Doppelgangers

Our twins in Syndey, Australia. Taken from The Selby.

Susien Chong and Nic Briand, two designers from Sydney Australia. Other than looking like our doppelgangers, they have a beautiful line of clothing that's far out of my price range. To check out a few of their pieces, have a gander over at Lover.

Scottish Ancestry

Yesterday was Robbie Burns Day, which got me thinking a lot about a very special trip to Scotland I took last year.

This photo is of a Bible belongs to my Uncle Roger. He still (amazingly) lives in the house that my father grew up in, in Bonnybridge, Scotland.. It blew my mind stepping in there for the first time. It has this eerie feeling, like so many feet have ran around the house, and now it's empty all but for my Uncle Roger. Such a amazing piece of family history for me. I really love this photo because I just noticed the teddy bear peeking out from the corner. I didn't notice when I was there in the room. It's so special.

Communal Living

I don't often watch videos on Etsy but damn, I want this kind of life someday. Perfect.

Business Cards

New business cards!

Wee! Aside from having fun with Peter, I've been a very busy knitter. I still have a lot to do before opening my shop at the end of this month. One of the things I wanted to have finished prior to opening up shop is having my own business cards printed! I knocked this off my things to do list last week, with the help of my friend Jeremy Kemeny! I can't thank him enough.

It feels strange having these cards laying around, especially since Birch & Sycamore isn't open yet. But they are so pretty! And having them around keeps me motivated to keep knitting knitting knitting (no matter how much my fingers ache)!

I whited out my phone number because I felt weird about it being on the internet for all to see, but it's supposed to be there under my name.

Again, thanks Jer!

011 - Griffin House and Dundurn Photoband Outing!

Yesterday I took a break from all my knitting, and Peter and I went out to the Griffin House in Ancaster to go on a short hike and shoot some film!

This next photo is also of the Griffin House, check out my dorky mitt on the far left!

Afterwards we decided to visit Dundurn Castle, and we were given a private tour of the grounds! Only because we were the only ones who showed up for it.

My other photos of Dundurn Castle were in colour, and I still need to finish the roll. Lately it's taken me weeks and weeks to finish a roll of film. I should have jumped in on that 365 photo project, but I think it's a little late now!

All in all, it was a pretty sweet day with Peter. He developed this roll of black and white himself by hand after we were finished our traipsing around the city. Check out some of his other photos here!

010 - Mom's measuring tape

Moms measuring tape.

I think my mom is one of the most adorable people on the planet (though I'm probably a little biased). She's this little old Philippina woman who came to Canada in the 80's thinking it would provide a better life than the Philippines could offer. My mom used to be a seamstress - I remember as a kid that she was always at her sewing machine putting together wedding dresses, hallowe'en costumes, curtains, slipcovers for our sofa, everything! I like to think that act of her sewing together her broken measuring tape is a strong sign of her culture and ingenuity. I love it.

009 - My Crafty List of Things To Do

• Naturally dye fabric and yarn
• Make my own homemade, natural soap
• Learn how to use a drop spindle or spin
• Sew up this gardeners belt
• Find a permanent space to keep all my fabrics notions and yarns
• Build my own classic bookcase
• Make a shadowbox for all my small treasures!
• Attend a local stitch 'n' bitch
• Take a class at the workroom!
• Sew new slipcovers for our loveseat and couch
• Make amazing room shoes from this book
• Buy a Japanese craft book and sew a dress from it!
• Sew curtains for Peter's room - DONE
• Learn to make lace
• Knit a yoga mat
• Learn to quilt
• Knit more socks!
• Knit more thrummed mittens
• Sew this headboard from French Generals Home Sewn
• Make some lavender filled sachets, for keeping away the moths
• Make some clutch coin purses

Inspired by Karyn from makesomething.

Visit her list here! - KARYNS CRAFTY LIST OF THINGS TO DO

008 - BIRCH & SYCAMORE IS COMING TO ETSY!

A few of knits for my Etsy shop!

In my last post I mentioned that I've been knitting quite a bit in preparation for my Etsy shop that will be opening at the end of this month. My shop will focus on hand knit home decor, both small and large items, that will bring some texture to every corner of your home. It's going to be cute, promise!

I'm so excited, and I can't wait to package and ship my first sale. Yay!

007 - Thrummed Mitt

My very first thrummed mitten.

I started knitting thrummed mittens about three weeks ago and shamefully I've only completed one half so far! In my defense, I've been knitting up a storm in preparation for an etsy shop I'll be opening at the end of this month.

The yarn I'm using is some that I brought back home from Noah's Place Farm, and some roving I found at Needle Emporium in Ancaster. This is the pattern I'm using for the mittens, but I've adapted it quite a bit for the yarn I'm using and for the thrums. I really like how it's turned out.

I really need to get started on the second mitt. Winter is finally here and these will keep me warm right down to my bones!

006 - Romantic Home Sewing

A few pages from Romantic Home Sewing by Christina Strutt.

This book, borrowed from the library, is one that I keep renewing every three weeks. There are many beautiful sewing projects in this book, but my favourite one has to be the gardeners belt.. Every time I look at it I feel encouraged to start saving every penny (very difficult this time of year) and seriously looking into finding my dream apartment. I want to be able to wear this belt around my backyard! And I must have access to a backyard - I don't think I could do without.

This Christmas my younger brother gave me a gift certificate to Fabricland, and that, with the little stash of fabric I've been saving for something special, I'm going to sew up this little ditty sometime this week.