Let The Festivities Begin

          We made it! Over the mountains and through the hills and down into the valley we travelled- now let the festivities begin! Ok well the festivities are well underway at this point- we started out with a surprise visit with my Sister In Law and Brother In Law- we thought we would miss them as they pull up stakes and head to their new home in the North- but they were waiting for us! So happy to have spent time visiting with them- wish we had taken more pictures- but we were so busy chatting  no one even thought of it. Safe travels to them as they continue on in their journey today- home to their grand babies!

             Yesterday we headed into town to skate with cousins and the city skating rink downtown Kelowna- situated on the edge of the lake you really couldn't ask for a prettier spot. Of course all the cousins were over the moon to be reunited- it's been months since they last saw each other! I love the relationships they are developing with each other- naturally blending together like quick sand- it's tough to tell where one starts and the other leaves off. We had an extended cousin join us as well and Jacob was super excited to have another bigger boy to skate with. This is what we so miss living so far away from our family- this easy friendship that naturally happens between cousins- the waves of laughter that emit from a bench full of family- I hope they are always like this.

            I could have stayed and skated all day- flashes of my own childhood on the outdoor rink at the Peachland Riding Club blurring with the present- the cold air on my face- the bumpy ice beneath my blades- freedom. It's a weirdly little known fact that I am in fact a pretty good ice skater- I love it. Every day after school we would rush home from the bus stop and grab our skates- hike up to the neighbourhood rink and skate until dinner- sometimes even past the dinner call. All kids of Pine Ridge road know what I'm talking about- the best and most free time of our lives!

          We have more fun family times planned for today- a nice easy little hike if the weather holds- snuggling up and eating treats if it doesn't hold- hot chocolate all around regardless of what the weather does! Tonight we celebrate Christmas in a German manner at my In Laws- Saint Nicolas is on his way- the Littles are already bouncing off the wall in excitement! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas- may your hearts fill with joy and your lives overflow in abundance- the real kind not the store-bought kind!

Makers Series: Plain Jane Designs

           I think I would be quiet remise if I neglected to share what I have been up to in the studio for this coming Holiday Season. This year looks quite a lot different from last- this time last year I was hustling on the craft market circuit- while it was quite rewarding it was also quiet stressful. What people possibly don't realize is that artists who are out trying to make a living are working in every spare moment they have- aside from the markets and shows there is the actual making of the work- which is where the love and the magic actually happens. You could say I was more than a little burnt out towards Christmas- this year I have stepped back- way back and it is great.

          This year I have been busy creating a handful of my favourite cards- getting back to what I truly love to do- the hands on making of one of a kind goods- each card is a small piece of art. These will be for sale over on my Plain Jane Facebook page and of course through email. Six large cards for $20.00. Six small cards for $12.00. Simple and easy- perfect to pair with a hostess gift- wonderful to send to someone you love who is far away.

         I think this past year people in Canada have slowed down on the act of mailing things- with increased postage fees the cost of sending a card is now around a dollar for a single piece of mail. I get that people find it difficult to invest in this kind of purchase. Which is such a shame- the act of choosing the perfect card- sitting down to think about what you want to convey and then popping all that love in the mail- it's becoming something of a lost art.

            I have this friend from university- when we both moved home- hello helicopter children- we sent each other mail- like actual physical mail- through the post. That connection with my friend was tangible evidence that somehow I was not alone- some where out there was a friend just as quirky as I was. Recently this friend- who again lives far away but in much warmer climes- has started sending me post cards again- this small act of friendship is so meaningful. It fills me with hope that people still know how to write a letter and not just emails or texts.

            So this is why I still make cards each year- there are people who would rather send a card though the mail- to say Merry Christmas- Happy Solstice- Happy Hanukkah- or even the mealy mouthed Happy Holidays. It makes my heart happy to know my art travels the world and makes people smile when they see a thick square shaped envelope- they know it's not a bill. This spirit still exists and so for at least one more year- in limited quantities I will offer up my cards. 

