unsolicited opinions on random things
Are you doing some last-minute Christmas wrapping this week? If so, you might want to download and print these free gift tags, designed and illustrated by Julia Rothman. And if you have sticker paper or labels, print them on that, fill them out, and you’re done! Too cute.
Kinnon and I hit up the One of a Kind show on Sunday. I was very very good – I didn’t buy anything! But I did collect a handful of business cards for online shopping later.
Here were my five favourite artisans from the show:
Ceramik B: gorgeous handmade ceramics by Basma Osama. When we walked by, both Kinnon and I went “ooooooh”. We just had to pick up some of the bowls and mugs… the organic shapes were calling to us. The interlocking shaker set (pictured above) was amazing.
Flakes Paperie had a tiny booth set up, and were mostly selling Holiday cards and 2011 calendars. I’m okay in those departments, but I always love me some pretty paper. Flakes has an Etsy shop, but there’s only one product there… I hope they add more soon!
Mizzonk has a few different products, but their paper art is amazing. Wouldn’t you love to have this art print (above) hanging on your wall? Watch the video on the product page of their website and see the piece in its 3D glory.
And of course, I fell for some of the baby clothing and accessories at the show. My favourites were the 100% natural, soft, simple sleep sacks by Poids Plume, and the baby kimono onesies from Redfish Kids Clothing.
If you’re heading to the One of a Kind show, check these out, and let me know what your favourites are!
Update: Many of my faves from the show were also favoured by House and Home magazine. Check out their blog post on the show here.
The One of a Kind Christmas show starts today and runs until December 5. I’ll be there this Saturday, checking out the goods and trying not to spend too much! The last time I went was a few years ago, so I’m excited to go again. If you’re going, be sure to look out for my client Jill Schwartzentruber who will be selling her gorgeous (and very reasonably priced) earrings and necklaces at booth H29.
Seriously, how cool is this? Greg Neal, a potter in Ohio, is making and selling these yarn bowls through his Etsy shop. If you’re not a knitter, you probably won’t get it. But if you like knitting or crocheting, you’ll see the value in this product. It holds your spool or ball of yarn, instead of having it roll around on the floor next to you (where, in my house, yarn picks up dust and dog hair). The cut in the side guarantees your yarn comes off the spool easily. And it’s a gorgeous piece of handmade pottery that you can leave out for display.
Dear Santa, I would not complain if one of these ends up under the tree with my name on it.
[via Ready Made]
On Saturday morning, the sun was shining, so Ian and I took Isabel to Cherry Beach for a romp in the park. I remembered that I lost my favourite hat last winter, and didn’t replace it, so I had to wear an old one that doesn’t fully cover my ears, and I was chilly!
I decided to knit myself a new hat, and found this gorgeous pattern on Ravelry.com. It’s a cable stitch pattern that matches the Irish Hiking Scarf I’m working on for Ian. It was a quick piece – I knit it up in 24 hours. I think it looks quite good!
I’m halfway done Ian’s scarf, and once I finish that, I’ll make one for myself, and a hat for him. Then we’ll really be matching in our hats and scarves (different colours though).
[apologies for the bad iPhone photos]
I’ve been working on this cable knit afghan (blanket) for almost 2 years. Mind you, I took a one-year break in the middle there, but it’s still been way too long. I finally finished it this weekend! There’s a shot of it above on the armchair in my living room. It’s really chunky and 100% wool so it is warm.
Now that it’s finally done, I can start on a new project. I went to my neighbourhood yarn store, The Purple Purl, and picked up some Mission Bay 100% merino wool in navy blue and white. I’m following up the afghan monstrosity with a small, simple project – a scarf for Ian.
I found a great (and free!) pattern for an Irish Hiking Scarf on the knitting website Ravelry.com. Yay, more cable stitches! I can’t get enough of cable knits, and it seems I’m right on trend. Check out this recent blog post from Lonny for more cable knit pieces. I’ll post photos of Ian’s scarf when it’s done – probably in a couple weeks.
Someone gave me a set of magnetic bookmarks as a stocking stuffer last Christmas, and I think they’re the coolest. I was using one yesterday in the book I’m reading (Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro) and I thought about how easy it would be to make your own.
And then, bang, I see this post on one of the ReadyMade blogs, with a link to DIY instructions for creating your own cute magnetic bookmarks. The instructions come with a PDF download of the five designs (bacon, pencil, pickle, bandage and ruler). Don’t you love the band-aid one?
Queen of hipster patterns and fabric Amy Butler has partnered with Rowan to release a line of yarn. And a book of knitting patterns to go with it! Isn’t that braided scarf beautiful? Or what about that funky afghan blanket? I’m gonna look for the wool and the pattern book at my local knitting store…
Oh yeah, I guess I never mentioned that I’m into knitting. Have been for about 12 years now. It just takes me forever to finish projects.
[thanks for the tip from SFGirlByBay]
Last night, some pals came over and we made raspberry jam. I was originally inspired by the “host a canning party” post on Design*Sponge. Making jam is pretty simple, didn’t take too long, and was fun, especially if you drink wine while you make the jam. We found these instructions helpful, and you can get all the supplies you need at Canadian Tire. I think I might make some more this weekend!
This weekend is a long weekend in Ontario (and some other provinces in Canada). A bunch of friends and I packing up the cars on Friday, getting out of Toronto and heading to Kinnon’s gorgeous cottage in Wakefield, Quebec. I can’t wait for a few days of swimming, reading, drinking beers, and having fun with my bestest pals (that’s Hilary and Jenny in that photo up there, hanging on the dock).
Cottaging always reminds me of summer camp, which reminds me of arts and crafts. So when I saw this post on Ready Made about nautical bracelets, I was pumped. This is the perfect cottage craft! There are full instructions on how to make these bracelets on Etsy. I am most definitely making a knot bracelet when I’m at Kinnon’s cottage.
