hone it a little each time i use it. i hope it keeps baby olivia cozy and happy!

ps- thank you for all of your words of support! it really helps when you are tackling something that is still new, this is my third quilt! and for those that think they can't sew or make one, i am certain you can. i can't really sew either! the fun is in the doing. trust me. go for it.

pillow inspiration

2010-05-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

i can't remember where i saw this picture (if anyone knows please let me know and i will credit them) but i love the colors and great vintage prints. i keep staring at this image thinking 'i should be there, with a mojito in hand.'

i have so many pillow forms kicking around (that i pick up with the intentions of making covers for), but i've never gotten around to it. perhaps this will be the summer that i finally get around to trying it. anyone have a great (read 'easy') pillow cover pattern?

guess what time it is

2010-05-18T11:05:00.002-07:00

oh yeah, it's quilting time.

weekend

2010-05-17T07:19:00.005-07:00

(the deck chair in the top photo is my latest obsession. made completely by hand by my friends gwyn and tamra, they are as gorgeous as they are comfortable. you can purchase a chair or two on their website or from their etsy shop.)

on their way

2010-05-16T08:00:00.003-07:00

this little pack of animals is headed to the design exchange (canada's only national design museum) in toronto. they are launching a re-designed brick and mortar store this month. i wish i could be there to check it out! (and sneak in a visit with my family and friends .......)

they also have a small, online shop and a blog where they showcase some pretty great canadian design. i was so flattered to be included here. thank you anne marie!

settling in

2010-05-07T11:50:00.007-07:00

phew! it's been quite a month. the move went well and we are in the house. although there is still some work being done which has prevented us from unpacking and feeling settled, but it's happening. slowly. thank you for all of your well wishes! now i can take some time and catch up on my blog reading, i feel so out of the loop!

of course, i had to start unpacking my fabric and such. pulling it all out of boxes and the plastic containers i had been using in our old place, i've realized that i may have a problem. a serious fabric problem. oh well. it could be worse right? it's been nice because i am discovering fabrics that i forgot i had! i have had so much joy in folding, sorting, stacking, washing, pressing and color coding my fabric. is that weird?

i've also started working again on some animals. it's been a while. i have a couple of new designs in my mind, now it's just a matter of sorting out some space and getting down to drafting patterns. but i've said that before. sometimes it's hard to get into the groove of something new, don't you agree?

well we're movin' on up.....

2010-04-11T10:55:00.004-07:00

...to the eastside.

actually, we're already on the eastside, but we are moving this week. as of late, my life has consisted of boxes, packing tape, newsprint and rubbermaid containers. but it will all be worth it once we are settled in. i can't wait!
i am super excited about so much of it, but in particular, it will be nice to have a special area for crafting, so i won't render the dining table useless anymore...

also, sara will have some backyard space to enjoy the weather and she won't have to walk up and down stairs now to go outside which is good, her old legs will be happy.

new animals at provide

2010-03-30T20:16:00.007-07:00

there is a new batch of animals over at provide . this little beaver is there along with a few others. have a look at their blog for more photos of what is available.

provide is one of my favorite home stores in vancouver. each time i am there i find something new to obsess over. on this visit i became the proud owner of a long-yearned for fog linen tray.

(image from their website)

i am also seriously needing (okay, wanting) a log bowl from loyal loot. again, after coveting them online for a few years, it is really nice to be able to see them in person. i loved the aqua one. and the grey one. and of course the mustard. once we do the big move in a few weeks (more on that another day) i will start saving my pennies for one.

(image from loyal loot)

ein, zwei, die!

2010-03-19T17:03:00.013-07:00

if you are looking for a fun movie to watch this weekend, and you don't mind some gore or subtitles, you must see dead snow. i've watched it twice in 3 days. it is definitely the best zombie movie i've seen in a long, long time. so entertaining! (i've loved horror movies since i was a little kid, they are a nice contrast now to drinking decaf tea and making animals and quilts.)

a norwegian film, it's about a group of medical students on holiday in the mountains (stunning!) and they anger and are confronted by...wait for it.....nazi zombies!!!! i jumped a couple of times, it made me laugh and it's very bloody. i loved the effects and i thought the contrast between the blood and snow looked really fantastic. plus i loved all of the fair isle sweaters and headbands. thank you norway!

check out the trailer here.

word up, mattel!

2010-03-15T12:56:00.002-07:00

so fun! these may need to keep my blythe dolls company....
(it's true, i have a few dollies, but whatevs, they're cute!)

(via here)

new in the shop

2010-03-11T14:12:00.002-08:00

i just posted this giraffe in the shop. i love this blue fabric with the ivory wool.
i am working on a couple other new giraffes that will be posted over the next few days and also some bunnies that i hope to have in the shop by end of next week. perfect for easter!

on repeat (in my mind)

2010-03-04T07:05:00.002-08:00

this song has been playing over and over in my mind since i heard it again last week. which is fine because i've always liked this song, but c'mon. a week is a bit much.
does this ever happen to you?

balance

2010-03-02T09:36:00.006-08:00

i love this wool i've been holding onto to. i have some new animals in mind that i would like to make patterns for but i haven't had any time. i've been working on store orders and working at other jobs, i haven't even updated my own shop in quite some time. i hope to do that soon.

also, i've apparently taken a wee blogging break. oh well. these things happen sometimes. it amazing how many other things i've been getting done while not glued to my computer. i need to find a nice balance between the two, because i miss reading and commenting on the blogs i follow.

in the spirit

2010-02-13T09:32:00.004-08:00

look what ran by our place yesterday. the olympic torch being carried by bob lenarduzzi. i didn't have to face any crowds or even put a jacket on. perfect!

