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Pretty (Manly) New Things

Saturday, January 15th, 2011

Happy day to all! Here are some pretty new things I’ve been working on:

His Christmas gift, one of the sweaters I mentioned here. Another basic EZ seamless hybrid. This one has a garter stitch body boarder, ribbed cuffs, and a garter stitched convertible collar. Best of all, it’s finished off with handmade ceramic buttons by my friend Charmian, amazing Vancouver potter (check out her work here).

Oh yeah, and that flask? It’s from my mother, and he loves it!

A back view.

This sweater is knit in Cascade Yarns 220, and it’s the first big project I’ve done with Cascade yarns. Let me say this about it: it’s inexpensive, and soft, but not at all durable. His sweater was pilling within the first few days of wear! I’d recommend it for soft little things like scarves (I have it knit into a chunky triangle shawl, and it’s great!), but definitely nothing that takes wear. Yuck yuck yuck.

And new brown corduroy trousers, which go nicely with leather suspenders and a lumberjack shirt. All by me, all available in the new Honeysuckle and Thyme Etsy shop. Yes, you can look this good too!

Hope you’re smiling lots today!

Posted in Clothing, Crafts, Knitting, Pretty Things, Self-Sufficiency, Sewing, Sewing without Electricity, Vancouver | No Comments »

Honeysuckle and Thyme on Etsy

Monday, January 10th, 2011

Announcing the exciting new Honeysuckle and Thyme Etsy shop! There, you can pick up some handsome men’s wear, leather suspenders, and a few shoe styles.

More delightful designs soon to come!

Posted in Clothing, Crafts, Economics & Business, Pretty Things, Sewing, Shoes, Vancouver | No Comments »

The Bestest Coat Ever

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

Confession: I think of life in terms of handmade garments. When I found out recently that I’d be working with a friend at his shoe repair shop (YAY! SO excited) this winter, I immediately started thinking of what I’d wear. See, the shop  is in Gastown, in Vancouver, which is the oldest section of the city, recently refurbished from its more downtrodden recent history. It’s a bit grungy, yet classic, and pretty. To spend lots of time in Gastown, I needed (says my garment-mind) something a bit tougher than pink dresses. Sturdy skinny jeans, my black moccasins or saddle shoes, chunky sweaters, and THIS coat.

(Anyway, it fills a gap in my wardrobe for that coat for when it’s cold but not fuckin’ freezing.)

I used Larissa from Burda Style, a pattern you download, print, and tape together, which I LOVE. It’s a perfectly tough biker’s jacket, with zippers, snaps, epaulettes, and elbow pads. It’s definitely my most advanced sewing project, and I broke no fewer than 6 needles. SIX!

The Larissa pattern is quite short, with long sleeves, which I knew would look awful on short me. Plus, who wants a coat to end at her navel? So I shortened the sleeves 2 inches, and lengthened the body 1 inch; much better proportions. I also ended up making a few adjustments to the sleeve caps, when they didn’t fit quite right.

My Larissa is made in coating wool, brushed on one side and cleanly woven on the other. It’s warm and so pretty, and cost about $35. Now my handmade wardrobe includes everything from undergarments to outerwear, and I’m so proud!

Here’s a parting lining shot:

Posted in Clothing, Crafts, Pretty Things, Sewing, Sewing without Electricity, Vancouver | No Comments »

Recent Shoe Creations

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

Clockwise from top left: Melaney’s Coast Salish inspired shoes, princess shoes, Seres’ moccasin boots, Erin’s Leafy Side-Openers, Steff’s Summer Slippers.

All at www.honeysuckleandthyme.com

Posted in Pretty Things, Shoes, Vancouver | No Comments »

Creating Art

Monday, September 27th, 2010

First, let me say, I am not much of an artist. I’m more of a crafter. When I make things, I am thinking of their functionality more than their pretty lines.

Now I’m trying to translate something like this:

Into something like this (which, believe it or not, is a shoe in progress):

It’s a bit of a challenge. It’s also incredibly exciting. These shoes are for a joyful woman of aboriginal descent who finds much of her identity in her heritage. Oh how wonderful it is to make her shoes reflect this aspect of herself. Shoes are a link between this earth and sea, the vast history of people here, to Melaney and her personal history, and the wider, shoe-wearing world. Wow.

This is so cool.

Posted in Shoes, Vancouver | No Comments »

In Progress

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Believe it or not, those lumps of leather will soon be shoes!

I’m in the process of making some moccasins and some cute black shoes for a local customer. Yay!

There are also lots of changes going on around here. Last week was really busy! First, Nick was sick. Meanwhile, his parents came to visit. The same day they left, my mama arrived with my sister. Sam, who is 14, has decided to move in with us. That’ of course, is the biggest change, and we’re all still settling in with one another and learning how to be ourselves together.

AND! I found a workshop! Right outside my door, already set up with shelves and a work bench. Shoemaking, here I come!

Posted in Crafts, Shoes, Vancouver | No Comments »

Grains CSA

Monday, September 6th, 2010

I’m so so happy to have discovered Urban Grains! It’s a CSA of locally grown (Vancouver) grains. Double yay!

Since I’ve been baking bread regularly, obviously we’re using lots of flour. And unlike in hippie-heaven Bellingham, there isn’t a local grain mill here that sells organic flours. But this CSA is even better! Not only is our grain milled nearby, it’s also grown just outside the city! Our share costs $95, and we get 20 kilos of milled grains, while the farmers get a full $1 for each pound of grain sold. Fantastic.

Plus, their blog is way cool, and gives us lots of information about the grains we’ll be eating soon. Oh, I’m so so excited!

I’m also excited to have fittings for 7 pairs of shoes this week!  So wonderful!

Posted in Crafts, Economics & Business, Environmental Issues, Food, Home, Local News, Shoes, Vancouver | No Comments »

A New Endeavor

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

Although I suppose I have to say “endeavour” now (since Canada spells in British English!).

Shoes!
I’m so pleased with my new little project, Honeysuckle and Thyme Footwear! It focuses on a building local self-supporting community while making people’s feet happy with custom-fitted leather shoes, moccasins and sandals. There are several phases of this project, including the most dreamy one, in which I get to cruise around Canada in a camper van, exploring and making shoes. Oh! What fun!

To get started, prices are ridiculously low, at $30 for moccasins and shoes and $20 for sandals.
You can read more about it at Honeysuckleandthyme.com (which is very much a work in progress!).

Posted in Crafts, Economics & Business, Events, Local News, Pretty Things, Shoes, Vancouver | 2 Comments »

Pottery-ings

Friday, August 20th, 2010

This summer, I got to take a pottery class, where we did mostly wheel-throwing. It was way fun to use the clay and get all messy and struggle to center on the wheel, and even more fun to see the finished projects.

Now another element of self-sufficiency is checked off the list–I can make my own dishes!

Here’s a small collection of my pots. It’s hard to fit them all in one photo! I use the tiny pots to hold spices (with a cork on top), the larger ones for try goods, and some as vases.

Posted in Crafts, Pretty Things, Self-Sufficiency, Vancouver | No Comments »

Sandals!

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Please excuse my sturdy feet, but they just wanted you to see:

I’ve just made some cute sandals, too! They’re made with a continuous strap that wraps around the foot and topsole, thick cushy padding, and comfy crepe soles. I love them, and it’s way fun to walk down the street wearing only things I’ve made, even shoes, even underwear. Wow!

Now I can really prance and dance about!

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Posted in Crafts, Pretty Things, Self-Sufficiency, Shoes, Vancouver | No Comments »

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