Pear Tree Collective ~ Winter Market

My last event of the season is the Pear Tree Collective, a winter market hosted by the lovely ladies at Floating Gold Iceberg Boutique. Cara and Angie took over the retail space next to the FGI shop and in partnership with Verbena Floral Design, they have created the most GORGEOUS handmade fashion and baby and home wares show of the season. It's quaint and sparkly, and the perfect way to wrap up your holiday shopping.



I am so thankful to Cara and Angie for helping me to still participate in the show ... We came home from last weekend's epic 6-day One Of A Kind Show adventure to a flooded basement (unusually high rains + high tide + poorly maintained neighbourhood creek = ten houses on our block - all flooded!). We've been dealing with the ins and outs of water damage, insurance, computer meltdowns and parenting (day care flooded too - what are the chances, seriously.) and I didn't think I'd be able to manage being in the Pear Tree Collective event, but the women of FGI are staffing my booth. Oh, heavens ~ I thank thee!

I have lots to tell you about the One Of A Kind Show (it was great!) and other Dress Me Up happenings so stay tuned. In the meantime, visit the Pear Tree Collective Market today till 6pm and tomorrow 11am - 5pm.

Warm thanks, always and dearly, for buying handmade.

Zippy Crazy!

Tomorrow I head to the One Of A Kind Show, at the New Convention Centre right down on the Vancouver city waterfront ... LOVELY! I'm so excited, and up to my eye balls in all sorts of details - and stocking orders! It's been totally thrilling to have my stockings garner such love this holiday season. I've been shipping them off to every which place - the UK, Ireland, LA, Kansas City, Calgary! And I have a tidy pile of Victoria-based orders to do upon my return from OOAK.



It's a bit too late to have stockings ship regular post, but you can still get 'em if I send them Express Post (within Canada $15-$25), or Priority International Courier to the USA ($45). Locals are more than welcome to place orders right up to Dec 20th.

These stockings make me really happy. I love making them! Let me make some for you. Oh! And come see me, Nathaniel, Emma and Kerry at the One Of A Kind Show - this weekend. Maybe you'll find your stocking there (I'll have about 20 with me). xo

They call her ... Emma.

Over the next while, I’ll be introducing you to the women on my team. Given that it’s Movember, I thought I’d start with Emma (She’s the one on the left. And yes, it's permanent.).



Emma’s currently a second year Visual Arts student at the University of Victoria who dabbles in disguise and has awesome key chains. May you love her too!

From Emma

What's your #1 go to song to get pumped up by?
Currently, Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over

What's the last book you read, and would you recommend it to others?
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (for school, not pleasure). I suppose I'd recommend it on the grounds of it's classic nature, and ongoing, globe-sweeping influence. Best paired with rainy days, dimly lit coffee shops, and strong espresso.

What's one teeny thing that you do to make your life more eco-friendly?
I buy locally grown, seasonal vegetables from a grocer named John in Cook St Village. (By day he is an elderly grocer, by night he is a musician, performing in the nearby Serious Coffee.) Peels, cores, and forgotten-in-the-fridge bits get composted.

If you had a little extra cash, what would you treat yourself to?
Breakfast at Lady Marmalade, a weekend getaway to Seattle, or Dan Mangan tickets.

Where do you find grounding and connect with the sacred in your life?
On the beach, in the forest, at the kitchen stove, in the garden, in the company of children... Wandering & breathing deep of salty air, marveling at nature, cooking & sharing meals with people I love, nurturing growth & harvesting, playing & learning.

What one food will you not eat?
Jello. It freaks me out. The way it looks/moves/smells/feels/tastes/slides down your throat... By far it is the creepiest food.

Knock, Knock ...
Who's there? A little old lady. A little old lady who? I didn't know you could yodel.

Fave blog or website to check out?
http://www.postsecret.com/

Which DMU products do you work on?
It's been a variety - but mostly Teething Bonbons, and soon some sales work!

I dream of flannel

This was the scene at our place yesterday. Yards and yards and yards of organic flannel carefully cut into receiving blankets, burp cloths and Double Cream blanket backings. I got a system down that involved one large stack of the folded yardage - think Princess and the Pea - and I cut through 2 layers at a time till I got to the bottom. It made cutting multiples so much easier, and faster. Down at the end Ruby mastered snipping flannel scraps with craft scissors. Craft scissors on flannel? The girl has got a magic touch.

All This Season's Events

So glad to have a handbill made with this year's DMU holiday shopping events. I dearly hope to see you at one of these great events. Thanks for buying handmade!



(Are you a huge Belle & Sebastian fan too?)

Another event!

