A DIY Christmas: Portrait Gift Tags

I bet the finishing touches are being added to your Christmas packages -- if not already. If you're still not quite done, and are looking for a fun way to let your friends and family know which gift belongs to them, try drawing little gift tag portraits. I did this last year for my husband's siblings and their spouses. It was a lot of fun drawing them up, and we got a few good giggles about how some of them turned out -- check out John Travolta and Michael Cain.

Happy making!

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A DIY Christmas: Gift Tags

Sadly, I did not document where the original idea for these gift tags came from, but if you find it please let me know so I can share it. I made these gift tags to go with all of the handmade gifts that I gave last year because they made me laugh, and they are so very true. You can't return a handmade gift unless you give it back to the person that made it for you...which I actually wouldn't mind at all :)

Happy making!

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A DIY Christmas - Air Dry Clay Jewellery Dish

For this project, I used a tutorial that I found on the website Camille Styles -- here. All I needed was air dry clay and some gold paint, so I popped into the craft store to purchase some. If you don't have a lot of items at your house that would make a cool imprint in the dish, you could probably pick something up along with the clay and paint -- I used a necklace chain to make my design.

This tutorial was easy enough to follow, and actually inspired me to work more with air dry clay -- hence the brooches that I made for the shop. There's nothing much to be concerned about here, the only thing I needed more of was patience while waiting for the clay to dry out. Sometimes it's difficult to do projects that require you to wait 24 hours or more before finishing it.

Happy making!

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A DIY Christmas: Galaxy Shoes

For this project I used a tutorial for a galaxy shirt from the website Auto Straddle -- I also used it once before to make a galaxy sweater. This is a DIY that I really enjoy doing -- obviously, or I wouldn't have done it twice.

Pay attention to the type of shoes that you are buying. They should be able to have paint on them without causing any problems. I had a little bit of trouble with trying to get them to bleach well, but I'm also inpatient and didn't leave them as long as I probably should. Also, If you don't want to get any paint on the rubber part of the shoes, you should cover them with painters tape before you create your galaxy.

Happy making!

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A DIY Christmas: Tea Bags

I created little tea bags of loose tea with tea that I had purchased from David's Tea, using this idea that I got from the blog Lia Griffith. Luckily, my mom had some cheese cloth that she let me use, and I used some shipping tags as the lables -- I put the ingredients of the tea on the back of the tag.

Be aware that the tea you choose may want to poke it's way out of the cheese cloth. I chose the one with thin tea leaves, so I had to push them back inside sometimes. You might also find it beneficial to have a double layer of the cheese cloth -- I just didn't have much to work with.

Happy making!

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A Gift to You: Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags

'Tis the season for wrapping present, and part of that includes a gift tag. My gift to you this season is free printable gift tags with some drawings from Little Shop of ElleSee. Some of them are currently on cards, and some of them are retired. I printed mine out on cardstock so that they were a little bit sturdier. 

Enjoy the season!

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A DIY Christmas: Studded Shirt

I got this idea from a blog called Project 22 - here. I didn't end up doing the entire back of the shirt because it required a lot of rivets -- more than ended up being in a couple of packages -- so I did a different design of my own. I just mapped it out first to see what I liked before I started putting the rivets through the shirt.

Make sure you pay attention to the tightness of the fibers in the shirt that you purchase. I bought a shirt that had a really loose weave and it caused some problems when I went to close the rivets as there wasn't much for the claws to grab onto and I had to redo some of the rivets.

Happy making!

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A DIY Christmas

studded shirt  -  tea bags  -  air dry clay jewellery dish  -  galaxy shoes  -  gift tags  -  portrait gift tags

Last Christmas -- I gave you my heart -- I decided to either make a gift for someone, or buy handmade and purchase items from local shops. It took a lot of prep, and awareness of where I was shopping -- luckily Flock & Gather comes in quite handy. Keep checking back over the next few weeks to learn the stories and DIY tutorials behind each of these photos for your own DIY Christmas.

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Instagram Stories: Thoughts on "Back and Forth" in Vogue October 2015

You know the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words"? Since hearing it, I have always thought of how powerful some images can be without having any words associated with it. But then I realised that if there are no words to go with it, then you are missing out on the amazing story behind it.

When I read the View piece called "Back and Forth" about photographer Peter Schlesinger in the October 2015 issue of Vogue, I was taken by the beautiful images that he has shot. They have such rich colours, textures and layers and a language all their own. Then I reached the end of the article and read his thoughts on Instagram -- he said that he hates Instagram and that he "like[s] pictures that have more of a story behind them." -- and it got me thinking how unfortunate it is that he doesn't like Instagram based on the fact that he doesn't think there are any photos with stories behind them. 