        So in closing- I would like to say that even if you don't buy Plain Jane cards- which are all hand made by me and sprinkled with unicorn dust in my magical studio- please think about reaching out to your friends and loved ones with a card- a post card- a warm Hello. There is something to be said for the nostalgia and security of an old fashioned Christmas card!

Maker Series: Draw Me A Lion

         Hi Friends! One of the things I love best in life is discovering wonderful artists- makers- creators- and the sharing them with everyone I possibly can. With this in mind I decided this year with the run up to the Holidays to feature some of our favourite local makers- folks living and working in British Columbia- making a living form scratch- doing what they love. When shopping for Birthday or Holiday gifts these are the folks I go to time and again for gift giving- I love giving well crafted- lovingly made goods and I like to try and keep it as local as I possibly can. Many of the folks featured here in the coming weeks will be familiar to friends and family- like today's feature on Draw Me A Lion- seriously my favourite go- to gifts made by one of my favourite people!

     Of course I had to ask Draw Me A Lion owner and operator Lisa Cinar the obvious questions- what is her inspiration and the drive behind her brand as I like to know what makes people tick. Lisa was gracious enough to share some insight into her process as well as lots of lovely festive images- getting me excited for Christmas creating- bring on the dancing trees!

Q: What is Draw Me A Lion all about?

A: I have always loved to draw and create things. I had written and illustrated a couple of children's picture books with a local publisher and thought to myself, wouldn't it be nice to become my own little publisher of fun things? ... I had always had the idea in the back of my head, but it took a while for me to realize what exactly it was that I wanted to create. 

           Today I make everything from greeting cards, to wall-prints, pins and of course one of my favourite parts ... tons of colouring items. I especially love the activity-involved items like the Colouring Posters, Mask Colouring Books and the new Ornament Postcard Booklet because I think of them as a collaborations – the final object is created only once the receiver of the item has coloured it and made it theirs. 

            Everything at Draw Me A Lion is drawn, designed and assembled by me here in my little studio and printed locally. I love creating items that make other people happy and It's a fantastic feeling to see your own creations on the shelves of some of the best local stores. It's quite fun to see my studio space shrink-and-shrink as I create more-and-more items that my online-shop has in stock. 

 Q: What inspires you? 

A: My childhood has always inspired me. It's when I first started to be creative and I have the good fortune of having a stack of drawings I did when I was a kid that my Mom wisely saved for me. Sometimes when I feel un-inspired I like to look at them. It always helps me get in touch with that wondrous-magical-feeling you can get when you have a blank sheet of paper and realize that you could draw anything. Something else that always inspires me is drawing with kids. I think that all kids are by nature incredibly creative, spontaneous and free in their drawings and we adults have tons to learn from them. 

           My style of illustration for Draw Me A Lion is very much about this free spontaneous line quality that is much more about expressing a feeling and having a drawing look-alive rather than focusing on technical accuracy. It's no big surprise that a lot of my favourite artist and illustrators have illustrated and written childrens picture books. Some of them are Tove Janson, Joann Sfar and Marc Boutavant. However I am also a huge fan of Alexander Calder and Marc Chagall, two fine artist who's work also often references childhood.

         Be sure to join Lisa to celebrate Draw Me A Lion's 3rd Birthday this coming Saturday - Nov 1-at Collage Collage- noon till 2pm! Draw Me A Lion can also be found at a number of upcoming markets in and around Vancouver first up November 29 at the Annual Strathcona Craft Fair- always a great market with a killer bake sale! Followed by the cult classic TOUQUE at the Western Front December 5 & 6 as well as Got Craft December 13 &14. With plenty of opportunity to stock up on Draw Me A Lion goodies be sure not to miss out on meeting Lisa in person- you will walk away with some creative gifts and surely a smile on your face- she's contagious like that!

P.S.- just a trip- Draw Me A Lion makes so many wonderful things that are perfect for popping in the post- flat and easy to mail- our favourite is the Mask book!

