just breathe

These past weeks have been busy, busy, busy… design work, craft work, chasing the kids… a bit of a whirlwind. Being in Vancouver though, I feel lucky that nature is around every corner… lots of perfect spots to just stop and breathe.

hunter & hare

A new cute shop, Hunter & Hare is opening in Gastown and they are carrying some Cabin + Cub earrings! Check out their grand opening tonight! Happy Weekend ;)

mmmmm… doughnut

A bit of a Homer Simpson moment recently after buying a box of goodness from Lucky's Doughnuts. The one in the back is one of my faves… apple bacon fritter, but I must say the little nibble (ok, big bite) of the salted caramel one (front right) was pretty darn good too.

yummy in my tummy

Ok, so you’re thinking... another food related post? Well, yes... I am preggers after all, so food is a very popular theme for me lately. Our latest culinary excursion? Meat & Bread on Cambie for the porchetta sandwich, grilled cheese, and the special of the day lamb sandwich.   Oh yes, I should mention that this was a meal for the hubby, little Jasper and I (and technically baby-to come as well)... so I didn't actually eat all three sandwiches... although it wouldn't have been a problem, they were that yummy!

kitchen stadium

“Oh yummy”, you are thinking, “... who made all this food, it looks so scrumptious?” Eh-hem, eh -hem.... oh, yes all the food you see in the shots was made by Roger and I during our 4 hour hands-on cooking class for couples at the Dirty Apron Cooking School.

On the menu:
· goat cheese apricot cake with grilled pear and prosciutto salad
· whole roasted cornish game hen with grainy mustard sauce accompanied with truffle & thyme risotto
· a trio of desserts (a Grand Marnier creme brûlée, a chocolate soufflé, and chocolate dipped strawberries

Not too shabby for two foodies/amateur chefs who watch the food network religiously. We were initially a bit nervous coming to the class (I kept having visions of Gordon Ramsay yelling at me while stirring bad risotto - don't get too excited, he wasn't actually at the class), but alas, all turned out well... the soufflé did not drop, the risotto delectable... and Roger and I did not have any marital spats during the entire course... hooray! Cooking course success!

chocolate craving

A bit of a coffee break at Revolver over the weekend... oh yes, with the accompaniment of a chocolate croissant.  So yes, that did hit the craving spot... although the longer I stare at this picture, I am wishing I bought a few more to take home.

some fun in the sun

What to do when you have days of hot sunny weather and a 2 year old with, what seems like an unlimited amount of energy. Introduce him to some sand and new trusty friends — the bucket and pail. And yes, that is Jasper's trusty sidekick you see on the left there... his new best bud Spider-Man!

my little strong man

Summer time means local fairs, festivals and celebrations are underway for the next few months. Perhaps still a little too small for most of the rides at a local fair over the weekend, my little man still got to have fun by flexing some muscle. Actually, I am a little relieved he is still too small for most of the rides... it makes a great excuse for me to bow out of going on things called Kamikaze (and the like) without looking like a woos. ;)

coffee and chocolate

Two cappuccinos and two pain au chocolats (chocolate croissants) at Le Marché St. George (in my opinion, one of the cutest coffee places in Vancouver) for father's day. And no, I did not eat all of the above by myself, although tempting. Mmmm... I could really go for another one of these today though...

got craft this sunday!!!

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! (I am yelling this in my monster-truck announcer voice, btw). Got Craft is this Sunday! Come one and come all to the coolest craftiest event of the spring. I will be there with over 50 other vendors... in addition to some DJs playing music, a sewing lounge DIY workshop, and yummy food carts. Oh, and did I mention first 50 people through the door get a free swag bag full of crafty goodness? So yes, it pays to be early! Hope to see you all there!


When: Sunday, May 6th, 10am, - 5pm
Admission: $3 (kids under 10 FREE)
Where: Royal Canadian Legion
2205 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

get your toque* on

It is finally here... my last holiday show! Okay, so if you missed the last two, here is another chance to swing by and do a little crafty holiday shopping. Opening tonight from 6-10pm, as well as tomorrow from 11-4pm, this show will feature over 20 vendors. Click here for more info on the event! Hope to see you there!
*for those of you who don't know what's a Toque (pronounced "took"), it is a knitted hat/cap you wear in the winter... very popular up here in Canada. I think Americans call this a "Beanie"... but using that word up here would result in a lot of blank stares.

dining in shangri-la

Warning - looking at these food pics may cause you to lick your computer screen or drool in hunger! Yesterday, I was treated by the hubby for an awesome lunch at Market at the the Shangri-La Hotel (the tallest building in Vancouver, FYI)... and it was oooooh soooo gooood. A little salmon sashimi with tomato and basil dressing to start, a brie topped truffle burger (sorry, my pic of it didn't turn out), and a summer berry sangria sorbet to finish.... oh yes, and all accompanied with an apricot mint mojito (hey it was our wedding anniversary weekend, so a little indulgence was called for). I am getting hungry just looking at these pics again and reminiscing after only one day... sigh.