We'll also be at the Sunrise Waldorf School Christmas Fair in Duncan BC on Nov 20th! I'm sooooooo excited to be part of this magical family event. I'll have more information on this show and the times of the other shows up here soon (not all have been announced yet).

Coming Events!

Our Moss Street Market Season is finished, but there are lots of other opportunities to shop from us in person. Come see us at one of our many Holiday and Christmas Shows!

The Owl Designer Show
(formally The Knitted Owl)
26, 27 November 2010
at the Fernwood Community Centre

Hemmamade
One night only, 27 November 2010
at Hemma Yogo Studio

Rebel Rebel Noel Bazaar
30 Nov, 1 + 2 December 2010
at the Victoria Event Centre

The One Of A Kind Show & Sale
9, 10, 11, 12 December 2010, Vancouver BC
at the Vancouver Conference Centre

Making Movies

I love my Mac, and this wonderful movie that was a fun afternoon project. Enjoy!

Handmade Birthday

We got our Facebook page going, and I'm back on the tweet wagon (kinda), and we've got a great promotion happening with Blissmo this week. It's all happening online, baby ... except for the stuff that's not! Two of my all-time favourite crafters are also my right and left hand booth neighbours at the Moss Street Market. And neither of them are online! So I have to tell you about them here, and you have to come see them (and me!) at the Market.



Gord Reslig, potter, is on my left and Charlotte Campbell, fashion designer and screen printer, is on my left.



My birthday this year was blessed with handmade gifts crafted by Gord and Charlotte. The birthday banner that I made for our family celebrations was strung to indicate the birthday zone and my spot at the breakfast table was marked with a beautiful hand drawn (and stamped and dabbed) card made by Ruby, and a bowl full of steaming, organic porridge. Yum.





She drew me a brown bear. Sweetness! See you at the Market!

Joining the world of social networking ... finally!

After some great convo with Matt and Theresa (and ongoing virtual inspiration by Seth and Tad), we've finally done it! Dress Me Up has got it's very own Facebook page!



Here's the link to our page on Facebook. As soon as we have 25 Likes under our belt, we'll go for the all important Facebook username status. So, come on - Like us!

My mom had those curtains

One of the best conversations I have had with a customer about one of my vintage /organic cotton blankets happened earlier this summer at the Oak Bay night market. Granted, my customer had just come from the Pennyfarthing after a night out with one of her girlfriends and she was a bit tipsy. But she was so much fun, and got me laughing about vintage fabrics and the stories they tell.

This blue Summer Blanket is what inspired her story-telling that night (IT'S THE EXACT SAME FABRIC AS THE CURTAINS AT MY PARENT'S COTTAGE), her reminiscing, and dreaming of her brother's soon to be born babe. The cottage and the curtains are long gone, but a new baby is a-coming, with a new story to tell.

For Ground, Stroller, Carrier, Superhero Powers + Fort Making

Yesterday, when she was three, Ruby helped me with an Ostrich Picnic Blanket photoshoot. I think she rolled and frolicked about on eight new blankets. I'm going to have them, and more, at the Moss Street Market today. Come see!

And now, she is 4.

Happy Birthday, Ruby Nora!

Tiny Sparrow Foundation

Last Saturday was my birthday (36!), this Saturday is Ruby’s birthday (4!), and tomorrow is a special fundraising event - all the way down in Texas! - for a special organization. The Tiny Sparrow Foundation recruits and trains professional photographers across the the world to offer free portrait sittings and prints to families whose children are living with cancer.



I receive requests for giveaways and donations all the time. Like, all the time. Usually they are from lovely people and for lovely causes, and sincerely wish that I had the resources to donate to them all. The work of the Tiny Sparrow Foundation spoke to me. My aunt lost her baby to a brain tumor when I was 6 months old. My friend lost her baby to heart failure when Ruby was 4 months old. In my teen years two young friends died – one of leukemia, the other of heart disease. The loss and pain and grief is immeasurable, yet my friends and the families that Tiny Sparrow work with inspire hope and strength and grace in all of us. With gratitude for my family’s strong health and my life’s rich blessings, it was a delight to send a package of Dress Me Up gifts for the Tiny Sparrow Foundation’s Silent Auction.

If you happen to find yourself in McKinney, Texas tomorrow night, be sure to attend "Pictures of Hope Fashion Event" at True Rumors, beginning at 7:00 pm. You can also donate to the foundation following the Donate Now button on their site.