It's not that I'm defending Instagram or anything. There are certainly a lot of photographs on there that have no depth to them what-so-ever. But I feel like -- if you are looking in the right place -- you can find some accounts that share wonderful photographs that have rich colours, textures and layers that have a language all their own. I follow fantastic people that have beautiful stories following them, and they are sharing them with the world. Some of them have made wonderful new friends because they have shared a piece of their life with people that they may have never had the opportunity to all because of Instagram. 

If you dig deep enough into Instagram and sift through all of the selfies and food photos, you will find photographs that look quite similar to the photos that Peter Schlesinger takes that have just as good of a story behind them -- or even better. 

Jess Butler of _jssb  -  Ellie Cox of the mommyequation 

Brandon of humansofny  -  Kelle Hampton of etst

 

 

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Read It: I Am Malala

By now most of us are familiar with the young woman, Malala Yousafzai. I remember being on my break at work and reading a report about a girl who had been shot in the head by the Taliban while on her way to school in Pakistan, and I remember being worried for her. Then, after her recovery, I remember when someone on my Facebook posted a video of her on The Daily Show with John Stewart, and I was amazed by how passionate she is, and yet so humble and forgiving. She has a beautiful heart, and is someone that I am inspired by and aspire to be like.

I learned a lot about the history of Pakistan in I Am Malala, and how they came to be at the place that they currently are. There are a lot of political steps, and missteps, that were taken that have put the country in a different place from the countries west of them. I also learned a lot about Islam, and the culture of Pakistan -- especially in the Swat Valley. I work with a couple of women from Pakistan that come from the Southern part of the country, and have experienced quite different struggles from Malala -- no less, or more, important -- but I really liked being able to speak with them about the history of their country and their experiences as Muslim women.

Her father is just as passionate as she is about education, and the importance, especially, of education for girls and women. I really like that Malala wrote about her father's past, and, despite his struggles, how he became a strong man that was incredibly valued within his community. He was a voice for equality, and helped give Malala her voice as well. I respect him very much.

There were a lot of parts in the book that made me emotional, specifically when Malala would talk about her love of education, and her call for educational equality. I realised how fortunate I am to have grown up in a country where it is my right to get a high school education, and where I can freely go into post-secondary education. I always had a desk, I always had books, and no one ever told me that I wasn't allowed to go. We really do not know how fortunate we are, and it is Malala's dream that every child is able to have the same experience as I had -- a dream that I think is attainable. Peace.

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Fall Into Fashion

As the autumn weather approaches, I grab the Rubbermade tubs from the basement that I had just taken my summer clothing from, and bring it upstairs so that I can switch out all of the warm weather clothes for sweaters, pants, and long-sleeved t-shirts. It is pretty much the last goodbye to the summer.

Don't get me wrong, I love a good sweater, a warm scarf, and a beautiful pair of gloves as much as the next girl that is forced to transition to winter. I usually like to wear cardigans and sweater vests -- as I mentioned here -- but this year I found a light-weight sweater with cats on it that was too awesome to pass up.

Another favourite thing about transitioning to fall is being able to wear my boots again. I have a pair of tall riding boots, as well as these cute lace-up boots that I picked out a couple of years ago. I am also planning on going to find myself a pair of cute suede booties in a fun colour.

Accessories wise I find myself wearing more jewellery again -- because I don't have to worry about getting sunscreen all over them -- and I start having fun with different colours of eye shadow and nail polish. Another way to change with the season is to have some fun with your hair colour. Madison Reed has a colour advisor that helps you pick the right shade for your hair -- it's really fun to do too, and I love the colours that they suggested for me.

similar jacket: Gap
cat sweater: RW & CO
similar boots: Aldo
infinity scarf: Warman's Winter Wovens 

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Shop Update: 2015 Christmas Cards

Season's Eatings  -  Trim Up The Tree  -  Have A Merry Merry Merry  -  Very Merry Christmas

It's time to start thinking about Christmas and the holiday season! Start playing those Christmas carols -- anything by Bing Crosby is a favourite of mine -- and start stocking up on Christmas cards. There are four new Christmas cards in the shop this year -- which is perfect because then you can create your own Mix and Match Set of 5. 

This year, a few of the cards were inspired by Christmas carols -- it seems to be a trend of mine. Three gold stars if you can figure out which ones. Enjoy the beginning of the season!

