Happy Halloween!

Now is a good time for a spooky story and some candy. Boooooooo....

Source: weheartit.com via Beka on Pinterest

A little Inspiration on a Sleepy Rainy Day

Today I'm a little sleepy. Kind of dragging my behind a bit. I like to blame it on the rain and the chilly temperature. As much as I love aprons and sewing them, today I could easily trade it in for pyjamas, a hot cup of tea, my bed, and a good book.

Instead, I had to venture out into the weather for some much needed sewing machine needles. I was fresh out! And with 2 shows coming up (Ottawa Signatures Show and the Toronto One of a Kind Show), there is no time to be out of needles.

Brrr...it is so cold and rainy out there!

No worries, my day has turned around. I stumbled upon a little piece of inspiration, courtesy of Ludwig van Beethoven. It was in the form of one of his piano masterpieces, Piano Sonata No. 21, Allegro Con Brio. I heard it in the car ride back to the studio.

One of my favorite radio hosts, Tom Allen from Shift on CBC Radio 2, played this piece. Wow! Was I blown away. I've heard it before, but today it sounded different. I turned the volume right up. Oh yes indeed! This was the "pick me up" I needed. Forget about coffee, all I needed was a little Beethoven. This piece is so full of optimism and it simply uplifted my day.

Today I am grateful for Beethoven and Tom Allen on Shift. Thank You!

What's your favorite piece of music that gets you going when you're feeling a little tired and in slow motion? I would love to hear.

Back to sewing I go...

Wisteria

Hello, my dear friends, I have some fantastic news for you! I just received the contract for the Signatures Christmas Show in Ottawa. Crumb is coming to Ottawa AND Toronto this winter! Isn't that fantastic! I will post more information as we get closer to the fall. I think it's a bit too early for you all to think about the upcoming Holiday season...gosh...summer hasn't even arrived yet!

For now...here are some pretty flowers for you to celebrate...it's Friday!

It is a beautiful Wisteria from the Royal Botanical Gardens, of course! (As you may know by now, this is one of my favorite places to go).


I just love this photo. It is from one of my favorite blogs I like to follow, Fabulously French. I just adore how the Wisteria has climbed its way across the stone wall. So pretty.

(photo from here)

Have a wonderful weekend!

After Peterborough...next stop Ottawa

After the Peterborough Garden Show, we load the van up and make our way to Ottawa for the Originals Spring Craft Sale.

The Originals show is April 14 - 17, 2011, at Lansdowne Park. This year the Originals Spring Craft Sale is celebrating 25 years of success!

To receive $2.00 off admission, please print the coupon below. We'll see you there!

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Peterborough Garden Show is April 8-10, 2011

The Peterborough Garden Show opens it's doors tomorrow. It is the largest and best local garden show in Ontario. Crumb Designs will be there with garden aprons and cooking aprons in pretty spring floral prints and fun colours.

Plant - Pick - Cook what you grow.

Come visit us at the Peterborough Garden Show from Friday, April 8, to Sunday, April 10 at the Evinrude Centre, Peterborough, Ontario. Click here for more details.

sɹǝʍoןɟ ʎɐpıɹɟ

¡sɹǝʍoןɟ ʎʇʇǝɹd ǝɥʇ ʎoɾuǝ

(˙ǝɹǝɥ ɯoɹɟ ǝɹnʇɔıd)

˙˙˙puɐ ɥo˙˙˙

April Fool's!!!

Friday Flowers

Happy Friday!

Have a fabulous weekend!

(left, Audrey apron in pink floral; centre, Sarah Kaye photography; right, Audrey apron in green floral)

Colour Inspiration

Design Seeds is such a beautiful website filled with endless inspiration for colour. The colour palettes are absolutely stunning.

I had such a hard time choosing a favourite.

For now, at this very moment, my favourite colour palette is "Color Leap". It is so pretty!

Spring is in the Air

Today is the first day of spring. Mother nature is now unveiling her spring brilliance.

Even though it looks a little dirty and grey out there, beneath the soil and all around us, something magnificent is happening. Now we begin to see the renewal of life. Soon everything will be lush and flourishing. I checked the garden yesterday, and sure enough, the tulips are just breaking soil.

It is so inspiring to hear the birds in the morning. They have come back, although some have never left. Mr. and Mrs. Robin red breast are back and on the hunt for worms.

Forget about going for a brisk walk. You know the kind when you are on a mission to break a sweat. Nope...now I am slow...

I have to stop...listen...look...

...listen...look...look...look.

The air is filled with so many pretty little bird songs. For myself, this is an inspirational time of year and I intend to enjoy every little moment.

(Image is courtesy of myself and is taken at the Royal Botanical Gardens)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today is probably the only day of the year in which you can dress head-to-toe in green and get away with it. I say, go for it! Green is a beautiful colour. And there are so many beautiful shades of green...apple, chartreuse, emerald, mint, olive, aquamarine.... Just about something for every mood and even skin tone.

And if you are so inclined on this cheerful little holiday, you can make a shamrock snack out of green peppers...courtesy of Martha Stewart. That's pretty cute. Oh Martha!

(image courtesy of Martha Stewart)

May your pockets be heavy

and your heart be light,

May good luck pursue you

each morning and night.

(an Irish Blessing)

Monday Flowers

The first day of Spring is only 7 days away! Have you seen any signs of life in your garden? Spring bulbs will be making their way through the soil anytime. Some spring bulbs, such as the Spring Snowflake or Common Snowdrop, appear early in February or March. It is so neat to see colour coming through the snow.

photos: Muscari (left), Spring Snowflake (middle), Helleborus (right)

Jazzed up Salad

I just had the most delicious salad for lunch. I would take a picture, but it's gone...eaten...in my belly.

