It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Oh hello June?! You didn't waste any time getting here, did you?! It has been a lovely spring here in Vangroovy and felt much more like summer with no rain and constant streams of sunshine and warmth. We are lapping it up! I haven't had a lot of free time but whenever possible, I sneak on over to Spanish Banks with my friend Kevin and we go skimmin'! There is a beautiful view of the mountains and North/West Vancouver as our backdrop as well as the downtown city line. Seals frolic in the water nearby, bald eagles and blue herons go fishing! Really can't beat it. 

We only have 4 months where the conditions are ample and this year I am really going for it! So far just a sliced toe and a skinned knee:P

Skim boarding with my friend Kevin at Spanish Banks!

I have been making, making and making! Stock for stores and collectives, Etsy orders, custom orders and now stock for upcoming markets. I did show at ArtWorld Expo back at the beginning of May. It was my fourth time there and every year I meet so many talented artists and attendees.

Art World Expo 2015

It is here that I debuted my canvas photo blocks. When I was doing image transfers onto wood, about 10% of the time the image wouldn't transfer properly, leaving the wood block ruined. So I came up with an idea so I could re-use the block and it wouldn't go to waste. I printed images onto canvas, painted the wood block white and then adhered the new canvas prints over the old images. Voila! Canvas photo block!

Seagull, Vanderbilt Beach, Florida

Have also been making some new creations and working with copper pyrite, water tourmaline and gold-filled chain and also making copper cuffs again - where this all began. The first thing I ever stamped was a copper cuff before I went wild and started stamping everything in sight! 

Bevy of new designs at Favourite Gifts in Lonsdale Quay

To the Sea! German silver pendant, sterling silver chain, sea charms and Swarovski crystal starfish

Custom copper cuffs

I went and met my brother and Dad for a visit in Cranbrook last weekend! It was kind of a big deal as we hadn't all seen each other at the same time in four years. I was so grateful to be able to spend that bit of time with them as a family unit and felt like the luckiest girl in the world! There were smiles, there were tears, reminiscing, hugs and a whole LOT of love. And it was so nice to get to see my Dad near Father's Day!

Since farmers aren't really the jewelry wearing types, I made them both key chains instead:)

Car Free on Main Street is this Sunday. One of the most popular summer festivals here in Vancouver hands down. Main Street will be closed to cars from 12-7PM on Broadway all the way to 30th and filled with artisans, bands, food, kid zones and more! I am teaming up with the artisans of Canvas Handmade and we will be set up between 22nd and 23rd Street. 

These are the lovely artists I shall be alongside:

Mindan's Designs
Adhesif Clothing
Yapes Paints: Art by April Lacheur
A Cagey Bee ~ art by Kris G. Brownlee
flight path designs
Ole Originals
Kdon by Kim Cathers
eikcam
Tina Tam
Raven's Rest Studio
Frankenstrap

Desiree Patterson

Click here to see and join event!  

Next up after that is Rev.Local at Heritage Hall on Main Street and 15th from 12-5PM. A one day summer market featuring 30+ BC small businesses, artisans, yogis and musicians. Admission $2 only. Children under 12 Free. Support this "shop local" REVolution!

Join the event here. 

Then we have Khatsalano on Fourth Ave, Vancouver's largest free music and arts festival, which is always so much fun! Really cool local bands, a marketplace showcasing Vancouver’s finest artisans, family activities, licensed beer gardens, food trucks and the weather, PERFECTO!

Join the event here.

That's all that I have scheduled for now! But am thinking about a road trip through the Okanagan and onto the Prairies this summer mid-July. My summers seem to just fly by because I am always working but I don't want to miss out this year. After 9 years of living in this beautiful province, I still haven't explored our beautiful interior or any of the islands, save for Vancouver Island and I have some serious itchy feet! 

I love making jewelry. It supports and feeds my belly and my soul but I can't sit at the work bench all day and all night and let life just float on by. Taking pictures and traveling is my first love and I never seem to find the time when I am in Vancouver. So, I am getting the hell out of dodge with my litle Subaru and camera in tow and making it happen.

Hope to see you somewhere out there soon and may you absorb and enjoy every minute of the summer goodness. Climb a tree, wade in the water, swim naked, lie in a hammock for HOURS, be present with nature, hike, walk with no destination, read a trashy novel, do NOTHING, set up a lemonade stand and meet your neighbours, float like a jelly fish, take naps and road trips, eat a whole watermelon by yourself, sit on a patio with your best friend talking for hours...whatever floats your boat! Every summer has its own story, make yours one for the books. I fully intend to do the same!

Vanier Park, Kitsilano, Vancouver

How Awesome is Your Mama?

