Sunday 27 November 2011

Will's Advent Calendar



A Homemade Matchbox Advent Calendar For Will!















This Advent Calendar began with a collection of pure white matchboxes that I covered with vintage Christmas wrapping paper, a variety of vintage ribbons, vintage paper ephemera, vintage spun cotton mushrooms and Martha Stewart craft papers and stickers.  I used tiny vintage rubber stamps to number each matchbox.  At the very top of the matchbox advent pyramid I placed a sweet velvet apple box that I found in one of my favorite shops in Montclair, New Jersey "Parcel".  To top it all off I sprinkled a snowy white vintage German glass glitter all over the Advent Calendar.  I will fill each little matchbox with a tiny wooden ornament and foil wrapped chocolate.
Merry, Merry!




Tuesday 22 November 2011

Ooh la la PART TWO

Give them the ooh la la
A Charitable Project

Before I show you the "PRESCHOOLER'S" Gift Basket that I created for Endeavour Society's annual Gala Event, entitled "Oh, La, La" this year, I wanted to tell you a little more about Endeavour Society: "Endeavour for the Benefit of the Arts, Sciences and Health founded in 1964,  is Canada's largest and most successful single event charity organization.  Endeavour is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for other non-profit organizations in the fields of Arts, Sciences and Health."  Endeavour's Gala Dinner: "As Vancouver's premier fundraising event, Endeavour welcomes and appreciates the communities support in ensuring the continued success of one of Vancouver's most beneficial fundraising events."  You can view their website here for more information: http://www.endeavoursociety.com/


The PRESCHOOLER"S  Gift Basket




This sweet "Spring Dress" pattern is from the Etsy Shop Lilybird studio.  I just love the giant bow in the back.  The adorable ladybug fabric is "Opps-A-Daisy" by Keiki for Moda and the running pup print is "Sherbet Pips" by Aneela Hoey for Moda.  I found both fabrics at Spool Of Thread.  To give this dress a little Parisienne embellishment I added a beautiful soft cotton linen ribbon printed with Eiffel Towers from the Etsy shop Stefaniexu.  Voila!  I wouldn't mind a dress like this myself for those romantic blossom filled Spring days.

The "Sweet Memories Reversible Cape" Pattern by Poppy and Lola.





This wonderfully romantic reversible cape is so much fun to make!  I think I might need to make a few more, my mind is spinning with design ideas.  I found this lovely black and off white polka dot fabric, "June Dot" by Alexander Henry along with the "Paris Map" cotton print by Moda at The Cloth Shop.  The beautiful bright red cotton is from  Ikea, $3.99/ Yard.  I found a simple heart applique pattern online for the center detail and hand embroidered "Je T'aime" in a cherry red thread.  For my next cape I think I might make a secret pocket for a little magician to place a magic key.

I found a charming wooden Eiffel Tower at Michael's this summer that I embellished with a navy ribbon from The Daiso that read "merci beaucoup" and one of my "Je T'Adore" Gift Tags. Also, from The Daiso I found a sweet red and white polka dot mug, a pair of strawberry hair elastics and an unbleached little cotton bag with a French inspired kitty cat and a cute pink wooden crate with a little French saying.  I added the finishing touch of a red and white polka dot gift box filled with a selection of decorations from my "Je T'adore" Decoration line.







These adorable wooden "animal" hangers are by Kushies.  I might need to pick up a few for Will.


C'est fini!
  It was a bit of a mad rush to get these gift baskets together as it always is but oh what a joy it it is to do it!  Maybe next year I will start in Spring and create a whole wardrobe!



Monday 21 November 2011

ooh la la PART ONE

Give them the ooh la la
A Charitable Project


Every year I put together a handmade donation for Endeavour Society,  a Canadian charity organization that my family has been involved with for over 20 years, to be auctioned off at their annual Gala Event that took place on Saturday, November 20th.  This year the theme of the Gala was entitled "Oh, La, La", so I couldn't resist creating two gift baskets for the Gala this year.  One gift basket for a baby and one for a preschooler, full of Paris -inspired goodies.

