Hey, it's Tijit!

Last night, I arrived at the shop to work my shift and I saw 3 things that made me very happy. The first was the pair of smiling faces that greeted me at the door (although, truth be told, I *was* holding a box of cupcakes), the second was seeing that the Bruce Lee pillow from the window had gone to a good home (possibly adding to one of the aforementioned smiles, as well), and the third was the new rack of t-shirts by Tijit that has take up residence on our north wall!

Tijit is (according to their Etsy profile): “a boy/girl duo who've been silk-screening our designs on to clothing since 2002 in cities like Peterborough, Montreal, and currently Winnipeg. All of the proceeds from Tijit go towards our groceries!”



I have been fans of their clever t-shirt designs for quite a while, but I have recently become hooked on their blog, which features Devon’s bittersweet (but mostly sweet) drawings based on her experiences working at a nursing home.

I wonder how I can get my hands on a "Mildred" t-shirt...

Making a Statement

Wanda June, one of the wonderful designers who we feature at the shop, had a fantastic quote on her Facebook page today; “To buy locally and think globally is a statement of cultural revolution, of sustainability and a lifestyle choice that is making changes for the future.”




I see it as a win-win-win-win situation that benefits the artist, the retailer (who, in some cases, is also the artist), the community and the consumer...and you can add an extra win to that if you’re giving the item as a gift!

So, what do you think?
What statement are you making when you choose to shop local and/or buy handmade?
A fashion statement, a political statement…or both?

Putting the Ag in B-L-O-G.

Hot on the heels of the exciting launch of their line of eco-friendly silver jewelry, the gals from jake + cleo have taken pen to paper fingers to keyboard and created a blog.

To celebrate, Em and Corina are giving away a fabulous, upcycled bag by none other than the lovely and talented Andee of Sew Dandee!

For full details on the giveaway, and a fun-filled peek into the triumphs, challenges and giggles that are all part and parcel of being in the handmade jewelry business, please visit the jake + cleo blog.

Wishing Out Loud

The other day, I was at the store, mindlessly sifting through the giant basket of buttons on the counter, when I came across the cutest little checkerboard button. "This would make a great ring," I remarked. Jody, one of our talented designers and resident "bead girl", wandered over, took the button from me and asked me my ring size. "6 1/2," I answered, "Why?" She just shrugged and went back to her cozy spot on the daybed. 15 minutes later, I had this:



Isn't it fantastic? It fits like a charm and I know that it is the only one in the world.

When was the last time you had a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry created just for you? If your answer is "never" or "so long ago that I don't remember" or "yesterday, but you can never have too much bling", then you'd better come in and have Jody wrap-up some magic for you, with either your own special button or one from the big basket where I found mine!

Contact the store for more details on custom orders from JLP Designs.

Sweets and beats at the Jake + Cleo launch!

Judging from the response of the evening's attendees, and the glowing smiles on the faces of the designers, last week's Jake + Cleo launch party at the store was a HUGE success.



In addition to pretty, shiny things to look at, touch, and buy, there were tasty treats and awesome tunes, thanks to popular local DJ, Cyclist.



For those who missed the launch, there are still plenty of pieces to be had in the Jake + Cleo shop-within-a-shop at the Mozy Rue Eco Collective, and in their Etsy shop!

A Warm Welcome

Tonight we are honoured and excited to welcome visting delegates from The Canadian Crafts Federation and Manitoba Crafts Council to the store. In addition to noshing on treats, they will be touring the shop and checking out the work of our talented collective members and consigners.

I, for one, am looking forward to meeting our special guests and getting a chance to learn more about the Crafts Federation and the work they are doing on behalf of crafters and artists across Canada. (Ok, ok, I’ll fess up; I am *really* looking forward to the opportunity to show-off the shop! And, ok...the treats, too!)