Sunday, May 31, 2009

CM jewellery

And so, as if my apartment was not already engulfed in fabric and paint, I decided to add beads to the mix! I started a jewellery shop on Etsy about a month ago, and just recently decided to focus on using silver and crystals as my primary materials. My favourite is the "I heart U" necklace -- I made one for myself too!

I also really like the "Flashy Octagon".

Fabric SALE

Yesterday I went to the Textile Museum of Canada for the annual More Than Just A Yardage Sale. It's a fundraiser for the museum, where people had donated their unwanted fabric, notions, yarn, etc., and people like me come to buy them at bargain basement prices :)

I picked up some light blue pleather, and some wooly-type fabric in brown and in teal. I know it looks eclectic, but I have a vision for it... I swear!








Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Etsy Front Page!

My "Bird on a Wire" cushion covers made it to the front page of Etsy.com today! Yay!!

Tuesday Treasures: Dinnerware and such

From etsy seller AceroStudio, Mug with bike.










From etsy seller alinahayes, Live Simply Reminder Dish.














Form etsy seller soule, Full Wood Grain Plate.











From etsy seller JDWolfePottery, Sweetgrass Place Setting.


Saturday, May 23, 2009

I heart Tofu

I'd like to introduce you to the Pabrika mascot, my hamster named Tofu. She is my favourite little buddy, and endless hours of entertainment (although I am quite easily amused). Her favourite past times are running on her wheel, tearing up newspaper to make bed fluff, and chewing on her cage bars / plotting her escape.
She has, on occasion, been succesful in her escape plots. But she can normally be found under my fridge eating dried rice off the floor. One thing I don't quite understand: she stores her food in the same corner she pees in.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Pink Autumn

After endless experimentation with airbrushes and stencils, I discovered that the best method of applying my designs would be to stitch them into the fabric in black thread, and then to fill them in with paint using a paintbrush. Airbrush paint works fine, but I have found that the Jacquard Neopaque fabric paints are the best, especially for painting light colours on dark fabrics.

The "Pink Autumn" drawing was inspired by the pink fabric I had brought back from my latest trip to Paris. In fact, the Pink Autumn pillow is the first one I ever sold. Thanks Fanny ;) And just recently I was asked to do the same design in lavender and sage green, which worked out also!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Oh Buttons

Since weddings seem to be in the air, I have started to make ring bearer pillows out of white satin, and adorned with lace, ribbon, and a sparkling button. Now it shames me to say, but button shopping is one of my favourite things to do... Really! In Toronto's Queen west area, there is at least two blocks of just fabric, buttons, beads, lace, and things of the sort. So much stuff, so many ideas! I can literallly spend a whole day there. I bought this particular button in a cute store called Queen's Fabric & Buttons that carries any button imaginable. It was in the glass display case, so it's gotta pretty special!