Sunday 29 December 2013

Happy Holidays to all....

I hope that over the holidays you take some time for yourself, some restorative recharging for the year to come and some reflection on the year that was.

The moments leading up to the holidays were, for me, very busy and overwhelming, and I made a decision to not go it alone next year.  I'll be calling the help of some former students who mentioned that they would give me a hand if I needed, it but I waited too long to ask for the help when I most needed it.  Lesson learned.

I wanted to share with you a peaceful place, that is inspirational, restorative and mood altering if you are in need of a winter pick me up. 

On my list of Holiday adventures was a trip to the Allen gardens in Toronto.  One of the oldest greenhouse gardens in Toronto, it was founded in 1858, and is over 16,000 square feet of floral wonders. 

The day we arrived, it was a beautiful, sunny, crisp day with snow covering everything in sight.  Throwing open the doors, you are immediately transported to another world, in sharp contrast to the one that you just left. The fragrant, moist environment is pretty shocking to the system, and I can only parallel it to the feeling you get when you leave winter in Canada, and exit the plane, somewhere tropical, when that wall of heat, growth and abundance smacks you right in the face. 

Towering palm trees, tropical curiosities, bananas growing in abundance, cactus, paper whites, and for the holidays, poinsettias filled every nook and cranny.  I have resolved to make these gardens a destination when I need an escape from the winter chills and a calm, soft space to renew. 

Happy New Year to you all. xoxo









 
 

















































All photos by me with the exception of the exterior shot of the building. 
I totally forgot to shoot a pic as it was FREEZING outside, but luck may have it,
Patrick, at Torontocitylife.com had a great outdoor image in winter! :)

Wednesday 11 December 2013

The Final Countdown!

For the past few months I've been working towards a big show coming up, "City of Craft".
It's an annual event, held at the Great Hall on Queen Street West, in Toronto.

It's been extra busy in the studio as I've been developing some special pieces for the show,
and there have been many late night slogs where I'm not quite sure if I'm arriving or leaving the studio.

Well, the final countdown is on...and I hope to see some of you at the City of Craft, on the weekend!  It's going to be a lot of fun!

Check out the website: http://www.cityofcraft.com/

or the Pinterest page for more information and images of the work:

http://www.pinterest.com/cityofcraft/vendors-winter-2013/











 

Monday 2 December 2013

Touch the Dutch and Jolly Good Salute you!

 

To thank my readers, clients and customers, and to usher in the holidays,  I'm offering a chance to win a pair of earrings to gift or keep for my readers.
 
I've teamed up with the lovely Helen, from Jolly Good studios in the UK who is also a jewellery designer and textile designer.  Check out her blog, it's pretty fun looking around in there!  http://jollygoodstudio.blogspot.ca/

She has designed these really great holiday stockings that were inspired by that creepy line in the holiday song "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake", intended to terrify children into being on their best behaviour during the holidays, lest Santa be lurking outside. 

We're both hosting a promotion for you, dear readers, to participate in a give away of a pair of handmade sterling silver petal studs or hanging drops to the winner.

To participate, in the Rafflecopter event, you get more points if you:

1. Like my Touchthedutch page on Facebook
2. Answer the question, which do you prefer,studs or hanging drop Earrings? On FB
3. Follow Jolly Good on Twitter! twitter.com/JollyGoodStudio

All you need to do, is enter below on the Rafflecopter link!  The contest ends on Friday, Dec.6th at midnight EST. Good luck!

https://www.facebook.com/Touchthedutch?ref=hl

 
 





Petal Studs Sterling Silver Earrings