The "BABY'S" Gift Basket
  For this Paris-inspired Gift Basket I ordered online from one of my favorite sewing pattern shops: I Think Sew, who also available on Etsy.  My favorite way to purchase sewing patterns these days is on Etsy as a PDF file that you can quickly download onto your computer and print out.  There are so many wonderful Etsy sellers with fantastic PDF Pattern designs that are extremely affordable.  The first pattern that I ordered was "The Emery Baby Bib Vest", it's reversible and oh so practical for all of those messy baby meals!  
One of my favorite fabric shops in Vancouver is Spool Of Thread, where I found this yummy strawberry print fabric "Strawberry Blossom Berries", by Michael Miller. I lined the Bib with a simple unbleached cotton muslin also from Spool Of Thread.  To top it off I found these adorable biscuit buttons at one of my favorite Japanese stores in Richmond, The Daiso.  This is such simple and rewarding project for baby.




The second item that I made for the "BABY" Gift Basket was a cute dress that is great for layering.  Also made by I Think Sew, The "Florence" Baby Dress was so quick and easy to make.



I used this adorable red cotton print at Spool Of Thread, "Little Apples" by Aneela Hoey for Moda and then embellished it with a red and white gingham bias tape, natural cotton muslin tape (ribbon) with cute little birdies from The Daiso and a tiny cotton tag from the Etsy Shop Stefaniexu.

The next baby garment that I made was oh so much fun!  "The Sweet Memories Reversible Cape" PDF pattern from the Etsy Shop Poppy and Lola.  




For this charming little cape I found the fabrics at another one of my favorite Vancouver fabric shops The Cloth Shop.  The Pink Polka Dot cotton print "Ta Dot Candy" by Michael Miller, the "Toy Poodle" cotton print by Kinkame and the Paris map printed cotton is by Moda, "Etchings".  I found a sweet heart applique pattern online to embellish one side of the reversible cape.  The Hot Pink flocked Eiffel Towers are iron-ons from The Daiso.

Lastly, I made a reversible Baby Bonnet, as well from I Think Sew, out of " Strawberry Blossom Berries", a soft pink shot cotton from Purlsoho, and a sweet cherry print cotton from The Daiso.



and then embellished it with one of my Strawberry Shortcake Gift Tags.

The rest of the "BABY" Paris-inspired Gift Basket included a pair of red and white polka dot  
 Mary Janes from Joe, that I embellished with tiny strawberry iron-ons from The Daiso, two wooden crates with an adorable French design, a sweet French cotton bag as well from The Daiso and a selection of party decorations from my "A-Tisket-A-Tasket " line for sale in my Etsy Shop.





Tomorrow I will post PART TWO:  the goodies in the "PRESCHOOLERS" Gift Basket...




Sunday 20 November 2011

Nicola Luke

 Nicola Luke:
An Etsy Seller that I Adore


Her name is Nicola Luke and her UK based Etsy Shop is Called "Fabric Fancies: Candy Shop" and it is a feast for the eyes.  Nicola creates delectable handmade felt desserts, foods, miniature treasures and ornaments. Can you imagine a playful tea party for two tots decorated with these delicacies?   I discovered her delightful shop when I was looking for "faux" dessert props for photographing my products.  I promptly contacted her to create an array of custom felt desserts for my various decoration lines. These exquisite flawlessly sewn by hand cakes, cupcakes tartlets and jelly rolls are what dreams are made of.  She even created a most elegant two tier felt wedding cake for the display of my Wedding Cake Toppers.  If you'd like to make these fancies yourself she does sell her patterns and a gorgeous selection of felt squares in the yummiest of colours.  I can't wait to place my next order which will surely include a felt Yoda and Darth Vader Ornament for Will's Christmas tree.
Bon Appetit!