handmade heaven

I'm all aflutter. 

I was handpicked by Etsy to be one of five Toronto designers to showcase wares at a holiday sale at West Elm next month. Wow. I wasn't actually ready to do any shows this year, but for this, I can make miracles happen. My definition of "miracles": all-nighters, bribing hubby to pull crafting duty and sustaining stress-related injuries/ulcers while I bite off more than I can chew. This ain't 34th Street. Magical, yeah? Depending on my success at the show, I may end up with heaps of stock... which could actually mean that I might (just barely) squeeze in a wholesale deal before Christmas. See? Deadlines are good for me (aside from the ulcer part).

Yet still, here I am: blogging instead of sewing.

In the spirit of handmade (a spirit I'm summoning a lot these days), I'm sharing some of my recent Etsy faves - handmade and vintage wonders from little vendors (like me!) all over the globe.

While my last picks revolved around mustard hues and cozy textiles, I'm getting a little darker this time: It must be the weather. And the early-setting sun. I'm nestling in for hibernation (ahhh, if only!) and this is my gear.

• rust, wool, capes, dreams, woodlands, photographic memories •

 just for show. too hipster or what? (brando's funky finds $30)

 i believe in fancy panties. (hopeless $65)

travel itch. (hunt and found $58)

 dog obsession. always. (photo by Lucy Snowe $20)

 oh beautiful tweed camera bag, where WERE you when I needed you. see what you've put me through? (Mari Forssell/Stash $189)

 dreamy, nostalgic fear. (protostar prints $11)

 mmmm, man-smell. (Roots Soap Co. $25)

 i could live in the woods forever. if only i had this uniform. (Cape, Stray Cat Studio - $65)

 whimsy. (silk purse, sow's ear $15)

baby-fever seeps into blog-land again. my kids will obviously wear orange plaid hooded capes. they will be peculiar. inevitably. (by April Scott - $55)

My future. (Photo by Amanda Keaton $30)

stomp. (Ann Marino booties - Mountain Meadow Vintage $65)

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Oh, and come see me, won't you? At my show in December, remember? West Elm, Liberty Village, Toronto - December 1st, 6pm.

In search of a non-hideous camera bag.

 

Remember how I doused my camera in a full bottle of essential-oil air freshener after it leaked in my purse? Also, remember how I still haven't learned my lesson? It's been a month and I'm still playing Russian Roulette with my DSLR, as it's protected from the dangers of my purse contents by only a thin layer of permeable cotton. AND, I carried home a bottle of hot sauce in said camera-containing bag today.

I am the worst.

I'm taking a photography class on Saturday mornings. I loooove the class, and I think I'm ready to finally invest in a good flash (now that I know a little more about lighting). So, since the value of my equipment will be going up, I should PROBABLY finally get a decent camera bag. Problem? Most of them are butt-freakin'-ugly. I have no interest in carrying a ripstop nylon and webbing bag around with me everywhere. I might as well just give up, fashion-wise, right?

A tad dramatic, OK. But it is especially important that my new camera bag be versatile enough that I can wear it for an event/show without totally bringing down the rest of my outfit. Otherwise, I won't actually use it.

So here I go. My quest to find the perfect non-ugly camera bag:

CRITERIA

• as small and light as possible (min dimensions of interior 4x7x7")
• more purse-like (leather preferred)
• crossbody strap
• a neutral colour like caramel, navy or mushroom (not black or brown - too limiting)
• padded or having the ability to be padded (I'm crafty)
• attractive!
• price under $75

It took some digging but people, there are options!

1. An actual vintage camera bag. Ebay, starting bid $9.99

Pros: price, protection, colour, size. 

Cons: interior is a bit sketchy due to vintage-ness, boxy, strap too short?

 2. Emera Camera Bags $169

Pros: way-chic, padded protection, sections 

Cons: no crossbody strap, price, too large

3. Vintage Vinyl Camera bag, via kingdogvintage on Etsy $25

Pros: Protection, size, price 

Cons: A tad too Sporty, vinyl

3. InCase Ari Marcopoulos Camera Bag $199

Pros: protective, sections, comfortable, colour, style 

Cons: Price, maybe a bit too sporty

4. Lucky Brand bag $150

Pros: style, size, colour 

Cons: non-protective, a bit small, price

5. Chanel-esque purse, via Modcloth $65

Pros: Style, padding, size, price OK 

Cons: uncomfortable strap, colour

6. Rachel Roy/Jessica Stam Bucket bag $199

Pros: Size, style, colour  - i LOVE  this bag

Cons: Price, way cuter than my actual purse - I'd probably end up using it as a purse and would be back where I started!

6.  Brown Purse/camera bag, via Yesstyle $70

Pros: good size, nice compromise between cam bag and purse, price OK

Cons: I despise faux-leather, colour is a bit boring

7. Purse, via Yesstyle $116

Pros: style, colour options, size, crossbody strap, leather

Cons: may be too small? price, protection

Looks like my best bets are #1 and #7. Much thinking to do! I think I'll check out some of the vintage shops around town, too. Plus I'm planning a day of vintage thrift shopping with mom and Meredith when I'm in Ottawa. Yay! 

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Props/honourable mentions to the following bags, too. Although not really what I'm looking for, they deserve to be recognized for going outside of the typical/ugly zone in the world of camera bags. These Acme and National Geographic bags are all available at Downtown Camera (from $45):