This'll be quick

I know. I know.

I've already posted once today. This'll be quick.

I just met a customer who mentioned she reads my blog (how creeped out is she going to feel when/if she reads this and realizes I'm writing about her mere moments after she was in the shop? Sorry!) and while we're talking I noticed she's wearing the funkiest little fabric, embroidered, blinged-out cuff on her wrist.

Naturally I told her how cute I think it is and she proceeds to tell me she made it!

So.

She knows about the craft show.

She knows she makes cool stuff.

And yet, she hasn't applied to be in the show!

I hope I was able to persuade her to rethink being part of Handmade Harvest, but regardless, it got me thinking.

How many of you talented people out there are sitting on the fence about applying!?

I know I've talked about all the great submissions we've been getting, but there's always room for more!

Don't sell yourself short.

Take a risk. Become part of our craft community before we go and get all elitist and cliquey.

I bet you're even better than you think.

So come on lazy bones. Get your act together and apply.

Only one month left.

Seeing green

I'm feeling pretty green today.

And not the new kind.

Or the rich kind either.

I was feeling good and then I opened up my big mouth, announced it...and now I'm feeling rotten again.

Blech.

It's a slow, rainy Saturday (which normally I know how to enjoy) in the shop and I'm doing everything I can to focus on something other than my gag reflex.

So instead, I thought I'd put together a little montage of items Blackbird is currently carrying, as well as some new Etsy finds and home decor ideas to inspire you shoppers all snuggled up in your homes to come out and see me.

Or at least to redecorate.

Thanks for the great idea Melissa!

1. Lime green paper lanterns. Sizes, Colours and prices range from $5.99 to $14.99.

They're beautiful all on their own, but we've also got the lighting kits if you'd like to pop a bulb in the centre. A funky addition to your back porch or gazebo this summer. Source: Blackbird

2. Fruit Frappe Dry Body Oil in Pear & Mangosteen scent. Made in Canada by Upper Canada Soap.

Great for moisturizing your skin straight out of the shower on a warm summer day. Non greasy and deliciously, lightly scented. $13.99 at Blackbird. Also available in Grapefruit Gooseberry and Apricot Kiwi.

3. Gnome Sweet Gnome print by Etsy seller Benjrs. $20 cheap.

4. Pop up Garden Bag. A great coated carry all perfect for shopping the local Farmer's Market. Like this one for example. $8.99 at Blackbird.

5. Lime with white polka dot cupcake liners from this Etsy seller. Not unlike the ones we used for our Bird Day Party back in April. 45 liners for $3.75 USD.

6. Lime Flower Hair Pins made at our Flower Accessory Workshop. We should do that one again. I could use more of these for my hair. Comment if you think we should!

7. A Gutsy Lime Green Front Door I found here. I wish I had what it takes to paint my front door lime green. And my walls black. I don't think I do.

8. Green Glass Embossed Tumblers by Tag. Now available at Blackbird (with matching pitcher) for $5.99 each. Add a little vintage inspired flare to your dining table or open kitchen shelves.

9. Recycled Spanish Glass Serving Bowl. $34.99 in the shop. Also available in Turquoise and Red when it's in stock!

10. My Favourite Item in the Shop. "Fringe Benefit" Mohair Throw by Merben. Available in a variety of colours (for custom order if we're out of stock) from grey and brown to robin's egg blue, red and a gorgeous plum. A worthwhile splurge at $158.99. Where? Blackbird.

I Can Relate

Not much time to blog this week!

I'm furiously trying to finish up some logo options for a new client (yipee!) and sewing the poop out of a baby quilt that I'm making for my friend Kim who had her baby early!

Damn her for not having to go into 40+ week territory, and damn her for making me look bad by being a Jenny-Come-Lately with her gift.

Also, congratulation to her and Peter. And Rory!!

Can't wait to meet him.

Thought I'd share an email I received from my friend Ryan this morning that made me giggle.

It was posted on a blog called Suburban Snapshots and was entitled "Why Having a Toddler is like Being at a Frat Party".

I hadn't thought of it that way before, but as far as metaphors go it works.

Happy reading.

