{ Posts Tagged ‘handmade’ }

visit p i ‘ l o at the one of a kind christmas show & sale

The One Of A Kind Christmas Show & Sale is right around the corner. It’s happening, here in Toronto, from November 24 to December 4 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.

Another one of my favourite local independent designers, p i ’ l o, will be exhibiting this year. Heather Shaw, the designer behind p i ‘ l o, creates heirloom quality items for the home from her coach house studio in the heart of downtown Toronto.

Be sure to stop by booth P-06 to meet Heather, or make an appointment to visit her studio.

Here are some of my fave pieces from the p i ‘ l o online store…

numbered napkins visit p i l o at the one of a kind christmas show & sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numbered Napkins – $39

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lovely people making lovely things: oxford studio tour

Got any weekend plans?

Might I suggest a road trip?

Deep in the heart of Southwestern Ontario’s bucolic countryside, Oxford County is home to a number of highly-respected artists – both emerging and widely-renowned – and this weekend just happens to be your best opportunity of the year to snatch up some of their original works at the Oxford Studio Tour.

Don’t worry – it’s not a snoozy guided museum tour. Instead, it’s a map of the studios (in and around Woodstock, Ontario – so it’s easy to access by the 401) participating in a county-wide open house that you’re free to explore at your own pace between 9 and 5 on Saturday and Sunday.

Be sure to check out one of my fave ceramic artists, Shane Norrie: an in-demand artisan whose innovative and organic designs have been featured in Style at Home, and on HGTV’s Pure Design. There’s a tangible earthiness to Shane’s pieces, not to mention they’re absolutely fascinating on a textural level.

A peek inside Shane’s studio in Ingersoll, Ontario. In the last few years, Shane’s branched out into stunning original painted artwork as well.

shane4 lovely people making lovely things: oxford studio tour

Love the highly textured, barnacle-like growths on this series of petite ceramic vessels… So pretty!

shane1 lovely people making lovely things: oxford studio tour

A fascinating form – they remind me of curiously stemmed acorns – and a metallic finish elevate these sculptures to “statement piece” status.

shane3 lovely people making lovely things: oxford studio tour

Another artist on my “most-coveted” list – and also a participant of the Oxford Studio Tour – is acclaimed painter Sue Goossens. Sue’s watercolours are positively dreamy representations of southwestern Ontario landscapes, with the occasional well-loved landmark in the mix, and they never fail to instantly transport me back home.

February Ravine, 27″ x 39″

picture 22 lovely people making lovely things: oxford studio tour

Winter Ridge, 28″ x 20″

picture 72 lovely people making lovely things: oxford studio tour

Winter Puzzle, 20″ x 28″

picture 82 lovely people making lovely things: oxford studio tour(And yes, Sue’s portfolio consists of much more than winter landscapes – I’m just a sucker for the blue-greys in this particular series.)

And of course, there’s the natural beauty of the area that’s sure to inspire. I took these snaps last weekend on the farm – the abundant forsythia is absolutely luminous!

forsythia lovely people making lovely things: oxford studio tour

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easter eggs at etsy

etsy eggs easter eggs at etsyI don`t know about you but the last thing I need to do this weekend is overindulge in Easter chocolates. Summer is on its way and I have just got to say no to those delicious Easter eggs that are everywhere. (Just because they`re mini, doesn`t mean you can eat 30 of them, I`ve learned.) So here`s a suggestion. Do hostesses like me a favour by forgoing the gift of chocolate this Easter and giving something that has a little more staying power. These gorgeous handmade glass mosaic eggs (available on Etsy and originating in Portugal; $12.50 each) make a lovely and personal gift. IDEA: Place a cluster in the middle of your table for an original Easter centerpiece.

Before the weekend is over, try your hand at these easy and elegant Easter egg crafts, perfect for adults and children alike.

Hydrangea eggs

Silver and gold eggs

Tiny chalkboard eggs

Happy Easter!

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lovely people making lovely things: shane norrie

shane lovely people making lovely things: shane norrie

The Christmas before last, a photographer friend gave me a stunning piece of handcrafted pottery from Ingersoll, Ontario-based artist Shane Norrie, whose work I immediately fell for. Since then, you’ve seen Shane’s work in the pages of STYLE AT HOME, and on-screen, with his appearance in Miss Samantha’s smash hit Pure Design on HGTV. There’s a tangible earthiness to Shane’s pieces, not to mention the fact that they’re absolutely fascinating on a textural level. Samantha’s even dubbed his pieces “heirlooms of the future”, and I agree wholeheartedly. Shane’s expanded his repertoire by venturing into mixed media painting, and his work is now available through Canvas Gallery in Toronto, which means there’s more Shane to share. Yay!

Check out Shane’s blog here!

Untitled 24-by-24″ Mixed Media by Shane Norrie

Available at: Canvas Gallery, Toronto, 416-532-5275

green with glamour: lacy vases

lacevase green with glamour: lacy vasesCamisole Vases by LightenUp Design are made with natural clays, handmade and nontoxic dyes, and embellished with real lace (see the detail at right), 12″ high, $160 US each.

Available at: www.greenwithglamour.com

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email Laurie at naturalchic@styleathome.com!