The Newest Member of The Family: Casper

Another Nap art print

Inspiration comes from a lot of different places, but if you've been around for a while, you know that one of my greatest inspirations was our dog, Ivan. He passed away at the end of 2019, and two years later we added another member to our family, Casper.

I just realised that I have never introduced him to you, so I thought the perfect time would be when I shared my latest art print with you. It's a tribute to the curled-up pup that you have come to know and love, and it's called "Another Nap". I love that both of my little buddies enjoy making such a tight little donut shape with their bodies. 

It felt like a nice tribute to my little pup, while making Casper curl a different direction makes the art print distinctly him. Perhaps I should make a pin of him as well. What do you think?

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Behind the Art: Let us Eat Cake

Let Us Eat Cake card

I had the infamous words that Marie-Antoinette probably did not say in mind when I created this card as a fun play on the phrase -- kind of like a turning up of the nose at what was said. 

I have to say that eating cake is one of the best parts of having a birthday (though as an adult you really don't need a reason to eat it), and I want it to be known: "Let Us Eat Cake!!"

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Behind the Art: Sail Away

Sail Away art print

 

I have honestly never been on a sail boat, but I love the water and the way that you feel when you are doing something in it or on it. I was inspired by my son's board books when I made this drawing, as well as my love for the water; the simple lines combined the idea of the wind in your sail carrying you away on an adventure relaxes me.

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World Alzheimer's Month 2022

 Forget Me Not art print from Christine Weigelmann

It is the beginning of September, once again, marking the beginning of World Alzheimer's Month. As in years past, we are donating 15% of proceeds from all sales in the shop for this month to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan where they programs and services, awareness, advocacy and research where they seek to "[empower] all people to live well with dementia while funding research into prevention, cures and quality of life."

Over the last eight (8) years we have donated $190 to the Alzheimer Societies of Saskatchewan and Canada in honour of my Grandma. Please visit the shop (Etsy or Square) to make a purchase in support of World Alzheimer's Month. Let's get past $200 this year!

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Behind the Art: Mrs + Mr

Personal Titles card

I had been seeing a lot of letter blocking around in other forms of media and wanted to make a new wedding card using a vastly different font than I normally do (ie. my handwriting and printing), but the biggest thing for me while making this card was to put the Mrs in front of the Mr as it is typically the other way around when addressing a hetero couple. I really felt I needed to put the woman first in this instance.

It was also important to me that I make the card available as Mrs + Mrs and Mr + Mr, while also keeping the option open to have a different personal title made up if anyone has chosen to use something other than those two that I have used already.

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The Shop is 11

Rainbow Birthday card

I can't believe that I forgot the shop's birthday was at the beginning of this month! Maybe it's a testament to how busy I am (haha!), or maybe it's because the shop is 11 years old and I've just forgotten about it after this many years. 

Though I must not have truly forgotten, because I've been designing and preparing some new birthday cards these last couple of months (probably in anticipation for the shop's birthday), including this birthday card with a rainbow on it. 

I had a lot of fun playing with the thickness of each line of colour in the rainbow. Playing around with the design of the card is something that I've been having fun with recently. I can't wait to show you what else has been swimming around in my mind lately!

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Behind the Art: Bridges

 

Bridges art print

Several years ago, I created a map of the city I grew up in that had a few of the places that stand out (to me) as places that would be recommended to visitors. They are the places that many locals would tell you are the first to pop into their minds when asked about something that stands out in their city, and they are places that I like to go myself. 

In the middle of this map, I put the South Saskatchewan River as the riverbank is one of the things that Saskatoon is most known for, along with the bridges that help you go from one side of the city to the other. Since I drew the map, the city has gained a few more bridges, and so I created the Bridges art print to showcase the beauty of the bridges that help residents across the river.

Starting in the north end with the Chief Mistawasis Bridge and going all the way to the southern part of the river and the Gordie Howe Bridge, I drew the seven main traffic bridges that can be found in the city (yes there are a few more). I tried my best to pay attention to the details of each bridge, but still keep the simplicity of all of the other pieces of artwork that I have done.

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2021: The Year In Numbers

For a third year, you have made the Curled-Up Pup enamel pin the most popular item in the shop. It makes my heart so happy that the drawing of my little dog has resonated with you so much. We continue to donate $1 from every enamel pin, card, and art print sold, and were able to donate $30 to our local SPCA this year (thank you!!).

