Things to Win !

There are a lot of my favourite people (and Canadian!) having contests these days - Christina at Bamboletta Dolls is having a draw for one of her dolls, Devon at Tall Tree Photography is cooking something up, AnneMaria at YoYoMama has joined up with Natural Pod to give away one of Natural Pod's new and amazing play arches, and I'm dreaming up a little prize-winning action of my own (stay tuned!).

Here's another great contest that I totally love: The Ultimate I Buy Canadian Blog Party with Lara and Vicky at Apples'n'Oranges.



Apples'n'Oranges is a fun, Canadian online shop that carries exclusively Canadian brands, featuring an original selection of clothing, shoes and accessories for children aged 0-5 years, as well as a few accessories for mom - made by moms. What an awesome way to support other Canadian moms in business! I'm digging them so much that I offered to contribute a Teething Bonbon TM to their prize list.

Now do me proud, and go win something! But you have to act fast because these contests close at the end of June (some sooner).

Etsy Finds .. Me !

Okay, so it is really late and it's been a long and eventful day of all sorts of playing and socializing and post office errand running (hello LA, hello Welling Kent UK!) and my eyes are going blurry but I just have to let you know about these awesome spots before I hit the sack:

From today! Etsy Finds lovin' the Double Cream Blanket
From Monday! KidHaus all for the Teething Bonbons
From way back in April! Ugga Mugga another Bonbon fan
but I forgot to post the link!

Thanks, thanks, thanks !

Much buzz is happening around these here Bonbons ... Dimpleskins Naturals has theirs for sale online already!

Bonny Lass

I scored an incredible treasure the other day, a pile of vintage, 100% cotton fabric samples from a fabric shop and era long since passed. Tags from N.H. Fallis still attached, these gems were priced at $3.95-$5.95 a yard and sported names like 'Foley', 'Alvarado', 'Hastings', and 'Gwen'.



Rich in colour and pattern, with a weight that one can really work with, I knew immediately that these prints were destined for sun bonnet greatness.



Two weeks ago I made a bonnet prototype that Little R. has been (shockingly) happily sporting. The bonnet has fetched many compliments around town, and inquiries as to where to purchase, so I've decided to make a few up for the Moss Street Market this Saturday. You'll see this blue 'Francesca' there - if someone else doesn't scoop it up first.



Sized Toddler/Child
Under-the-Chin Ties
Reversible
Machine W/D, though I'm a keen advocate for kickin' it old school on the laundry line.

*

Alvarado: I schmoogled it and found this artist. It seemed just a tad too random to link up above, but I couldn't not let you know about my find. His bovine depictions and artist statement spoke to me, and somehow, strangely - the statement, not the cow - connected me to a childhood memory of light filtering through my grandmother's bedroom curtains at nap time. Curtains that could have been sourced at N.H. Fallis ... I'll have to ask her.

Pedal Power

On June 8th my sister and I traveled by car and ferry to meet up with our big city cousin, and all together we attended the 2nd Annual Enterprising Mom's Network Summit at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. Entitled "Pursue Your Passion", a number of experienced and successful women spoke on their accomplishments on being a mother and business woman. It was inspiring and encouraging - I boarded the ferry on Sunday morning half expecting to come home that evening feeling deflated by the weight of everything I wasn't doing ... instead, I returned empowered and affirmed - with Dress Me Up and the Teething Bonbons I am on the right track in many ways! - and having made an exciting connection with Jen Casey of BC-based Dimpleskins Naturals. If you don't know about BumBum Balm and the rest of Jen's fantastically all-natural and chemical-free product line for babes and young children, I highly recommend that you become acquainted.



This is my husband, N., about to push off to work with 18 Teething Bonbons securely strapped to the back of his bicycle. He was my mailman last week, running down to the post office on his coffee break to send this order off to Dimpleskins' retail location in New Westminster. Thanks, my love! Happy Father's Day!

Fawn + Forest Gets Dressed Up

Okay, how cool is this?
I think it's the kitty's meow.
Thanks f+f!



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This Is Me

This afternoon, while Little R. napped, I rearranged the furniture in our living room to create a mini-self portrait studio. On the back of one of my grandmother's teak arm chairs I balanced a buckwheat heat pad (made by my stepmom, the woman who taught me pretty much everything I know at the sewing machine, and who, herself, knows only too well the relief warmth brings to stiff, achy, sewing hands). On the buckwheat heat pad I balanced the camera, (yes, still on loan from my sister), set to self-timer. I aimed the lens at the brick fireplace surround, depressed the shutter release half way to engage the auto focus and then went the distance - pushing the button down full stop, grabbing my cloth ball and darting into position.

I don't know how many trips back and forth I made from fireplace to arm chair, or how many frames I snapped (as you can imagine, there were many shots that required prompt deletion). Somehow, in the mini-sprints, I captured this and I am quite pleased.



Now, I don't usually make it a practice to make self portraits - this is for a bio piece on a new retailers website. I wanted it to be playful and nostalgic and artistic, and done by me. I think it does the trick.

Back Yard Shutter Bugs

Last Thursday was warm and sunny and fresh, and our two-street-over neighbours came by for a photo session with me and Little R.



In the shade of the Mountain Ash tree, kissed by spots of sun, Little S. sat content on the Double Cream Blanket, playing with blocks and balls - until she heard her Mama playing across the garden with her big Brother J, then she was on the move!


Big Bib, Little Bib for Wood Sprites of All Sizes

I just love this photo. Little S. playfully watched every move of Little R., in the big bib, who desperately wanted me to take the bib off. Little R. obliged for a frame or two, then promptly forgot that she was wearing it as she got up from the blanket and trucked over to play with the wagon with that big Brother J.


Organic Cloth Ball

I love this picture as well, everything about it - the gingham, the stripes, the plaid, the look of the ball itself, the light and shadow, and how it is all located in the frame. The form and beauty of the ball, and the invitation to play, is so accurately captured.

And, I'm thrilled with the ball itself - this is one of 8 test cloth balls that I did up last month. I'm working with a local artist/screenprinter to design and hand print my own fabrics (on certified organic cottons, printed with low-impact, water-based inks, of course). The test cloth balls worked out beautifully, and folks have been scooping them up at the Market. I am excited to be getting my final designs printed this week and next, and then stitched up - into balls and blocks and maybe one day, even into bibs and blankets too ... wooooooooooooooo !