declaring bankruptcy

Cabin + cub has uber gorgeous art and stationery items, and I was hard-pressed to choose just a few to feature. Its goodies are created with techniques such as woodburning, collage and gocco. Being already broke, I am trying hard to fight the urge to add all these stuff to my cart so instead I'm spreading the love here by sharing this treasure trove with you (sigh). 

Clockwise from top left: (1) Girl and Balloons Collage; (2) Cute Little Squirrel Woodburned Wall Art Panel; (3) Mini Cute Woodburned Cork Board with 4 pins - Chipmunk and acorn; (4) Gocco Printed Hard Cover Notebook - Happy Elephant.

masters of disguise

Handmade from fleece and felt, these Mr Beardsley plushies resemble monkeys and come with their unique choice of disguise - one tug and the hat and beard come off! This is such a cute, refreshing idea, and I get so tickled every time I look at a poor Mr Beardsley looking rather vulnerable without its disguise. These and more available at Intimidnation by Laura Granlund. 

poppity pop

Currently loving:  Pop art styled paper collages by Amocro. It's amazing how she creates such a vibrant retro feel just by using coloured paper. (She is also offering custom pop art portraits. Retro fever lives!)

just purrfect

Motivated by the lack of variety of cat products available in regular pet stores, Jake and Micah was established to provide a different and selective mix of cat products for discerning cats and their owners. There, you can find toys in all shapes and sizes, and collars and bandanas that will make your cat look like a fashionista itself.

Clockwise from top left: (1) Organic Catnip Fortune Cookie Takeout Box; (2) Refillable Catnip Meditation Cat Mat; (3) Organic Catnip Sushi Handroll Cat Toy; (4) 4 Paws 4 Camouflage Bandana

please sir could I have some more?

There's something about handcrafted ceramics that are so precious, and like an avid collector one always thirsts for more! If you need some alternatively-shaped bowls to add to your collection, Nina Invorm makes raindrop-shaped bowls that may suit your palate. They are available in a minimalist off white, or if you prefer something more fanciful, there are also those that have silkscren printed decorations on them, like the ones above.

little old me(s)

Lisa Hurwitz's prints available at her Etsy store are of her original oil paintings on linen and even wood. I personally find her depiction of human characters very endearing, with their especially round faces, wispy hair and wry smiles. You can check out more of her work over at her website. 

everyone needs a cute tee shirt

The dress code for me these days is 'business attire' or 'office wear', and while it may be fun to dress up spiffily, I also miss the days when I could just throw on a cool tee shirt over jeans. Then Dogbone Art comes along and tempts me with its quirky and humourous hand screen printed tees (sigh). If you love the tee shirt designs but can't fit it into your more subdued dress code, worry not as there are also child sizes and toddle onesies that allows you to live vicariously through any children in your family. Alternatively, there are also attractive eco bags and plushies, among others.

peek-a-boo

If you fancy sewing as a hobby, cute handcrafted clay buttons from Kitty Robot, such as the sampling above, would make an excellent addition to your next sewing project. Alternatively, if you are not of the sewing inclination, these buttons may also be purchased without the holes, to be used for scrap booking and other crafty projects you may have in mind. (But really if you can sew, good for you! I imagine these would be superb for sprucing up old clothes that might otherwise be tossed out) 

99 red balloons go by

Somehow this picture manages to convey what I'm feeling right now, though perhaps not quite as originally intended. 

Sunshine II by Andrew Hefter.

say it with music

Music is personally, my greatest passion, and so it was definitely a delight chancing upon Nancy Kremiller's work. She fuses music and visual art by a clever use of musical scores,  adding much texture and meaning to her mixed media paintings.

Clockwise from top left: (1) Closer; (2) Rain Song; (3) Notes; and (4) The Red Shoe.

I don't usually do this here, but

My paper shop Little Whims is having a sale! It's a 20% discount, applicable to all items in the 'Sale' section, which covers the majority of products available in store.

and now for foresty friends

It was only previously that we featured monsters for plushies, and now it's time for forest animals! The Chestnut Farmer uses these creatures of lush woods as a common thread in his work, what with wearables, handy pouches and even large plushies along this theme. Particularly interesting are his range of Wood Wheely Action Figures, which he describes as half vehicle and half doll.

monsters for friends

I'm sure we all love cute plushies for toys - but plushies in the form of monsters? Such a seemingly odd combination results in totally adorable creations when put together by Zierstiche Textildesign. Her monster friends all come with their own distinct character traits, and you can get them as plushies, finger puppets, mobile phone covers and more. 

tales from childhood

The magic of childhood imagination is brought to life by Isabella of Isabella's Art, with her detailed illustrations of fairy tales, myths, and fantasy. Her take on them are wonderfully detailed and fantastical yet a little on the dark side. Not only are prints available, her original art is available on bookplates and in the form of shadow puppets.

block coloured twists

Clothes in block colours are always a staple in any closet because they are so easy to match and simple to throw on. But it's hard to find a top that won't look too basic as to be commonplace. Replicca Clothing Company is a great option for a more unique take on otherwise basic colours, with interesting collars and cuts and splashes of colour in the right places. Beyond that, there are also fun, patterned apparel available. Replicca Clothing Company is run by independent designer Rebecca Duyzer and based in Hamilton, Ontario.