10% Off @ Dress Me Up.ca

Tomorrow is my birthday! And to celebrate we're offering 10% off all sales on DressMeUp.ca. Enter the code TB10 at check out and your order will be automatically discounted 10% before taxes (if applicable). Combined with our already fantastically low shipping rate, our birthday sale makes tomorrow a day to celebrate, indeed. Woot Woot!

xo Tressa

New Eyes

Ruby has started taking pictures with my digital camera. I'm always, always surprised at what she wants to capture - like this, my computer screen. But I love it, these new perspectives of my everyday world. And I love those little hands - Ruby's! - modeling something new for Dress Me Up. (And no, I'm not potting too. This is a collaboration with local Victoria BC potter, Mary, that I am sooooooo excited about. Details coming soon!)

Oh, my! Yes Indeed!

Our giveaway is up on Oh My! Handmade Goodness ! The contest closes at midnight on Tues Sept 22. Click on over and leave a comment on the OMHG site to enter ... And to pick up our 10% discount code, good on DressMeUp.ca until my birthday, September 25th!



Good luck, and happy shopping!

Green Tomatoes & Studio

It's raining here. A LOT. I think autumn as officially come, which I think means the green tomatoes still on our vines aren't going to ripen. Does anyone have any tips on what to do with them now ... ?



I took a couple of photos of my studio last week for the Oh My! Handmade Goodness interview - carefully snapped shots as my space was so full. Lissa was a super woman with the scissors and rotary cutter for 2 weeks straight. (Before she left me for New York City. I am living vicariously through her all this fall. She gets to spend time with this designer. Exciting!) The piles are deep and inviting - so much work to do.



The baby is asleep. I should take advantage of the quiet and get sewing. See you at the Market tomorrow - rain or shine.

xo

Mama Made

Jessika over at Oh my! Handmade Goodness recently interviewed me, and the piece is now on her site ready for your reading pleasure. I hope you enjoy it! Be sure to head back to Oh my! Handmade Goodness next week - I'll be offering a giveaway for OMHG readers on Sept 19th. Exciting!

Saturday is Market Day

It's a gorgeous morning in Victoria. Our van is packed. The baby is being changed as I type (I have the best partner, ever). The three-almost-four year old is ANXIOUSLY awaiting our departure (she has a really EXCITING play date while Ma and Pa sell at the Market today).



One of the sweet new Winter Bonnets for sale today! Thanks for coming to see us and supporting us with your business! xo xo

Pee first, then brush teeth.

Serious whinging has hit our household, particularly at bedtime - and it isn't just from the almost-four year old. We made a Bedtime Jobs chart to make bedtime easier for us all. What I didn't anticipate was the element of absolute delight it brought to bedtime as well.



We sat down with art supplies at the ready, and I asked Ruby what needs to happen before bedtime. She listed off each job - and in order, no less - with not a pause for consideration (and this is a direct quote): Have a bath, put on pjs, brush teeth, have a pee, say goodnight to the stars and the sky, read a story, go to sleep. She nailed it. We decided to add 'tidy up' to the beginning of the routine, as that's the last thing we do before we really dive into getting ready for bed. Jobs listed, we were ready to make art.



I drew a simple line drawing for each job with a black marker - all on one piece of paper to make colouring easier for Ruby. Ruby tackled the sheet with markers, pencil crayons and dabbers. I cut out each drawing, and connected two coloured pieces of paper together as the backing chart for the images. On the left, "Ruby's Bedtime Jobs" and the right, "Finished ... Time for Bed ...". After a short struggle with sticky back velcro tabs we had the pictures set, stuck and ready for action. I hastily taped the chart to the bathroom door just as Ruby and Nathaniel finished the first job - Tidy Up.



Bedtime was fun last night, if not slightly manical as Ruby moved pictures from one side of the chart to the other, and then back again ("Oh. Oh! Pee first, then brush teeth!"). And there was nary a whinge.

Water and Mandala Blessing Way

My littlest is 12 weeks old this week. I'm stunned at how quickly time has passed. The season is already turning, summer to fall, and little June grows and grows. Spring - and my pregnancy - seems soooooo long ago.

In May, my sister and I gathered five of my close mama-friends - each mother to two children - to celebrate my own pending 'mama-to-two-ness'. We traveled to the Kingfisher Resort and walked the hydropath, then picniced at Rathtrevor Beach and drew a communal mandala - a symbol for me to use in labour, blessings for labour and delivery, focusing me and reminding me of the circle of women supporting me. Here's some pictures from that beautiful day.


En route, gorgeous Mamas!


Ah! Waiting for our turn in the hydropath.


Potluck beach feast.


Mandala drawing.


Piecing the mandala together.


Circle of love and power, strength and focus. I love these hands and all that they, all who they, hold.

PS. Market Day

We'll be at the Moss Street Market tomorrow, in our usual spot across from the Music Tent. Come see us, and my new creations!

