Good morning! It’s been two weeks since I’ve been back from my island of Malta, and things have gone into full swing. Suddenly it’s sweater weather in the mornings (when did that happen?!), and seasonal craft shows are coming up which has already got me thinking of year end. Besides pumpkin spice lattes and knit sweaters (PS I think pumpkin spice lattes are disgusting), Fall is that time where we reap what we’ve sown all year, take stock on our successes and set-backs, and reflect on what we want for the year ahead.
A Quick Look at Malta
The country of my parents, and what was home for a few years in my teens, Malta remains a very tender spot in my heart. Though I know that my home must be here in Canada, I feel a sense of belonging in Malta—I am grounded, and I fall into step with the way of life there. I feel like I make sense when I’m there, surrounded by my heritage.
I don’t get to see my parents very often. As we are all getting older, it’s more of a concern for me, made paramount in March when my dad suffered a stroke. While there, I was really touched at witnessing just how fragile and short life is. Especially when visiting my 95 year old grandmother at the home. Eventually our bodies are not what they once were, eventually we recognize our time is up. Today I read this:
Every day, think as you wake up, ‘Today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.’ –Dali Lama
Website Launch!
A long time coming, my new website designed by artist Monica Torreja has launched! Well, you’re on it! Feel welcome to check out my portfolio, browse studio pics, and take a look at my shop. I’m extremely grateful to Monica because it never would have happened if I did it myself.
A Life-long Love for Sewing Finally Comes to Fruition
So if you’ve been following my work for awhile, you’ve seen that I started making fabric patterns on Spoonflower. This has opened up a whole world of making that I’m really excited about! But when I brought out my old Singer from the garage, it was completely ceased and unrepairable. Which brought me to Kraft Village! If you live in the Belleville area, Kraft Village is an excellent resource for sewing, knitting, crochet etc. The owners are a husband and wife team (he is the machine technician while she runs the shop) and are super dedicated to their vocation. In fact, they are likely the best customer service experience I have ever encountered, and go over and above to share their expertise and knowledge in an unintimidating way. With the purchase of my sewing machine, I got an hour tutorial on how to use it, the different things I can do with it, as well as proper care and maintenance.
My first project is sewing cloth napkins with my hand-painted fabric. These will be available soon, on my website as well as on Etsy. Here’s a great tutorial on how to make them with mitred corners—your welcome!
Up-Coming Fabric
This is in the mail! It will be available on Spoonflower where you can purchase by the yard in several types of material, and will also be made into cloth napkins which I will have available on my website and on Etsy. If you don’t already follow on social media, you can find me there to get updates. @strawberrysnail on Facebook and Instagram, @sberrysnail on Twitter.
Doing it again this year! And I’ll let you in on a secret—feeling slightly unprepared after being away for three weeks! This was such a good show last year that I’m pumped to be accepted again. Etsy Made in Canada is on September 24th, a one-day pop-up market in all major cities across Canada. I’ll be in Kingston at Grant Hall in Queen’s University. The Kingston location is organized by the very popular Fat Goose Craft Collective. Last year there was quite a crowd, and the energy in the hall was totally full of good vibes. Where ever you are in Canada, it’s a fun thing to do on a Saturday, but if you’re in Kingston, say hi!
My Podcast List to You
If you’re an artist or crafter, you probably love podcasts. I literally can’t get shit done without them. Here’s my list of awesome that I can’t do without out:
Ideas from CBC Radio – this is a favourite of mine because it runs the gamut of topics like science, art, culture, environment, politics, writing etc. Discussion panels, interviews or documentaries, it’s full of really smart people with really interesting ideas and I think it’s really important to get a glimpse of what’s going on in the world outside of our little studio lives.
The Next Chapter from CBC Radio – Shelagh Rogers (top on my list of really awesome women) interviews Canadian authors. Insightful, funny, and deep all at once.
While She Naps with Abby Glassenberg – Interviews with artists, crafters and people in the business (publishing editors, and and the people involved in companies like Craftsy, Uppercase Magazine, Etsy, the Makerie, etc etc.). This one’s kind of invaluable, and full of practical information for studio practitioners.
Design Matters with Debbie Milman – from the website because I couldn’t have put it better: “about design and in inquiry into the broader world of creative culture through wide-ranging conversations with designers, writers, artists, curators, musicians, and other luminaries.” These interviews are so profound I’ve listened to most of them several times over.
I have more on my list, but I’ll share next time. Happy September friends! Make and share!