craft recovery

Apologies for the late post, but had to take a few days there to recover from the Got Craft event on the weekend... it was a great event, but I must admit, I was really tired afterwards! Throw into the mix, Jasper's sudden night waking now that his two top teeth have decided to make their appearance, and it will be a miracle if this post is not riddled with typos and bad grammar. Anyways, just wanted to thank everyone who came by for a visit! This is my last show until the fall, so it will give me some time to focus on the online shop and work on some new products! Yay!

crafts on mother's day

This Sunday will be my first mother's day!... and I'll be working the Got Craft show! Honestly, I thought Mother's Day was next weekend and didn't realize it fell on the same day until I was informed by the hubby... oops! (How is it I got the date wrong... argh!) Thank goodness that this is one of the best shows of the year and is always lots of fun to do. So if you happen to be in Vancouver, swing on by for a visit... there are over 55 vendors and the first 45 people through the door get a much coveted swag bag full of goodies. Perhaps even pick up that last minute gift for the mom? Hope to see you there!

Sunday, May 8th

10am - 5pm

Royal Canadian Legion

2205 Commercial Drive

Vancouver

Admission $3 (kids under 10 free)

www.gotcraft.com

we made it!

Thanks to everyone for visiting us (the Hob Snobs table) over the weekend at the Make It craft fair. It was nice to see some familiar faces as well as meet new ones. Check out some of the photos of our booth. My next fair isn't until next month... so I am gong to take a bit of a craft breather... well, for a few days anyways, until I start getting the itch to craft again (which seems to always come sooner than I anticipate!)

make it!

I am finally posting!! After a computer incident last week which left me at a standstill, I am back online! Had a bit of a scare... thought I lost a few months worth of work and baby photos on the 'ol hard drive as the computer was acting funny, but all things are back on track now. Phew!

Some event news to announce today. I'll be at the Make It! Vancouver event happening this weekend. So if you happen to be in town and are in a crafty or shopping mood, come and check it out... there will be over 80 vendors! I will be at booth #43 as part of the Hob Snobs Craft Collective and will

have some new items (coasters and prints) as well as some sale items as well! Hope to see you there! Now back to finishing up some more inventory in time for the show....

DETAILS:

Friday, April 15:

4pm to 9pm ·

Saturday, April 16:

11am to 6pm ·

Sunday, April 17:

11am to 5pm

The Croatian Cultural Centre,

3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Pay once, Shop 3 days! $5 at the door –click here for $2 off!

Kids 12 & under are free

winter stop

It snowed here yesterday morning, but as fast as it was here, it was all gone by the afternoon. So instead of the standard snowscape to share with you today... I thought I would share some public art blanketed in light snow (this installation is part of the Vancouver Biennale). It reminds me that we should all just stop and enjoy the fleeting moments of the snowfall.

snowy mountain tops

Roger took to the slopes a few days ago and snapped some amazing photos (these shots are from the chairlift at Cypress Mountain). I can't wait to go up this year... it has been quite awhile, since I was preggo last year and this year we have the wee one... oh, I am so itching to go! Anyways, thought these pics would help put everyone in a winter holiday mode!

craft show hangover

It has finally come and gone... the big One of a Kind show was last week, and I can finally let out a big sigh of relief! To be honest, I am pretty exhausted... I feel like I have craft show hangover. The four day show (plus the two days of set-up and take-down) were starting to make me feel a bit batty. My feet are sore and my smile hurts... I guess I am not destined to work in retail, huh? Here are some pictures of our craft collective's booth – the other two crafty companies forming the Hob Snobs Craft Collective being Track and Field Designs and The Beautiful Project (so, yah that is why you can see some other very cute crafty items in the pics too). Thanks to everyone who came out to the show and visited our booth! And now some time to relax... oh wait, the holidays are coming!!! Eeeeeek! Where does the time go????!!!

one of a kind

After hours of set-up and many days and nights in panic mode (apologies to everyone around me having to deal with my panicky state, btw)... the Vancouver One of a Kind Show is here! This is the big mondo show I have been sweating about all year long... a four day affair, it is the mother of all craft shows for me. Eeeeeeeeeeeeep! I will be working the booth with two of my lovely crafty friends under our collective name Hob Snobs. Hope you can come visit us... we are booth #E5 and right by the entrance... woohoo, so you can't miss us. I will update with photos of our booth soon!

One of a Kind Vancouver Show Info:

This holiday find everything you need under one roof at the One of a Kind Show and Sale. 250 of North America's most talented artists & designers will showcase unique gift ideas for everyone on your list.

December 9-12th

Booth #E5 (Hob Snobs Craft Collective)

Vancouver Convention Centre

www.oneofakindvancouver.com