Laughing Statues, English Bay, Vancouver, BC

I know I have been slackin' big time on my blog AGAIN. Oy vey. Maintaining one's online presence is a full time job what with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and the like! And then the longer I don't write a blog, the more daunting it becomes when I think of all the info I want to share! So much I wanna share:) 

For now, I must address the uber important holiday coming up this weekend! Mother's Day yay! I both look forward to and to be honest, dread this day. On the bright side, it gives me a chance to honour and remember my Mom and tell you how great she was and you get to share how great your Mom is/was too! But it's a hard one cause I really would rather just be hanging out with her than braggin'. 

So every year since her passing, I have had a Mother's Day Giveaway so we can honour and remember our Moms by telling a story about their awesomeness!

My Mom was her own person. She could have fun in just about any situation and smile no matter how tough times got. She taught me that life is too short to care what other people think. To do high kicks in public if the need arose. To take a chance on following my dreams. To throw my head back in fits of laughter, often. To always look on the bright side. Have FUN. Be silly. Be strong. Be giving. And most of all to LOVE like there's no manana:)

You can enter by leaving a word or a story about your Mom's awesomeness here on my FB page.

Comments, likes and shares all gain one entry each.

Oh, and I almost forgot the prize!

It is a $50 gift certificate to my Etsy shop! Maybe you want to customize a hand stamped necklace with her name on it or make a photo she likes into a pendant. OR just pass on the certificate to her and she can choose herself!

Winner will be announced on my FB page, Sunday May 10th. 

I am very grateful to have a platform in which I get to share memories of my Mom. It is so important that loved ones who have passed on stay alive in our memory, that way they never leave us:)

Happy Mother's Day and Many Blessings, 

TT 

TT takin' it to the 'burbs!

I am packin' up my little Subaru, filling it with photo wood blocks, prints, hand stamped metal designs and photo jewels and on my way to Coquitlam Craft Fair tomorrow!

I usually do 4 markets around Christmas time, but because of my intermittent feeling-goodness and my pursuance of getting products in stores and increasing traffic in my Etsy store, I knew not to over-commit myself, especially not to those that I may stand to lose a hefty market fee to if I had to cancel last minute. So I am very keen and excited to be doing a new market in a new area I have never been before! And I LOVE me a little road trip:)

Sigurd has been making sure I stay off the computer so I can focus on making things. Slave driver. 

As a thank you to all of our friends and family at Giving Gifts and Company, we are having a special night in honour of you. For 3 hours only - from 6PM to 9PM TONIGHT, the entire store will be 20% off! We have never had a store-wide discount like this before so make sure to take advantage of the savings and join us at the store for this special evening. We are located at Main and 30th in Vancouver! 

The above are some Etsy orders I sent out this week! It's not too late to order in time for Christmas. I can usually turnaround within a day or two. Shipping within Canada takes 1-3 business days and to the US about a week! Check out www.huggerofseas.com and see what's in store!  

That's all for now! Must get back to making and packing! Hope things are going swimmingly for you during this busy season. Deep breaths. Om. You are doing the best you can:) xo!

An almost totally exfoliated image hand transferred onto wood. Photo taken in my 'hood and quote by Wayne Dyer.

BIG FRICKIN' GRATITUDE SALE!

Sterling Silver 'OM' Necklace, Vintage Brass 'Gypsea' Ring, German Silver Personalized Heart Pendant

So I WAS makin' my little tookus off for Bloom Market in Ft. Langley up until last Sunday when I went down..way, way down for the count with feelings of unwellness. Not the kind that you can just ignore and keep truckin' through unfortunately..full on death's door can't move 'am I gonna make it?' seeing angels I want my Mom come to Jesus kind of sick. It broke my heart into smithereens having to cancel my booth at the market, but without the ability to clone a healthier version of myself, there was no choice in the matter. I have said it before, I will say it again...health is numero uno. If you've got that, you have everything! I may elaborate more on this in a future blog, but right now Mama's got to get back to work!

Photo Bling Session

Having said that, I am feeling extra super grateful just to be sitting at my computer writing this newsletter to you now. Also, that I have my own business to run. Yes when I go down, the biz goes down but if I was working for someone....ummm, I probably would be out of a job right now. It's thanks to you and all the people who support me and purchase my art that I am able to get up and and get back in the saddle again! And in light of all the sales coming up this weekend, I decided to have a little 'er...BIG FRICKIN' GRATITUDE SALE in celebration of you and everyone who supports me and small businesses.

Please use the following coupon codes all based on minimum purchase amounts in my Etsy shop, www.huggerofseas.com: 

$35 and up - 15% off: GRATITUDE15

$70 and up - 20% off: GRATITUDE 20

$100 and up - 25% off: GRATITUDE 25

Newsletter subscribers get first dibs on this sale - it is live as soon as you read this email and ends Monday, December 1st at 11:59 PM PST. Please feel free to forward and share with friends and family!

