in dreams :: about a year

{ the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams }

eleanor roosevelt

one year ago i embarked into the world of etsy, and opened up my little shop. i didn't realize at first how it would affect my creativity, my thoughts, my family, my dreams. there are days when i can't even remember not doing this, day in and day out.

i love the fact that i get to be creative every single day.

when i get new fabric in the mail i can hardly contain my excitement. the feel of it, the colours, the brilliant patterns. i live and breathe fabric. my son loves seeing the new things i create, and i hope i'm instilling in him the importance of making. while my kids are, of course, my main focus during the day, i think it's good for them to know that i am working hard, and that they are the reason i am doing this. when i find myself really busy and swamped with work, i remind myself of that. the fact that i get to be here with them, every day, and watch them grow + explore + learn + play. that this is the route i chose, rather than go back to work. i won't say it's not a struggle at times, but it is so so worth it.

i have gotten so much out of this past year, more than improving my skills, or making a little money. i have found a place in a most incredible community. through etsy, twitter, this blog, and my favourite online reads,

i have met some incredible people. people whom i consider friends and colleagues. like-minded people who are quick to offer advice, wisdom, encouragement, thoughts, and ideas. cheerleaders of indie and handmade. people whose opinions + thoughts are ones that i value and look forward to hearing. there are so many of you! thank you, all. i think you know who you are :)

to express my thanks, i want to offer a little token. i've been working on a new line of goodies, the peek-a-boo naturals collection. part of this new line is made up of products i offer already, made with a bit of a twist. part will be new designs, things i've had in mind for some time but haven't yet gotten to the sewing machine. i'm not ready to reveal the new items just yet, but here is a peek at some of the fresh linen mini buckets. i hope you like them!

i will be giving away one of my new mini peek-a-boo naturals buckets to a lucky winner! if i get more than 50 comments, i'll give away another one, too! the more the merrier. i will keep the giveaway open until may 6, and announce the winner[s] on the 7th. to enter, please leave a comment on this post [kindly only one per person]. you can say whatever you like, but also let me know which colour palette is your favourite from my new line.

ocean, flora, or forest?

to sweeten the celebration, i will be offering 15% off everything in my shop, starting today at noon through monday noon. prices in the shop will reflect the discount, no need to wait for a revised invoice, shop to your hearts content!

i truly appreciate all the support and cheerleading i've received this past year. i get to be doing something i've always dreamed of. creating, doing what i love, for me and for others. thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

{edit :: may 6th, 11pm. giveaway now closed! thanks for all the lovely + thoughtful comments, i really enjoyed reading them all. i will announce a winner on may 7}

the candy tin

when i was young, both my sets of grandparents had a candy tin, filled to the brim with a rotating selection of sweet treats for when the grandchildren came to visit.

nana + poppa had a black tea tin with a floral pattern, and a lid with a round knob [very similar to the top centre, below]. i can remember the slight resistance when i'd try to lift the lid, and the soft *pop* of suction as it would release, revealing the candies inside. they usually stocked a variety of hard candies, my favourites being these fruit-flavoured ones where you'd come to a soft squishy centre after you sucked for a while.

gaya + poppa 'c' had a jaunty red rectangular tin made to look like an english double decker bus. inside could be a wide range of goodies, but my faves here were the individually wrapped trebor gummies, mainly the long rectangular jujubes covered in sugar.

i trolled around etsy for these vintage candy tins today, they are so delightful. i love the idea of my kids seeing them on my parents' shelves, and wondering what kinds of treats are inside. perhaps this old tradition will continue.

vintage printed tin :: vintage daisy folk art tin :: vintage dutch tin

vintage bisquick tulips tin :: vintage art deco tin

vintage tin box from soviet union :: vtg floral tin

this past winter, i lost both my remaining grandparents within a couple months of each other. while it was a difficult time, i have had the chance to reminisce a lot about the things i loved about them, and the memories i have of growing up with them in my life. i would say i'm pretty lucky to have had almost 32 years of grandparents, and that i got to know all four. they are so unconditionally loving. it always amazed me that no matter what, they were there to listen and to love. even in those really awful + awkward teenage years, when i know i wasn't at my best.