(click on images to view a little larger if you like)

no.6

2010-01-27T08:07:00.003-08:00

i like these.

(find them here)

it's that time again

2010-01-22T10:16:00.003-08:00

i will be having a small shop update on tuesday january 26th at 10:00am (PST) with some small hearts perfect for valentines day.

you could tuck one away in a pocket for someone to find, or you could sneak one in your little one's school lunch. maybe your child would like to give one to their teacher? but once the day is over, you can nestle it away in a drawer because they are stuffed and lightly scented with a pinch of organic lavender (handpicked by me!) or attach a small string to the top and use it as an ornament. so many options!

saturday's walk

2010-01-18T12:12:00.008-08:00

in van dusen gardens. it was peaceful and much, much needed.

almost

2010-01-11T18:26:00.004-08:00

they are waiting so patiently for their wool stuffing. thankfully, because my fingers are a little sore.

rise and shine, it's a new year

2010-01-07T07:51:00.005-08:00

good morning. this is/was the view of the sunrise today, so i thought i'd share. it's hard not to feel optimistic about the new year when you start your day off like this. i want to hold onto this feeling.

merry christmas!

2009-12-25T08:22:00.004-08:00

warmest wishes for the season.

solstice

2009-12-22T09:33:00.005-08:00

last night we travelled into chinatown to go to the lantern festival at the sun yat sen gardens put on by the secret lantern society.

it was my first year going and it was so pretty! a little busy for me, but still very pretty. (it's too bad it couldn't last a few nights so you could take your time looking at each lantern instead of being carried by the crowd, or loosing your partner).

the lanterns were incredible- a far cry from the star lantern i had made years ago. (although there were some star lanterns there, they were much better then mine!)

this was the only shot i took that was close to being in focus.

snowy owl

2009-12-20T07:06:00.000-08:00

new owl in the shop.

land rich

2009-12-16T06:27:00.003-08:00

aren't these pretty?

girard

2009-12-10T19:47:00.003-08:00

how amazing is this nativity by alexander girard?
(this reminds me to get my mexican nativity set out of storage.....)

book comes to life

2009-12-07T17:58:00.003-08:00

have you seen this already? i just saw it and thought it was incredible so i'm sharing. it was done for the new zealand book council.

also, a huge thank you to everyone who came out to got craft yesterday. the show was a huge success-it was so busy! andrea and rob did such a great job curating the show and making it all happen. thanks guys!!

i hope to see you on sunday

2009-12-01T08:22:00.004-08:00

ok, i have been totally m.i.a on this blog, but i have been so busy stitching up little animal friends for the holiday edition of got craft (this sunday december 6th) that i haven't had time for much else.

if you live in the area i would love to see you! maybe you could come and say hi if we've never met (even though i may be a shy and awkward weirdo) i would really, really love it. there is such a great energy at events like this, so many crafty folks getting together and there are always lots of smiles. come by! AND there will be a giveaway for a button making machine AND a yudu screen printing machine. for reals.

(side note- you can check out my interview with andrea and rob right here)

oh martha.

2009-11-18T14:55:00.000-08:00

okay, this is the year that i bake a cake. i have no memory whatsoever of ever baking a cake. i've baked cookies and brownies. banana bread and cornbread (which was a disaster) and i tried once to make some maple syrup scones (again, another disaster. they were so hard my husband threw one on our concrete floor and it didn't break. not even a crumble.)

but after picking up the holiday sweets issue, i am so tempted, so inspired...... i think i'm going to try it.

how can i not? i mean seriously, logs? pinecones? penguins?

MUSHROOMS? so good. i love all of them. although i do realize that i should probably start with duncan hines and work my way up to meringue mushrooms.......

and marzipan penguins.

tinywarbler at goodegg

2009-11-16T07:12:00.005-08:00

tinywarbler is now available at goodegg industries online shop! if you haven't had a look yet, you really should. laural and jen have done such a great job of gathering some wonderful canadian artists and crafters, i feel so lucky to be among them! (i'm loving the log bowls by loyal loot and all of the cards by jeannette of the beautiful project, just to name a couple.) there is also a rad section called crafty canada links which lists galleries, shops and supplies from all across the country.

so if you are in the market for a giraffe or hippo (since there are none in my shop) head on over!

fantastic is right!

