This That and the Other

I have been stockpiling empty spools of thread, well, every time I empty one. Needless to say, I have quite a few now. I knew that I would do something with them some day. That day has come.

Blooms. Tiny vases with tiny flowers on tiny branches. Fun.

I really love making flowers out of felted sweaters it's super easy. Last week at the workermade meeting, Annie, (you may have heard me mention her...?), presented me with a glorious piece of hand-felted felt. She made it with a complementary colour in the middle. I love the look and I love that my friend has transformed raw material (roving) into a funkalicious supply for my blooms. Annie was over for a business meeting today (ha!) and I've asked her to make me some more. Purples and blues are headed my way, I am stoked. In exchange I am making some bunting for her to take to Thailand for a school that she taught at in Surat Thani. I'm going international folks.

Craft and Cocktails over at my friend Kathrin's this Friday. There are about 8 of us that will be displaying our wares for friends and friends of those friends. Will most definitely be a fun night and am looking forward to it. If you are in the Ottawa area and would like to come, comment with your email and I can send you details.

I have been letting my gratitude Wednesday slip by the wayside as of late. Kids are asleep, so I will just give you mine: I am grateful for my steamy fictional love affair with Jamie (from Outlander). Oh, and the farmers.

Yesterday, Sam and I had a bit of a rumble. She has been a bit cheeky as of late and I gave her the goods. At the end of my rant, she looked at me and said, "You are not my weel mudder." I bit my tongue but it was hard as I wanted to ask her just who her real mother was and when was she coming to get her. LOVE. Always LOVE.

Wed By Hand

Had so much fun today at the Wed By Hand Show. There were so many wonderful artisans there with their beautiful, unique wares - alot to covet (which I did, and still am). Got some really positive feedback and very encouraging responses from people. It's so nice when the things you make elicit warmth and smiles and perhaps even a little joy. Our bride and groom were a big hit - Annie and I are dying to get some custom orders as they were so much fun to make. Lots of interest in the bunting, ribbon wands, and felting workshops too. A wedding show is so different than a craft show where you can measure how you did on the spot. With wedding shows, you don't know until months down the road (I'm guessing because I don't really know what I'm talking about having never done a wedding show before). Both of us were really happy with the event however and had a lovely time meeting lovely people.

Met an amazing couple Jordan and Brian who are getting married on August 22nd. Budget, $0. Yep. They are borrowing, freecycling, and begging (their words not mine), their way to a priceless wedding. Check out their blog. It's more than just a wedding on a non-existent budget, this couple has identified that there is so much commerce involved in a wedding and when it's over, what do you do with your 30 vases? As they describe it, Project Priceless is a bit of an experiment in social media and a study of human kindness and generosity. I think this is a really exciting project and it sounds like people are really getting on board. They are super fun and I love their aesthetic - leather and feathers (preferably of a peacock); colours: green, eggplant, orange, and vanilla. I'm hoping to do a flagline for them.

And, I am running a little promotion right now. On February 14th I will be having a randomn draw. If you are following my blog or are following by Feb 14th you could win a $25 credit for any rehash products. So follow me if you aren't already. I will lead you into all sorts of trouble. No I won't but I would have back in the day - I was badass to the bone. Now I will just lead you down the twisting turning path of my crafty mind (all very innocent, I promise).

And now. I am bagged. I will leave you with some rather blurry shots of our Annie Bananie / rehash table. I love taking photos on manual, I just wish my eyesight wasn't so crap. I will post more about Wed By Hand throughout the week with a little shout out to some of the many wonderful makers I had the pleasure to meet.

My bed calls. A long and hard sleep, I am due. Love.

Keep On Keeping On

I think I finally have my mojo back. I have momentum. I got a beat to my drum, a shimmy in my step, a flush in my cheeks (that's windburn).

Could I be so ridiculously simple of a human being that this change in energy, attitude, and skin colouring is the fact that January is D - O - N - E done? That month is just way too long. February, I know you can be a bitch as well but at least there are not 31 of you.

Things are a happening over here in preparation for Wed By Hand. I have been knitting, felting, crocheting, cutting, glueing, sewing, and embellishing up a storm. It's been really fun. Sam is my crafty companion and our mornings have been full of tea, chats, and creations.

Sent off my submission for Handmade Harvest yesterday afternoon. Keeping my fingers crossed. I know they have been receiving alot of applicants and I know there is alot of talent out there. Obviously if you never hear me speak of this again you will know of my REJECTION.

