I never post on the weekend...

I wanted to say thanks to Bianca Bickmore at Kid Icarus for the kind words about The Lime Shop in her recent interview with She Does The City. Thanks Bianca!

Remember - stop by The Handmade Holiday next Saturday Dec 3rd and shop handmade this Xmas.

Pic Source

Magcloud

Magcloud - 50% off print issues today till 1pm PST

I checked my inbox this morning and everything is Black Friday this, Black Friday that. Boring, boring... Delete, delete. (Hey, I'm an online shopper, I get a lot of e-commerce emails.)

One sale did strike my fancy - Sweet Paul mentioned on his blog that print issues of his digital magazine will be 50% off on Magcloud. It'd be nice to have the full colour issues since I've printed out a few pages in b&w, tried out a handful of his featured recipes, and want to try more. I'll be stocking up on all 3 SP issues and Lonny #6.

I Want

Thanks Uppercase for my recent obsession with Christopher Stott's work.


UPDATE: Prints of Chris's exhibition this past June can be purchased on his etsy store.

Design Wednesday

It's a busy week and getting to work on some designs seems near impossible. I can't wait until Friday!

Revisited a design and added more lines for dimension and interest.

Lino block printed bookmark/coupons for the Handmade Holiday goody bags. Be sure to stop by this awesome event by Kid Icarus!

More bookmarks (upper right hand) and a new original textile design for 2011.

Parisian Sweets

This will be me on my 30th next month.

Picture Source

Reading is Believing

The perfect gift/ stocking stuff for the artsy person in your life. Uppercase - the "magazine for the creative and curious" is based out of Calgary.

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across a magazine called Uppercase. I stopped by Good Egg last night and picked up Issue #7. I'm thrilled to say, this magazine does not disappoint. I couldn't help but be inspired by what I read in the editors note and the Community blurb. I had to put the issue down before I stayed up all night reading it from cover to cover.

Uppercase's content covers a little something for everyone - crafts, art, photography, type, books, writers, collections of peoples stuff. It's such a great read!

Personally, their only shortcoming is they don't focus on enough Canadian content. As a Canadian reading a beautifully original Canadian publication, I would really like to see more featured artists from our country. Otherwise, Uppercase is perfect.

A Handmade Holiday Show

There are so many wonderful events in Toronto around this time of year! I can hardly wait for December.

In addition to SpeakEasy (Dec 2nd), Diana and I are excited to announce that we will be part of Kid Icarus's Handmade Holiday this December 4th. Be sure to stop by and support your local craft scene.

Kid Icarus presents: A Handmade Holiday Show
Time: Saturday December 4th (one day only)
Time: 11-6pm
Location: St.Stephen-in-the-Fields, 103 Bellevue Ave (College and Bellevue)

“A Handmade Holiday” is a one day gift show & sale where Torontonians have the opportunity to buy directly from local creators of high-quality handcrafted goods, such as paper products, poster art, soft toys, children’s clothes, knitwear, jewellery and more. Crafters flock from all parts of the city for a day of selling and swapping goods. Shoppers visiting the event are treated to mystery loot bags at the door, raffles throughout the day, and of course, a piece of artistry with every purchase they make.

General Admission $2.00

A Bookworm's Wishlist

Not really wanting anything for my birthday or Christmas, which happen to fall days from each other, I wasn't sure what to put on my wishlist.

Then I remembered the ongoing list of books I'm always adding to. Here are some favorites.

Austen Inspired Linens

I'm going through an Austen stage and it seems to be coming through in my designs - the above pattern came to mind as I read Emma.

From a sketch it soon became a block print. I'm really happy with the results. I'll have the one-of-a-kind tea towel on our Etsy shop tomorrow.

On the weekend, Diana and I stopped by the Yorkville Anthropologie. I really dug the pattern on these candle tins and bowls...

... and fell in love with the spooled candles.

Cheer Up. Have some Nougat!

My camera stopped working last night.

It's just making the saddest little sound when it tries to focus on anything close up. I've checked the settings and that's not it.

In a cheer up attempt, here some findings from a recent excursion at HomeSense. I particularly like the elephant. He's perfect.

But you know what truly cheer me up right now? This...

French Almond Nougat Bars by Have It Sweet on Etsy.

I'm hungry now...

This Is An Overdue Post: Birthdays and Halloween

Mouth watering croquembouche. Recipe from House & House, November 2010.

I left out the the candied ginger the recipe calls for and they turned out very well.

It runs in the family - we love to cook, bake and eat.

My brother made these chocolate macaroons for our mum.

Instead of birthday cake, I surprised my mum with the croquembouche she was drooling over in the pages of House & Home.

Aside from burning my fingers on hot syrup, and almost having it fall apart as we added the last bits, it was well worth the effort. (Scanned recipe pages from the magazine below.)

Then for Halloween, I made Sweet Paul's Salted Caramel and Chocolate Cake.

The cake and frosting were was simple enough to make and assemble. I did though have trouble with the caramel. Afraid to burn it, I pulled it off the stove too soon and my caramel was too pale and runny. I cheated and thickened it with corn starch and gave it a deeper colour with food colouring.

The cake was probably one of the richest, moistest (is that a word?!) cakes I've ever had. Doesn't help that I'm a chocolate addict.

Recipe for Croquembouche can be found here, here and here. (Be sure to click on all 3 links.)

Recipe for Salted Caramel and Chocolate Cake can be found here.

Cloudy Monday

Baby Cloudzzz by La Casita

I just received a package from La Casita. Thanks Alessandra - it's beautiful! She's just restocked her shop, so be sure to check it out.

My cloud will hang above my computer once my studio is repainted and redecorated. I can hardly wait.

I Love Stripes iPhone Case - $14.00

Just a quick note, we're having sale right now, 50% off our handmade iPhone and iPod cases. They're great if you're looking for an original and inexpensive gift for the holidays, or just to show a techy that you care.

Support your local crafters! : )