Em

Why Having a Toddler is like Being at a Frat Party

- taken from Suburban Snapshots

10. There are half-full, brightly-colored plastic cups on the floor in every room. Three are in the bathtub.

9. There's always that one girl, bawling her eyes out in a corner.

8. It's best not to assume that the person closest to you has any control over their digestive function.

7. You sneak off to the bathroom knowing that as soon as you sit down, someone's going to start banging on the door.

6. Probably 80% of the stains on the furniture contain DNA.

5. You've got someone in your face at 3 a.m. looking for a drink.

4. There's definitely going to be a fight.

3. You're not sure whether anything you're doing is right, you just hope it won't get you arrested.

2. There are crumpled-up underpants everywhere.

1. You wake up wondering exactly how and when the person in bed with you got there.

The word is out

So guess what?

I'm pregnant.

You knew it would happen. I mean Brad and I can hardly keep our hands off each other.

Oh wait.

I guess I'm not sure how it happened.

Anyway. You heard me.

I'm only 2 months along at this point but, never one to keep a secret, I'm blogging about it.

I know it's taboo to breathe a word before 12 weeks but you know, if something (god forbid) terrible happens, I'll probably just blog about that too.

My life.

I make the rules.

Not being able to talk about it is really what's kept me from writing this last week and a half.

First of all I've been feeling like a bag of P double O P for the last month, so much so that my doctor put me on Diclectin which stopped the hurling, but made me feel like a zombie. So I've stopped that.

I was that painful tired.

Of course as soon as mom's not feeling tip top, Clemmie turns into needy baby.

Up? Up? Up? Up? UPPP?! Okay? Okay? Okay?

Ugh. So not okay.

The clouds seem to have lifted in the past 2 days though and I'm feeling pretty fantastic now.

Hope it sticks.

You know how much I like to get done in a day.

I know what you're thinking, and don't worry.

I won't turn this in to a pregnancy blog.

To be honest, I feel better the less I focus on it.

Having the need for instant gratification as one of my numerous character flaws makes 9 months a long time to wait for something.

Best not to think about it.

I treated myself to a workshop this weekend at Christine Moses' house.

Christine is a great mosaic artist.

The same one who decked out the windows of our Kid's Night door last year.

(Oh god. I just realized I'm going to be a big pregnant house for Kid's Night this year. Should I sound the call for volunteers now?)

I thought it was about time I did something for myself and just enjoyed the process of creating instead of sucking the joy out of everything by trying to make a buck.

My mom bought a really adorable piece of Christine's ages ago and I've always kind of coveted it.

Naturally I stole the idea.

As I am prone to do, I forgot to take pictures until I was almost done.

But here are a few anyway.

It still needs to be grouted, but I've left it to dry for a few weeks and then I'll go back to finish off my masterpiece.

I call it Clementine's Clothesline.

Fitting.

The clothes are all made using broken bits of china from Christine's huge stash. It took forever for me to put it all together, but I just found the whole afternoon so relaxing.

Exactly what the doctor ordered.

On a business note, the store has been going strong these last few weeks.

I'm feeling pretty hopeful heading into the summer.

We've got some new stuff in here which is always a treat, and I'll be getting a bunch of new prints in the next weeks.

Lots of colourful poppies and some other really interesting pieces.

Framed prints are a new thing for Blackbird.

Colleen and I picked up a few at the January gift show and they sold really quickly.

Not to mention, they look great on the walls of the shop.

You should come see them.

And me.

Chances are we'll be here.

Last but not least, we're getting lots of amazing submissions for Handmade Harvest.

I'm overwhelmed by the crafty goodness that's pouring in.

It's really shaping up to be fabulous. Like One of a Kind Show fabulous.

There's still lots of time to submit your work if you want to be part of this event.

Read more about how by visiting the website: www.handmadeharvest.com.

Talk to you all soon!

Emily

Cleaning House...and Store

I only have time enough to tell you all about the fabulous Yard Sale I'm holding at my house tomorrow morning.

I've decided it's time to give up the ghost on all the little widowed, mismatched and scratch & dent items in the Blackbird storeroom. Not to mention some old display items, tulle and stuff I just plain don't want to look at any more.

So I've taken it all home and am selling it at rock bottom prices beside a bunch of items from our home as well.

Think furniture (coffee tables, tables, a futon, painted hutch, computer desk etc etc), electronics, toys, loads of jewelry that I just don't wear anymore, curtains, rugs, art prints, you name it.

We've got lots of stuff to sell.

It's tomorrow, my place at 8am.

77 Union Street North.

Be there.

If only to see what I look like in jogging pants.