ZIP ZIP

I've spent a good part of the day sewing zipper pouches and all of them are now available in the shop! If you've been eyeing one (or two) grab them while you can...

PRISMATIC PRINT SHOP

And speaking of 2011 Calendars - my new astrology calendar arrived today from the Prismatic Print Shop. Gorgeous and very sweetly packaged - get one while the getting is good!

LUNES (MARTES) LOVES ETSY HOLIDAY EDITION 03

I just couldn't wait until next week to do another Lunes (or in this case Martes) Loves Etsy Holiday Edition. Here are some more great items to give this year:
1) Calendars are such great gifts - I love that they give for the entire year. Dreamcats is designed by the very talented Toronto based couple/creative team Anabela and Geoff of Fieldguided (with modeling help by their kitten Pony).
Fieldguided, Dreamcats 2011, $20
2/4/6) What girl doesn't love receiving jewelry? Especially jewelry that includes triangles, stunning crystals and oversized chains...
2) Noble Town Vintage, Vintage Brass Arrow Necklace, $224) Kuo Ting Jewelry, Gold-dipped Amethyst Drusy Earrings, $486) Noble Town Vintage, Mix of Chains mixed necklace, $22
3) I love the simplicity and size (not too big, not too small) of this soft grey rucksack.
Infusion, Rucksack, $148
5) I'm a huge book lover and would LOVE not only to receive beautiful vintage books but also to receive them on a theme. I've found collections of vintage books that are organized 'for the gardener', 'for the teacher' or just simply 'classics' - for me that extra touch really takes the gift to the next level. This particular stack of vintage books are the 'John Steinbeck Collection' - amazing literature we all probably haven't revisited since highschool.
Little Dog Vintage, Vintage John Steinbeck Book Collection, $38
7) Lovely natural soaps and candles are always received with thanks (as I've mentioned before) and I LOVE these natural candles poured into vintage army canteens.
Grandiose Lab, Canteen Candle, $30

LUNES LOVES ETSY HOLIDAY EDITION 02

As you all know this month I'm taking part in Poppytalk's online market and I thought what better way to showcase the talent of my fellow vendors than to choose this weeks Lunes Loves Etsy gift guide ideas from the Poppytalk market.

And so without further ado:

1) The Toronto based husband and wife team behind the lovely little shop Bookhou have lots of gift ready things this season. I love their loose illustrations, often hand screened, on natural linen and whether it be tea towels, journals or this pillow I would be happy with anything Bookhou.

Bookhou, Lines Pillow, $45

2) I am someone that takes pleasure in stones. I love the feel of them in my hand, I love scouring the shores of lakes, rivers and streams to find the perfect one to take home with me - my house is filled with little rock piles, each coming from different places I have visited. My father's house is exactly the same - it must be genetic.

Artistic in the Arctic, Sea Urchin Painted Stone, $28

3/4) As I've mentioned many times I love the idea of giving and receiving art

Lil Coletter Press, Fortune Favors the Brave, $30

SF Girl by the Bay, Spring Obsession Photographic Print, $16

5) Ceramic nuts! Love these - they seem both completely seasonal (The Nutcracker, of course) and seasonless. Perfect to find a home in a beautiful dish or possibly beside my stone piles...

KG + AB, Porcelain Nuts, $48

6) This custom initial charm bracelet is so simple I couldn't help but covet it. These seem ideal for close girlfriends taking the place of our childhood 'best friends' heart necklaces.

Be Charmed Designs, Make A Wish Initial, $16.50

7) I've been a fan of Oh My Cavalier for awhile - beautiful stationary and lovely cards.

Oh My Cavalier, Fox Eraser Set, $6

All of these lovely items (and way way way more) can be found via the Poppytalk online handmade market - check us out!

PARCEL GOODNESS

The holidays are fast approaching and everything and everyone is on the move. This is a little reminder for shipping deadlines (all dates are estimates - due to heavy holiday postal use and customs there are no guarantees your package will arrive by the 25th):

Overseas - This Monday is your last day for delivery pre-Christmas

US - You should place your orders by December 4th

Canada - You should place your orders by December 9th

Also - I am heading home for the holidays on December 16th and the online shop will be shut for 2 weeks so the earlier you make your purchases/requests the better. I will not be able to sew anything past December 13th. The shop should re-open January 1st.

(The tracks picture I took outside of my mother's house in Vancouver - I can't wait to spend two whole weeks with friends and family in my hometown...long live Christmas!!)

KILIM PILLOWS

I have an extreme case of coveting in the case of these pillows made from vintage kilim rugs. Available here - good eye poppytalk!

