whitney smith + poppytalk

i just saw over at poppytalk's 'the handmade artist' that potter whitney smith is having a sale. i've posted about her before, and i think her work is simply fantastic.

image via whitney smith

this little bird cupcake stand is all sold out, but there are loads more goodies so hurry over! visit whitney smith's etsy shop + website.

and if you haven't visited poppytalk or the handmade artist before, you're seriously missing out. poppytalk's jan has amazing design sense and a knack for finding some of the coolest stuff around. her blog was one of the first i found and i loved it immediately. hope you have some time on your hands, once you start reading you'll be hooked.

yes, please.

came across this house while browsing around on design milk today. i've always had a liking for boxy residential structures with loads of glass + metal. i'm also digging the cantilevered deck. so nice.

images via jcba.com.au

such clean, spare interiors leave the focus on the natural surroundings. while i'd love to be able to have a minimalist space like that, i know it'll never happen. besides having a penchant for collecting 'things', my husband and i have two young kids. enough said.

check out the architects' [jackson clements burrows] website, there are way more amazing designs to be seen. 

on the road

we're heading to bellevue for the weekend to hang out with my sister- and brother-in-law and their little guy ro! the babies are only 12 days apart, so it should be pretty fun to watch them :)

while we're there i can't wait to visit here + here + here [i desperately need to organize my workspace]. we need these stores in vancouver, no? and of course i can't go without visiting here, too. i need to know if there are any orla kiely goodies left for me [especially the magazine files for the aforementioned workspace!]. i'll let you know! be back monday...

[image via apartment therapy]

tweed

look at these wonderful pillows from mogwaii design. i love the subdued colours and the range of textures that come from the wool + pintucks. i also think it's fantastic that sarah campbell makes these pillows from 'a small, rugged island in the north west of scotland' [her words]. how romantic does that sound? dreamy.

images via mogwaii design.

you can find the tweed berry pillow and the tweed grass pillow at mogwaii's etsy shop. while you're there, have a look at the cheeky egg cozies and sweet felt brooches.

handmade this and that

i've been working on a little handmade business to simultaneously fulfill my creative needs and help out with the finances, while being at home with the kids. i know i'm not the first and i certainly won't be the last, but i've been working hard, and i am just about ready to launch. 

through this process i've realized how much of a planner i am, preferring to have all my ducks in a row before i jump in. and lucky me, there are all these awesome people to learn from, right here at my fingertips. 

check out this great interview with the Bakery creators over at Modish Biz Tips. both of these sites have been loads of help to me with ideas, advice and inspiration to get me off on the right foot. you should definitely be reading their blogs if you're starting up on your own.

i'm almost ready. then i plan to watch these wee ones throw many more rocks in the ocean while i carve out the time for making some handmade this and that.

a little inspiration

while mooning over some pretty workspaces over at martha, i came across a house tour of joelle hoverson's brooklyn apartment. 

this office nook is the perfect mix of clean neutrals with rainbow hits of colour to keep you inspired while working. check out the spools of thread on the middle shelf. love that.

and of course, there's her fabric stash. i'm a sucker for stacked, folded + colour-coded fabrics.

joelle owns Purl and Purl Patchwork in new york. such a fresh aesthetic [both online and brick + mortar]. just look at those shelves of fabric. *sigh*

all images via marthastewart.com

Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts [joelle's book] is one of my favourites for sewing inspiration. it also has fantastic photo styling. someday i hope to tackle this quilt. for now i'll continue with my quest for the perfect workspace.

the rose

ah. i love grey. and who doesn't love roses? i'd like a bouquet of these beauties in my living room. and this variety never wilts.

image via allen company inc.

Allen Company Inc makes these fabric roses with real branches for the stems. the perfect touch. bonus: there's lots of pretty vintage apparel in the shop, too.

head gear

i'm really feeling these headpieces today. pretty + fresh + fun. they are making me think of sunny and lovely spring weather. which, by the way, we're not getting here today. brrr.

all images via shops as listed below, top to bottom

poppy talk bobby pins from Beetle and Bloom [love the beetle gift boxes]

organza hair pins from seg parker

colourful collection of hair pins from handle & spout

cloud 9 headband from YellowGoat

love them! now i just need somewhere to wear them. [not all at once, people, don't worry]

ghosts

my 4-year-old loves to draw ghosts. usually they are doing some sort of activity, like jumping or diving. they are always happy ghosts, and he always draws their all of their digestive organs. i think he would go nuts for this dish set, from bodum.

image via bodum usa, seen on ohdeedoh

fireworks

here is a bag i finished last week, part of a first birthday gift for a good friend's baby girl. i love love love this amusement park fabric by jessica jones. feels very retro 'price is right' to me. 

