New Market! On the Road!

There's a new handmade market launching today – it's our annual "On the Road" themed event at Poppytalk Handmade; think road trips, vacation, camping, swimming, beach and everything summer! Heaps of fun new things (even to us)!  Click here or on any of the images to take you there.

 

 

 

 

Today we're kicking off our first post on our "virtual" Road Trip '09 from Portland, Oregon and we're pleased to have Abby Powell Thompson of abbytrysagain.com show us her city. Abby is a Portland based, self taught photographer who documents her daily life in film. The cameras she uses are vintage ones she's picked up and tinkered with. Her main camera is a broken Yashica tl-electro. She runs her personal blog called abby trys again as well as a small online shop where she sells prints of her photos. Her photos are often full of colors and soft focus. We asked Abby to send us some photo's and links that one would find in Portland. We of course loved what she sent! Thanks Abby!

Name: Abby Powell Thompson
Hometown: Portland, OR
Blog: abbytrysagain.com / Shop: abbytryagain.com

No. 1. REST:


Image is an Airstream parked in our neighborhood. Trailers dot the landscape here in Portland, it's not uncommon to see them parked all around.


No. 2. TREATS:



My cool treats pick ice cold home made chocolates. The ones pictured are made with local rosemary and local hazlenuts as well as organic cocoa. They are served with delicious espresso sodas and can be found at the very tiny but beautiful place called Sahagun. www.sahagunchocolates.com


No. 3. ACTIVITY:


My summer activity is a visit to Portland's Rose Gardens. They are perched on top of a hill overlooking the city and are in bloom in June through September. It's amazing just wandering through the acres of all sorts of beautiful roses. www.rosegardenstore.org/thegardensoverview.cfm


No. 4. SOUVENIR:


My souvenir that I would bring home from Portland would be a one of kind Karaline dress. The dresses are handmade in Portland and are timeless classics. They are available at tumbleweed boutique. www.tumbleweedboutique.com


No. 5. FAVORITE SHOP:


My all time favorite store in Portland is Ink+Peat. It's one part flower shop, one part vintage goods store and one part home furnishings. The displays are always great, too.
www.inkandpeat.com

Written and photographed by Abby Powell Thompson,
abbytrysagain.com shop: abbytryagain.com

pretty things

A few picks from January's Anthropologie magazine. From the top (clockwise):
No. 1. Oberlund quilt (love the guitar on the bed)
No. 2. Terai Folding Chair,
No. 3. Impatiens Whimsey Pillows
No. 4. Everlong Bouquet Frame
No. 5. Wild Bunch Frame
No. 6. Standing Magnifying Glass
No. 7. Colassal Bloom Rug

new shop: sofia barao (handmade accessories)

Sofia Barao, a visual artist living near Paris, France has just opened up a new shop featuring handmade accessory creations made with new and old materials including some vintage jewelry she's been collecting from french flea markets. They all arrive packaged in a handmade sewn paper bag or kraft eco-friendly box.

sbarao.etsy.com
lafeecoriandre.etsy.com
lafeecoriandre.blogspot.com
Poppytalk Handmade Table 120

new shop/collaboration

Hello Handmade is a new collaboration launching today between two artists, Shanna Murray and Betsy Dunlap. Pairing Shanna's amazing illustrations with Betsy's unusual calligraphy, the two have created to start off, an out of the ordinary screen printed calendar and a cozy (12x12) hoiday print which will be available Monday. Later in the week they will be adding holiday cards and quaint gift tags. Definitely worth bookmarking. Click here to check if the shop is open yet.

Canada City Guides: Calgary Part 2

As gathered by Janine Vangool of Uppercase Gallery

Art Central

Art Central is a must-see destination when visiting Calgary. It is centrally located, just a block from the Calgary Tower. Three levels offer over 40 galleries, shops, and artist studios as well as an excellent restaurant (The Siding Cafe) and DeVille Luxury Coffee and Pastries. It is easy to get to by public transit: the C-Train stops right outside on 7th Avenue. There is plenty of parking in the nearby Telus Convention Centre.