when i think back to the furthest memories i can muster, i realize that my son is now even a little older than i was in those memories. meaning that when he's a grown man with kids of his own, he'll remember himself, at this very age, doing the things that he does. and that the time he spends with his grandparents, the special bonding moments and the everyday routines, will be etched in the far reaches of his memory.

i wonder what he'll think. i wonder what he'll remember. what he'll cherish. and i think that maybe i'll have to get a candy tin for the grandparents.

retro games, etsy style

{left} kids playing with yo-yo's :: life.com

{right} cross my heart. chocolate brown :: something's hiding in here

{left} cat's cradle :: p_velitchko's flickr stream

{right} cat's cradle greeting card :: badbooks

{left} hula hoops 1959 :: retro life

{right} unlike eloise, ramona has mastered the hula hoop :: flapper doodle

a blog scavenger hunt!

super fun! bridgett has organized a blog scavenger hunt for her readers, and i think it's a fantastic idea. she's come up with a different clue for each weekday until may 13th, and the answers will be found in a post from one of the blogs on her blog roll. it's a fun way to be introduced to some great new reads, and there are daily prizes, to boot! keep your eyes on the clues, you just might find something here, someday ;) definitely head on over to enter each day, you never know, maybe you'll win!

i've mentioned bridgett's work here before. she's the designer + owner of perideau designs, a lovely modern stationery company run out of her connecticut home. i love bridgett's stuff, and wasn't surprised to see that she's hit the nail right on the head for the perfect mother's day gift package. what mom wouldn't love this gorgeous set of personalized notecards + notepads? fabulous. hurry to order so you can get it in time for the big day!

images via perideau designs

lunch at the club...

i've got plans to make a lot of the baby's summer clothes this year, and one of my favourite places to stop for inspiration is crewcuts. i mean, come on.

gorgeous. here are a few ensembles that would be perfect for that summer country club vacation. brunch + afternoon swim + dinner on the terrace.

claribel dress :: pretty petals headband :: summer rosebud ballet flats

swirling fleur tank :: ecole sunglasses :: terry drawstring dress :: salt-water sandals

cotton organdy wildflower dress :: pretty parade cardigan :: bow peep ballet flats

{all images via j. crew crewcuts}

celebratory beets

yes, beets. we had my parents and my aunt over for dinner last night to celebrate my father's birthday, and my aunt brought the most delicious appetizer salad. purple + golden beet terrine, layered with thinly spread goat cheese + drained greek yoghurt, drizzled with a balsamic reduction. served with fresh baby greens, and crostini spread with mashed avocado.

seriously, folks, to die for.

as an aside, this is my 300th post -- yippee! more beets, please, let's celebrate!

fresh. new. finally.

coming soon. maybe even today, if time is on my side.

find them here, very shortly!

:: april 26 :: now listed in the shop

small choices

i try to make good choices. buy local, buy handmade, buy organic when i can. fewer junky plastic toys, more wooden or well-made. but like everyone else, i am often swayed by a deal, the easy out, or a multitude of other reasons that seem to crop up. the other day, scoutie girl blogger tara wrote a lovely article about buying handmade. you should really read it, and visit scoutie girl often. it is a virtual treasure trove of handmade. there is always an "easier way" but is it always the smarter choice? i'm going to go ahead and say here that i will be making a concerted effort to do these things.

and take a good long look at what my family actually needs to consume

and own. quality, local, less. i'm going to try.

quality, handmade clothing. organic? even better! while i know i won't be able to make this choice all the time, i will certainly be looking to more quality over quantity. longevity in our clothing saves the earth, let's keep all those disposable clothing items out of our landfills! i love love this shirt. while i look terrible in yellow, it is available in other colours. love!