2009-11-12T13:50:00.004-08:00

did anyone else catch jason schwartzman on jimmy fallon last night? i was so happy to have been watching because
a) i have a bit of a crush on him (rushmore is one of my favorite movies. bored to death has been really good too.)
and
b) he was talking about the new movie he is in- fantastic mr.fox!

i'm so excited to see this! because
a) i also love wes anderson
and
b) stop motion fascinates me. i really admire the dedication, work and patience that goes into it, and i think the overall effect is so worth it! i'm also excited that there is finally a movie for kids (and adults!) that isn't computer generated. i realize how much time and talent goes into making those movies too, but i do miss the style of older animated films like snow white and fantasia. or the pure magic that is rudolph.

take time to remember

2009-11-11T08:54:00.004-08:00

little bunny

2009-11-05T16:42:00.006-08:00

this little bunny was just posted in the shop. she is firmly stuffed with locally sourced, 100% lambswool and is super soft because her body is a wool/ cashmere blend.

and she has a handmade pom pom tail. bunny's got back! (sorry, couldn't help myself)

the easiest type of wallpaper

2009-11-04T09:18:00.004-08:00

camilla engman has done a wallpaper for november. i love her work and have a few pieces from her studio violet collaboration. this is just the little pick me up my desktop needed. (thanks for reminding me becka!)

you can download your free wallpaper at design*sponge.

end of the world

2009-11-02T06:40:00.002-08:00

did anyone watch mad men last night? thoughts? feelings? i can't wait to see next week's episode. oh betty.
i was happy at the end when they played a fave song of mine. it suited the episode perfectly. (the quality of the video is not so hot, but the sound is quite similar to the version i have. plus her hair is amazing.)

fall

2009-10-29T18:24:00.004-07:00

here are some images i took a couple of weekends ago during a walk through van dusen gardens, before the rains started. a much needed pop of color since its been so grey and rainy here. i'm certain it doesn't look like this anymore.

deep cove

2009-10-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

a couple of weekends ago we went out to deep cove so i could drop off an order to room 6.
i took out some giraffes, owls, elephants and a couple of beavers. she has some of them up here. check back for the other items, they may make it into the online shop.

it is so pretty there! and the store was adorable. i could have spent all afternoon browsing, shopping, touching things, taking pictures. megan stocks all sorts of sweet items for the home, to wear, for little ones and to give as gifts.

plus she has a great selection of wool in stock and is having fall knit nights! (i totally want that lamp in the photo, but it wasn't for sale.)

if you are at all in the vancouver area, you really need to spend an afternoon in deep cove. we had some tasty fish and chips at a place called "fish and chip burger" and afterwards we grabbed two maple glazed donuts from honey's. they are THE BEST donut i have eaten. hands down. (needless to say, there was no time for a picture, they were gone in a flash.)

pssst...

2009-10-08T14:24:00.005-07:00

hey you - hi there! want to share some candy corn?

it's right here. in this bowl. help yourself.

also, if you're looking for a super soft, cute little bat for halloween (or anytime of year) head over to the shop tomorrow, friday october 9th at 9:00am PST. they are stuffed with 100% local wool and are limited edition. i only make about 4 or so each year.

new giraffe

2009-10-06T09:52:00.004-07:00

this new giraffe is in the shop now. i love this vintage cherries print and paired with the ivory melton wool, it makes me think of christmas. which is good, since i will be in this year's holiday got craft show. i should probably start doing a little cutting and sewing. but first to finish off those bats!

what the what?

2009-10-02T12:11:00.005-07:00

i'm not sure where i found this photo (sorry, i can't give credit to whoever discovered this gem), i don't even have a link to what it was, but i had it on my desktop. it makes me laugh yet scares me a little all at the same time.
imagine, making an octopus out of a wiener! (the word alone makes me laugh. i know, immature right?)

i'm pretty sure i see some kraft dinner in there too.

have a great weekend!

going batty

2009-09-30T19:33:00.005-07:00

i have a little stack of limited edition bats (i only make a few each fall) that i am finishing up and they should be in the shop early next week- just in time to receive them before halloween! i will post more pictures once they've received their wings.

makin' magnets

2009-09-25T10:45:00.005-07:00

phew, it's been a busy week! i've been working out of the house a bunch this week, back in the jewelry studio a few times a week and assisting (this lovely lady) on a photo shoot yesterday.

i've also been trying to make a few bats to post in the shop soon, just in time for halloween.

but, as usual, i got sidetracked and had to make a batch of fabric magnets. it ended up being a bit of an obsession for me. once i had started a couple, i couldn't stop. i may make some to post in the shop. i think they would be a cute stocking stuffer for a co-worker, teacher (or anyone that has a fridge or a filing cabinet) come christmastime.

happy friday and enjoy your weekend!

i can't resist a sale

2009-09-23T15:00:00.004-07:00

as i was walking home today, i noticed that there was a factory sale happening at martha sturdy. i purchased this sweet little resin heart and all of this gorgeous black linen. it's been cut to about 11", so if i need a large piece i will have to do some patchwork, but that's okay- it was $5!! they were using it to make napkins i was told.

there are many beautiful pieces for sale there- furniture, chairs, bowls, jewelry and some items are up to 80% off. if you're in vancouver here are the deets:

sept. 23 & 24 8:00am to 6:00pm
12 west 5th ave (at ontario st.)