Day 153/365
If you’re like me you might like to plan ahead! Today I’m giving you a heads up that NEXT weekend I’ll be a vendor at the Parkdale Flea here in Toronto!
When: Sunday March 15, 2015
Where: Goodfellas Gallery 1266 Queen St. West, Toronto
I’ll be there with a great selection of my handbound journals, sketchbooks as well as some book jewellery and my bookbinding kits! Many other talented artisans and makers will also be there, so check it out if you can!
Hello everyone, just wanted to post a quick note to say Hello and let you know that I’m still around! My apologies for the radio silence lately, but there are a lot of exciting things in the works! I cannot spill the beans just yet, but soon!
In the meantime, a big Thank You is in order for everyone who has come out to support me at the various shows, workshops and fairs that I’ve been participating in lately. This weekend I was at the Small Press & Literary Festival by Toronto Indie Arts Market and the Annual Printmaking Fair at the Cambridge Galleries, where there were so many talented printmakers. When at shows, it’s always so nice to see a familiar face and meet someone in real life that I’ve been chatting with online! If you haven’t had a chance to check out one of the many artisan/maker/book arts fairs/craft shows I participate in, check out the Upcoming Shows section on my site. And keep your eyes peeled on the Workshops section for upcoming bookbinding classes that I will be teaching.
In the online world, I was a featured artisan earlier this month over at Small Batch Magazine! It’s a wonderful and eloquently written piece that really captures the drive and satisfaction of being a maker in the modern world. I’m proud to be featured on this all-Canadian website that profiles makers and artisans, something I’ve been looking forward to for a while. I encourage you to take a read and check out their website (it’ll be worth your time, I promise). Otherwise, if you’re interested in what I’m making in the studio, new items are being posted to my Etsy shop on a fairly regular basis these days.
I thought it was about time to formally introduce my latest project; Hay Fever Hankies. I know some of you have seen them on my social media, in my Etsy shop and maybe you’ve even seen them in person at a market or fair! I’d like to share a bit more about these little gems and show you where they come from, what they’re made of and all about.
This is a product that is proudly made from reclaimed materials. This means that each edition or collection will be different, depending on what fabrics are available and most appropriate for the season. 
You may remember the first collection of Hay Fever Hankies, as pictured above: crisp white fabric with imagery in summer colours.
This time around I decided to change things up and refresh my original idea. I started with fabric in four springtime tones: Mocha, White, Pistachio and Grass Green and kept the images in a neutral grey. When looking for fabric I always hunt for 100% cotton, no scratchy fabrics! 
The prints are lino cuts based on my sketches of local plants: Timothy/Hay, Ragweed and Crowsfoot. These are printed onto the fabric using water-based earth friendly inks. They are heat set, sewn by me and then pre-washed.
I really like how the Crowsfoot turned out. Since the printing is done by hand, each handkerchief is a bit different, giving uniqueness and character to each.
If you’re into getting outside in springtime, check out my Upcoming Shows to snap up some hankies of your own! This saturday, April 26 2014, I’ll be at the Wayzgoose in Grimsby! Otherwise, they’re available online here.
Ps. You may have noticed that the prints on the Grass Green fabric seemed to have disappeared. This isn’t your imagination, I’ve decided they have a different purpose than hankies . . . this is all I’m saying for now, so stay tuned!
It’s been two weeks since the One of a Kind show started, and I feel I’m as rested as I’m going to be. So much awaits that I cannot sit still for long. I’m talking about things like new projects, re-vamped designs and SPRING!! (I will admit, I’ve got both my winter and spring jackets out. I’m just not quite convinced I won’t need the winter one at least once more). 
I’ve got some re-vamped goodies in the works, just in time for spring: new Hayfever Hankies! Yup, they’re back and just in time, too! This batch will be available in white, pistachio, grass green and mocha. It comes in three lino cut designs, the usual suspects of hayfever; ragweed, timothy/hay and crowsfoot. Look in the ‘Handprinted Fabric Items’ section of my online Etsy shop in the next few days.
I’m also slowly but surely getting some of the brand new designs you may have seen at the One of a Kind show up in my Etsy shop. To keep up to date on this, follow my facebook or other social media feeds here.
Meanwhile, if you’re in Toronto I’ve got two shows this weekend, check out the Upcoming Shows section of my site for details!
Just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who came out and supported Sprouts Press at the One of a Kind Show last week. It was fantastic to meet so many of you and put faces to the names I’ve seen online. I’m still unpacking and organizing my studio, so I’ll put together something a bit more in depth soon. For now, a simple Thank You is in order.
Some wonderful things have come out of the show, so I’ll keep you up to date as they unfold. In the meantime, I think spring might be just around the corner . . .
If you’ve been following my (rather sparse) posts lately, you already know that I’m an exhibitor in this year’s One of a Kind Show and Sale. I’m pretty excited about this, it’s the largest craft & artisan show I’ve ever participated in, and it’s right here in Toronto! As well as my enthusiasm I’m also a bit nervous, especially in the last minute tasks leading up to the official opening. In reality though, I’m pretty well on schedule and organized.
This is pretty good for me.
No last-minute rushing around frantically. No middle-of-the-night realizations that I forgot to, gasp, order business cards or bring a chair or something like that. Nope, I’m organized and on schedule. That is, until I got my eureka idea for the perfect series of books to bind, last minute of course!
My creative side took charge and the schedule changed! I was no longer on schedule. But now as I finish up these new additions, I have a new plan, and I’ll leave you with some photos of what you can expect to see at my booth (K20G in the Etsy section).
Lots of new designs and variations on some classic bindings.
I’m pleased with how everything has turned out and how the collection as a whole feels connected through materials, colour and transition.
I drew on the changing of seasons for inspiration; winter to spring, bleak to bright, cozy to light, old to new.
I think the growth of this transition is visible across the table, and I couldn’t be more delighted!
If you plan to attend the show and don’t have tickets, click here to get a discounted ticket! I’ll be in the Etsy section at booth K20G. The show runs from March 26 – 30 and if you have any further questions, please visit the show website here.
Hope to see you there!
Sprouts Press 