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Autumn Favourites 2015

Autumn has arrived once again, and now we get to pull out our chunky knit scarves, gloves and peacoats. We have been experiencing some milder weather here as of late, and so I've been enjoying Autumn more than usual before having to pull out my winter coat. Here are a few of my favourite things this season...

I love a good sweater vest with a belt like the one here from With Love from Kat. As cold as I feel during these months, I prefer to wear a sweater vest or cardigan so that I'm not boiling hot, and I can take it off without having to worry about exposing myself at work. I also love a comfy pair of boots like the ones you see here from Free People. A cute pair of boots are a good way to complete an outfit while keeping your feet warm.

A warm beverage on a cool Autumn morning is the perfect way to start the day. This recipe from Real Housemoms is absolutely delicious. And what better way to complete your warm beverage experience than with a favourite mug. This one from the shop Sobi Graphie is absolutely adorable1

One of my favourite things to do is curl up under a warm blanket. This cable knit blanket from Le Souk is absolutely perfect. One of my favourite things to do while curled up under a warm blanket is reading a book. I just finished reading The Martian, and have now started the Harry Potter series for the first time.

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What I Wore: Rebecca King Design

For as long as I have been going to Flock & Gather shows -- as a customer and now as a seller -- I have always admired Rebecca King Design. It wasn't until I did a small show this summer and had a booth quite close to her's that I finally made a purchase. 

While setting up I noticed a single piece hanging at the back of one rack that was made from the most beautiful and fun pattern. I kept my eye on that piece all day until a friend of mine arrived to purchase some cards, and I asked if she wouldn't mind watching the table so I could go try it on. 

Well, once Rebecca King put the scarf on my correctly -- I won't go into detail on how I had arranged it myself -- I knew that I had to buy it. I love it, and what makes me love it even more is knowing that it is a sample and I'm one of the first ones to own it. I feel like that's something pretty special.

One of the things that I like best about this piece -- besides the fact that it is so cozy and comfortable -- is the leather that goes from the cuff and up past my elbow along the bottom of the sleeve. I don't know if this is the intended purpose or not, but I think it's a clever way to prolong the life of the sleeve. Because somewhere along that area is usually the first to wear away.

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The Barnyard Review: Cloud

Back when I was in school and working for the university's student newspaper, we were in need of some new comic strips -- and quickly. The news editor and I came up with a comic called "The Barnyard Review". It was only three frames long, and consisted of a conversation between two sheep. I believe we only ever made two comic strips, but I remember how much fun it was to take time away from our work and get together to make these two comics.

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Thoughts: Saying Goodbye To Facebook

I know that I am not the only person out there that is currently considering saying goodbye to Facebook. If it weren't for the fact that my Facebook account is linked to my business page, I would seriously consider leaving. My feed has been inundated with ignorant fodder -- I feel especially smart typing that -- that has filled my mind and heart with rage. It feels like it has become an unhealthy place, except that there are articles and photos that are shared that I do enjoy, and click on.

What makes me the most angry is the articles -- and I use that term loosely -- that are shared from websites that omit important information, or are written by ignorant and hurtful people -- this goes in all different directions, I'm not just implying right-winged, white Christians. If you are reading something that does not include a quotation from someone that was directly involved -- not someones cousin's aunt's sister that knows a guy that was there -- then you are probably not reading something worth while. If you are reading something written by a doctor that had his/her license to practice taken away from him/her, then it is quite likely that you are not reading the best, or most current, information. Think of it this way, if you were writing a paper for school and cited a source from ignorantsource.com, you probably would be talked to by your teacher or professor. If the information you are reading is not credible enough to put in your paper, then you probably shouldn't be using it in real life either.

A friend of mine made an interesting point the other day: Social media has become a place where we see inside the minds of the people that we love or are friends with -- or not actually friends with. 50 years ago we never would have known if our friends and neighbours were Conservative or Liberal, or if they read the back of shampoo bottles while sitting on the toilet. It has definitely made us a more open society in terms of sharing our inner thoughts, but it doesn't quite feel like it has made us a more open society when it comes to having an open discussion of said thoughts *cue the acceptance of criticism*

What are your thoughts?

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World Alzheimer's Month 2015

 The Forget Me Not is a symbol of the Alzheimer Society of Canada (source)

September is here once again, and, just as we did last year, 15% of the profits from the shop for this month will be donated to The Canadian Alzheimer's Society. This disease touched my family many years ago when my grandma was diagnosed -- she lost her fight 12 years ago now -- and continues to make an impact on our lives.