and then there are the colours. i've talked about those before.

i'm having fun using thick wool felt to back my tote bags. it's a textile i've always loved, and it just screams out for reverse appliques and lots of stitching. more pics are on my flickr.

i've been working hard, getting some stock ready for my [soon-to-be] shop. there will certainly be lots more of these totes to come. and i'm nearly finished working with my fabric stacks. i'll post pictures as soon as the sun comes out. spring, anyone?

my macbook needs a home

there are so many great options on etsy for cute laptop bags! normally i'd make one for myself, but i'm quite busy with a large list of projects these days. and my macbook really needs somewhere pretty to spend the night. like really soon.

all images via shops as listed below, top to bottom

plaid bicycle from track and field designs [a local shop!]

oatmeal linen + trees from tilly moss 

magenta octopi from fern fiddlehead

orange boardwalk from fern fiddlehead

as i'm a wee bit obsessed with orange + pink these days, i'm thinking the magenta octopi might be the one for me. although i sure do like that bicycle screenprint. decisions, decisions.

mod mimosa

i love these letterpress recipe cards from dingbat press. what a fresh and pretty way to look at your favourite recipes! and it's probably no coincidence that they're printed in this bold, sunny colour.

images via dingbat press

mod mimosa recipe cards [and lots of other letterpress goodies] are available at dingbat press' etsy shop.

camilla engman converse

when i first saw these shoes last spring, i just knew i had to have them. 

after wearing them sparingly for the first several months [to keep them nice and crisp and white, of course] i started to let myself wear them more and more. now they are looking, let's just say, well-loved. 

but it doesn't matter cause i still love them just the same. how could i not?

maybe i should have gotten a pair of these cute turquoise ones, too.

but i'm a total sucker for white sneakers, always have been.

i just wish i'd had the foresight to get more than one pair, and i could have had nice, fresh camilla engman converse over and over again. 

contemplating

just a short interruption, i am not normally going to post about my children.

i've been thinking lately about how i can memorize them. their size, their sounds, their smiles. that sweet smell. time is flying by far too quickly, i don't want to miss a thing.

9 months and 4 years. how did this happen?

baby shower

another baby gift complete. we had jen's baby shower yesterday, and the mama-to-be was glowing! here are some pictures of the completed gift i made. i think it was very well-received.

[oh, and the bunting was a big hit!]

birds + bowls

how pretty are these bowls + vases by potter whitney smith? i love the calm serene colours, and the sweet little birdies.

images via whitney smith

these and lots of other lovely pieces are available at whitney smith's etsy shop.

orange + pink

came across this lovely quilt top while searching around for orange + pink fabric combinations. i love the shape of the patchwork pieces and the contrast of bright colours with white. very fresh.

via turning turning

stacks

stacks of fabric squares, ready to be sewn. soft blocks, anyone?

i am on a quest to get my little shop open by the end of the month. may be somewhat difficult as the boy has two weeks of spring break coming up, and my sewing time will be seriously compromised.

let's see if i can do it!

stuck labels

have you seen the fancy new designs from Stuck Labels? love them.

Stuck Labels was started by designers jordan ferney and karisa winkel. what a fantastic idea they had, these are gorgeous! i'm loving the amazing photography + styling. so great.

images via jordan ferney, oh happy day

all these fabulous labels are available here.

Hydra Heart

i recently stumbled upon these sweet shoes on etsy. i think i am in love! they are striking in their simplicity, and may just be the perfect footwear for the impending arrival of spring.

keyhole flat, Hydra Heart

molly of Hydra Heart makes these little lovelies and several other styles. you can even buy a matching pair for your tot!

what's more, the items in molly's shop are vegan + earth friendly, and made mostly of renewable resources. so you can feel really good about buying shoes. check them out at Hydra Heart's etsy shop.

crocus

spring. i can almost taste it.

from my own front 'dirt patch'

the list goes on

thinking ahead to my baby girl's first birthday. i have a doll cradle that my poppa made for me when i was little, and i'd like to spruce it up for her. then i'll add a wee mattress + doll quilt. and of course, a handmade doll. 

image via wee wonderfuls shop

i think these dolls fit the bill. can't wait! 

now i just have to chip away at all the things on my list that need to be done before june comes.

coraline

i finally saw coraline on friday night, with derek. 

this is exciting for two reasons. first, it totally ruled. i could go on and on, but i won't. just go see it! second, we go to the movies maybe twice a year. it's a little more difficult with two kiddles, so it was nice to have a date. [thanks mom + dad!]

who wouldn't want to go through a tiny, secret door in their new home?