Little Bits of Christmas 2010


2011 is just days away now...

What a strange holiday it was for me this year..a bit surreal really. Trying to balance the excitement the kids have for the season with my dread of it. You see, it was my first Christmas in my entire life without my Mom.

I decorated, baked, shopped and wrapped almost robotically. Just going through the motions. Really, what else can you do? Children depend on their mother to create the magic.

My mother created magic.

In the end, her magic could still be felt...

In the smiles and wonder of our children... my Christmas eve dreams of her... the traditions I shared with my parents being shared with our children... the joy I can see in my fathers eyes as he watches his grandchildren... and even the pop of the Christmas crackers at dinner - special because my Mom had brought them last year and we had forgotten to use them.

We had a quiet but joyful day with my Dad, my brother and my sister-in-law. Although my Mom wasn't sitting with us I could feel her loving eyes and spirit watching over us.

I wish everyone a happy holiday season and all the best for 2011.


Fimo Critter Home



My daughter is a budding Fimo artist :) With their growing population they were in need of a safe home. My Dad came to the rescue with this sweet little cubby just for the critters.


This would be a great D.I.Y.

He used a shadow box depth picture frame for the box and added wooden slats. He added one of my daughters doodles as a fun background.

Now her Fimo critters have a happy little home!

a quiet holiday table...


I'm hosting Christmas dinner this year.
I crave a quiet, relaxing day spent with those I love most.

This collection of lovely handmade products from Etsy shops is mixed with a few items from West Elm that I have my eye on.

I really love the combination of natural tones and textures created from a mixture of linens, porcelain, felt, and vintage paper. It creates a ambiance of tranquility at a time of year when things are not always so tranquil.

I hope you enjoy my choices for a holiday table....

1. A lovely custom vintage textile banner trio from Monkey Puzzle would be perfect over a buffet table don't you think?

2. A natural linen drum pendant from West Elm - a perfectly understated dining room light fixture.

3. A have a large collection of vintage glass Christmas decorations that would be perfect in a vintage cream planter like this one from All Things White.

4. This pretty linen table runner from Nell Gleason is simple, yet has a flirty feminine touch with the ruffle.

5. I have some antique handmade wood bowls that would be the perfect place for these felted snowballs from Apple Hill Dolls to rest.

6. Porcelain plates and trays cast from tin pie dishes. I love these! A fun way to serve some holiday goodies. Available at West Elm

7. Peace... handprinted linen napkins from Terre Mum



Happy holiday Etsy finds

Some things that caught my eye this week on Etsy...



This cream patent leather carry case from French English is the perfect modern but ladylike bag.

I have had my eye on this vintage jewel bracelet "the dutchess" from Dreamy Vintage for awhile now.

Fun hostess gifts, tree ornaments or to adorn your gifts this holiday trio of vintage silver spoons by Hammermann is a favorite.

I know a sly little guy who would love this sweet fox stuffy pillow from Birdmafia.

A festive looking handprinted floor cushion from Mookah would be perfect in my daughters bedroom.

Leilalou has the sweetest linen stuffed toys including this wee linen boy mouse!

I'm almost done my Christmas shopping and I'm proud to say I bought many gifts from Etsy shops. I love giving handmade gifts.
















It's a start...



I know many of you are probably well into your Christmas decorating by now.
I'm just beginning...the shop has been busy (a good thing) and to be honest I'm just lacking a little Christmas spirit at the moment.

I did manage to get my urns primped a little for the holidays this past week. I used ornamental cabbages and a mixture of greens to create a very simple arrangement.
Flower designer I am not :)




I also created this very simple advent calendar today - very quickly as I am already 4 days late!




I promised the kids I would get the Christmas tree early part of this week and set to decorating it and the rest of the house.

Happy decorating!

So very happy!

What treats the Mailman delivered today!
I've been waiting for my copy of HOLIDAY with Matthew Mead to arrive. It is stunning.


I took a quick look through and could not believe how beautiful this book is. The paper quality is lovely to touch. The photography and design are brilliant. I can't wait to sit down with a cup of warm tea and enjoy it fully.

I have been a fan of Matthew's work for years. I've enjoyed his sense of style and creativity in the pages of many magazines and on his website. It was a complete thrill and honour to be invited to submit my papergoods for HOLIDAY. So thank you Matthew, Jenny and Linda!

Today is also bittersweet. My biggest fan...my sweet Mom, who I lost just 2 1/2 months ago isn't with me to share my happy news. Some of the hardest moments are when you want to share something special. I know she is with me in spirit, cheering me on and saying "That's great Hon (short for honey) I am so excited for you"

Cheers!

Debra

I also wanted to share this lovely delivery that arrived in my mailbox today from Pink Grapefruit Style on Etsy....