Tomorrow night is the 2nd meeting of workermade: the handmakers' collective. I'm really looking forward to it - a great group of women with such a lovely common interest. I love the ideas, the knowledge, and the support. I have started a Facebook Page but I am waiting for my friend to bring me back Illustrator from Vietnam so I can do a logo and upload it. Hopefully by next week it will be up and ready.

Have a great day...

Kids' Dress-Up Clothes

Through the years I have loved watching my children dress-up in costumes and "try on" different characters, personalities, and abilities with the addition of a hat, a sparkly scarf, or discarded old shoes. Imagination knows no bounds and really blossoms with a trunk full of clothes and accessories.

Here are a few photos of some of the children's costumes I have for sale. FYI, there is nothing handmade about the "Asian Princess" or "Tea Party" costume. The Princess costume consists of an authentic Vietnamese au dai, sequined slippers and fan, while the Tea Party is a feather boa with party hat (I glued on flowers - very DIY), and ceramic tea set. The Cowboy/Cowgirl (available in pink, brown or black) has a felt sheriff's vest which I made and is sold with a very nice cowboy hat and bandana which I did not. The Chef outfit has a handmade apron and matching hairband (boyish aprons have bib and chef's hat) and comes with a wooden spoon and potholder (no makey). The "Superhero" outfit comes with black or pink cape, mask, and power cuff all handmade. The superhero comes in a black/red thunderbolt combo, or a pink "flower power" or "love heart" combo. Please email me if you need further details. The prices for all the costumes are $25 except for the Asian Princess which is $30. I also sell the sequined slippers separately for $15. Many sizes are available. These outfits make wonderful and unique presents for birthdays...

Here Comes The Bride

Annie and I have been felting fiends, preparing for next weekend's Wed By Hand. We are really excited about our beautiful needle felted bride and groom dolls that we have created. Couples can have their likeness replicated in 100% wool - felted with care, best wishes, and attention to detail. All we need is a photo of the happy couple in their wedding finery and we can take it from there.

In addition, we will be promoting a variety of felting workshops for the wedding party, bridal party, friends and family. Workshops will focus on making thoughtful and meaningful gifts for the couple. Possibilities include "The Wishing Wreath" or "Love Heart Garland," or perhaps it's time to get the gang together to felt-up all the wedding favours (key chains, magnets, pins...).Think: all your best girls, the moms, sisters, and aunties...coming together for an evening of laughter and creative expression to celebrate your upcoming nuptials. Or perhaps the couple, the bridesmaids and the groomsmen choose a get together to create the centrepiece for the head table or a felted doll of each of themselves for place settings. The ideas are endless and the emphasis always on celebrating the couple with love and laughter and creating a very fun evening for all those dear to the couple's hearts.

Annie has been working on the groom and he is a stunner. Hopefully she can send me a picture of the handsome devil soon and I can post. I have a good feeling about these two. LOVE.

rehash: Alive and Kicking

Who sung that song? I used to love it... I still love it. Was it Tears for Fears?

After much contemplation I have officially named my unofficial business: rehash. I hope you all like it. If you don't, don't tell me.

It's so official that I even have a bunting for it!! I made this bunting using the individual letter flags that can be removed, moved, or added to with other individual letter flags. The letters are pinned to the band with ribbon-covered clothes pins. Perhaps a photo will explain better...?

All you bunting lovers out there now have the option of not buying individual buntings for family members, seasons, holidays, mantras. You can simply buy the individual letters you require and change the word/name as needed. These will be in my etsy shop soon. As soon as I have one. Love.

Put 'er in 5th. Tomorrow.

Life has returned to "normal." Kids are back and we have fallen into our usual routine once again. Feels good.

And when I look back at the past three weeks and think of the work that I got done and the accomplishments I made, I think... what the hell did you do for three weeks girl? I know I'm being a bit hard on myself and quite possibly the fact that I did spend alot of time sleeping in and reading and daydreaming and puttering was exactly what I needed to do. At least that is what I am telling myself so that I don't tell myself, "you're a lazy cow."

But check out my pretty picture.

This is a big stack of felt triangles that I have cut for bunting. Although I am still making my cotton custom-order bunting, I thought it was high time to use up this heap of felt I have collected. The idea behind this line will be customized bunting that you can buy by the letter. The felt line will be interchangeable so that you can move the letters around to create different words (as long as you have the letters you need). Does this make sense? Stay tuned, by the end of the week I will have some samples completed and you will see my vision!!

Good news. Annie and I have been accepted at the upcoming Wed By Hand show on February 6th. We have three weeks to get our act together!!! So the next three weeks will be a bit of madness but we are very excited to be involved and looking forward to it. As we actually create items, I will post them. That doesn't mean we haven't done anything yet, no m'am. That doesn't mean THAT.