Steed

This handsome horse head was a casualty of work. Apparently he had enough gusto to leap off a table I was merchandising, but not enough to remain whole, so I scooped up his pieces, glued him back together with some PL and Chalk Painted him from brown to grey to cover his scars. Quite the elegant fella now! Note: if you are Chalk Painting over PL, I found it does create a crackled look in some places, which was to my advantage for this stone-look statue. Just a little heads up for your DIY knowledge!

#1 Fan

Happy Valentine's Day to all you fellow creativity enthusiasts. Hope you're having a fan-tastic day of love!

Sewing Patterns

Guess what? I don't know how to sew using a pattern. At least, I've yet to sew a project using one from start to finish without assistance...and quite frankly, I have no desire to! For whatever reason, instructions on how to be creative just don't fly in my brain. It's much easier for me to look at the final garment, and then start chopping up existing garments or fabric chunks and sewing them together, and seeing what happens. The results are usually pretty cool. So I have a nice collection of vintage sewing patterns, but admittedly it's more for inspiration and ephemera appreciation than for actual use! Though I do like to keep a variety around as a last resort sewing weapon in my back pocket, should my usual drape-and-stitch method flop, or demand precision.

Button up your Overcoat

Check out this fashionable ornament, complete with mittens, lovingly hand-stitched by my crafty mother!

Grandma's Strawberries

As I mentioned, my grandma, a painter, was a big fan of strawberries. These are some of her personal projects. The strawberry pendant has a twin--it used to be a pair of earrings she wore often. The strawberry pin is actually from my great grandma, so really we're spanning 5 generations of strawberry adoration!

Scandinavian Princess Shirt

I absolutely love to see what people create using my textiles! A friendly note from Suz Pozzo recently made my day. She ordered my Scandinavian Princess design on Modern Jersey fabric and sewed it into this shirt!

Cardboard Hearts

Snip, snip--time to make some valentines! These cardboard templates have been a part of every crafty valentine session since I was little. With each passing year there are more scribbles around their edges from veering pens and pencils. That hand template, which is a tracing of my 7-year-old hand, attests to their longevity. I love making people's days through the papery pink and red goodness of this holiday.

Crafty Girl

I wake up to this fabulous framed print every day and chuckle with creative determination!

Bakeware

I see festive potential in this pile of bakeware! The shine and patina of the silver starbursts, swirls, and scallops...think wreaths, reflectors, candle holders, and ornaments.  

Idea Extravaganza

As a collector of magazine clippings I am prone to collaging surfaces, such as my sketchbook. Looking at layers of inspiration makes me want to get busy drawing and painting! 

Dutch Spring

 I found this vintage embroidered linen canvas at Value Village and love its textures and cheery colours!

Look at those little pink tulips!

1930s Felt Brooch

This is my great-grandma's floral brooch from the 1930s. It reminds me of Vogue covers of that decade.

Green Thumb

I was inspired by Ron Isaacs' Sprout, and created this shadow box with linen, cardstock, and a vintage glove.

Robin's Egg Necklace

These beads are leftovers from a ceramics experiment with minty glaze...now reborn as a robin's egg necklace!

Honey

Here's a little valentine for the bees that help bring the flowers about for your loved ones!

Delft Charms

Much to my delight I found these dainty little charms at Michael's and am turning them into jewellery! 

Delft Tile Tray

I found this mid-century cheese tray at a local thrift store for $1! Frankly, the tiles alone are worth more than that. It was originally medium brown wood, and those little right-hand circles were red magnets, but I covered the whole piece in some coats of Old White Chalk Paint. I might use it as a tray for craft projects, or I might hang it on a wall and secure some fancy knobs into those left-hand circles as hooks.

Either way, I'm in love with the painterly blue and white tiles!

Dream

This was one of those fluke craft projects that has stood the test of time. About 8 years ago I got the font and word idea from an image in Country Living Magazine, eye-balled the letters onto some corrugated cardboard, cut them out, slopped some gold paint on them, and strung them up in my bedroom. When I think back at how casually I whipped this garland out and look at how much I still love the lettering and metallic shine I am impressed by the enduring result. It makes me think of how many creative dreams have come true since...

Details of Anthropologie

The thing that impresses me the most with Anthropologie is the level of creativity and detail that goes into their merchandising and displays, including their use of found items as fixtures. I have had the special opportunity to help set up the new Ottawa store, and snapped some photos within to highlight the thoughtfulness that went into every last stitch and nail. Their merchandising complements their delightfully detailed products.

The glowing name and curious quilt draw the viewer in.

Stenciling on the exterior

The vintage door at the front is mounted on a barn door track.

One of the found pieces is this huge light green chest--lovely colour and distressed surface.

Ladder shelves

Guardian beaver

Can you guess what this gigantic quilt is made of?

Leather? Denim?

Envelopes!

The bright Pantry section with rough mustard walls

A mural made of chicken wire, string, and muslin

These plates

These knobs

These flowers made of twist ties, coffee filters, and paper tags.

Velvet kimono

Vintage printing screens used for display

A chandelier made of rubber bands

This necklace

Found cabinet and clock

This end table

This winding display of colour changing leaves is made of cut, scored, and dyed manilla tags.

This sign is edged with sharpened pencils.

Stunning necklace and kimono

The moody blue wall makes these glamourous vases stand out.

These jeans

The wall behind the cash

Luxurious and cheery textiles

Every last cactus flower and prickle is in its place!