Etsy shop is live!

re-launch day is here!

It's been a bit of a slow-go at setting everything up to re-launch this funny little craft life, but i'm happy to announce: wait no more nopes!

Head over to etsy shop and check out the wolf pup dolls and portraits up for adoption. Between making more shop stock and getting in touch with some consignment shops, i'll slowly update shop items.

I've some new ideas i've brewed up throughout the year that i'm so excited to get working on and can only hope they'll light up your true hearts as much as they did mine.

S♥V

term two packed up

this second term was pretty fantastic, a little heavier on the workload but i was looking forward to it after the over all introductory pace of first term. my class has been warned that third term (which starts up next week!) is the heaviest workload of all the terms but i'm not anxious about it too much...yet.
i've been thinking of a design identity for my own work but the few ideas i have floating around in my head are just that, ideas floating in my head. which is why i am absolutely looking forward to our branding class especially and really looking forward to a typography 2 class, after affects and a creative direction class. we also get into a bit of coding and web designing which i've been itching to  get on. i hope my old school html coding days will come back to me.
to keep things short, here are some of my favourite projects from this term.

3D three horned beetle, illustrator.

probably my favourite piece of the term! 

redesign packaging project mock up, illustrator. 

search nescafe xpress if you're interested in seeing the original package design. 

"say my name" project, photoshop. 

this is subtle but i wanted to make the letters look like layered cut paper, giving each a bit of depth like topography.

band poster, photoshop and illustrator.

layered collage project, typography.

probably my second favourite piece of the term! completely hand drawn lettering for a fantastic carl sagan quote.

blog design, illustrator

a blog design with a time restriction of just 2 hours. i was freaking out about through the full two hours but happy with what i came up with considering the crunch.

before you go, i should let you know of a teeny sale that is happening on my instagram. once again i need to to get rid of some old stock and with how quick people change their phones this sale especially could use all the word spreading. 

i have a few packs of my iphone hard cases with three interchangeable faceplates made from vintage textbooks and children's books. each are going for $25 each, shipped! so get on over to my instagram and get in on the goods.

go on, git!

internally yours,

sister valentine

hearts & crafts in Hamilton

you know, i don't think i mentioned that some of my handmade goodies are currently sold at Shine studio in Hamilton 'cause i am a dingdong. 

Shine has a great collection of curated gift ideas, arts and jewelry if you're in the hunt for something a little different. take a peek for yourself at 3 Colbourne Street, Hamilton.

handmade card wallets made with reclaimed fabric and vintage linen interiors with snap closure 

just a handful of patchwork fold over zipper pouches with cotton muslin interiors

and just five wolf cub dolls all waiting for homes with little true hearts to watch over. cotton fleece and polkadotted, these cuties are made from an original pattern with all new cotton materials right down to the cotton stuffing

internally yours,
sister valentine

oh hey hallo hi

first, many merci's to all the true hearts who made 2014 a pretty exciting year for my petite craftlife. i'm always humbled by all the support that gets thrown my way. truly, from the top of my heart, merci.

second, now that the holiday madness is over, onto a bit of real life.

i don't think i mentioned it via this blog that in january i begin a one year intensive course in graphic design and multimedia at the toronto film school. 

no that's right, after two years out of a six  consecutive year spell of being in college, i am back at it to navigate this funny little craftlife to a slightly different direction than even i expected. 

after going through what turned out to be the wrong programin 2006, i switched to crafts and design and i found what made my bum ticker light up with almost a constant creativity, heeps of art, and making with my hands. deciding that is what i should follow was one of the best decisions i've made in my life and in a lot of ways has saved my life. for what felt like a lifetime, i had zero drive to do anything with myself. 

since then, i am forever trying to build a creative world around that funny muscle hanging in my chest.

tomorrow is my first day of this new chapter in my life and i'm anxious... in a pretty good kind of nervous and a good kind of excited way. 

so what does this mean for the hearts and crafts? probably no sales in the city, though i will be (finally) getting on a bit of an etsy shop update in the next few weeks. you can expect more handmade to order listings and a dash of ready to ship ones.

i'll of course be sharing any projects i'll be working on during this year and all the heart pops (and farts) along the way. 

stick around if you're into that. 

internally yours, 

sister valentine

Corktown Holiday Market

tonight is the night! i've lots of new goodies for you true hearts and if you haven't been seeing them via twitter or IG then you'll just have to come out yourself to see, doors open at 7pm.

there will be just so much goodness happening tonight, my heart is kind of maybe racing as i write this. 

donate gently used clothing or perishable foods for thise in need, stay for the treats and drinks while you shop through local artists, makers and vintage collectors. 

come forget them big box corporations, buy handmade this holiday season and support local! 

karma said she likes when that happens.

internally yours,

sister valentine 

a couple holiday sales!

