Safety never takes a holiday

We live in a sixty year old, one and a half story house. It has six steep and narrow concrete steps up to our front door, steps that - when we first moved in with our little one who was just mastering stairs - made me nervous. They still do, though we're all used to them now. However, tomorrow night, when little costumed ones bound up them with enthusiasm and reduced vision (darkness! masks! wigs askew!) and laden with loot, my worst fear is tripping and tumbling. So, last week when we went to Dan's Farm to choose our pumpkin, I picked up six smaller pumpkins with our front stairs especially in mind.


Day ...

I do have to admit that inspiration for this idea came in part from Ella at Little Red Caboose. One of my favourite Etsy stores and inspiring crafter-aquaintences, Ella and I were both exhibiting at the One Of A Kind Show and on one of her display shelves, she had a beautiful photo showing her wool felt balls tumbling down a flight of stairs with vinyl numbers on each rise, counting the steps up.


Night!

Paired with an orange bulb in our porch light, these glowing orbs will do the safety trick. And did I mention how much Lil R. LOVES counting them again and again. And again. And ... again, just one more time. Ooooh, numbers.

Do you want plastic with that?

We're doing Halloween at home this year (last year we went to friends). Lil R is dressing up as a TIGER and we've planned out a 8-house route for her (she is only 3). We have Kleenex ghosties in our front window and carved pumpkins on our step waiting to be all lit up. Today I went to buy candy for our neighbourhood ghoulies, and as I poured over all of the awful ingredients and product placement packaging, I wondered - if I'm not going to find anything remotely healthy, what will be my next criteria for choosing from the rows of candy?

Packaging.

I bought the only (one!) type of candy that was not wrapped in plastic - it's the movie candies: mini Junior Caramels + Mints, Toostie Rolls, Charlston Chews, etc. If I have to give any props to any sugar company, it's theirs, I guess, for using recyclable, cardboard wrappings instead of plastic.

Addition: It turns out that the Junior Mints, while in cardboard boxes, are also individually wrapped in plastic, about 10 per bag I think. I believe this is to keep the mint from contaminating all the other flavours. Weighing the packaging of all the candy I saw, I would still choose this variety.

Igloo

What a lovely flyer! I'm so excited to be part of Igloo this year, what an honour to be nestled in with Victoria's finest designers! Put this date on your calendar: Sat 14 Nov, 5-11pm at the Marriott Ballroom.

(I'll be sending a Newsletter out with all my wintery events - early next week. If you haven't signed up for my Newsletter, why not do it now?)

Yes!

It's not raining and the sky is covered in ribbons of clouds glowing from the rising sun's light. It's going to be a gorgeous autumn day! I'll be at the Moss Street Market, 10-2 at the corner of Moss St + Fairfield Rd. I've got new woolie Winter Bonnets, Ostrich Blankets and my new Three Penny Beaver ready for show. Come visit me, and all our Market vendors!

Woolie Stockings

Last Christmas I made new stockings for our family. I recently pulled them out of the Christmas box for inspiration on this next project and I was reminded of how much I really, really love them. It's the beautiful vintage wool pairings that ooze nostalgia and cozy, makin' my heart flutter with the desire to drink hot chocolate and string popcorn and hum carols with Frank and Bing. Now, that's a good stocking.



It's a bit early to be thinking holiday decor, but I did want to give you a heads up - this year I am making 30 or so, one of a kind stockings just like these - for you! Come November, I'll post all the wool pairings together in one-easy-to-choose-from-image, showing the available combos. All you have to do is let me know which combo you'd like and what your special letter is.



Made from 100% vintage wool suiting and blanketing, and lined with certified organic cotton so that the stocking won't loose it's shape. All the seams are hidden so no treats will be snagged or caught up in the toe. Approximately 22" high and 12" at the widest point. The letter is approx 4x4". Each stocking has a coordinating, secure loop at the top for optimal fireplace hanging. $55.

Happy Holidays, indeed!

Cotton on

The Ostrich Picnic Blanket circa 2007!