Market Missive

        Good Morning! As many of you know and are wondering about (Mom) this past weekend marked my foray into the Farmers Market scene. I know I had claimed to be finished with markets for the Holiday season but when the opportunity to participate in the Steveston Farmers and Artisans Market arose it was just too good to pass up- I jumped at it- and I am so glad I did! This may have been my first market as a vendor but I like to consider myself a bit of a Farmer's Market connoisseur- having visited a fair amount all over this fair province I feel I have an eye for a good market- and this was a good one!

          Located in the historic Gulf of Georgia Cannery the Steveston winter market provided a really good balance of locally made and grown goods- folks like The Sharing Farm were on hand with yummy honey and garlic along side home made Christmas decorations and adorable hair accessories for the kiddos. I spotted my favourite bread sellers- Uprising Breads- and their shelves were empty by the end of day! Swag bags as well as a craft corner were all set up for the Littles that came out with their families- and I noticed that pretty much ever vendor was handing out candy canes- our kids thought it was the best thing ever! Crafts and candy- they were in heaven!

           The afternoon was rounded out with a real treat- the Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra playing some real Holiday classics- the live music was a really nice touch that added to the over all festive atmosphere! The Steveston Farmers and Artisans Market runs through out the year- after a bit f a break in January the market resumes February 9- check the website for dates. I can't wait to do this market again- I had such a good time and everyone from organizers to vendors to shoppers were so friendly! The only issue I have with being a vendor is that I was busy behind my table and didn't get to do much shopping!

Holiday Making

         As I am wrapping up custom orders for the shop this week I am looking forward with excitement to a stack of Holiday sewing projects- sitting in line- waiting their turn- fun little things that take no time at all but are a pleasure to work on. Now obviously I can't reveal too much here yet but after the Holidays I will write all about these small pieces of sewing- can't wait!

      The beauty if a handmade gift given at Christmas or whatever Holiday you are celebrating- is that it kinda gets back to the essence of what this time of year is all about- it's a gift of service- a gift of yourself- your time. Today I feel that gift of time is more important than ever- for me making handmade gifts is relaxing and a joy- it's kind of my own form of vacation- splurging on special fabrics- laying everything out and all the while thinking about how this item that I am making will be used and loved.

      There are many ways to give a hand made gift that don't involve being being an expert or craftsman- Holiday baking- yummmm- this is a gift I love to receive because I am not very good at it! Homemade edibles are always a welcome and loved gift- soups, DIY cookies in mason jars, wine, jams, bread- I think one of the Mr.'s favourite gift ever was home made beef jerky! Of course there is literally the gift of time- coupons for baby sitting to the new parents are a heaven send- for that matter I think any parents would love that gift! If you have a skill give the gift of teaching your friends- how to knit, crochet, bead, make soaps, wood work- perhaps igniting a new interest for someone.

       So you see a gift doesn't need to come in a box- it can come in a jar or bottle or can- it can come off your knitting needles- it can come off a lathe- from pliers and scissors and glue! "Things" are so accessible these days- if I need something I can easily go to the store and buy it- weirdly enough what is not so accessible these days is our time and energy. Getting back to the spirit of Christmas and enjoying the time leading up to it as much as the day it's self I feel is key- I don't want to be in a mall feeling harried when the music is shouting at me to "be merry and bright"! I want to be at my sewing machine actually being 'merry and bright"- making something for a loved one.

     

DIY Gifts For Hip Dudes

         I am a bit fan of working with leather- I love it- there is something that whispers "this is special" about leather. Maybe it is the historical pedigree of leather- it is an ancient and honest material that is tried and true. Perhaps it is the social connotations that leather equals quality goods- I learned at an early age to sniff purses to tell if they were made of leather or not- quality purses are made of leather! Impress all your friends this Holiday season with these arrow inspired key chains- cause you know arrows are super hip right now.

        The arrow key chain could not be any easier to make- all you really need is a scrap of leather, a blank key ring, rivets and a hammer- very straight forward! To start with sketch out your design on the back of the leather- taking into account the size of the key ring and narrowing the top of the leather to fit through the ring.  Cut out arrow shape. Loop the end of the leather through the key ring- punch a hole through both pieces of leather and insert rivet- add the back of the rivet and hammer into place.

