[ crazy about crochet ]

AREN'T THESE  pillowcases charming? I came across these at a lovely blog called rose hip and I was instantly smitten. The crocheted trim really adds the finishing touch to these pretty patterned pillowcases and would be equally as cute on some plain ones.

You can pick some up in Beata's Etsy shop here or try your hand at crocheting some of your own with this tutorial at You Go Girl.

I remember learning to crochet granny squares when I was a kid so this is probably something I could tackle. Do you crochet?

lisa

[ get your cable on ]

I WAS browsing around on Etsy and found the most adorable shop! Based in South Africa, Lynn Garrett of BiscuitScout, knits up the most amazing aran cable knit items for your home.

How about a chunky cable knit slipcover for your armchair? Or your IKEA ottoman?

If you're looking to add some fall coziness to your decor, a slipcover or throw from BiscuitScout may be just what you need.

I'm smitten. Have you found any fun Etsy shops lately?

lisa

[ familiar beauty ]

I RECENTLY came across the Etsy shop of Boston artist Leah Giberson and I was drawn to her stunning pieces depicting seemingly ordinary scenes. Her work, a combination of photography, painting and collage tends to include vacant streets, empty chairs, abandoned pools, ordinary houses and camper trailers, all familiar scenes that surround us everyday. I love how her use of shadow and the absence of people gives her work a quiet feel that some people may find lonely but I find quite serene and beautiful. Stop by her Etsy shop for more gorgeous examples of her work.

lisa

[ woohoo! and a new style ]

WHAT A LOVELY morning to find out that my Leigh clutch made it on the front page of Etsy! It's only happened to me a couple of times and what a thrill when it does!

I don't really mention my shop often but since we're talking about Etsy today, I'd like to introduce my latest style of shoulder bag hot off the sewing machine: Christina! Designed to be a great everyday bag, I've paired up some fun upholstery fabrics and added pleats on the front and back that expand so you can hold more stuff. Watch for more Christinas coming soon to my Etsy shop and website!

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

lisa

[ abstract minded ]

I HAPPENED to be lurking on Etsy and I came across the happiest art by Melanie Mikecz of TWOEMS...

Aren't they great? I love her choice of colours and can imagine them in really any room of the house ~ great if you've got a spot just crying out for a bit of graphic pattern and personality. To see the other great pieces by TWOEMS, click here.

Speaking of happy, it's Happy Weekend time again! And mine has already kicked off with a happy coffee date with a fellow blogger who has just moved to Dubai. Gotta love how blogging brings people together! Have a great weekend everyone!

lisa

[ fashion trend: capes ]

SO YOU'VE probably heard that capes are on trend for this fall. Any time I think of capes, I think of Little Red Riding Hood or the ones I made for our Halloween costumes years ago. I took a peek around Etsy and found some great examples that are really chic and would look make even jeans and a T look pulled together. I might actually be on board!

lisa

[1 sandmaiden] [2 vintagegaleria]  [3 margerydaw0] [4 cihanbeyboutique] 

[5 capesbycorey] [6 JOJO2] [7 violavintage]

[ charming lucky jackson ]

ONE OF THE best things about taking part in the big Muskoka Arts & Crafts Show is meeting all the other artists that create the most interesting and original pieces. I stumbled upon a booth by Lucky Jackson who is from Peterborough, Ontario, not too far from where I am.

The cheerfulness of her booth, with colourful floral bunting and her amazing art pieces is what drew me in (sorry, I didn't get a shot of it!). But the best part of Jennifer's (Lucky's) work is that she uses vintage sheets and pillowcases to create the most charming layered pieces with hand embroidery, screen printing, wood veneer and hand painting.  I knew that one of her pieces would be going home with me - they were all just too happy to pass up!

I chose this one - I love the fabrics and the charming cotton lace trim along the hem of her skirt. And the embroidery hoop frame is the finishing touch! If you're looking to add a bit of happy vintage retro art to your space, take a peek at her Etsy shop. 

[ craft booth prep - part 1 ]

THE MUSKOKA Arts & Crafts Summer Show is this Friday to Sunday and I'll be one of the 200 artisans exhibiting at the show. Things have been a little hectic around here with sewing bags and designing my booth and since this is the first time I've participated in an outdoor show, I've had to plan everything from scratch.