Art Central is has been my home-away-from home for nearly four years: UPPERCASE is located on the upper level. I've highlighted some of my favourite shops, but there is a lot more information on Art Central's website. The First Thursday of the month is a great evening to visit since everyone is open late and there is entertainment, openings and refreshments.

Corner of 7th Ave and Centre Street, downtown
artcentral.ca


La Fleur

On Art Central's main level you'll find La Fleur, a floral gallery. Their window displays are often outstanding and the flowers and lushness extends into the hall. A large bird cage houses a family of birds and at Easter, they had cute little chicks. You can register for floral design workshops.

Main Level, Art Central
corner of 7th Ave & Centre Street SW
www.artcentral.ca/tenants/47-la-fleur


Nation Toys & Tees

Calgary's source for vinyl toys, street-inspired art and Threadless Tees.

Lower Level, Art Central
corner of 7th Ave SW & Centre Street
thisisnation.com

Studio Todorovic

Studio Todorovic might be the smaller art supply store you will ever see, but it is very well-stocked! Owner/artist Ljubica has a fondness for rabbits, so you'll likely see plenty of her bunny drawings and paintings. (If you ask nicely, she might draw a bunny on a business card for you.)

Main Level, Art Central
Corner of 7th Ave SW & Centre Street
www.studiotodorovic.com


Shisomiso

Shisomiso is an excellent store where you'll find unique clothing by Canadian designers. They also feature art and photography by local artists. The clothing is arranged by colour and texture, which is a really great way of visualizing your future favourite outfit!

Main Level, Art Central
Corner of 7th ave & Centre Street SW
www.shisomiso.com


UPPERCASE gallery, books & papergoods

Of course, my favourite shop happens to be my own! We have the best selection of graphic design and illustration books in town, greeting cards that you won't find anywhere else, and a hand-picked selection of paper products. Many products are designed and handmade right here in UPPERCASE. The gallery display changes every few months with themed shows and solo exhibitions.

Upper Level, Art Central
corner of 7th ave SW & Centre Street
www.uppercasegallery.ca

Stephen Avenue

One block south of Art Central is a pedestrian promenade called Stephen Avenue. This four block stretch features boutiques, restaurants and shopping malls, many in Calgary's historic sandstone buildings. Look for Twig flower and gift shop, Kismet clothing, Arnod Churgin Shoes, and the requisite western outfitters.

www.downtowncalgary.com/index.html


As gathered by Janine Vangool of Uppercase Gallery, Calgary, Alberta.

Canada City Guides: Calgary Part 1

As gathered by Janine Vangool of Uppercase Gallery

Crave Cupcakes

We'll start our tour in the Kensingon neighbourhood, located just north of the river and starting at 10th Street NW. When you need a sugar boost at the start of the day, head to Crave. (If you go too late in the day they are often sold out of their daily baking.) The lineup can extend outside the store and down the street, but these cupcakes are worth it. I've often ordered dozens of their mini cupcakes for events in UPPERCASE... all you have to do is hint at Crave Cupcakes and a crowd will gather!

1107 Kensington Road NW
and #120 815 17th Avenue SW
www.cravecupcakes.ca


Bubbles Bath & Body

Bubbles Bath & Body is a new store, right next door to Crave Cupcakes on Kensington Road. The store design is impressive and features lots of text on the walls. Plenty of pretty packages and nice scents make for a pleasant browse. (And they have some cupcake-inspired bath soaps for zero calorie indulgences.)



Pages Books on Kensington

This bookstore plays host to Calgary's literary scene with frequent poetry and book readings. They have a great selection of Canadian fiction as well as children's books, travel and cook books.

1135 Kensington Road NW
www.pages.ab.ca



Honey B's Vintage Home Decor

This is a pretty little store, with vintage-inspired decorations, jewellery, gifts and furniture. The owner really does an outstanding job in displaying her merchandise. Make sure to look for Paige Smith's Jewellery holders made from vintage saucers.

