Inspired by Nature

Here's a preview of some designs I've been working on. The tree pattern was inspired by my road trip to Miami earlier this year. The trees in Pennsylvania really stood out - they looked so perfect and somehow magical. The print is done with india ink on mylar. It took me over a week to do each individual leaf with a brush.

The random feather design was something that happened to come to mind. The print above is a 4 colour screen print on hemp/ cotton that I sewed into a tea towel. I hope to have it on the shop soon.

The colours, where inspired by my pedicure/ manicure. I mixed the light blue fabric paint to Sephora's Havana Dreams nail colour, which is my favorite new blue.

There are so many other designs that I have in mind that need to come to fruition. I hope to share them with you soon!

::: Nathalie

Screen Printed Textiles

I always love how the fabrics look on the drying rack (as the wet paint dries).

Happy Saturday everyone.

::: Nathalie

Finished Keys!

Sneak Peek: Handmade Wooden Key Hooks

Geoff finished his wooden key hooks a couple of days ago and is in the midst of making a couple more.

The above were stained in Cherry (with brass hooks) and English Chestnut (with pewter hooks). I love how the English Chestnut matches our table almost perfectly.

Again, these are items that will be on our etsy shop come March.

-Nathalie

Geoff filing down the edges of the wooden key in his shop (aka- our basement).

Thinking Ahead

It's the dead of winter in Ontario but Nathalie's dreaming of spring. We have a bunch of new designs in the works and here's a preview of one of our new aprons. Nathalie was pretty pissed that I made her go outside to take pictures of her in the snow, but whatever. I think the pictures look awesome.

-Diana

Spring Sketching

India: People Place Culture History

I took this gorgeous book out of the library. The content and the pictures are excellent research material I’ll probably end up buying it. (Amazon's marketplace is my favourite way to buy obscure books for cheap.)

India is my influence for our spring collection. I should be further along in the design process, but alas, January has been my procrastinating month. I’ve just started on sketches.

Not sure how other people work, but a lot of my designs just come to me. It begins with a fleeting image which keeps festering until it’s all consuming. From there I start sketching, then researching and touching up sketches until it’s ready to be finalized.

This will be the first time that I’m doing a cohesive collection with all original artwork and I’m excited to see how it’ll turn out. Stay tuned!

Sneak Peak: Key Shaped Hook

Spring 2011 Preview: Lime Shop collaboration with Geoff Martin Designs.

Diana and I are planning very exciting things for our spring collection - original pieces that are entirely handprinted, hand-dyed and handmade. I'm also excited to announce a collaboration between The Lime Shop and my husband, Geoff.

Freshly sanded, unfinished details.

Geoff is a talented, self taught, wood worker who specializes in home accessories and furniture. One of the first pieces for spring will include handcrafted wooden key hooks.

He made his first key hook last spring for our foyer. I wanted something wooden, that represented what he does and something quirky, yet classic to go with my with my raspberry coloured front door.

The original design was inspired by a small 2 inch metal key that I bought at House Warmings in Oakville.

Our home is full of beautiful pieces Geoff has made including - a foyer table with matching bench, coffee table table (currently being made), my sewing table and various handcrafted tiled mirrors.

Stay tuned for more previews of our spring collection in the upcoming weeks.

::: Nathalie

SpeakEasy Holiday Craft Show - Dec 2

This week has been crazy busy as I get back into the groove of things after playing mommy for a week.

Have been busy screen printing cottons, linens and hemp blend fabrics into one of a kind zippered pouches and tea towels for our 2 events this week.

Tomorrow, Thursday Dec 2, (HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIANA!) from 7pm - 11pm, marks my first solo show. Stop by the Gladstone, Toronto, for SpeakEasy's Holiday Craft show and say hi.

::: Nathalie

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.

The Lime Shop in Toronto this weekend

Diana and I will be in Toronto this Sunday Oct 24th for Canzine (held at The Great Hall). Come by and say hi. We'll have a small run of the Mr. Robot 2.0 grocery shopper (exclusive for events). German Shible, my brother and the artist of this charming robot image will also be there selling his illustrations and small press comic. Be sure to stop by his table.

My linoleum block printed bookmarks for Canzine. Made out of heavy weight cold press paper and acrylic paints.

Current reads and inspiration: Marc Jacobs by Bridget Foley and Rob Ryan's This Is For You.

Hope to see you this weekend.

::: Nathalie

The Clothing Show 2010

Day One: Shop set up. We changed the layout again one hour before doors open.

New product alert! We introduced our collection of handmade, handprinted tea towels at the show.

It's our last day at the Clothing Show and while we're sad to leave, we're just looking forward to going home and relaxing for the remainder of the weekend. Thanks to everyone who's stopped by.

Nathalie & Diana

Sneak Peek: Tea Towels

100% unbleached cotton tea towel. Original design, screen printed and handmade.

100% cotton tea towel, handmade. Ikea fabric. Original crosses pattern overtop stenciled by hand.

We'll be debuting new collections from The Lime Shop at the Clothing Show this September. Expect to see a line of aprons especially designed for kids and cool tea towels to dress up your kitchen.

::: Nathalie

Days Off

I've been battling a cold for a few days now. At this point I can't tell if it's getting better or worse.... Here's a quick post on my weekend escapades. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Chocolate Crackle Cookies from Martha Stewart

Weekend breakfast, Dutch Baby with Strawberries

My bracelet collection from The Lime Shop

New Copper/ Leather Friendship Bracelet

Next edition of iPhone Cases

Now, off to bed.

::: Nathalie