Fun stuff for sale

At near every event I'm asked if I make all of my products myself. It's an exciting question because I'm so proud to say that my hand is personally in each and every product that is made and sold - it's not just a concept that I came up with and handed off to others to make - and because I get to let people know about the amazing women who help me make Dress Me Up possible. Cathy is one of those women, a stay at home mum keeping it together beautifully in the midst of all sorts of transitions and - you know, life.



I'm so fortunate to have found her - Cathy does the middle stages of my Organic Leaf Bibs and Cloth Balls - and it's my pleasure to direct you all to an online Clothes + Toy sale that she's having right over here. For folks in the Victoria area, this is a perfect way to score some near-perfect pieces for your little fellas, nephews, grandsons and god-sons. Happy shopping!

Because it just keeps getting COOLER

People. The Rebel Rebel Noel Bazaar. I'm in.
Heck, yeah merry hand made shopping!



Click on the poster to read the dates + details.
Can't wait to see you there.

Knitted Owl

Tonight! Tomorrow! Come for awesome designer craftiness!



Make it a handmade holiday.

All grown up

This is a picture of Ruby on our new couch. Can you believe it? She's three years and one-and-one-half-months old now. How grown up is that.



I'm actually wondering if any one has any tips on how to clean scent from a leather couch? We bought this couch used from a really lovely young fella, but ... it turns out that he wore a strong cologne. Strong for me anyway. Nathaniel thinks that most would say it's very subtle, but when I lay down to nap (ha!) it's all that I smell. I was thinking about using an unscented leather cleaner and putting a drop or two of an essential oil into it - something like orange or cinnamon. Am I nuts?

Craft Talk

Okay, I still have tears streaming down my face, this video made me laugh so hard. It came to me from Katie (Katie is my master ball and block stuffer, hallelujah!). Last night, Katie came by to pick up some work. We were talking about how, when we get to the point where we know it's time to stop and go to bed already, we end up saying to ourselves 'just one more block, just one more bonnet, I can do it, I can do it!'. We just can't stop the craft ... I am pretty sure that one of us said the words 'work through the pain' to describe those last I CAN GET IT DONE minutes. Okay, hours.



Thanks, Katie!

Stockings Posted

Just a quite note today to let you know that I've got Stockings 1, 2 and 6 listed on dressmeup.etsy.com. More are to come - you can see what's in store in the image above. (I have just enough vintage wool to make two stockings from some of the wool pieces - email me if you're interested in one that is not yet posted to my Etsy store.)

Mmmmm, Christmas! It's a-comin'.

When in labour ...

I had the best email this morning from a customer in Switzerland. She was placing an order while she was in labour! Now that's a super mama. How exciting!

Also exciting - my first Holiday events this weekend. Quickly, here are the details:

1. Christmas at the Lake Craft Fair
Sat Nov 14, 10am - 4pm at 5358 Sparton Rd, just off W. Saanich Rd at the Prospect Lake Comunity Hall. My dear friend Mercedes will be running the show for me, come by to say hi!

2. IGLOO
Sat Nov 14, 12pm - 11pm at the Marriott Hotel Ballroom on Humbolt St in downtown Victoria. Andrea, Nathaniel and Leanne will be at the Marriott as I run back and forth between the two shows!



Keep next weekend open too for the Knitted Owl Designer Fair ... Fri + Sat Nov 20 + 21 at the Fernwood Community Centre. I'll post details on Monday.

I heart Scrubs

Scrubs is one of my all time favourite TV shows. It makes me laugh so hard. Remember the episode "My Musical" when the rival intern gangs break it down West Side Story style? Now, that's a hospital show.

Anyhow.

Judy Reyes, the actress who plays the amazing and don't take no crap Carla (Karla?), is pregnant (yes, in real life) and recently was thrown a baby shower. The gift bags were provided by Jewels & Pinstripes, a celebrity gift bag company in LA, and get this - each gift bag contained one of my Teething Bonbon and Leaf Bib sets. How's that for cool!



Oh! And if you want your hand in winning one of the gift bags from Judy Reyes' Baby Shower you can enter here on Celebrity Baby Blog. Good luck!

Tea Linens and Woolen Stockings

Today we get a new (used) couch, and pass on our old one ... and all of a sudden our living room will feel so grown up. This is a proper living room sofa we found. There's no turning back.

Today we also hope to sell our car, and I hope to get some sewing done. Ruby hopes to go to the park, and Nathaniel ... well, I think he hopes that we all nap.

On my sewing table today are stacks of cloth balls - this week, made from vintage tea linens and organic cotton, and stuffed with lamb's wool. I'm preparing them for my coming holiday craft shows, and I'm thoroughly enjoying working with different fabrics for these one of a kind toys. (I will have my all organic, hand screen printed toys at the shows too.)

If things go really well today, I will also have images of the woolie stockings to post (ahh, this may be a teeny bit ambitious) ... Oh, you will drool with delight when you see the wool fabric pairings. Sock it to me, retro nostalgic charm.

This week I was honoured to be interviewed by Emira, co-author of The Boss Of You, and the interview is posted here on their website. Emira and Lauren's book is a must read for every woman starting and running her own business. Thanks for the props!

Don't forget to take advantage of my 20% off discount code for all products on DressMeUp.ca! Enter GIFT20 at the checkout. Enjoy!

Heatfelt Gratitude ~ 20% Off!

From my newsletter:

My studio is buzzing! I’m gearing up for my holiday events and there are lots of orders going out to retailers and customers alike. I so love and appreciate all your help in making this a successful year for Dress Me Up! To say thank you, I’m offering a 20% discount for all online orders at DressMeUp.ca*, just in time for the holidays!

The discount code is GIFT20 and you’re more than welcome to share the code with friends and family. (My customers outside of Canada + USA can enjoy the 20% discount as well! Just send me an email with your order details, and I’ll send you a PayPal invoice for the discounted total plus your international shipping cost.)

Enjoy!

* Not available on Etsy.

That toy is a real three penny beaver, eh?

I've just posted our newest soft toy, the Limited Edition Three Penny Beaver to our DressMeUp.ca site! Available now for immediate shipping, this sweet woodland friend makes a darling gift for your newest Canuck. (Don't forget the ex-pats!)



Some have asked why "Three Penny" for this little beaver's name? Colonial Canada's first postage stamp was for 3 cents, and featured a beaver. The stamp came to be refered to as 'the three penny beaver'. More recently, the phrase 'three penny beaver' has been used to describe something that's really awesome. The online Urban Dictionary offers this example of useage (I love it!)

"That poutine is a real three penny beaver, eh?"

Heck, yeah!