Fall Creations

I'm beginning to build my inventory for the upcoming autumn and christmas season, and thankfully Lissa has returned to me from her summer in Naramata to help me with snip snip snipping! This is some of today's work ... a tall pile of Winter Bonnet pieces, and three short piles for three delightful products: a woolie take on the Rabbit Rattle (a 'winter wabbit', if you will), my new Double Cream Blankets and the ever-popular Vintage Stockings. Mmmm, cozy!

Oak Bay Night Market

I love the long, low light that shines bright just before dusk. This is me and my girls at the Oak Bay Night Market two weeks (or so...) ago. It was an impromptu decision to attend that night as vendors, and I'm glad we did! We met a number of new folks and reconnected with old friends - namely Cindy and Neil of Timeless Toys in Oak Bay Village. I'm excited for their new location, right on Oak Bay Avenue!

Little Hands Make Light Work

We're heading to the Market. My little helper made getting ready all the more sweeter this morning!

Breast is Best

An old/new friend and HUGE Dress Me Up supporter is hosting a Gala this weekend, raising money for her Booby Buddies CIBC Run for the Cure Team. Live music, good food and a Silent Auction are all planned, and Sara's been collected exciting donations for the event. Here's my contribution to her very important cause:



It's a beautiful lightweight blanket made from vintage seersucker cotton and organic cotton, paired with a darling toddler bonnet. The bonnet is constructed from all organic cottons, and those sweet little leaves you see on the brim? They were screen printed by yours truly (before my belly got too big with babe). The value for the set is $73. I'm honoured to have been asked for a donation to Sara's event - and can't wait to see how much money it helps to raise!

There are still a few tickets left for this event! Visit the Pink Gala and Silent Auction Facebook page to learn more, and get your ticket.

H! O! T! HOT!

Saturday at the Market was a SCORCHER. The week before it poured rain, this week we cooked. It was so hot! Record breaking temperatures were all the talk of the Market.



It was too hot to touch, so we lay June out on an Ostrich Blanket (the first one I ever made, o-so-many-years-ago-now). There was a hint of breeze at ground level.



And at Market's end we left up the tent as a sunshade, sitting on the gear, while Nathaniel retrieved the van.

Plump, Plump It Up

I recently saw an ad that brought me to this website: Say No to Plumping. I'm glad that the site is full of important and helpful information that reveals truths about an aspect of our industrialized meat system - and that it's not just propping up the company that created the ad. But what bothers me is that the campaign makes it out like it's the chickens who are deceiving us.

Children's Day!

Tomorrow is Children's Day at the Moss Street Market. Look at this wonderful line up of activities happening in all corners of the Market site:

• 10am - 1:30pm Cardboard Eco-Village Creation at the Children's Tent!
• 10am - 2pm Activities with Vendors at the Vendor booths!
• 10:30-11am, 11:30am-12pm Storytelling and String art with Anne Glover!
• 12 - 1pm Shakespeare Theatre!
• 1:30pm Parade!

I'm bringing all my fabric scrap stash - a giant basket of organic cotton fabric pieces, perfect for quilting and piecing and all sorts of craft-making. 2 Bucks a Bag!

By Bus in the Rain

Last week the rear shocks on our van popped off whatever part of the van they are supposed to be attached to, rendering the van undrivable ... especially if laden with all my gear for a Market day. My sister and her fella came to our rescue, and what unfolded that wet and rainy Saturday morning was a total adventure for our new, still sleep deprived family of four.


Self timer, waiting for the bus.

Nathaniel loaded the teeny tiny hatchback that is my sister's car to the roof, then folded himself into the drivers seat. (Nathaniel is very tall. The car is very small.) Ruby, June and I bundled up in every piece of rain gear imaginable (gumboots, rain hat, stroller cover, raincoat, nose plugs) and trundled to the bus stop.


Taken by Ruby, me at the bus stop. I found this great jacket at a local thrift shop!

Living in Victoria, we often wake up to rain - that usually clears, at least in the summer season, by noon. Not so that Saturday. It POURED. Yet, Market Day was a lot of fun.


Mama and Babe at Market. Can you find the wee one? Note the Ostrich Blanket on the stroller. Perfect for rain protection.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Market in the rain, and to my lovely customers. It was all about baby gifts last Saturday! Thanks so much for choosing to buy handmade for the little ones in your lives.


The view from my chair.

Sleeping Babe

What a lovely Market day. It was made mysterious by thick, unseasonal and CHILLY fog and cozy by the warmth of a teeny sleeping babe. This photo was taken by Susan. She makes good earrings.