sandmaiden organic cotton jersey blend draped cap-sleeve shirt :: sandmaiden

since christmas, my husband has been packing his lunch in one of these reusable food wraps. they are awesome, and they are local! a great product, i highly recommend abeego. get rid of that plastic wrap!

abeego reusable food wrap :: abeego

and for my coffee, if i can't remember my own mug, the least i could do is use this gorgeous cup cozy by local artist laura bucci, made with her own fabric designs. so chic!

eco cup cozy - vintage bicycle :: laura bucci handmade

and in case you need a reminder, this is definitely something that helps our planet. find your nearest farmer's market, or at the very least make local choices at your grocer. i have an awesome little produce shop just a few minutes away, and there are a multitude of local goodies!

near here shirt :: original silver

nautical disaster?

maybe, maybe not. i've never been one to go for the whole nautical look, but i saw these striped rubber boots while i was at a grocery store last week [yes, there are clothes there. joe fresh!], and they caught my eye. so i put together a little collage. let's call it alternautical. one part blatantly nautical, one part tongue-in-cheek.

images via shops as listed below

{clockwise from top left}

le solitaire - sachet [blue] :: fric de mentol

striped rubber boots :: joe fresh

topography clock :: diffraction fiber

ring halter & button bikini :: gap

kids' converse allstar lo-top :: via gap

poppy longstockings nautical stripe :: poppy clothing creations

{centre}

peggy's cove lighthouse - nova scotia - fine art print :: broomhill pictures

only the most stylish water

love these water purifiers by montreal company aquaovo. gorgeous, no?

so much more chic than your typical water cooler. i'd love one for my new kitchen [coming this fall!].

images via aquaovo

sneak peek

a little peek at a new line of linen peek-a-boo buckets which will be making their way into the shop. soon, i hope! work time has been a little short of late, but i'm busting with ideas for spring and summer, and i can't wait to get them rolled out.

dreaming dress up

just a little ensemble that popped into my head this morning. i'll tell you why next week!

ruffle dress :: liza rietz

gray and royal blue hat :: yellowfield7

beautiful liar oversized cocktail ring :: heatherly designs

i just about die every time i see the hats at yellowfield7. impeccably stylish.

books, books, books

i have a friend who dreams of having a large home library, stocked full of books from floor to ceiling. there would be a sliding ladder for her to swing back and forth, to pick out that day's preferred volume. we were chatting about this again the other day, and it got me thinking about modern libraries. then i came across this top photo over on layers and layers, so i thought i'd seek out a few more pics of libraries that i'd like in my own home. not only am i drawn to the bookshelves in these homes, but i am loving the whole vibe, the lightness + openness, and furnishings in each.

gunkelmans interior design home office :: via

diagonal bookcase :: via

mobileffe living room shelving :: via

vitsoe home library in stockholm :: via

is there a special room you're coveting for your ideal home, or a favourite spot in your current home? i'd love to hear about it!

pencil crayon jewelry

yes, you read that right. amazing, no? italian designer maria christina bellucci creates these gorgeous pieces of jewelry with tiny bits of pencil crayons, pieced into different shapes and formations, often paired with silver or ebony. i love the way she groups colours together to create a mood, warm + bright, earthy, or cool + crisp.

images via klimt 02

thormanby island

water taxi ride at sunset.

the best little cottage. ever.

hummingbirds.

and the beach.

etsy imagery :: my weekend

i just had the most incredible weekend. the weather could not have been better [except perhaps a little warmer!] and the company was divine.

we relaxed, drank tea, walked the beach looking for shells, indulged in cold beer + good wine + random chitchat, and gazed at the stars until the wee hours of the morning. quite simply, it was perfect.

images via shops as listed below, top to bottom

afternoon tea fine art photograph :: sweetblue photography

imagination :: naokosstoop

seashell photograph :: machel spence photography

orion, embroidered constellation :: miniature rhino