Let me know if you have any questions about the sale and remember you can always personalize jewelry with your own words or photos as well as prints and wood blocks! 

And on with some news! We have had a beautiful autumn in Vancouver. Unfortunately due to feeling not so fab and being stankin' busy in between, I have not been making my usual trips down to see Sven the Svawn..my leetle friend at Lost Lagoon. He was my muse this summer. I hadn't been taking a lot of pictures since the jewelry making keeps me well occupied, but he inspired which brought me more de-stress time in nature...the best therapy!

Sven..the Svawn, Lost Lagoon, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC

See more of Sven on my Instagram account:)

The unrelenting rain and dark skies have arrived now and as much as I prefer and love summer, I can now work inside guilt free and get mucho amounts of things done sans hearing the ocean (and Sven) constantly beckoning me!

Lion's Gate Bridge, North Vancouver, BC

For Vangroovians, if you dare to brave the weather this weekend, I just topped up my stock yesterday at Favourite Gifts in the Lonsdale Quay Market in North Vancouver! This is a lovely collective full of amazing local, independent artists. I will also be delivering to Kimprints on Denman and in Gastown, Two of Hearts in Kits and on Main and Migration Boutique in Victoria. 

This Thursday, we are staying open late to kick off the holiday shopping season at Giving Gifts and Company, an artist collective I am a part of, located on Main and 29th. We offer a bevy of dizzyingly lovely and beautiful local, handmade and fair trade gifts! RSVP to the event here.

Local is the new black. 

Don't let your friends shop at chain stores. 

Shop independent this year! 

When you visit an independent local business you keep more money in your local economy, support local jobs, help the environment, encourage community, conserve your tax dollars and make your community a destination! And it's just plain 'ol good karma:)

Will write again soon! Please don't ever hesitate to write me back and let me know what's up! Many of you I haven't seen for so long but hope to real soon...and you're always in my thoughts. I thank you for keeping up with me on this entrepreneurial ride and I appreciate all your support. I hope that you are cozy and warm and feelin' GREAT wherever you may be. Happy Thanksgiving to my American peeps!

Mucho love and HUGS, 

TT

Lost Lagoon, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC

Summer Round-Up and an Upcoming Show!

Kits Beach, Vancouver, BC

Well hello there! Once again, it has been quite some time since I last wrote, but I have a pretty good excuse. Remember that whole work/life balance thingy I was talking about? Well, I have been trying to get better at it, which means some of my work things have been getting pushed down the To Do List.....namely, this blog:-/

I didn't want to see another summer go by as a complete blur so I made sure that I took a few actual WHOLE days off to float around in the ocean, lay on the beach with friends, lolly gag at Lost Lagoon and one of my fave past times, go SKIM BOARDING! It's not surfing, but the next best thing when one lives by a waveless ocean! 

My friend Kevin and I skimmin' at Spanish Banks, Vancouver, BC

Duck Moon, Lost Lagoon, Vancouver, BC

I have continued to focus on wholesaling my products to retailers and ramping up my online sales whilst participating less in markets. I did do a few markets however: Car Free on Main St, Carnaval del Sol and Viva Vancouver on Granville as well as Khatsalano Festival, where I met lovely people - some of which are now receiving this email - and thoroughly enjoyed being out and about. Human contact yay! 

Traffic in my online store, www.huggerofseas.com has picked up due to being featured in a couple of Etsy Fashion Newsletters: 

Style Studies 

Yelling Timber

And I am currently in the following retail stores: 

Kimprints, Gastown 

Kimprints, Denman St

Two of Hearts Clothing & Boutique, Main St 

Two of Hearts Clothing & Boutique, Kitsilano

Migration Boutique, Victoria, BC 

Copper Sky Gallery, Madeira Park, BC

And in the 2 art collectives I belong to:

Giving Gifts, Main St, Vancouver, BC

Favourite Gifts, Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver, BC

And soon at House of Jewels in the West End (ma 'hood) as well as Sansara Surf and Yoga Resort in Cambutal, PANAMA! 

EEEEE! 

It has been a nice and steady growth as my production team aka 'myself' (and at times Sigurd above), needs to be able to keep up with the demand of making the jewels. I am very grateful to have these lovely outlets to sell my work in and look forward to expanding further!

If you are around Vancouver this Thursday, in collaboration with Vancouver Fashion Week and Shop West 4th, myself, Cici Clothing, Sarah Mulder Jewelry and MeiKu Designs are introducing our Fall collections at Two of Hearts Clothing & Boutique on 4th and Maple from 6-9PM. Event info here.  

Enjoy the simultaneous in-store soirees and promotions at any of the 20+ participating boutiques on 4th Ave. 