It's really foggy and damp in Victoria today. I love it. And it's inspired me to return to making the Ostrich Picnic Blankets - I've got 4 in the works right now, and I'm hoping to finish 6 for this weekend's Moss Street Market and for a custom order from Fort McMurray. I'm cutting and sewing stacks of vintage wool blanket pieces, yet all I can think of is cotton. Cotton! This is because I started a fascinating book last night, "Cotton: The Biography of a Revolutionary Fiber" by Stephen Yafa.



I can't read while I sew, so I was thrilled to find this podcast of an interview with Yafa. I about to press play ... I hope it's as exciting as the book!

Downpour

My, it's been some time since my last post! We had a fun and successful show at the One Of A Kind event in Vancouver. Thanks to so many for stopping by to shop and say hello - it's inspiring to connect with my customers personally. One woman came by just to say that there's a little baby in Denmark chewing on one of my Teething Bonbons (she bought it at the show last year). Love it.

Today I hoped to be at the Moss Street Market, but it is raining. Really raining. I don't usually let a bit of wet keep me away from the Market, but today the rain is heavy and shows no signs of letting up ... even after pouring down all night long. So, instead of schlepping my gear and goods and risk it all getting soaked, we're enjoying a cozy family day that started with pancakes and organic hot chocolate. Now, Nathaniel and Ruby are sitting on the couch listening to an old read-along record and soon we'll be piling up the van with our extremely large stash of plastics. We're heading to the Pacific Mobile Recycling station, then stopping by the Market to get some veg ... and maybe, just maybe if time and energy allows, popping into the museum for a bit of historical exploration.

If you were hoping to pick something up from me at the Market today, remember that I've now got a 'Free Pick Up' option on my website for local orders. Handy!

Happy, rainy day to you!

Random Number Generator

I used the RNG to determine the winner of Little Three Penny + the two tickets to the One Of A Kind Show. The RNG chose #8! Congratulations, Emira!

Thank you, everyone, for your warm comments and Three Penny cheering. I hope to see you at the OOAK Show! I'm going to be in the Green Section at Booth I-10 with my Three Penny friends, and other delightful soft toys. I'd love it if you would come and say hello!

Three Penny Luck!

Thanks for all your entries! The contest is now closed, and the winner will be announced on Tue Oct 6th.

It's finally ready to unveil ... Little Three Penny, Our Industrious Woodland Friend!



This is a limited edition soft toy, all organic, hand screenprinted fabric and stuffed with lamb's wool, just like my other soft toys. The Little Three Penny Beavers are going to be launched at the One Of A Kind Show, next weekend in Vancouver!

To get everyone excited, I'm giving away a pair tickets to the One Of A Kind Show and one Little Three Penny. All you have to do is leave a comment here on this blog! Entries are welcome until Monday the 5th, and I'll announce the winner on Tuesday the 6th. Best of Luck!

Off to Market, winter bonnets in tow

The weather has definitely changed here on Vancouver Island. The end of September and October's short beginning are brisk! and rainy! and oh-so-autumn! I love it, pulling out my warm sweaters, layering tops (I'm so stuck in the 80s) and stealing my husbands wool socks to wear as slippers. Autumn is also birthday season! Yesterday was my daughters THIRD birthday. Three. It's a big number.

Today the whole family is off to the Moss Street Market, as usual. It's a great Saturday routine. I'm excited to have a large stack of freshly stitched Winter Bonnets with me today, I only wish I had a picture to show you! You can go back a year or so in blogland to be reminded of the dallying I did in Winter Bonnets last year. This year, I've created a new pattern with a different brim and shorter chin straps, and the fabric pairings are so lovely! You'll have to come see for yourself, or just wait until I get Little R to model them for picture taking.

See you at the Market!

Start spreading the news

This morning I dropped Nathaniel off to work with this big box.



On Nathaniel's morning break, it's going to the post office, and then winging it's way to my new retailer, Kid O, in New York City. Dress Me Up in Kid O? THRILLING! One look at the image of their store and you can see why.



Now, clearly, I must arrange a trip to the Big Apple. Just to make sure not a block is out of place.