Needlings

Or "Oh Christmas Tree," if you like. One of my favourite parts of the season, going back to various tree farm visits where my brother and I would run around trying to find the tallest, chubbiest, best tree which my mom or dad would then cut down (because the choose a pre-cut one was never as exciting), I've always loved having a real tree in the house for the month.  It's a bit weird I think still, cutting down a tree and putting it up inside, but it smells nice and the family pets always seem to like it too.

This year, after a day off from Needlings sewing to make myself a new sort-of-gingerbread-man's-girlfriend skirt, I headed over to Bennett's Apple Farm in Ancaster and while we didn't cut it down ourselves, we did pick the chubbiest, best one/the one in front and brought it home to cover it in years of handmade ornament making and collecting - in addition to some old favourites, not before picking up some goodies and cider inside of course. Callie the pup enjoyed herself too/chased small prey then freaked out in the car.

I think we got a good one, don't you think?

Callie is totally in to it.

Yep, two fun holiday craft shows in Hamilton! Two of my favourite shows of the year, even.  I have done Merryberry Market in Westdale and Makers' Market on James St. North for 4 years now I think and they have become a big part of my own holiday season. It really doesn't feel like Christmas until we've had a bit of snow, and I've done these two shows. Happy to say, both of those things happened this weekend! We had so much snow on Friday in fact that the usual 20 minute drive to Westdale on city streets took about 1 full hour. Of course it has all been rained away but I'm hoping for a least a little white on the ground for the 25th.

Anyway, so we had Merryberry Market first which is a cute little show and fundraiser for Westdale Children's School. Only a small amount of vendors and lots of sweet little kids running around and playing Christmas songs.

So much holiday fun! These people are all some of the nicest people I've come across in Hamilton. A really nice warm night to end a snowy day. These are the kinds of shows that make me feel extra lucky I have the coolest job ever.

So we packed up and went home just to head downtown the next morning to the beautiful Christ's Church Cathedral on James St. North in Hamilton to set up for the Holiday Makers' Market show.

We were there and ready to go early so I got a few photos of some of the other vendors setting up in this beautiful space. I almost don't realize just how amazing it is until I look back at the pictures. 

There are these lovely green light covers in the church that give all the photos a sort of greenish glow but it really was a fun day. It was busy for most of the day and I was happy to spend the day talking to familiar customers and new ones as well as some of my favourite crafty vendor friends.

Lisa of Nerdbiskit, one of my loveliest friends, was only a table away. Check out those aprons. And hot beverages. It was a great day but a little coffee/tea pep never hurt anyone! Unless you spill it I guess. Anyway, it worked for me!

See? That's one happy Needlings' maker.

Thank you to everyone who came out to these shows to spend their hard earned money locally supporting local artists and crafters. I wouldn't be able to do this without you. If I could hug you all I would!

I hope to see some of you at our last show of the year this Saturday, Crafternoon Delight, at Dundurn and Aberdeen, 11am-4pm.

Thanks for stopping by, friends! See you soon!

I can't actually believe another week is over and it's time for another workroom recap but I'm not one to argue so I guess I'll go ahead and do it.

So the week went by super fast you guys! I spent the week finishing up a big restock for Kid Icarus in Toronto and managed to get everything all boxed up and headed out!

Littles first!

Then keychains!

Hello friends!

I thought I would stop in today to let you know some of the goings on around here before the usual workroom recap!

First off, I am excited to announce Needlings will be carried in our 15th retail location, a great locally owned Hamilton shop, Little Bird.  I stopped in today to drop off some Owl Mamas and Little Robots and meet the owner, Jodi, and her cute little bird* too!

*actually a human baby boy. 

(Photo courtesy of Little Bird)

I'll have to stop by again soon to get some photos of everything in action. I'm very excited to have Needlings in a great little Hamilton store!

I also received news that some other lovely shopowners, Stephen and Melanie, of Dots & Loops in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, are featured in the Nova Scotia Tourism "Doers and Dreamers" Guide. And they're holding a Needlings Owl Mama! Needless to say, I popped on over to the Nova Scotia tourism website to get myself a copy.

I'm so happy for them that their store of under one year old is being recognized for how amazing it is! They do a great job! (Plus, aren't they cute?) 

(Photo courtesy of Dots & Loops)

And for good measure, here's a mid-week Outfit of the Day of what I wore today on this rainy chilly Spring day!

Sweater: Thrifted Handmade Wool

Top: Old Navy

(My favourite) Skirt: Asos

Shoes: Rocketdog

See you soon!  ♥

This was not an event that Needlings participated in but instead one I took the 45 minute drive in to Toronto for.  

A last minute decision today to go check out the One of A Kind Spring Show at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto. It was a fun little shopping venture at which I bought nothing but saw lots of great handmade things from people all over Canada.

I found out near the end that I wasn't allowed to take pictures but lucky us, I did get a few of the inside before my error was brought to my attention.  

I also visited with my friend Paula of Orange Octopus who was doing the show for the first time this year.  Her booth looked awesome!  Her husband built it and her tattoo artist did the painting.

I picked up a couple programs and a few cards from some places I want to check out again. It's so overwhelming walking through - there is so much to see and everyone does an amazing job on their displays!

And here's what I wore!  My new dress from Old Navy that I'm in love with at the moment. I also popped on a Needlings Owl Baby pin before heading out because a girl has got to represent, as they say. Or something.

*I thought I would take the time to show you around the area that I live in through perhaps a series of posts of me visiting some of my favourite spots in Southern Ontario. Hamilton isn't my hometown but I live here now and love it! To see more about Hamilton: check here*

I grew up with sort of adventurous parents who liked to change things up and move around and as a result of that, I don't really have a city that I consider my hometown!  Instead, I have a few home away from homes and lots of "travel experience" in North America.  Between living on both coasts of Canada and in between and then Iowa and back to Ontario twice, I'm so happy to have seen so many pretty places.  Now that I've been in the Hamilton area (which is about 45 minutes away from Toronto) for the longest I've been anywhere, I'm making it my new hometown and trying to get to know it better.

Hamilton rests on the Niagara Escarpment and is filled with conservation areas and as a result, you don't have to go far from the city to see some really beautiful spots.  Some time in the past few years they dubbed Hamilton the "waterfall capital of the world," with lots of water running off the escarpment. Tiffany falls is a little one that is less than 5 minutes from my house so I went there first for a mini hike and photo walk!

It was such a beautiful crisp start-of-spring day and I had lots of fun playing in the woods and taking photos. I can't wait to go back and take more when the trees are all green. 

I love living so close to this. As the weather gets nicer and everything starts looking extra beautiful, I'm sure I will be inspired to visit some more pretty places and show you a little bit more of where I live.