Monday, August 31, 2009

new week, new shop - dahlhaus

Welcome to another week!

After a brief break, I am excited for the return of the "new week, new shop" series with dahlhaus, an Etsy shop with the most gorgeous ceramics and pottery. Heather Dahl is the artist behind the shop, and both sculpts and hand paints each piece. All of her work is modern and simple, with just a touch of retro thrown in. I am a big fan.


Heather has been working with clay for nearly 16 years now, after being introduced to the art via a ceramics and painting course offered at her local college. She continued to pursue these arts and graduated from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Designs in Vancouver. After taking some time off to play mother to two adorable boys, now 5 and 7, Heather began slowly easing back into the art world. She eventually found studio space, applied for a Self-Employment Program to secure funding, wrote a business plan, and is now pursuing her art as a business.


Heather creates her lovely pieces in her own studio space that is a part of a larger studio shared by other crafters and artists. She has 300 square feet all to herself, and shares a sink and kilns with six other ceramic artists. While she wouldn't mind a little extra natural light, she still recognizes how lucky she is to have her own little space in the heart of Vancouver (and at an affordable rate!). Take a peak at her studio space, along with some pieces in the middle of the creation process.



I can't believe it's almost time to start looking for gifts for those on your Christmas list, but tomorrow is September. If you're ready to get some early Christmas shopping done, a piece from dahlhouse just might be the perfect fit.




To learn more about Heather and dahlhaus:

Friday, August 28, 2009

friday favorites.

According to weather.com, we have a "100% chance of rain" tomorrow, heavy at times. The bad news is that means I will probably spend most of the day inside. The good news is that it will be a good excuse to bake some cupcakes, do something crafting, and maybe sneak in a little online shopping. Hope you all have a drier weekend, or at least some good indoor plans!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

new! new! and more new!

The shop was starting to look a little sad and lonely, so I spent a good chunk of yesterday taking photos, uploading photos, and editing photos. Lots of new vintage finds have already been added, with more to come today, tomorrow, and this weekend. Take a peak:

Vintage Folding Ruler
[I always love when I find vintage folding rulers. They're perfect to display your favorite vintage paper along with special photos.]


Vintage Tree Playing Cards
[These vintage playing cards are some of my favorites. They remind me of a photography background you may have found at a Sears Portrait Studio in the 1970's.]


Boy Scouts Book and Official Membership Card
[I love what's inside this old scouting book - an official membership card taped to the first page, tons of activities to earn badges, and a little writing from the original little boy owner!]



Vintage Game Pieces
[I collect these vintage game pieces until I have enough variety to put together several sets. I really love the different dominoes and Scrabble letter cubes.]


Vintage Game Paper Pack - Edition 2
[Includes some vintage favorites from the pack, as well as some vintage game pieces not previously available!]

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

i'm back!

After taking a few days away from the computer to tour New York and say goodbye to my mom, I'm back! I'm busy photographing new vintage finds and adding to the shop, but wanted to take the time to share this week's affordable treats. Lots of blues and greens for under $5, $10, and $20!

$5 and Under



$10 and Under

Friday, August 21, 2009

friday favorites.

Hope your week was a good one! If not, feel free to treat yourself to one of these friday favorites. Each is perfectly lovely.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

recent finds.

With my mom in town, we have been spending a good amount of time rummaging through thrift stores, visiting antique shops, and walking through the flea market. I have acquired a pretty good size pile of new vintage finds from the past week or so.

Lovely aqua twine to wrap packages, and fun books and magazines, including an old medical dictionary.


Always love finding vintage flashcards. These are from the 1960's.


Three more globes to add to my collection! I am having a hard time picking out my favorite - either the bright blue and green guy in the back, or the medium sized one in the front.


Not surprisingly, all sorts of vintage paper. The California map is full of gorgeous pictures and colors, and the black cat is perfect for Halloween. Most of the paper will be in the shop in the upcoming weeks!


Have you found much lately at your vintage shops and outdoor markets? What's your favorite recent find?

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

affordable treats.

If you are anywhere in New England, you probably experienced the heat wave over the past few days and deserve a little treat! If you are elsewhere, I am sure you can come up with your own excuse to treat yourself to a little something. It will only cost you $20 and less!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

bon voyage!

I'm off to New York City early tomorrow morning for a quick 4 day trip! I have a few posts already lined up for the next few days, so still plan on checking in for your weekly affordable treats and other fun posts.