Winter Wonderland Party


I loved styling the party I recently produced and photographed for the lovely Babiekins Magazine. So I was thrilled to see that Ohdeedoh featured it today on their blog! Here are a few pictures from the shoot. 
To see more you can check out Babiekins Magazine here.




Dreaming of a new kitchen...






Today we had to go shopping for some new appliances. Nothing exciting really, just a dryer and a dishwasher. However, it got me dreaming of a designing a new kitchen.

We need, ok well we don't need, but we want a more modern, functional kitchen. The last remodel was done over 20 years ago and didn't maximize the space, especially for a growing family.

Have you seen the new Martha Stewart line of kitchens available at Home Depot? They are lovely. I'm not sure if they are available in Canada yet. Do you?

I know I want white simple cabinetry. I love the look of a solid surface counter top material like Corian. I'm not sure how I feel about open shelving. I really like the look and the opportunity to display collections but worry about dust. We live in an old house with plaster walls so dust is just part of the package.

Our dilemma is whether to leave the kitchen where it is and knock out a wall to make our main floor more open concept. It will also allow for an island...on my wish list. The other option is to move the kitchen into where our dining room is now and open up a different area of the main floor. What to do....???



Babiekins Magazine


Issue #3 of the lovely Babiekins Magazine is out today!


What a great way to start off a sleepy Monday morning! Exciting magazine launches are happening this week.

Today, issue 3 of Babiekins Magazine launches. I just love this magazine. It is always full of whimsical photos and lovely art. You can see my contribution too - a Winter Wonderland Party!

It's always a pleasure to work with the Priscila, the creative force behind Babiekins Magazine.

Enjoy!

Fun Halloween Party Ideas & Decorations


I thought I would share some images from a recent Halloween Party article I did over on Little Miss Heirlooms and Babiekins.







Planning and styling this article certainly got me organized with my Halloween decor early. However, I am just getting to creating the kids costumes this week.

My kids love to design and help create their costumes every year. We try to limit the store bought options. I like to see them come up with ideas using materials we have around the house. It encourages not only creativity but is also earth friendly.

Julian's Super Mario costume will be created using old pants that we will turn into Mario overalls. Last years Evil Red Riding Hood red cape will transform into Mario's red hat.

Isabella's costume is top secret but I'll let you see the final creation when she gives me the green light.

An 1812 Era Historic Fort Party for kids



My son celebrated his birthday at Historic Fort York in Toronto this past weekend. All I have to say is that this party theme is a surefire hit with 7 year old boys.

I usually do parties in our backyard. It's the first time I have ventured off site for a party. I can definitely see the advantages!

The boys arrived at Fort York and were assigned a Historic Guide named Eric for the duration of the party. He proceeded to give the boys a tour of the Fort. Highlights included "Drill Training", learning to march, a mock "charge!" on the hills, and free run of the beautiful grounds.

After we refueled with cold drinks, snacks and cupcakes all they wanted to do was head outside to explore the Fort and play.

The favor bags were fun to put together. The boys got a replica pop gun, war of 1812 era soldier toy, and a "candy ration". I packaged them in a cotton muslin bag to which I added the image of a Union Jack.

I highly recommend Fort York as a birthday party destination. It was the perfect mix of fun and education in a stunning location. My son declared it the best birthday party ever!

Hostess Gift Set Giveaway!





Good morning! I hope everyone had a great weekend.

It really did feel like Fall here in Toronto. We had a busy weekend with soccer tournaments and a special day on Sunday when we participated as a family in the Run for the Cure to honor my Mom.

I'm excited to share with you a giveaway I am hosting this week on Pepper Design Blog. You must check out Morgan's blog. It is always full of creative ideas and inspiration for everything from design to kids parties!

Visit Pepper Design Blog for your chance to win!

Etsy Finds

Some sweet, cheerful finds found on Etsy I thought I would share...

1. The "Perfectly Imperfect Pendant" from Her Pretty Bird
2. A perfect little pilllow from Baby To Go
3. Pom Pom Flower Ornament perfect for party decor! from Tracy B Designs
4. Inspired by a paper doll...fabric doll from Baby To Go
5. Happy art - personalized wall art from Pilli Pilli Handmade
6. "She liked to rustle her red crinoline" from Janet Hill Studio

Mom.


On Sunday, my world was forever changed. As the sun rose that morning, my dear, sweet Mom passed gently away.

It was like a whisper as I held her hand. I breathed a sigh of both relief and sorrow. She had suffered and now it was over.

For the past two years my mom has battled a recurrence of breast cancer. It was only in the past 4 months or so that it began to overtake her. Even so, her courage and will to fight this horrible disease never faltered. She wasn't ready to go. She had much to live for. She loved her family and couldn't bare to leave.

