a day in june

this is what a june day should look like. vancouver has had really rotten weather this spring. while i am not a stranger to rain + cooler temperatures

[i choose to live here, after all] i do look forward to some sun in the spring + lovely hot summers. today is the last day of june. it is finally sunny. it may even be warm enough to wear shorts - gasp! and so we are going to the beach. because tomorrow, it will probably rain.

a day in june - 8x8 - fine art photograph :: sherri conley photography

:: edit ::

20 minutes after posting this, there is the biggest, darkest cloud looming over north van. this spring has had the most unpredictable weather. ever.

cozy up blankets

i've been making a fair number of custom personalized smidgey blankets of late. i love helping my customers choose the colour schemes + style for their special blanket. i am sure that any baby would love to be snuggled up in a stylish, modern, fun blankie with their name or initials on it.

don't you think?

i've decided to offer a specific listing in my shop for custom smidgey blankets. it makes things a little easier for me, and hopefully more clear for those wanting that personalized option.

i'm offering three different styles for now. first, there is a double stripe of patchwork with the name underneath, as in the top photo. second, the curved patchwork path with the name beside, as in the second photo. third, a single stripe of patchwork [a 'sky', if you will] with an applique image and the baby's name, as in charlie's blanket from my previous post. the images i'll offer for the third option will be flowers, a tree, a kite, or a hot air balloon.

i feel like this gives my customers a good number of options. they can choose up to three colours for the scheme, and i'll select a group of fabrics that will be sure to please. when they receive the blanket, they will have a one-of-a-kind, gorgeous heirloom blanket for their own baby, or as a gift to a special little one.

[no, these blankets are not for the same baby - i guess there are at least two new baby girls named lily in vancouver this spring!]

for a new baby

a wonderful friend commissioned me to make this gift set for her soon-to-be-born niece, charlie. i love the chosen colour scheme, modern + sweet in shades of grey, aqua and hot pink. perfect for a stylish baby, no?

i hope darling baby charlie enjoys many cuddles wrapped in her cozy smidgey blanket.

fifi

when i came across designer fiona howard's company fifi, i was instantly drawn to the bright + bold colours and gorgeous patterns she splashes on everyday items. mugs and trays, coasters and tea towels, cushions and totes. things that will make you smile day after day.

there is even yardage available of the lovely fabrics, perfect for stitching up napkins or a table runner, to bring that extra pop of colour to your home. i'm having a hard time resisting buying up all the textiles, they are so beautiful!

visit fifi by fiona howard to gaze at the loveliness for yourself!

all images via fifi

jam.

sorry i was missing* from this space yesterday. i took the kids to my parents' house for the day, and my mom + i made jam. fresh, farm-picked local strawberries. quick, easy freezer jam. it doesn't get much better than that. i came home with fourteen jars. they may last us till fall, if we're lucky, strawberry freezer jam is a hot commodity in these parts.

though i had the best of intentions to take my camera and get some pics of my own, i forgot. so i've found a few nice photos that represent my day.

images via sources as listed below

summer at the market :: julie davis photo

tis the season :: shannonblue photography

erdbeermarmelade - strawberry jam :: qusic on flickr

*now that school's out, i'm getting into full summer mode. i look forward to a great couple months, spending as much time as possible outside playing with my kiddos! while i don't expect the blog to suffer too much, posting may not be quite as regular. i do hope you'll stick around and keep visiting!

etsy imagery :: up and away

aren't hot air balloons dreamy? i know that typically you might picture brightly coloured rainbow hues when you think of them. but through my search, i was really drawn to the buttery + soft, vintage-looking imagery i've shared below. enjoy!

images via shops as listed below, top to bottom

let the sunshine in :: sara norris photography

set of three lined notepads :: sloe gin fizz

hot air balloon ticket tags [5] :: wood and fabric

vintage hot air balloon belt buckle :: arete

penny farthing for your thoughts - fine art photograph :: irene suchocki

i also came across a really fun collaboration as i was browsing around, between arete and irene suchocki. i am a huge fan of artist collaborations. it's always fun to get the best of two worlds with one purchase, but it's also an excellent way to come across new-to-you artists + favourites. do you have a favourite collaboration of etsy shops? i'd love to hear about it.

custom nursery storage

in trying to catch up on my flickr uploads, i have been editing and sorting through photos of products i've made over the past three months or so. these buckets were custom made for a new baby's nursery in edmonton. the baby's mom chose fabrics to reflect her style, and create a calm and welcoming feel for the space. i really love the fabrics she picked [surprise, surprise, grey + aqua]! she wanted four large buckets to act as general storage, made to fit nicely in an ikea expedit bookshelf. the fifth + smaller bucket is going to be used as a diaper caddy for the change table, and fits a little stack of diapers and a bin of wipes.

i photographed these in my baby girl's room before sending them off. it just so happens we have an expedit cubby in her space, so it was nice to get a feel for how they'll look in their new home.

i am hoping to get the chance to list some of these larger buckets in my etsy shop soon. i've gotten some really positive feedback so far, and think they'd be a welcome addition to my fabric bucket collection [which, by the way, is looking really sparse right now. have i mentioned i've been busy?]. at about ten inches square, they are roomy + functional. they'd work equally well in a nursery, living room [magazines], or wherever you curl up to do your knitting!

i'm going to share some more of my recent commissions over the next couple of weeks, as i continue to sort through pics. in the meantime, i'd love to hear what you think of these larger buckets!