A little travel inspiration as I pack my bags...

Monday, August 17, 2009

new week, new shop - krecklo

Happy Monday! In order to help you ease into another week, I want to introduce you to krecklo, a fun and creative shop that features purses, bags, and accessories made from mainly second hand fibers. I always ask those who I feature in this series to describe their style in 3 or 4 words. Jessica, the owner of krecklo, had the perfect answer - "plain Jane with flair." Her designs are simple, but made special with her interesting selection of fabrics. It was her line of Poppy Pouches that first drew me to her shop, made from denim, courdouroy, and houndstooth.

Jessics does her sewing in Toronto, which she has called home for the last eight years. She shares a place with two crafty roommates who were more than happy to convert their living room into a craft room! It's a lovely little room to create in, complete with a skylight and small balcony letting in plenty of natural light.

While I first fell in love with Jessica's Poppy Pouches, she has plenty of other designs that are equally great. If you are looking for a wristlet, make up bag, or full size purse I highly suggest you take a peak at krecklo. You'll be doing yourself (and the environment!) a big favor!

Please be sure to take a moment and leave Jessica a comment if you're a fan of her work! I'm sure she would love to read each and every one.

Friday, August 14, 2009

friday favorites.

Hope you all had a wonderful week, and have plenty of fun weekend plans! My mom is in town visiting, so the shop and blog might be a little on the quiet side next week. Lots of antique shopping and eating out to be done!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

affordable treats.

Color is great, but sometimes a little black and white is all you need, especially when it's under $5, $10, or $20.

$5 and Under

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

mail love - prismpop.

My favorite part of Etsy is that placing an order means you get mail! Nothing beats finding an Etsy package mixed in among bills and junk mail, especially when it's wrapped extra special.

Last week I received a great package from prismPOP - a shop with really fun postcards and other art prints.

I really love their address labels, plus they're made from recycled fibers!

DIY Postcard: This postcard showcases YOUR art. How great is that? My drawing skills are lacking, but I know I can come up with something pretty funny to send to my brother who already knows I can't draw.

DIY NYC: I picked up a couple of these to send to family during my trip to NYC next week. I know it's kind of cheating to purchase vacation postcards before the vacation, but I figure it's okay since prismPOP is based in New York. I love that you can fill in your own message.



found paper co. on the front page!

I came home from a lunch date at Whole Foods yesterday to find out that found paper co. made the front page of Etsy! Since I wasn't home, I don't have a screen print from the front page, but am able to take a peak at what it looked like via Craft Cult.

Thanks, Etsy!

Monday, August 10, 2009

new week, new shop - CakeEaters.

Good morning, everyone! Hope you all had time this weekend to relax and prepare for another week. I want to start this week by introducing you to CakeEaters, the next shop in the "new week, new shop" series. CakeEaters is run by Katie, a crafter from the Chicago suburbs, and features a collection of hand embroidered wall hangings. Katie describes her work as nostalgic, playful, and eclectic. Take a look:

What makes CakeEaters special is Katie's ability to successfully merge vintage and modern. I often think of hand embroidery as an old school art, and the colors and materials used by Katie feel like they come from the past. However, her designs are modern and totally different than most embroidery out there. You don't often see embroidered rompers, but I love them!

It's obvious each piece is made with love and incredible care. I am a fan of the buttons that make their way into many of Katie's pieces, and the way she marks each piece on the back. Both details make each piece feel that much more special.

Katie is a crafter on the go, who doesn't limit her work to time at home. She takes her work with her everywhere! You would be hard pressed to find a time when she doesn't have an embroidery hoop and sketchbook tucked in her bag.

While I understand trying to get crafting time in whenever you have a free moment, I think it would be difficult to pull yourself away from a studio like Katie's. It's absolutely packed with inspiration! There's books. There's vases. There's art prints. And don't forget about all of that color. Similiar to her work, her studio is full of vintage and modern pieces. Be sure to click on the pictures below to check out all of the goodness in Katie's studio.

Katie is a jack of all trades when it comes to crafting, also dabbling in drawing, silk screening, and sewing. She informs me she has plans to expand the offerings in her shop to include illustrations, posters, and possibly even some apparel. I would love to see these other talents in action, but for the time being I'm content with her lovely and one of a kind hand embroidery pieces.

If you're a fan of Katie's work, make sure you visit CakeEaters and leave an encourating comment here!