Earlier this year, my mom and I watched the film Still Alice, and were incredibly moved by it. We gained a deeper understanding of the affects that the disease has on the person suffering from it, as well as the impact that it has on the family members. I was especially touched by a few moments between Alice and her husband as I saw my grandma and grandpa up on the screen. It is most definitely worth watching. Even if you have not felt the affects of Alzheimer's personally, it helps provide a better understanding of the disease.

The money that you used to purchase a card, art print, or brooch from the shop this month will provide support to those who are suffering from the disease and their families, and to promote research. Help support the cause and give a voice to those affected by Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

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Shop Update: New Brooch Model Photography

Eleanor Rabbit  -  The Tetrahedron  -  The Christmas Tree  -  The Compass  -  The Forest Tree

I recently did some new model photography for the latest brooches that have been added to the shop. Just like last time, my brother-in-law's wonderful wife was kind enough to pose for me. We went to the same lush green wall of Virginia Creeper that they had some of their wedding photos taken at, and the rain stopped in enough time to let us use the last good light of the day -- thank you, Mother Nature :)

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Thoughts: The Women's Roadmap to Health

As you know, my health is something that is very important to me, and it is a journey that I have shared with you -- from my food journal, to my thoughts on body image, and my favourite exercises. But part of that journey is also talking to my doctor about what I am doing to get to a healthy weight, and how to keep my body on the same track as my mind -- I've recently had troubles with my knees because of bad shoes and weak muscles.

When I heard about a campaign by Oscar Health Insurance on important information for women about their health throughout their lives, I was more than happy to share it. Oscar Health Insurance is a new technology based company looking to help their members take control of their health through various incentives -- like a Misfit tracker that lets you earn up to $240 a year just be reaching your step goal. If you're in the area, check out the resources they provide through their health insurance plans in New Jersey and New York.

Some the information that is shared in The Women's Roadmap to Health I already knew about, but other things I never really thought about -- like updating my vaccines. There are also some things that I agree with, and other things that I don't. The beauty about the roadmap to your health is that it's your roadmap, and you can make any twist and turn that you like with the help of your doctor.

If there's one thing that I learned, it's that your doctor is an important factor in keeping you and your body healthy and safe. A good doctor will answer your questions, won't make you feel guilty or ashamed -- or talk down to you -- and will help you make the right decisions to help you make the correct turns on your health roadmap. Take care!

*This is not a sponsored post, just the sharing of information

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The Fringe Festival 2015

About a week ago we checked out The Fringe Festival in our home town. It's something that Little Boy and I enjoy doing every summer -- and it happens to be on our Summer List this year. The highlight of the festival was the UniProShow. Little Boy really likes juggling, and enjoyed watching Jamey juggle with fire. I have since caught him playing with black kitchen utensils at school that he pretends are juggling torches that are on fire -- the things that spark the imagination.

We also got to see a woman dancing with an incredibly tall pot upon her head, as well as some b-boys. We also grabbed some delicious donuts from Big O's Food Truck, and then I needed to grab myself a Coke from El Mercado Las Palapas -- which is made from cane sugar. Do you have any festivals in your home town that you look forward to every year?

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Growing In The Garden: 2015 Fruits and Vegetables

I enjoy growing a garden of vegetables. It takes me back to my younger years when my parents had a garden that took up half of our yard, and my sister and I were given a small patch to grow our own fruits and vegetables. This year I added some vegetables to our garden, and have done a much better job of weeding. It's always exciting to see how things grow if you take care of them properly -- and pick them when they are ready so that more can grow!

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Shop Update: New Brooches, Cards and Art Prints + A Summer Teeny Tiny Show

Hatched  -  Straight and Arrow  -  What We May Be

There have been quite a few additions to the shop this month. The first are a few new brooches that are a bit of a departure from the other brooches that were previously created -- they are designed using only an ebony marker. They feel like a bold new direction, but are still whimsical and fun. Eleanor Rabbit, and The Compass are two of the three new additions to the brooches.

There have also been quite a few cards, and art prints that have been added to the shop, including several inspirational quotations and some more limited edition art. 

I'm also excited to announce that I will be at the Flock & Gather Summer Teeny Tiny Show along with some other amazing shops and makers. It is part of the Wall Street Block Party -- see my vendor profile here -- and it's a little more relaxed than a traditional handmade market. I'm excited to get out there and bring along a few more goodies that I would normally leave at home.

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