The last weeks were very difficult, especially the last few days. Every day I lost a little bit more of my Mom. It was the most painful week of my life. A good friend once told me that people don't realize how horrible breast cancer can be. I know I didn't. You can't possibly until you have borne witness to it.

The past few days I have experienced an unbelievable outpouring of support and love for my Mom. She touched many lives....

Today was her funeral. It was a true celebration of her spirit.
Three dear friends of my mother spoke of her with such eloquence, emotion and love. I will always remember their words. Thank you.

My mom was my biggest fan. I hope she knew I was hers.

Memories of P.E.I. 2010


Some shots from our recent holiday to Prince Edward Island....

We just returned a couple of days ago and are already missing the beach and quiet beauty of our favorite island. We have been going for the past five years and the kids love it. So do we.

The kids created a blog this year so friends and family could follow their adventure. It was a hit! It was fun to chronicle the trip there from Toronto with stops in Montreal, the St. Lawrence River, and New Brunswick. On the way home we had a three day stopover in lovely Boston. We also stopped in Bangor, Maine, Portsmouth, NH and the Hudson Valley.

Looking forward to returning again next year.

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

Blog Love!



We had a bit of excitement in our house this past week as Isabella's recent Paris themed party was featured a few of my favorite blogs! A shout out and thank you to Ohdeedoh, Peppers and Pollywogs, and Little Miss Heirlooms.

You can also see Isabella and Julian (my son) on
Ohdeedoh today in a post on traveling with kids.

Ella's Pretty Vintage Inspired Bedroom

   Recently, I had the privilege of photographing 7 year old Ella's bedroom. Stylish mom Kelly designed an inviting and whimsical space for her daughter to enjoy.


Ella’s sweet vintage inspired bedroom is a mixture of antique heirlooms and refinished new pieces. At only 80 square feet, it is a cozy nook for 6 year old Ella to play, create and dream.


Colin and Kelly used a soft, neutral color palette, combined with quilted bedding, a few handmade pieces and accessories gathered from craft shows, garden centers and discount stores to create an understated bird and nest theme.


Accessories such as a porcelain owl used as a bookend, outdoor bird hooks and birdhouses found at garden centers were brought inside. According to Kelly, “Ella believed for years that there was bird living in there- and she loved the idea that birds lived in her room!”


At the wise age of six, Ella knows that there are not birds nesting in her room but she loves it’s coziness, the birdhouses and the special pieces she created to help make her room home.

Thanks for letting me photograph your sweet bedroom Ella.

Isabella Goes to Paris!

Isabella's wish list always seems to include a trip to Paris. So this year we decided a trip to Paris was definitely in order, at least of the birthday party kind.

What a fun party to plan!

Invitations designed as vintage Parisian postcards were sent to friends inviting them to an afternoon in Paris.

We made perfume, Eiffel Tower Glitter Globes, ate sweet lemony madeleines and many other patisserie.
The guests left with mini travel kits which included travel size soap and shampoo dispensers, a luggage tag, a pocket french language guide, a travel journal and of course the perfume and globes they created.

Decor included a bunting made from vintage photographs of Paris, lots of Breton inspired stripes, Eiffel Towers, chalkboard signs, a Parfumerie, and a Patisserie table.



Memories of Paris Snowglobes - such a cute party craft.








The invitation....available in my shop now!



Part of the favor bag - a travel kit!



The Patisserie - yum madeleines, tarts, cupcakes & more




The Patisserie table - I made a bunting out of vintage Paris photos I picked up on Etsy.



The Parfumerie - all natural perfumes were made using distilled water and essential oils

I also took photos of the girls wearing berets and we packaged them in these sweet envelopes with a thank you postcard. I bought these envelopes at this great Etsy shop- Crafting Bug



The Great Canadian Backyard Party!

In our house, party season has arrived!

I was searching through Etsy for a little party inspiration and found these great Canadian made party decor items and goodies. You'll love that they are made in Canada and the price points are fantastic.


1. A festive bunting or flag banner will look great on your patio. You will find loads of sweet party goodies at bigDAYpartyshop.etsy.com

2. The perfect party dress! A Sweet Toddler Pinafore from HaleyByHand.etsy.com

3. A Canada Day Mascot! Don't you just love "Ray the Mountie" Screenprinted Action Figure from sleepingforest.etsy.com

4. These are fun for the kiddies and also make great decor items... a set of paper pinwheels from twirliewhirlies.etsy.com

5. Send your guests home with a Sock Monkey Pinback from pandacub.etsy.com - Even better, proceeds from the sale will benefit Operation Sock Monkey

6. A great goodie bag item that will keep little hands busy is Modeling Beeswax from twinkleofmyeye.etsy.com

7. I love these Tissue Paper Pom Poms from Mysillybear.etsy.com

Spring Trunk Show


Some photos from my booth at The Spring Trunk Show in The Distillery District.