the goods

Them's the goods! The results: a terrarium sell-out (again), and some brisk bib and rattle sales (my tagline: woodland bib and rattle sets for babies anxious to escape city life - certainly charmed a few parents).

around the studio (aka my apartment)

Here are some shots I snapped mid-craft, slap dash in the middle of City of Craft preparations. (I'll admit, these are composed - but would you really want to see Martha's fluff and cotton scraps?) Good thing I ascribe to the better late than never motto.Can I blame the blurry shots on too many late nights, and too much coffee (jittery hands?) It seems no matter how much I plan, I'm still a late night crafter. A midnight stitcher. What can I say? That's when inspiration hits. (BTW: City of Craft was a huge success - I promise a proper recap).

Saturday night snapshots

Look here: City of Craft signage, 2009 edition

Your friendly neighbourhood City of Crafters gathered for a night of cutting, pasting, painting, drawing (and sore thumbs). Wait.... isn't this what keeps us busy every night of late? Anyway! Sign-making happiness = analogue bliss!

trouble on the home front! .

My late-night crafting has interfered with Martha Doodle's cuddle time.


Result: Martha's hoarding fabric (again).

stems upon stems... upon stems!

making progress

more baby!

So many of my dear friends have become parents this past year. With wee ones like this, how could I resist! Inspiration abounds. (You'd make bibs and rattles, too).

Little star

The loveliest Lucy I know lives in New York City with her crafty parents, Sue and Ryan. Sue and I celebrated many a crafternoon (hi crafternooners!)when we were both proud Winnipeggers. Check out Sue's amazing and SUEper stylish sewing blog, full of baby and toddler-themed projects for DIY parents.

nesting

I've been trying to think of ways to group all of the things I make. I can't be the only one who has a scrapbook full of ideas that need sorting! In the spirit of all things woodsy, or natural, or something, let's call this group "nesting". My twin sister had a baby (Audrey, pictured) just over 18 months ago, and her delightful appearance into our lives got me thinking baby-time, big time! Friends are in baby mode too these days, and these mushroom (toadstool?) rattles, pictured, have found their way to cute wee ones everywhere! More specifically: Toronto, Vancouver, New York and Montreal. And Winnipeg, lovely Winnipeg! (Well traveled! just like Prada). Next stop: City of Craft!

bunched

new patterns

Last year's City of Craft entry was a purely red and white polka-dotted affair. This year I'm saving my Alice in Wonderland-like stash for rattles (the bold contrast really appeals to babies). Sorting through piles of fabric thrifted from Value Villages and trunk sales from here to pegcity I came across one of my old (saved and savoured) favourites: "Tropical Isle", a Waverly Decorative Fabric of the Schumacher and Co. vintage. There's just enough for a *limited time only* autumnal crop!

looking forward / looking back

The view from behind my booth, at City of Craft 2008. For this year's show, I'm expanding my line to include all things forestal. A sewing HP is a happy HP. Keep watching this site for details!