saffron summer

summer needs a bit of a kick in the pants in these parts. we woke up today to grey skies, once again. i know it's my favourite colour, but not in the sky. that's supposed to be blue. this dress would help brighten things up, don't you think?

saffron dress with hand pleated neckline :: pamela tang

belts + bands

all tied up with a bow. 72 pieces total, in the end.

i packaged them in little cello bags with these tags attached to the tops.

i kind of whipped up the tags at the last minute, so they aren't quite perfect, but they looked sweet enough. everything was very well-received and much-loved. all the kids were donning their new handmade goodies by the time the day was through! i'm so glad that they loved them.

i had a lot of encouragement from the other moms to offer these as potential loot bag stuffers in my shop. that's actually something that's been at the back of my mind for a while, but i have always worried about price point. in order for it to work, they'd have to be in the ten to twelve dollar range, which i'm not sure would fly for loot bags. maybe more as an individual gift, they'd work? what do you think?

two years old

and officially the sweetest girl in the world, according to this mama.

lover of sweet treats, rocks, teddy bears, and swings.

budding artist, master pouter.

happy birthday, sweetest girl. two years old. i'll never forget your swift entry into this world and straight into my heart, where you'll stay.

let there be belts

a few progress shots of the d-ring belts i made as the male counterpart to these little lovelies, which i posted about on monday. four and five year old boys are hard to peg. i think they'll either be completely disinterested, wonder why there's no spiderman on them, or if they're like my little guy, pretty excited to have something unique + different that no one else has. let's hope for the latter.

i'll post the finished products on friday. for now, i can breathe a brief sigh of relief that they are finished, packaged, and delivered. check! now, on to this fictional birthday party...i've still got a little time to pull something together ;)

end of school

it's almost here! wouldn't your favourite teacher love some sweet stationery as an end-of-school gift? there are literally zillions of choices out there, but here are three of my faves.

images via shops as listed below, top to bottom.

personalized fabric note card teacher set with bookplates :: lockette

personalized notepads - kids jumping :: sara tams

apple flat cards :: perideau designs

school boy's desk

one of my son's friends has an old school desk in his room. i can't stop thinking about it, and would just love to have one for my son's room, it would be awesome. i remember having one in our classes back in elementary school. i wasn't the tidiest or most organized kid, and used to cram as much stuff as i possibly could into that little space. it makes me wonder what treasures o would keep in his desk.

home school is cool. vintage turquoise aqua elementary school storage desk and chair :: rhapsody attic

it would be pretty fun to get a few vintage-y goodies to round out the look, as well as some supplies to stock his desk. one of the things i'm most looking forward to when o starts kindergarten in the fall is buying school supplies. who wouldn't want to learn cursive writing with little blue 'oh happy day!' pencils? i. cannot. wait.

images via shops as listed below, top to bottom.

educational map - double-sided chalkboard map :: three potato four

disenchanted drawing book :: present & correct

royal quiet de luxe typewriter with case :: hammermann [thanks for the tip, molly!]

oh happy day pencil [6 pack] :: earmark

school's almost out

this is part of what i worked on last week, some of the sixty-seven 'goodbye preschool' gifts i'm making for the kids at my son's school. these are the headbands for the little girls. belts for boys to follow!

i'll share the finished products next week. right now, i'm off to sew some more buttons.

:: edit :: i should have mentioned that these are for the teachers to give each child with their 'completion certificate', as they leave preschool this term. the teachers are very supportive of local businesses, and asked if they could hire me to make these gifts for the kids this year, and years to come.

birds + birthdays

cheerful blossoms canvas print of original art by lorena siminovich, petit collage

my little gal is turning two in just over a week, and we'll celebrate with a little party in the park, similar to what we did last year. i hate to say it, but i haven't had the chance to really plan a pretty + sweet + coordinated bash for her, and since she's only two, i would imagine she won't really notice. i will pull a few things together before the big day, but i know she'll have a perfectly fun time just running free on the grass.

detail, cheerful blossoms, by lorena siminovich

now, if i was pulling it all together this year, it would most definitely be a bird themed birthday. sweet d is obsessed with birds, in particular crows + seagulls. now i can't imagine a seagull theme for a two-year-old's birthday, can you? but fun, bright, poppy birds? that, i can get on board with. while i was looking around for thoughts + ideas, i came across this kim vallee post, and immediately hopped over to petit collage for inspiration. i love lorena siminovich's work, and it is just perfect for a little girl's party, don't you think? here are some other ideas i would have pulled together, had i been thinking ahead. [kim also featured the little birdie cupcake toppers. so cute!]

images via shops as listed below, clockwise from top left.

instant party :: bunny with a toolbelt {perfect table decor, as i'd be making cupcakes, not cake}

rainbow trees 2, one of a kind 3d bird art :: pragya k

bird ceramic cupcake stand in robin egg blue :: whitney smith

pins - 2 birds :: moloco {fabulous for little favours!}

patchwork happy birthday bird party banner :: earmark invitations

little birdie cupcake toppers :: the cupcake girls

i always love sending a little edible favour home from a party, and these incredible bird sanctuary cookies would be perfect. i had to share a large picture of these cookies because they are a. may. zing. can you even stand it?

bird sanctuary hand-iced sugar cookies :: eleni's new york

so, would you want to come to my baby girl's fictional bird birthday party? now i'm feeling really guilty about not having much planned. i'll make up for it ten-fold next year, i promise.