i'm way mega happy to announce i'll be at two little holiday markets in the toronto area in december so you could pick up some handmade goodies and support some local makers and artists this x-mas, that's a sure way to gain a few more points with a certain miss karma!

on friday december 5th, get an extra little point for bringing a food or gift donation for the Younge Street Mission Food Bank and Toy Drive for them true hearts in need.

the second holiday sale is a more intimate and small one on saturday december 13th held at 1610 gerrard st. E. there will be both handmade goodies and treats to partake in!

i'll be bringing most of my shop stock including a new stock of envelope snap wallets (these fit both iphone 4's and 5's!) and new crewel embroidery pin designs i've been working on.

hope to see you at the sales!

internally yours,

sister valentine

Indie Arts Night Market

thanks to everyone who stopped by and to the wonderful other vendors that were there!

there was a good steady flow of people but i did manage to sneak away for a bit and met some great creative people. unfortunately my phone fell to the fate of obsolete design and had completely died the day of the sale leaving me unable to share all the goodness that was happening.

luckily my little point and shoot digital camera saved the night so here are some shots, off you go!

i just had to take home this lovely handmade pyramid from Acorn Studio, keep my 'darwin' stones from Chile dust free and pretty.

i also had a privilege to do a trade with The Otter Potter for this gorgeous hand-sculpted clay brooch.

for the next little while i'll be spinning off more wolf-moon hats and hobo gloves for the Etsy Pop-up  sale in september to keep your true hearts warmer this fall.

internally yours,

sister valentine

a wee announcement

i am so happy to announce that i'll be part of the first Made in Canada Etsy Pop-Up happening september 27th!

i graduated from a three year textiles program in 2012 and during that time i was still just playing around with ideas, motifs and projects to find what not only made my old bum ticker happy but also grow into my own voice as a maker. 

i am quite proud with the work i've knocked out these last two years and can see that found voice come through in my work which feels pretty neat. 

also really neat, checking out the lookbook they put together.

i'll be selling more toasty gear for this sale so think hobo gloves, wolf-moon knit hats and scarves.

internally yours,

sister valentine

production mode photo dump pt.3

with days away from the Indie Arts Market, here is the last photo dump for your true eyes.

i had enough time to knock out four new wolf portraits, a personal favourite item. they tug hard on my heartstrings with how so much life is given to those little faces with just a little collar or set of glasses.

you know what to do.

found a touch of a lovely burnt gold suede

hearts pops at every stage

for scale, each portrait is mounted in a thrifted 5x7 picture frame so each is one of a kind

deciding the gentlemen and ladies

this gentlemen are too hip to quit

lady monocle for a touch of class

based the suede one on the Maned Wolf of south america, its color is similar to a fox

waiting on their frames and names

i did a little inventory and planned out my table display but you'll have to come out and see for yourself!

even had a pinch of time to sneak in a little gift to my mounbound self

tomorrow i'll be announcing a little bit of good craftlife news so tune in then and come adopt a wolf thursday!

interally yours,

sister valentine

production mode photo dump pt:2

yet another photodump! which you may see more of, i'm beginning to be a fan. 

i used to always want to write longer posts but sometimes you just can't beat a good ol' picture show.

now go on, git to it!

hand sewn little ears, these are my two favourites. miss pinky there has already been adopted!

not even the entire litter, craftlife satisfaction is what that is

  

i just love packaging these cutie pups up for adoption, them quiet little ears!

i gave a couple pups blue eyes and it won't be the last, oh my heart

finally got to use my handcarved moon stamp on the pup's care tags

individually hand written, when english begins to not look like english

leave no scrap behind. 

dipped into my scraps jar for a new batch of scrappy bracelets

each has a button closure with a vintage or reclaimed button,

these measure about an inch wide and 8" long for a loose fit

found a few favourites, some just always stand out

just so you don't forget, hand stamped cotton canvas backing.

i'll have just one more photo dump and a little announcement so peek back on here soontimes!

internally yours,

sister valentine

wolf pup picture show

et voila! here is a bit of a photo dump from the first week of production mode for the Indie Arts Market at the Gladstone Hotel. 

after knocking out two pre-orders, i dove right into getting on with the rest of the litter. i've mentioned a bazillion times before of my love of going through every step closer to completing a project which i won't go into again...but i will say there is almost nothing more that can pluck my craft heart strings more than making.

okee now onto the show!

hearty paws, the better to melt your heart with.

completed pre-orders being friends.

craftlife favorites: cutie pie packaging and a happy true heart.

nothing will practice your sewing skills like a production mode.

embroidered logos on every little bottom.

sewn paws and ready to be stuffed.

stuffed wolf pup bits.

i'm on a pretty good schedule for completing this little litter which means i could knock out some other ideas i've had in mind for a good while now, but i guess you'll just have to peek on here or (my instagram feed) soon again!

internally yours,

sister valentine