       I can't think of any hipster dude that would not love getting this leather cheveron key chain in their stocking this Holiday season! I have this super bad habit of always wanting to keep the gifts that I make- this project was great because I easily made about six in a half hour- meaning I get to keep one for myself! So impress your friends- let them think you are very clever- whip up one or a dozen of these hip little key chains!

Crafternoon: Gnomes

               There really is nothing like a trip to our favourite little art store- Collage Collage- to get the creative juices flowing! Ten dollars will get you a bag of small craft supplies that afford hours of engagement and fun- which is especially important when it is too dark to go to the park after school! Yesterday was such a day- Miss Lo and I picked out a few projects to work on- first up all was these cute little peg dolls.

               These wee little wooden folks were given a bit of a make over and turned into winter gnomes- to be hung by their hats by golden ribbons. Super simple to make with just a bit of paint and a swath of wool felt. To start select a colour to paint the body- we used Martha Stewart's satin colours- the Littles gave each figure two coats of paint- nice and smoothly.

               Then it was time to make these wee little wooden folks some clothes- so with Momma wielding the sewing scissors the Littles art directed and instructed me in their colour choices- simple lengths of wool felt wrapped around the base of each gnome became their robes and a circle of felt was turned and glued into a hat through which the ribbon for hanging was threaded. Everything was glued in place with white glue and left to dry- an adult or older child could also use a hot glue gun*.

               It's been decided that we need to make more of these enchanting little gnomes- so simple and so lovely- they will be the perfect addition to our tree if the Little ever decide to part with them! What I especially love about this entire project is that aside- from the cost of under four dollars- was working with the materials- I love making miniatures and working with wood and wool felt is so tactile and just honest- perfect for our humble tree!

* I did use the hot glue gun to tack on the hats as they will be hanging from a tree- if you skip the step with the ribbon and just make gnomes for playing this is hardly needed and white glue will do just fine!

California Dreaming- er Sewing

      OK so first off the awesome big news that our family will be spending the holidays in California- we are very excited and yes we will be going to Disney Land but if you see us in person please do not mention it as our Littles think we are just going to visit our friends- which we will be doing as well! What I'm saying is Disney is a surprise! So very exciting but when I started to take a look at the kid's warm weather clothes- that fit just a couple of short months ago- they now do not fit at all!

      A bit of emergency sewing is in order for all of us- Miss Lo was up first- only because I happened to have something mid way finished- these cute little capri pants fit the bill- sewn out of some reclaimed chambray they will be perfect for "winter" weather in California. Next up is the sweet little Ofelia dress from Figgy's patters- this is such an easy and satisfying dress to sew up- and I happen to have a couple of yards of this double weight gauze from Etsuko Furuya- love the fox!

     It's been quite awhile since I sewed any Momma made goods for this Littles of mine- so time spent in between wrapping up custom orders will be found to make a few fresh, new things for our big trip. I'm diving into my fabric stash and trying to use up what I have on hand- it's no secret what a fabric hoarder I am! And maybe- just maybe- if I'm lucky this Momma will even get something made for herself- Christmas miracle really do happen!

Simple Family Friday

          It really is starting to be the most wonderful time of the year- my favourite time in fact- between St. Nicholas Day, Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Years there is no shortage of light and celebration in the midst of our darkest days. Of course like with everything I do we like to keep our Holiday season simple- easy homemade fun- sprinkled with lots of glitter!

         It's so important to develop traditions that are important and special to your own specific family- events and outings that hold special meaning and will make unique memories for the entire family. With the advent of Social Media, blogs and Pinterest it is so easy to get overwhelmed by the onslaught of cute projects or "must do" Holiday events that this time of year can easily start to feel like a marathon. It's also very easy to start to feel like you are "less" than "perfect"- I find there is just so inspiration that its easy to feel like your not measuring up.