Also thanks to you, the best selling cards in the shop this year were Chosen Mom, Goodbye, Sorry For Your Loss, and Dog Baby. Not to be outdone, Moon of My Life and Sun & Stars were among your favourites. It's nice to see such a variety of cards that can be useful in your lives!

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As for the blog, The Importance of Rough and Tumble Play was our top post this year, quickly followed by the story behind the I Love You x 15 card, the book review for Light from Other Stars by Erika Swyler, and The Importance of Letting Children Complete Tasks on Their Own.

Just like with the cards in the shop, it's wonderful to know that there are so many different blog posts that you can find here that provide you with information, or that you just enjoy reading. 

Take care in 2022!! We'll be right here with you :)

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Behind the Art: Happy Birthday Bird

Happy Birthday Bird card

This cute little card is one of the first birthday cards that I designed for the shop. It comes from a pair of drawings that I made as a set for the shop when it was originally opened. The image on this card is the first print, and the second print was the bird after it had eaten the cupcake and was incredibly full! 

Eventually I just decided to make it into a card, as some of the other prints have done in the past (like the Ivan print, this heart print and the Simply the Best artwork).

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Shop Update: Christmas Cards 2021

 

The 2021 Christmas cards that I have been designing since the end of last Christmas (inspiration usually strikes when you need it the least) are now available in the shop! 

Why are the cards being listed soooo far ahead of the actual season? A lot of small online shops like to get holiday items ready to go so that they can be shipped out in time for them to reach everyone before the big day(s), which means that many of us are making them available before other holidays and celebrations have even begun.

Compared to the simplicity of our other Christmas cards, these four cards are by far the busiest cards that I have designed in the 11 years the shop has been open. You can find Chillin With My Snowmies, Christmas Wonderland, Happiest Christmas, and Bring On The Holidays in the shop along with all of the other Christmas cards.

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The Shop is 10

Wow. Ten years ago I took the leap and opened up Little Shop of ElleSee on Etsy. It's been quite the journey so far. There are so many dreams that I have had for the shop that I have yet to achieve, and some that I have accomplished, and you have been right by my side through it all. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I am incredibly grateful for the love that you give the shop. Parhaps you have purchased a card, art print, or Curled-Up Pup pin; maybe you have never made a purchase, but you follow along on social media and cheer along the sidelines. However you are involved with the shop, I am thankful for you!

There is still so much more that I plan to do, that I want to do, but sometimes it can get really overwhelming. I am not a marketing mogul, or an Instagram influencer, and most of the stuff I do I make up two seconds before I post it because I am the worst at planning things -- I am writing this at 7:30pm on the shop's birthday, though I did take the photo yesterday -- so a lot of times I am not in line with the trends, but Little Shop of ElleSee is slowly getting out there, and travelling around the world because of you, and the kind words that you share about the work I do. Cheers!!

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2020 Shop Year-End

For the second year in a row, the Curled-Up Pup pin has been a fan favourite! As well, the Simple the Best card, Rainbow of My Life card, Moon of My Life card, and Dog Baby card were the top cards in the shop (both in favourites and purchases).

This year you helped us donate $65 to OUTSaskatoon, $51 to the Saskatoon SPCA, and $20 to the Alzheimer's Society of Saskatchewan. While it wasn't a completely earth shattering year, the shop did make more than 100 sales (which is a record!) and it was all because of you and your unwavering support throughout the year. Thank you for all the love! Here's to the New Year.

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Shop Update: Virtual Markets 2020

This socially distant year calls for a socially distant approach to shopping handmade markets for the holiday season. So, we will be participating in two virtual markets this month in the hopes to help you find the perfect gift or holiday card for your loved ones (for those you'll see in person, and from a social distance). 

The first virtual market is the Etsy SK Market (you can find it here) that will be taking place this weekend, Friday, November 6-7.

 

The other virtual market that we will be taking part in is The Wren's Virtual Handmade Market starting Saturday, November 21 and ending Sunday, November 22.

We've shopped some virtual markets this year already, and absolutely love how quick and easy it is to shop and find what you're looking for, but we will very much miss being able to see you in person and visit with all the shoppers that come to the table. 

Stay safe and have fun perusing!

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Behind the Art: Hi!

