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Our first fashion magazine mention – thank you Hello! Canada Magazine!
New Mother’s Day Pins have arrived and are in the shop.
We have some new products coming out, new stores we’re excited to partner with, new companies we’re partnering with and also, lots of fun things on the home front that I can’t wait to show and talk about (decorating, obviously!)xo Linds
Do you have a pool? I’m dreaming of one. My Mother curses hers and threatens to fill it with concrete, I can’t stop fantasizing about one day building a lap pool outback. Aubrey said that there was a possibility we could do it (to which I responded like this). He clarified numerous times he said it was a p-o-s-s-i-b-i-l-i-t-y but obviously I already had a Pinterest board set up for that moment.
We just got back from a weeks vacation in the Dominican and I picked up this bathing suit and although I went with my classic – all the time black, the off the shoulder design was a step into a new territory – and I fell. in. love with the suit. (I highly recommend it by the way so grab it before everyone else buys their summer suits and no sizes are left) Here is a roundup of some bathing suits I’ve fallen for. And one day, for when I have a pool like the one above, I’ll also have a body that will look like the below. LOL!
Colourful One Piece Suits
Black Bathing Suits
The Spring One Of A Kind Show is around the corner – literally, like in a few days. March 29th to April 2nd, it’s your chance to get out and explore some of the country’s best artisans all under one roof. Having been one of those booths last Christmas and Spring, I can tell you how much prep these artisans go through before you walk by their booth. Months of prepping product, wondering if they are bringing enough product, whether people will like their product. As a vendor, it’s exhausting, exhilarating and you build up a sense of friendship with strangers as you all bond over the show setup, long hours, and milestone moments. I remember my first show, Perry was diagonal from me – and he took me under his wing immediately, knowing I was new to the show that first Christmas. The people you walk by at the show are amazing, and then you have their product, which are just as great.
I end up walking the show and finding special treasures that fit my aesthetic and home, and it’s lovely to support someone who is putting themselves out there, following their passion to create. You can pick a signature piece for a room, or an “ahha” piece that warms a room up.
My favourites for this show are Pepper B Designs for her pillows (like this lumbar pillow for $78), or Murphy & Jo Candle Co. for their line of beautifully combined soy candles for your home ($25) – packaged in a classic jar with beautiful graphic design on the front that will suit any decor. My newest obsession are blue mudcloth pillows so the hand dyed Shibori pillow from Smith Made ($80) caught my eye.
No visit to the show would be complete without a stop at Mad Batter Bakers. Go by their booth and grab a cookie and tell them Oscar sent you. (He thinks their booth is the best.)
I’ll post some of my favourites from the show when I go with my Mama next week. xo
I picked up this Kimono for our latest beach vacation and it is the best bathing suit coverup. (I wore it daily) I was browsing Anthro’s site and fell for some of their items that are bright bold colours and amazing patterns – perfect for Summer. Here are some of my favourites that I spotted…
I’m having the best time coming up with designs and products, and with the growing retailer base for the shop as the business grows, it allows me some more creative freedom to come up with new products as we have more opportunities to get them into your hands. This one is for the fellow Torontonians that read this blog – we’re launching #TorontoTotes which are all the neighbourhoods in Toronto (well, not all – I don’t have unlimited funds at this time but let me know if something is missing). Coming in April are all of these beauties. 
GIFT WITH PURCHASE!
Get a Free Art Print Valued at $20
If you pre-order one we’ll be sending you a FREE gold foil Canada Print (Value $20) with it. Which pretty much is the value of the bag. So it’s kind of a crazy deal.
How to Order: Add a bag to your cart. Buy it. We’ll ship it when they arrive mid April. The free print is automatically added to your shipment when shipped, so no need for a promo code or anything (don’t add it to your cart otherwise you’ll be paying for it which is no good!) You can tell if it’s a pre-order by the product title. As long as your receipt says “Pre-Order” on it then you’re qualified for the free gift. Once the bags are in stock, the free gift with purchase is no longer in effect.