Here are a few pics of what I have been makin' lately! 

Much more to update you on, but must get bk to hammering metal for the show! Be in touch again soon:) Thanks for reading and hope your summer was most stupendously awesome!

Til next time, 

TT 

P.S. If you would like to stay in touch more regularly (along with my completely random, sporadic and inconsistent posts here), I am much more better at updating Instagram and Facebook, in case you'd like to follow me:)

Kits Beach, Vancouver, BC

How AWESOME is Your Mom?

It is that time of year again...Mother's Day! And for the third year in a row, I am holding my annual How Awesome is Your Mom? Mother's Day Contest!

My Mom is no longer here in body, but is definitely here in spirit. She was a kind and giving soul that sparkled wherever she went. I still get sprinkled with her sparkles every once in awhile and feel so blessed to have had such a great relationship with her for 36 years of my life. I know not everyone is so lucky.

This contest is for any of you who still have your Moms on this earth plane and those who do not. Maybe you never met your Mom and have someone in your life that has become an adopted or faux Mama?

Regardless, I wanna know why she is so bloody awesome! Leave a comment on the FB posting here or on my blog or if reading in your inbox, respond to this email.

Now. For the prizzzzes!!

I have made 3 necklaces special for Mother's Day but you are not ltd to these. If none appeal, you may choose any jewelry (handstamped or photo) in my Etsy shop: www.huggerofseas.com!  

Hand Stamped German Silver and Copper

Hand Stamped Wood and Naturally Aged Brass

Hand Stamped Wood and Naturally Aged Brass 

I will announce the winners on my FB page Sunday night!

In other news..the Art World Expo at Telus World of Science went quite swimmingly aside from a 30x40 wood print of Stubby the Pigeon getting knocked over (I didn't see the damage until I packed up) and a 24x24 metal print of Cherry Blossoms falling backwards off my table. ACK! A reminder as to why I stopped bringing big pieces to shows! Bollocks!

I had to leave my apt by 3:45 to pick up my friend Kevin who (bless him) was going to help me load everything in to the venue and also to pick up some of my stock at Giving Gifts & Co., the collective I sell at. Of course, this would be the time that my cat, Pusskin, would choose to disappear. 

I looked for her for 15 minutes before I had to hand it over to my wicked awesome neighbours (Pusskin has about 18 aunties and uncles in my building) who continued the search and kept watch for her while updating me via text. Meanwhile, I am already my usual basket case self when trying to get to a show in time, unload everything and set up! 

FINALLY at 7:30...over 3 hours later, she just appeared out of thin air. A week later, and none of us still have a clue where she was!

When I got the text...I sat down and said to my friend Delaney who was helping me, that all was right with the world now. The stress of the show seemed very minuscule compared to the possibility that I wouldn't be able to find my beloved pet. Sometimes one needs this sort of drama to put everything into perspective.

Every dreamer knows that it's entirely possible to be homesick for a place you've never been to, perhaps more homesick than familiar ground. - Judith Thurman

The show was really busy and I met a tonne of really cool people. This was the first time I have sold metal jewelry at a show or market and it seemed quite popular! This made me so happy as making these pieces has really brought contentment and peace to my life.

Stamping out words like, 'Believe, Strength, Fearless, Survivor, Do Epic Shit' etc. must affect me on some energetic level. Kind of like Emoto's Water Experiment - writing loving words on water bottles to change its molecules into pretty crystalline structures or just simply the marvelous impact of repeating positive affirmations has on one's life. I hope that anyone who wears these pieces has a similar experience:)

Til next time, wishing you a SPLENDID Mother's Day Weekend! I will be thinking about and feeling grateful for the many memories I have of mine!  

Made as part of a donation package to a silent auction for
The Assoc. for the Protection of Fur Bearing Animals

P.S. Professional photographer, Rachel Lando of Lando Images and Portrait Photography will be at Giving Gifts & Company at 4570 Main St (Main and 30th, the artisan collective I am a part of) doing mini photo sessions of moms and their kids (or just kids) for Mother's Day. Stop by the store on Sunday, May 11th between 2 and 4pm.

The photo shoot will be short and fun, so feel free to just stop by! You'll get one free digital image.

Rachel will be doing the photo shoot by donation to Cherish our Children. A $15 donation is suggested. Cherish Our Children International funds programs and projects that provide a brighter future for the world’s most vulnerable children. They work in countries such as Israel, Bosnia, Kenya, Mexico, Romania and Serbia to protect and nurture children so they have a solid foundation for healthy physical, intellectual and emotional development.

I'd love to see you at the store tomorrow between 2 and 4pm with your kids (and/or moms) and get your picture taken. We'll have flowers and tea for moms too:)