 

Hi! Fish Card

Sometimes I come up with these ideas that I think are really funny (but probably just me) and so I make them into a card. This card came from the thought of "what if we could see what a fish was thinking like in a thought bubble, but the face of the fish stays the exact startled/surprised/unimpressed look that fish usually have", and this is what I drew!

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Shop Update: World Alzheimer's Month 2020

 

I am so excited to be able to share that with you support, we were able to donate $20 to the Alzheimer's Society of Saskatchewan this year. It's an odd year this year with not being able to do in-person handmade markets, so I was a bit worried about how much we would be able to collect for donations, but you came through and made lots of purchases in September, making it so we could add to our total. So far, including this year, we have donated $180 to the Alzheimer's Societies of Canada and Saskatchewan. Thank you!!

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The Shop: Pride Month and Beyond

Earlier this year, I did a thing. I created looks for the Simply the Best t-shirts and tank tops using the main characters from Schitt's Creek as my inspiration (if you follow along on Instagram you may have already seen them). It was a lot of fun coming up with the outfits for each character and putting them together along with hair and make-up (kudos to those who do this work on a regular basis as it is not easy work for one person).

Last year I announced that any purchases from the Schitt's Creek Inspired Items section of the shop would be donated to OUTSaskatoon, and I have continued to do that this year as well. Then I made another announcement at the beginning of June that I would be donating all of the profits from the purchase of any Schitt's Creek items in the shop to OUTSaskatoon. It is something that I continued this June, but failed to mention at the beginning of Pride Month.

So while I have been donating all of the profits from the sale of Schitt'e Creek items for the month of June, I want to let you know that I will continue into the month of July so that you can have an opportunity to help OUTSaskatoon to the max!

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The Shop is 9

This month is the shop's 9th birthday! It's unbelievable that we have reached this point, that so much time has passed and we have seen the shop grow and develop into what it is today. I still have so many dreams for the shop, so there's a long way to go on this winding road that Little Shop of ElleSee is taking, but I am so glad that you have been walking along with me (see the journey so far here). Whether you have been with me since the beginning, or have just joined in on the adventure, I have loved having you with me. You've made excellent company!

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Shop Update: Valentine's Day 2020

Valentine's Day is creeping closer (hopefully not like a creeper), and it's time for the shop to start thinking about all those cards and gifts that you'd like to give to the ones you love (because this is totally different from Christmas). While all of your favourites are still available (find them here), there are a couple of new cards in town: one that was inspired by Sharon, Lois and Bram (hello Canadian childhood!), and one that popped into my mind after my husband helped me find something that I was searching for for 10 minutes and he found within a few seconds after I started having a meltdown.

Underneath the Moon card 

Love You Because interactive card

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The Little Shop of ElleSee Gift Guide

Christmas is getting closer, and Little Shop of ElleSee has you covered! From Christmas and Hanukkah cards, to t-shirts, brooches and pins, and art for your walls, we've got everything that you need for the holiday season. Plus, we wrap it and ship it with care so it arrives safely at your home. You can also pick a little something up for yourself, if you like!

JEWELLERY

Curled-up Pup Soft Enamel Pin 

Balloons Brooch

Simply the Best Pin-back Button 

Tetrahedron Air-dry Clay Brooch

STATIONERY

Spirit Through the Year card 

Season's Eatings card 

Let it Snow card

TO WEAR

Simply the Best Unisex Tank Top

Simply the Best Unisext T-Shirt

Simply the Best Ladies' Cut T-shirt

FOR YOUR HOME

Onward and Outward print 

Banana Shark print

Frida Kahlo print

Slow Down print

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World Alzheimer's Month 2019

Forget Me Not painting from The Colorful Cat Studio

September 1 marked the beginning of World Alzheimer's Month and the shop's 6th September supporting the Alzheimer's Socitety of Canada.

As with previous years, when you make a purchase in the shop, including at an markets we attend, 15% of your purchase will be donated to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada where they provide support to those who are suffering from the disease and their families, and to promote research.

My family was affected by Alzheimer's many years ago when my Grandma was diagnosed with the disease. It was incredibly difficult to watch not only her suffer through her last few years, but my Grandpa and Dad as well.

I don't know if there will ever be a cure, or even a solid way to prevent Alzheimer's and dementia, but I do know that I will continue to support ALZ Canada as long as the shop is open in the hopes that your contribution through purchasing something for your own family or friends will help someone else's.

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