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October 28, 2010

Halloween {Tricks and Treats}

I love Halloween - both the tricks and the treats. It is so much fun to add some fun to a child or adults halloween with a bag of halloween surprises.
Above are some of the items that would make a great treat bag. Candy, vintage tricks and treats, notebooks, pencils and stickers.
All of these tricks and treats can be placed in a paper bag decorated with stamps and stickers.

Finally, add some green tissue, skeleton confetti and seal with a spooky sticker! Happy Halloween!

October 22, 2010

Words to live by

I really enjoy pieces of design that have a hand made or crafted feel. That is why I love cut paper or hand drawn type posters from the 1960's. I was inspired by those posters to create a series of five posters that incorporate famous quotes that I really love. Below are two of the five posters.

All of the posters are somehow inspired by New York, not all as literally as these two. New York and it's classic architecture, rich history and constant buzz is a constant source of inspiration. Hope you like them.

October 13, 2010

Make: Coffee Sleeve

Today I want to share with you the instructions to make a rockin' coffee sleeve. With the cold weather here why not dress up your favorite warm beverage with this simple project.


You will need:
- a cardboard coffee sleeve (to use as a template)
- a scrap piece of medium density felt
- freezer paper
- fabric paint and brush
-chalk
- a punch or exacto knife to cut out your design
- sewing machine (or a needle and thread)
- iron


First, fold your felt in half and using your chalk trace the coffee sleeve and cut it out.

Next, cut or punch the design out of a piece of freezer paper that will fit on your sleeve. Iron the waxy down to adhere the freezer paper to your felt. Using your fabric paint and brush stencil in your design.

Finally, using either a sewing machine or your needle and thread, sew the two short edges together and viola a great gift for yourself or the coffee lover in your life. This is only one way to decorate your coffee sleeve - you could also embroider, stud or glitter your design so let your imagination run wild.

October 12, 2010

(Canadian) Thanksgiving : Thanks Mom

This past weekend was Thanksgiving and as usual my mom made it beautiful in an non-traditional way. I think that when people think of Thanksgiving they think of deep, dark colours, corn and turkeys but it doesn't have to be. The thoughts behind her Thanksgiving decor were fall colours, nature and natural fabrics.
The dishes are vintage Vera sunflower plates which are great for the summer when mixed with white but equally beautiful for fall when mixed with a natural linen table cloth.
The flowers are from the back yard and the leaves were picked up on a walk in the park. The flowers keep with the colour palette by using varying shades of yellow. You don't have to match colours exactly - if you keep it monochromatic it will work.
Lastly, my mom's untraditional dessert - carrot cake. But doesn't it just make sense? Carrots are a great fall vegetable in a beautiful fall colour. So next time you're planning a dinner or family gathering look to what you have in your cabinet and how you can use it in a different way. I hope that these photos inspire you to look at things in a different way.