by hand, handsome

I have whittled the line down to four different patterns or "personalities".  I'd venture to say each tells a different story - some a little more gregariously than others.  This week, I have also been working on a collection of matching bow ties.  The gentlemen up at Cava restaurant will don them as their new uniform.  The ones featured below are pre-tied for easy application and removal.  Essentially, for the gentleman who doesn't like to fuss trying to figure out a proper knot.  However, for the more skilled, or patient, we are also offering the real deal.

Beautiful Branding

I've shifted my studio to the Annapolis Valley in NS for a few weeks.  I'm hanging out with my folks again making some great dinners, watching their fancy cable and stoking the fire.  This part of the world is a whole lot different during the winter months, but there is something cozy and wondrous about it at the same time.   Businesses shut down after Christmas for a few months but at this time of year there are lots of festive parties and concerts - the community loves to come together.  We've had a ton of snow already and are due for a mighty nor'easter on Sunday.  I don't mind it.  Winter is so much more palatable in the country.  Things I'm missing about my kitchen studio at home: the light, the constant stream of CBC Radio1 and the gluten free baked goods from my Landlords.  Things I like about this new makeshift studio in my parents dining room: way more space to lay out fabric and cut, a better heavier iron and most importantly the chatter of my mom and dad in the background.

Things are ticking along with my handmade business.  Although I have a few plans for a couple of different lines, I am moving full steam ahead building my pocket square inventory.  Here is an example of the final product with the branding.  I'm really pleased with the simplicity of the design.  I have also been doing some custom orders for personalized ladies handkerchiefs.  I'm pretty pleased with how the cross stitch monograming turned out.

Pocket Change

Well...I'd like to take credit for the title but it comes from my mother who suggested I start a new business making pocket squares.  I'm not sure I'm there yet, but I'm having a pretty good time putting these together.  I had made a couple of pocket squares as a birthday gift a couple of months back and they have apparently gained some notoriety around the workplace so I have been making some more to distribute.  I happened upon some fat quarters of Liberty of London fabric at the Workroom and was able to get a couple out of each piece.  The fabric is 100% cotton but is so finely woven it almost feels like silk.  I've now learned how to miter corners, which is also a pretty great skill to have in your back pocket.

Nifty Navy

I was a little overwhelmed by all the colour in the corner of my living room, especially one said ikea cushion. I wanted something a little more put together and liked how all the blues worked to compliment each other.  Since I have been working on a bunch of different cushion covers over the past couple of weeks, I whipped one out in this really great blue and white geometric.  The pillow  behind it is a navy blue velvet and the deer in front is the same as before.  Kinda fun and a little more sophisticated.

The Things We Make

My sister "Ex Libris Clocks" makes these amazing vintage book clocks.  Now available at Love Me Boutique in Halifax .  This is just an example of one - they are all one of a kind.

I used to do a lot of needlepoint as a kid.  I've returned to my crosstitch roots and have been working on several designs.  This is one that took me forever.  I spent most of Christmas day slaving away in front of the fire and managed to finally complete it.  I'm looking for the right old frame to put it in before it goes up on the wall.