It was a very simple salad...red leaf lettuce, cucumber, red pepper, green onion, shredded carrot, avocado, and dressed with fresh squeezed lemon juice and olive oil. But what made it so delicious is the Smoked Wild Albacore Tuna I put on top. This is the most delicious canned tuna I have ever had and it sure did jazz up my salad. This heavenly tuna is from The Fishery.

The first time I met the guys from The Fishery was at the One of a Kind Show, in Toronto. Their booth was just behind mine at the Spring 2010 show. They are such nice guys and their product is amazing! AMAZING! We have the smoked salmon pate and a whole sleeve of different types of smoked canned fish. This product is on my "must have" shopping list, right next to Maple Syrup.

Next time you are at the One of a Kind Show, check them out. They even have candied salmon. So delicious. You can also order on line.

Have a great day!

Happy Pancake Day!

Yum...Pancakes for dinner!

Pancakes are so much fun to make. They can be healthy whole grain pancakes, gluten-free pancakes, ricotta pancakes, blueberry pancakes, apple-cinnamon pancakes...are you drooling yet? I sure am. The best thing about pancakes is the pat of butter that melts down mount pancake, and the real Ontario maple syrup drizzled on top.

Here are some quick facts about real Maple Syrup, courtesy of Fultons Pancake House and Sugar Bush:

- Contains Antioxidants & Anti-inflammatory properties (Yay!)
- Contains 10% calcium, equal to that in milk. (Yay!)
- Is an excellent source of potassium. (Yay!)
- Contains several trace vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, iron and vitamins and trace amounts of amino acids) (Double Yay!)
- Is low in sodium (Yay!)
- Is lowest in calories of all the natural sweetners. (right on!)

Enjoy those pancakes tonight!

(Photo courtesy of Where.ca)

It's Time to Plan the Garden!

The birds are tweeting, the snow is teasing...when can we start gardening! Well, we do have a bit of a wait until we can start playing in the soil. But underneath all that snow, the plants are getting ready to reveal their new buds and stems. I can hardly wait!

Now is a good time to do some planning as well as go through your gardening tools. Do your pruners need sharpening and oiling? Have you purchased your seeds? Are your garden gloves and apron clean and handy? Yes, there is still lots to do while old man winter finishes his job outside.

Crumb Designs will be at the Peterborough Garden Show, April 8 - 10. This is a great place to get some ideas for your garden. And while you are there, drop by the booth to purchase a durable Crumb Garden Apron. This is a really handy apron. Perfect for keeping all of your tools close at hand. Plus it has a pretty bow in the back. Of course!



Have a fabulous Monday!

Happy Valentine's Day

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you,

I could walk forever in my garden.

(attributed to Claudia Ghandi)

One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale - Booth # Y58

The One of a Kind Show is coming up in just a little over a week. Our booth is bigger this year and that means more aprons.

The show starts on November 25th, and ends on December 5th. We are located at booth # Y58.


Click on the link below to receive $3.00 off regular admission!


One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale

Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes' Blvd., Toronto, ON

Show Hours:
Weekdays and Saturday: 10am - 9pm, Sunday: 10am - 6pm


Click below for $3.00 off regular admission!

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE AND SAVE $3.00.
ENTER COUPON CODE #: ADpvg72

See you there!

100 Mile Finds

Crumb Designs now has a new online store at 100 Mile Finds. Now that we are entering into the Fall season (technically, it is still summer!), there are lots of occasions coming up in which one will need an apron. Just think...apple pie, pumpkin pie, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy...I think you know what I'm hinting at.

The ladies at 100 Mile Finds has written a lovely review about Crumb Designs and myself. Thank you so much for your kind words. To read the review, click HERE.

See you at 100 Mile Finds!

Crumb is now at Yummy Stuff!

Hello everyone!

I would love to introduce to you ... (drum roll) ... Crumb Designs at Yummy Stuff!

Yummy Stuff is a retail bakery where you can tempt your taste buds with some delectable desserts. From wedding cakes and custom cakes, to cookies, and tarts...and now aprons by Crumb Designs...Yummy Stuff has something for everyone.

Yummy Stuff also has a blog, Eat Yummy Stuff, in which they feature a cupcake of the month.

The cupcake for September is a take on the good 'ol campfire favorites...roasted marshmallows and s'mores.

Get ready for this ... are you ready ... okay ... graham cracker base, chocolate cupcake with chocolate filling and ... ahem ... a perfectly toasted marshmallow topping. HELLO! Oh yum!

So Drop by Yummy Stuff and get yourself a treat and check out the new selection of Crumb Designs aprons.

For more information, please visit www.yummystuff.ca.

Yummy Stuff is located at 1660 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

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I solemnly swear...

Today I just took the Handmade Pledge.

I, Jennifer, do solemnly swear that I make everything with my own two hands. I'm proud of my workmanship and proud to be handmade in Canada.

Gosh, that felt really good.

At last...the Peonies

Last...but surely not least...are the Peonies at the Laking Garden. I think I will just let the pictures speak for themselves.

My favorite. The blooms are so beautiful and delicate. The long floppy petals and the long yellow stamens gives this peony such a wonderful whimsical personality. I just love it's whimsical beauty. I believe this Peony is called "Seashell"...but I could be mistaken. Seashell or not...it's still very beautiful.

The bud of a Peony is so remarkable. All those petals are all tightly nestled in a perfect little bud, ready to blossom into the most perfection that man could never re-create. This is the beautiful hand of Mother Nature.

Yes, and some of those neat little balls of petals can turn into the largest flower. This one was literally the size of my face.

I hope you enjoyed the flowers! Remember to take time out of your day to connect with a piece of Mother Nature. Stop and smell a flower today, or give a nod of hello to a tree. They will smile right back at you.

Have a great day!