Container Stories

There are some things that just feel important to have, to hold, and to admire.  When I heard about the new collaboration between Karin Eriksson and Camilla Engman called Container Stories, I decided I needed one.  It's hard to choose.  But that sweet face with the raindrop tears, along with the leafy drawing decals down the side and inside the base just called to me.  So I bought it, and here it is, all the way from Sweden.  Beautiful! Karin's stone matt glaze is really lovely on these wheel thrown forms. 

Lovely New Things

I'm not sure about your gifts, but some years, Christmas gifts have been a little hit or miss for me.  Great intentions and well wishes aside, there are just some things that I don't need or want, but can't quite get the courage to ask for the receipt for fear of hurting someone's feelings.  I don't want to be that gift-giver myself, you know, the kind who isn't really in tune with what the person likes or wants.  Often hand-made gifts are slightly easier for me to give, because there is that story behind them- how I found them, who the maker is and where they live all adds to the beauty of what I'm able to give. 

This past Christmas  I only had handmade on my list, and Dean and I gave each other some really lovely things that are making there way into our home and lives. 
The Sandra Juto Print that I got matted and framed for Dean, reminds him of his stove-top espresso days before the plug-in one arrived.
The Camilla Engman book by Uppercase, complete with little prints (included in the book) that I've put in vintage frames for around the house inspiration.
My new mittens from Granted, which I'm hoping to start wearing soon, when the weather here gets a little colder...
Hope your day is starting to be more lovely with some of the gifts that you received/gave:)

One of a Kind: What I bought edition...

I'm doing some back-tracking on a post I should have done after I raced through the One of a Kind show on Thursday afternoon, but was too crazy busy from friday until now to actually put together, so here it is: the first edition being what I bought with my limited budget, the second posting (tomorrow) will be about what I would have bought, had I more time and money.

First off, I did manage to pick up a copy of Uppercase Magazine from the good folks over at the Uppercase Gallery booth! It was a great read over the weekend and I am considering subscribing to it. There's a lot to be said about a great quarterly magazine/book. With all the stacks of magazines I have stored or that I pass along to good will after I tire of them, it is nice to know that there's still a magazine that interests me with the designers, illustrators and craftspeople that it highlights and that I won't be wasting my money having to sift through a wack load of advertisements. And I have to say that I'm really looking forward to the new book they are going to put out on Camilla Engman this coming November. It will be at the top of my Christmas wish list, lets just put it that way...
The next thing I managed to pick up were some Abeego flats! I've had these as my favourites on Etsy (Abeego Etsy shop) for a while now, but seeing them in person really convinced me that these were great! A really great alternative to plastic wrap, I've been using them all weekend for all the Thanksgiving leftovers! Also, a little birdy told me they will soon be available at Room6, which is good news because they might be my go-to Christmas gift this year (shhhh...)