hip to be square.

so i think i've mastered the round hoop, and i've been experimenting a little with other angles (ahem, pun intended) i am quite happy with these thoroughly modern, slightly asymmetrical, sparse sterling hoops.  fashioned out of lightweight sterling, i think these just might be my new favorites.  watch for them in the shop...

Read more...

drew & the artisan group.

in the hopes of raising my public profile, i followed julie's suggestion (it seems like all my business decisions are made by her lately, LOL) and threw my application in the ring to join the exclusive "artisans' group", an exclusive collection of handmade artists.  what the artisan group does is provide handmade artists the opportunity to have their items shown off at high end, celebrity events (yes, like the oscars, and the emmys, and... well, you get the drift!)  they also send gift bags to celebrities, showcasing the best of handmade.  how could i not?

beyond my wildest hopes, i was almost immediately accepted and, surpassing those wildest hopes, i now find myself brainstorming something to make for drew.  drew barrymore.  THE drew barrymore. star of some of my favorite movies (wedding singer! charlie's angels! never been kissed!)  and while i am realistic and know that there is not a huge chance (well, probably not a snowball's chance in the hot LA sun, honestly) that she will wear my designs and end up on the pages of instyle magazine (yet another dream!) this might get me just a little bit closer to where i want to be! 

(now, what to make.... a stack of rings? earrings? hmmm, i wonder if i should send her a tattoo...)

Read more...

camel.

i am currently coveting the bag in the upper left hand corner of this treasury and it inspired a search for other things "camel" coloured. quite fruitful, don't you think?

Read more...

the power of one.

they say that the true test of a person's character is if one is content with who one is, without the influence of other people, without any encumbrances.  apparently, the 'epiphany of true happiness' is being happy alone with oneself.  in other words, if you are someone you'd hang out with, then you're set.

i can't say that i'm 100% content with being by myself - at first, it's great, but after a while, i end up talking to myself.  and when i'm away from the mini too long, i miss her.  however, i've been making my skinny stacking rings in quantity for some time, and i have forgotten how lovely they are on their own.  just one skinny ring is minimal, modern, super cool, silvery, luminous, thin and gorgeous.  want one?

Read more...

handmade goes nickleodeon.

being the mother of a toddler, i don't watch much adult-type tv. not even the news most days. however, i was watching 'wow wow wubbzy' with the mini and was thrilled that there is an episode dedicated to making handmade gifts! nick jr's on the handmade revolution bandwagon! totally and utterly COOL.

Read more...

geekery.

i think i am a geek at heart. i love all the new technology "gadgets" - iPods, laptops, netbooks, e-readers, smartphones... sigh. i don't know how we ever got anything done or kept up with friends and family before this stupendous age. (where IS that new pink iPod i ordered????)

Read more...

dreaming of a handmade christmas!

i can't believe that it's december already. i remember being pregnant at this time last year and thinking, "next year, the mini will be about 8 months old... how far away that seems!" and here we are, another holiday season upon us. i've finished up some ring orders, and find myself thinking about new designs for the new year...

i am very proud of myself this christmas - almost everything i will be giving as gifts is handmade! from the fantastic reclaimed cedar soapdishes from andrewsreclaimed, to smilemoon's star candle holder, to the fragrant handmade soap from sudsandsuch, and dichroic glass from combustionglassworks, i've been collecting everything in a box as i purchase them. i'm sure i've bought more than i need, but then i can give presents to myself! i've also bought way too many things for the mini, and given them to her already. oh well. it's her first christmas!!!!!!!!

Read more...

tales from the nursery - part two!

when i was expecting the mini, i didn't think that i was the type of girl who'd spend hours and hours fussing over the baby's nursery. when the mini arrived - 10 days early - we had a barely serviceable space in our second bedroom. we didn't even have the crib set up! but after the proverbial dust settled, i realized that i really, really wanted the mini to have a bright, sunshiny space to call her own. over the next few months, my sister and i worked on making this small but sweet space into a little mini-haven!


this fabulous mahogany letter "s" is from smilemoon's woodworking studio. suspended from the curtain rod on a green striped grosgrain ribbon, it's a lovely addition to the room.

a skinny IKEA table lamp with matching shade brings the perfect amount of light on cloudy days.

a sock monkey from my etsy shop sits alongside my snow globe collection, a teddy bear adorned with an oversized gerber daisy clip and mini tutu from thegirlyplace and a lamb from doggiepiggie.

my sister is a genius - not only at designing nurseries, but also at making those fabulous pompoms that are suspended above the crib! i didn't think that they would even come close to entertaining the mini as the store bought mobile we had, but she loves looking at them! aren't they gorgeous????

pink ROXY rainboots, a pink hippo and a "yoshi" lookalike reign supreme on the shelf.

my sister and i worked hard making sure that the stripes were relatively straight. imagine our dismay when we realized that the WALLS are crooked!

i had posted about the wall hanging i had made from jennski's inspiring alphabet flash cards... here it is in action! i added striped grosgrain ribbon around the edge of the canvas and reinforced the spray adhesive with silvery metallic brads. the handmade hot pink throw pillow covers really pop against the pinstriped duvet on the daybed.

as sad as it is to be finished decorating, it was really fun - and i can't believe that i enjoyed it as much as i did! i love the colours that we used, and the addition of handmade goodness really makes it unique. i hope the mini enjoys it as much as i do!

p.s. i've entered the nursery into ohdeedoh's 2009 colour contest. if we make the blog, please show us some love and vote for us - even though we can't win any prizes because we're in canada!

Read more...