Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Fab fabric finds

This past weekend I attended an event I am very ashamed to say I didn't even know existed. How it hasn't been on my radar is mind-boggling, because it is totally my kind of thing: The Original Fabric Flea Market. People from all over the Ottawa area bring their unwanted fabric and sewing related notions and sell it to raise funds for a local public school. We're talking new/used/vintage unused and upcycled fabric, textiles, buttons, lace, yarn... the works. One table even had millinery supplies. Another had gorgeous, fancy beaded appliqués. And one of my favourite local groups was there, Eco-Equitable, featuring their amazing fill-a-bag-for-$10 sale, but I didn't even make it that far, I had my head stuck in the fill-a-bag-for-$5 bins... 

It was busy and crowded and kind of intense, but I scored some beautiful and cozy flannels, wools, and cottons, and left with my bike basket and paniers loaded to the gills. As I was scouring the bins and tables, colour schemes started developing and have inspired ideas for a few new houses. I think I have enough fabric now to create several villages of wee fabric houses... Not a bad problem to have.

Now it's head-down-and-get-to-work in preparation for my show on December 14th!

Deliciously soft wools and flannels... so in love.

Now I see patterns and think "ooh, that would make neat wallpaper."

Laura Ashley swatch samples — I think that's a theme for a new house right there. Pretty, pretty, pretty.

Perhaps the roof for another cottage-style house?

Have no idea how I'll use this piece, but it was just too funky to leave behind.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Urban Craft Market: December 14, 2013

Great news! I've just been selected as a vendor for the Holiday Edition of Ottawa's Urban Craft Market. I've been to their past shows (never as a vendor though, so this is very exciting), and it's a fantastic show, featuring some incredibly talented artisans and makers. I am so thrilled and tickled-pink to be a part of this next edition!

So come on out, Saturday, December 14, from 10am to 3pm at the Glebe Community Centre and support local, independent artists. I'll have my wee fabric houses, plus some new little hand-puppets, embroidered note-cards, and other hand-made goodies!

Spread the word! And I hope to see you there!

Buy hand-made this Christmas! (And all-year-round!)
Graphic from Little Things Studio

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Friendsgiving, local meat, and my 300th post!

Now the green conifers stand out in a sea of gold

And suddenly, it was fall. Full-on. Trees are aflame with vibrant colours, fluttering to the ground, painting trails with rusty gold. It seems that the trees were green just yesterday, with only a tinge of the colours to come, but now they're suddenly scarlet orange.

To celebrate this (sadly) brief, but oh-so-wonderful time of year, we had some good friends over for a potluck feast of epic proportions, but not before a lovely hike in Gatineau Park together to fully soak in the delicious colours and that unmistakable scent of fall — what is that? Is it the fallen leaves? The earth readying itself for its winter slumber? Anyway, it's an incredible smell, that makes you happy and content with each deep breath.

What's more glorious than walking through a sunny forest in Autumn?

Thursday, October 3, 2013

And we have grapes!

Since Mark planted the seed when we moved in four years ago, our little grape plant has grown and flourished (taking over the trellis and fence entirely, and starting to encroach upon the neighbouring tomatoes... ahem...), and this year for the very first time, it produced grapes. Four little bunches of beautiful concord grapes. Perfect little orbs of divine, juicy deliciousness. It's entirely true that things grown in your own yard taste so much better, isn't it?