     So my point is this- first off what is the "perfect" Holiday? I say the perfect Holiday is whatever makes you happy- be it a fully packed month of events or hitting the beach for a nature walk in the stillness. It could be a four course dinner or pizza. While our kids are small these memories we are making are not for their benefit- they are for ourselves- looking back on my own childhood Christmas' I don't remember much- other than lots of snow and love.

     My simple family Friday suggestion is this- make unique traditions that are for you and your family- stop worrying about what everyone else is doing- it's not a race- no parenting prizes will be given out. So Friends keep it simple and thrive this Holiday season instead of just surviving- this is a time for celebration and letting the light in not running yourself and your family ragged.

     Friends it is Friday again- I am happy to say we have big plans for just tucking in and being with family- I'm super excited to meet our new cousin- Lovely Cousin Laura and her husband welcomed their first child into the world this week- I can't wait to soak up some of that new baby goodness! Happy Friday Friends!

DIY Gifts for The Green Guru

Knitted Wide Mouth Mason Jar Sleeve

       Now I know by now everyone is like so over the mason jar trend- but I love it and I still drink my hot beverages to go out of one- so does my Mr! Conventional travel mugs are a bit dodgy- the paint on the last two we had actually peeled right off- not to mention the fact that we are trying not to buy more disposable items- which travel mugs still kinda are. So we started using a humble Mason jar- with the addition of a Cuppow it really is the perfect drinking vessel. The only issue lie in the extreme heat that is conducted through the glass onto the fingers- it was with this in mind that I knit up this handy little jar sleeve.

     This is the perfect beginner project for a novice knitter wanting to learn to knit in the round in addition to being the perfect yarn stash buster- use up all those scraps and half skeins that are hanging about. I really have no idea what the wool is that I used- something bought years ago from my favourite yarn store on Granville Island- it's very nubby and feels hand spun.

Needles:

one set of four double pointed

needles- size US 6(4mm)

Notions:

stitch marker

Sleeve: Cast On 36 stitches. Join together for working in the round- being careful not to twist stitches- place marker at the beginning of the round

Knit 1, purl 1 to make edged ribbing- k1,p1 for 3 rounds

Change to stocking stitch and work evenly until the piece measures about 3 inches from the beginning (stitch marker)

Knit 1, purl 1 to make another ribbed edge-k1,p1 for 3 rounds 

Bind off loosely and weave in tails- remove stitch marker

      Each sleeve takes about an hour to complete making this a perfect, easy little gift for any enviro savvy coffee drinker on your Holiday list. To make an extra special gift fill the Mason jar with a favourite tea, small packet of coffee or cookies- top with a Cuppow and add some ribbon- instant gift! Happy knitting Knit Wit!

November Studio Update

        I am so pleased to be a part of the upcoming Maternal Creations Craft Fair- coinciding with the East Side Culture Crawl- taking place this Saturday at the Canuck Family Education Centre of William Street- just off The Drive. Vancouver is home to so many creative Momma's- there is sure to be a little treasure for everyone to be found at this weekend's event.

        I have been busy in the studio this week- lots of fun Holiday goodies are coming together- organically coming around to where my cards started- this new batch is a lot more "collagey" than what they have been- loads of vintage ephemera seeping into these Holiday missives- velvet, stamps, pages of books, tags- all combined with my signature prints. New life to old postage to be sent around the world again!

        This is Plain Jane's last craft market of the season- but never worry both the Etsy shop and Facebook page are positively full up with new stock! Lots of little zipper bags which make for perfect stocking stuffers or hostess gifts in addition to lots of mini Moleskin notebooks.

       I'm not sure if it is the prospect of spending time with other local creative Momma's or just the time of year but I feel this is my best batch of cards yet. If you are local and hoping to start your Holiday shopping please come out and say hello- lots of unique goodies to chose from!