Ps., See the site for the full list of what neighbourhoods are available – the picture doesn’t reflect all xo
I’ve launched a collection of luxe pillows, that are made with a soft velveteen fabric printed with my patterns. They are made in Canada, ridiculously soft, and made in small batches. You can find them on PennyPaperCo.com and coming soon to some retailers (I’ll post when that is updated!) In my own home I use pillows as an instant room changer, and this is really what the collection is about for kids rooms. It’s about adding a pop of whimsy to a bed, but also some style that appeals to the design-loving parents. Visit the collection here.
Time is flying by. I’ve found that the routine of driving Oscar to school daily is getting me out of the house more, which is a great thing – but as a result I’ve been socializing more and I’ve been booking meetings out and about more often. Life has changed, and it’s nice – but I’m still trying to find the right footing some days, the right mix of work / family / social / and me time. I’m not sure why I’ve let blogging lag. Well I do. Something has to give sometimes when you’re juggling multiple things. It has been a month finalizing the Spring collection for the shop, finalizing a new product that is launching in stores this Spring and even a new business venture. But hopefully soon I can get back into blogging as everything finds it’s rhythm. I have so much to fill you in on (so, so much!) but for now I think I’ll do a recap of life via pictures on my phone. Because sometimes it’s fun to just see a little bit of what others do daily. At least I do. I’m nosy that way.
Spotted some new pillows of mine while out. I love this long rectangular style. It’s perfect for styling a little ones bed.
We bought a cake from Bobbette and Belle for a celebration and it was DIVINE. And perfectly sprinkled.
I had some custom made iridescent zippered bags made for the shop. I’m in HEAVEN. They are the perfect size to hold pencils, treats or change.
Please let Spring be around the corner. I’ve felt rather blue this Winter and I think I need some rays of sunshine.
Oscar has started Karate and it’s the first sport that he asks to go to. He looks SO PROUD when he comes out wearing his karate uniform.
I have some new pillows being made in a deluxe velveteen fabric that I adore. The price point of these pillows will be more than the ones you find in retailers, like HomeSense. But they are made small batch and here in Canada. I fret over pricing for months on end, trying to see where to reduce production costs but I’ve come to realize that higher end products with upper end fabrics do cost more to make, and thus, for the consumer.
We’ve been babysitting our friend’s guinea piggies while they travel and I’m in LOVE. I talk to them in the morning, hold them and cuddle them. It’s nice because it allows Oscar to get an intro into a pet (without a commitment)
Oscar and I went to the Nintendo Switch event awhile back – getting me “super awesome Mom award” for the day. (Thanks to PR agencies who really are the ones who deserve the credit) It is AMAZING. SO amazing that we bought one for my little sister for her birthday. Since it hadn’t come out yet we did an IOU. This past Monday, however, was the release day and I had a little free time in the morning so I joined the other 50 people in line at EB Games to get a console. And lucky for me, I got the last one. Three cheers for me. Unfortunately one of the wands didn’t work, so I went back the next day to exchange one of the wands. Easy peasy, and apparently a known issue. Oscar desperately wants a Switch but I’m struggling with screen time and trying to figure out how to mix his love of games (he LOVES video games) with the parental knowledge that there needs to be limits. Ahhhh. To be a parent. Ugh.
Anyhow, that my friends is all for now. I’m sitting in a Starbucks, my earbuds in my ears listening to zen music to try to channel some calm before I pick up Oscar from school.
xo Linds
Flatware // Shoes // Globe Hanging Light // Pouch (via our shop) // Table //
When I’m building product lines for The Penny Paper Co. or, building a collection of patterns for my licences – I am naturally inspired and aware of what’s trending. Sometimes it’s a colour (pink), or a product line that I have a gut feeling will be a good fit (enamel pins). And sometimes it’s just an obsession with something like holograms or iridescent that has been making it’s way into the market for awhile. My love affair with holograms and iridescent is rooted in the fact that it is a retro trend – bringing us back to the days of hyper-colour shirts, mood rings, hologram stickers —our childhood. I’ve been in love with the retro trend for over a year and the Spring collection for The Penny Paper Co. will not disappoint, if you’re in love with the retro stuff like I. Anyhow, here is what has caught my eye lately. xo