28 - 12 Street NW (at Kensington Road)
www.honeybs.com
www.paigesmith.ca



Purr Clothing

Purr has a great selection of clothing from labels such as Free People as well as independent Canadian fashion labels. The Kensington store is quite large with a nice waiting area for your friends while you try everything on!

1220 Kensington Road NW
100-601 17 Avenue SW


Livingstone & Cavell Extraordinary Toys

This marvelous toy store offers a trip down memory lane with plenty of classic and well-made playthings, cute plush animals, and novelty games.

1124 Kensington Rd. NW




As gathered by Janine Vangool of Uppercase Gallery, Calgary Alberta. Part II to follow!

new online shop alert!

We heard some whisperings about this new online shop coming soon from our favorite local papergoods brick and mortar, The Regional Assembly of Text. We've been checking back now and again and just found it live last night. Lots of goodies one finds in their store are now available for all the world to see. We love the "old office" look that owners Rebecca and Brandy have recreated online (just like the real store) with kraft paper file folders and stamps. Click here to go directly to their shop. A must see!

tea towels, hardware and pillows

I took a little visit to Anthropologie today, with the nudging of an email and was delighted to find this lovely cross-stitched cotton "cupful" and "love" hand towel, along with a fun new interface they have online to try out their hardware. You basically can choose from four different types of cabinets/dressers that would have knobs, and you can click on each one and try them out to see how they'd look. The above one shown is similar to my grandmother's dresser we have and I selected some beautiful turquoise jewel knobs. Below other knob samples along with two new colony pillows they have.

When one links to each individual item at Anthropologie it always takes you to the home page, even though you've linked to the correct item. So to navigate to the hardware section, click on "outside, all day" at the home page, then click on "hardware store".

new shop alert: urban alchemist: design collective

donna brady the designer behind re-surface (those graffiti inspired lampshades) has opened up a new shop (along with 4 other designers) in new york called urban alchemist design collective, 343 5th Street (5th St & 5th Ave). featuring lighting, jewelry designs, crafted wood products, and totes and tees. she sent over a few pictures of the shop, which looks like a great little place to stop by if you're in the brooklyn area. more pictures at her flickr here. urban alchemist design collective members are:

eswera jewelry, imaan selima
rebecca shepherd jewelry designs, rebecca shepherd
t. kahres jewelry, teresa kahres
via nativa, vanesa & alessandra
re-surface design, donna brady

new shop alert! gingerly

it's always fun to see a local shop open up that takes pride in featuring handmade goods from canadian and north american designers! and people living in the maple ridge area of the lower mainland will now have that chance with the opening this weekend of gingerly! their collection consists of mostly jewelry and accessories (designers hand bags etc). some of the companies featured are: jewelry from gingerly designs, sterling silver jewelry from filou, leather goods from patina and flight path designs, paper goods from sunlit letterpress, handbags and other goodies from track and feild designs, vintage fabric cards and clutches from rikrak and many more. congrats megan!

Gingerly
11869 227th St Maple Ridge, BC Phone: 604-477-7748
Website: www.gingerlydesigns.com Email: gingerly@gingerlydesigns.com
Grand Opening: March 8th 10 - 6pm

new at rockett st george

so nice to hear from jane at rockett st george this week! it's been a while, and i really miss her blog she used to fill with lovely finds. but i see she's still finding the goods and here's a few things new from her side of the water. (top l to r): silk union jack cushion, £69.00 ; corona mexican retro tray £9.99; bombarock skulldugery chair, £595.00; (above): modern chairs tea towel in black and white. a great idea for a gift! £8.50 and (below): peace and love pillows made from wool felt. £39.50

New Market Alert! November Poppytalk Handmade

Our new November Market will be opening on Monday, November 5th! We are busy setting up virtual tables and sweeping virtual floors for our November Poppytalk Handmade Market! It's a "Holiday and Gift" themed month-long market, filled with many beautiful juried items such as handmade letterpressed Christmas Cards, ornaments, unique gifts and even a few clothes! We are really excited to introduce new finds and new talent (curated by Poppytalk). Participants come as far as Chile! Meet us back here Monday for the cutting of the ribbon!