One of the projects I've been working on is a sign for my booth. I knew that I didn't want a simple vinyl banner and when I came across this old oval wooden frame at the Christie Antique Fair, I knew it would work perfectly for my sign.

A piece of MDF was cut to fit inside the frame and both were given a couple of coats of charcoal grey paint.

I ordered a vinyl decal to adhere to my sign from slaps on Etsy which is designed to work either indoors or even on a vehicle.

After some careful measuring and positioning, I was ready to adhere it.

After peeling off the backing, I smoothed everything down with the squeegie and could then peel back the clear masking on top to reveal the decal.

The oval was ready to place into the frame and secure it from behind. I'm pleased with how it turned out and think it's a lovely alternative to a vinyl banner. I'll likely hang it with wire and ribbon inside my booth. Stay tuned for part 2 of craft booth prep!

lisa

[ burlap ]

I'M DRAWN to the touches of burlap I've been seeing in decor lately - its nubbly texture and natural colour lends such a homey, casual feel to any space. It really is such a versatile textile since it works for anything from drapes to lampshades and with its modest price, anyone can incorporate it into their home.

[country living, house beautiful]

I came across all kinds of fun burlap finds on Etsy too. Here are a few of my favourites.

lisa

[1 myadobecottage] [2 ShopFullCircle] [3 eabdesigns] 

[4 myadobecottage] [5 myadobecottage] [6 ShaggyBaggy]

[ earth, wind, fire and a giveaway! ]

WHAT DO A 5.0 earthquake, tornadoes and a fire have in common? My week here in Muskoka! In an area that sees little activity, the earth was shaking yesterday as a rare earthquake hit a wide region of Ontario. Later a severe storm system swept through with tornado warnings with some areas just south experiencing a fair bit of damage. And my local UPS store where I pick up my parcels was hit with a fire, the owner still accepting parcels and handing out mail outside of the building as cleanup crews demolished the smoke-filled interior. Bless her. Throw in a G8 Summit with all its security and strange characters descending upon the region and you've got the makings of a pretty weird week! 


Time for fun! Come celebrate Sarah's one year of blogging at Flourish Design + Style! In honour of this milestone, she's celebrating with the ultimate - 11 days of amazing giveaways! And I'm part of the party! So don't walk - RUN to Sarah's beautiful blog to find out how you can win! And you can still enter for Day 1, 2, 3 & 4! Good luck!

lisa

[ my latest Etsy find ]

I'M SO EXCITED to share my latest purchase from Etsy - a beautiful illustration by Portland, Oregon artist Michele Maule. I don't recall which blog it was where I stumbled upon her work (she's been featured on many) but as soon as I visited her Etsy shop, I was smitten with her charming illustrations and paintings and knew I just had to own one. I chose 'Friend' and it arrived in the cutest little package. I think it will look great in my studio where I can enjoy it daily as I sew. Here are a few other examples from her shop.

lisa

[ I won a lovely giveaway! ]

I'M SO THRILLED to say that I won the giveaway over at Indie Icing for my choice of 8x10 print from A Life Through the Lens! Kristi has some amazing photography in her Etsy shop so it was difficult to choose but I finally decided on "Joy" which is so beautiful and I can think of a billion places to display it.  What a fun day!

lisa

[ upcycled from drab to fab ]

IT'S BEEN a little while since I made handbags from suit jackets for my shop so I thought I'd better get out there and source out some more jackets. I've managed to find some great ones in various wool and summer-weight fabrics and it's so satisfying to breathe new life into an unloved suit jacket. And what might be geeky as a jacket is truly fab upcycled into a handbag and I'm thrilled with how these two have turned out so far.

lisa

[ vegan shoes! ]

I LOVE SHOES  and I have found the cutest eco-friendly handmade shoes by fellow Canadian TheGeneration on Etsy. Each pair is handmade from 100% cotton and sustainable fabrics with no chemical adhesives (that means no stinky glue smell!) Great quality and perfect for anyone interested in being more environmentally friendly and supportive of cruelty-free/vegan products. If you love flats like I do, check out the cute styles available in Christy's  Etsy shop!

lisa