       

DIY Gifts for Gardeners: Garden Markers

     The Holidays are coming and if like me you have big plans to make your gifts yourself then now is the time to get crafting. The wonderful thing about home made gifts is they can be as personal as you want- for example with this easy little gift I had my mom in mind- she is a gardener and so what a perfect stocking stuffer these garden makers would be! Very easy for the novice crafter- perfect for making with the Littles- these are sure to make any gardener smile in the middle of the winter!

Garden Markers

The Goods:

acrylic paint- I chose Martha Stewart Colours in a Satin finish
paint brush
large size popsicle sticks
letter stamps and a stamp pad
                or
coloured Sharpie of your choice
an outdoor sealant or varnish- I used
Jo Sonja Polyurethane varnish

The Deal:

- to start paint your popsicle sticks with two or three coats of the Satin paints- don't be shy- really make sure the paint is thick

- while the paint is still slightly tacky* start stamping in your words- I chose to put different herbs on my garden markers- because the paint is still tacky the stamps will emboss into the paint giving the project a bit of dimension

- allow the stamped letters to dry for an hour or so before coating them with a weather proof sealant- you can either dip the entire garden marker into the sealant and hang to dry or you can paint it on one side at a time- allow the sealant to cure- this could take up to 24 hours.

        Pair your garden markers with some GMO free seeds like these from the Strathcona 1890 Urban Seed Collection and some wee starter pots for the perfect gift for the frustrated winter gardener! Every garden needs a pop of colour- even in areas with flowers like the herb garden these little multi coloured markers will pop out of the foliage!

* if you are hand printing your words on with a Sharpie please make sure the paint is thoughrally dry before proceeding with the rest of the steps.

Craft Camp: Halloween Fun

         Happy Halloween everyone! Today is the day where all our little Ghouls and Boys will be getting dressed up to do the Trick or Treating rounds- our Littles are all ready awake they are so excited! I like to balance out a high sugar- high energy day like today with a little bit of quiet time- some holiday art making to go along with a healthy after school snack- before more sugar and craziness ensues!

        This is a super simple Halloween project- striped pumpkins- a little fine motor skills work out with all the paper cutting is the perfect thing a busy five year old needs to get him to sit still and chill out for a few minutes. If your Little is still a true little and is not yet at the scissor stage then feel free to cut out the stripy bits. For this project use some fun, fancy paper- Micheal's (craft store) has three pieces of scrapbooking paper for $1.00 right now- so I selected some appropriate Halloween colours- but you can also use whatever you have on hand.

  Step 1- cut out decorative paper into long stripes- vary the widths and angles- this doesn't need to be accurate- especially if the kids are doing the cutting.

Step 2- using a basic glue stick glue stripes down to a sturdy piece of card stock- this piece needs to be a more robust piece of paper- I would suggest a piece of bristol board or heavy card stock.

Step 3- once the entire back piece of paper is covered in decorative paper stripes allow the glue to dry- go back and touch up any spots where the glue might have been missed.

Step 4- once the glue is dry- flip the entire project over and sketch out a pumpkin- use a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter as a template if you need to for a bunch of mini pumpkins or sketch out one large pumpkin that uses up the entire paper. We chose to make a batch of mini pumpkins to use on Halloween cards- we fit nine mini pumpkins on a 12 x 12 sheet of paper. 

       These cute mini striped pumpkins can be affixed to a blank card or used as decorations on a door- we are going to hand out glow sticks and I'm going to tape them to the back of our mini pumpkins- really there are countless ways this cute craft can be used! I love the graphic nature of the stripes- they almost feel a bit quilted.

      Our pumpkins are carved, costumes are complete and everyone is geared up to get their Trick Or Treat on- I hope you all have a super fun and super safe day! Happy Halloween!

PS- if you need me I will be the one in a sugar coma after eating all the kid's candy!

Birds of A Feather- Set Up Shop Together

      I know I'm always going on and on about how many talented folks I am blessed to know- this is only because it is completely true! Working in the arts community it is just natural to become close with many of the artists working along side you- ditto for the craft market community- I have met and become friends with some incredibly talented artisans. Recently a few of us put our heads together 

(OK really it was all Margot's idea) and decided to host a one day open house trunk show- three amazing businesses under one roof for one day- sounds exciting doesn't it!

     This coming Saturday for one day only- as I mentioned- Crystal Connections, Catch My Drift Words and Plain Jane Designs are coming together with some of our most fabulous items. This is an invite only event but if you are local and want to do some shopping- snagging an invite and all the details couldn't be easier- simply click on any of our business links to our Facebook pages and then drop us a private message! There are going to be some real goodies for sale on Saturday- I thought I would give you a sneak peek and an introduction of each of these talented ladies!

     Margot is a Registered Massage Therapist who also happens to be the creative force behind Crystal Connections. Coming from a healing background she is always interested in various methods of healing. She began researching and using the healing stones in her own life and saw the shift in her own emotions and energy. It was then that she knew she had to share her passion and knowledge for healing stones with the world.

      Margot designs one of a kind jewelry , crystal chakra sets and cat collars with all with healing stones. Margot is amazing at reading people's energy and intuitively knowing just what stone an individual needs in their life. Lots of yummy Crystal Creations will be available this Saturday- ROCK YOUR LIFE!

 
   Leona from Catch My Drift Words took her enjoyment of beach combing to the next level with the creation of her business- in her own words:

"I took a beautiful piece of driftwood when at the beach with my two girls- without knowing exactly what I wanted to do with it. I knew I wanted to do something with it. About a week or two later, my mom made me go to a yoga class with her to do something for myself and to just relax (working mom of two... doesn't happen often!)

 While I was supposed to be meditating and have a clear mind the word "calm" kept repeating in my thoughts. Then I though of my lovely piece of drift wood and thought that the word calm would be perfect painted on there... thus making it a Drift Word!"

 
  All wood has been collected by Leona and her girls on the Sunshine Coast. She used a line of locally made chalk paint- Fat Paint- for all the text and varnishes each piece to keep the words integrity. Each Drift Word is finished with a hanger on the back making this instant art for any space.

"I have always loved creating things and the outdoors... this combines the two perfectly. I love the time collecting and painting the Drift Words, that help me forget about the everyday craziness of life"

     Of course if you are a regular reader here you will have by now become immune to my almost weekly studio updates- this week has been no different- lots of busy making in the studio- AKA the kitchen table! I thought though that I would take a minute to speak about what Plain Jane is and how it has evolved over the years. I am for all intensive purposes a "painter" I love to paint but when I had babies I was really concerned about the use of solvents and pigments around their little bodies- so I stopped and turned to collage- which was fun and creative and filled all my needs as well as being much more gentle on those little growing brains.

     Plain Jane Designs started as a means of sending those collages out into the world- I love the concept of mail art and thought that a greeting card company would be a little like a giant mail art project! This is how my home business began- I collaged and then started incorporating screen printing while my babies napped- I sold my cards casually to my friends and family- then started an Etsy shop- the rest is kind of history!

    Over the years my process has changed and new products have been added- I'm always growing and looking for new ideas to incorporate into Plain Jane. This year things have really started to take off- I am incredibly proud of what I am creating- not only with my cards which are the back bone of what I do- but with my totes, pillows, tea towels and just the general feeling of what Plain Jane is!

 
 Plain Jane speaks to a slower life filled with lovely, high quality items that you will have for a long time- even the cards can linger for months or years! Every item is made with love and joy in my home studio- which by now you all know is the kitchen table! Plain Jane has allowed me to do what I love and remain at home with my Littles- which I feel is the greatest part of this whole deal!

    I really hope to see some of you lovely readers out this Saturday- we all know the Holiday's are approaching- we mock Costco for having Christmas trees in July but now really is the time to start thinking and shopping. Get everything wrapped up before the start of December so you can sit back and enjoy all those parties or just quietly snuggle in by the fire place. Saturday's open house is an excellent opportunity to get out and do a bit of shopping in a calm environment all the while supporting three local businesses!

P.S. we will be accepting cash, Visa & Mastercard