SPRING FABRICS

I got a fabulous package in the mail yesterday from India - sample fabrics for my Spring 2011 collection! I'm way late out of the gate for the upcoming spring season but I think it has something to do with our relocation to Canada from Mexico this past summer. It took us at least 3 months to get acclimatized and Scout & Catalogue bore the brunt of that new arrival uncertainty. Any hoo - I am now focused on the new collection (while simultaneously sewing hundreds of zipper pouches from the fall collection) and can't wait to have it all come together in January.

Also - check out a new pouch in the shop - Orchard...

THE CONSTELLATION

I have to say that if there is one item that is defining Christmas 2010 it is the zipper pouch. I have been zipper pouching my a** off and am just so totally grateful for the response.

I wanted to introduce you to a new pouch in the shop - The Constellation. Last weekend I was bleaching some black canvas to make new Constellation Super Totes when I noticed the fabric reacting differently from last time. This new fabric lot was turning red and then pink and then cream with pink edges and I really love the results. I instantly thought it would make a great zipper pouch and loved the idea of combining it with some distressed tan Italian leather to kind of 'library-up' the bleach black fabric. Voila - in the shop now.

NEW ZIPPER POUCH

I recently stumbled into some hand dyed linen left over from my Mexican Scout & Catalogue line. Now reinvented into zipper pouches I have very little of this fabric so snap these up while you can.

BILLY BRIDE

Amazing, I know. Billy Bride Jewelry is behind these stunning rings.

LES GAZELLES

One of my favourite shops in Sayulita, Pachamama, just sent out the lookbook for their new jewelry collection Les Gazelles.

PRE-HOLIDAY ONLINE MARKET

I'm excited to have Scout & Catalogue be a part of the Poppytalk 'Pre-Holiday' online market. Check out our 'table' as well as all the other talented vendors here.

LUNES LOVES ETSY/HOLIDAY EDITION

As we all know the holiday season is fast approaching and if you are buying handmade online for your loved ones (a great way to support small business artisans!) the window in which to do so is now. I decided that for the next few weeks, while it is still possible to receive items in the mail before Christmas, my Lunes Loves Etsy feature would leave it's one shop focus and instead be a gift guide of sorts. This first installment is of lovely items all under $50 (and most under $30).

1) Vintage Christmas Tree Ornaments - I love the idea of giving Christmas decorations as a holiday gift. These days there are so many options out there that finding something unique isn't hard AND every year your recipient will think warm and fuzzy's about your friendship while decorating their house for the holidays.

5 Gardenias, Box of 12 Mercury Glass Ornaments, $32

2) Scented candles never get old and are always appreciated (a friend bought me an amazing one from West Elm as a housewarming gift and I think I burned through it in 3 weeks). These beautifully packaged and ethically/environmentally produced options from The Sydney Hale Co. look amazing.

The Sydney Hale Co., Sea Salt and Bay Rum Scented Candle, $22

3) A beautiful photograph - I'm always looking to build my (meager) art collection and love the idea of selecting the perfect image for friend or family.

Tamgutlich's Shop, Galaxy, $45

4) I love the clean lines and quality craftsmanship of these iphone cases - and that they are the perfect unisex gift.

Byrd and Belle, Iphone Case, $26

5) A great tote - somehow, no matter how many awesome totes I have, I want more. I've always loved the brand name 'Forest Bound' (and of course their salvaged bags as well) and would love to carry this tote in my very urban surroundings. (photo via fieldguided)

Forest Bound, Cotton Tote, $16

S&C GIFT CERTIFICATES

New in shop - Scout & Catalogue Gift Certificates! Perfect for that special someone that is much too particular for their own good (I may or may not be one of these individuals!). Available in denominations from $25 to $100 they are available in store now...

CAVERN COLLECTION

I blogged about Cavern Collection's flagship store in LA about a year ago but revisiting these photos it still inspires me. I've never been to the store - have any of you? Does it live up to is photographic promise??

YARD SALE THREESOME

Three new items in the YARD SALE shop (I know it's been sorely neglected of late but S&C has been ruling my world).

SANTOKI

And speaking of thrifting - I can't stop drooling over the bags and shoes in the Austin based online vintage shop Santoki Vintage.

On our road trip from Puerto Vallarta to Toronto V and I spent 2 days in Austin with some lovely family friends. Our main goal (besides experiencing Texas for the first time EVER) was to vintage shop - Mexico doesn't have a 'vintage shopping' culture and we'd really missed it during our time there. Austin did not disappoint. We spent an entire day on South Congress and I could just tell that if I REALLY knew the city there would be treasures (for a lot cheaper than the boutiques in soco) to discover.

Obviously the people over at Santoki are showing us how Austin vintage is done.

THRIFTING

Yesterday I did a fabric run and swung into a thrift store or two on my way home. I managed to score some new spring fabrics (the pastel navajo print is the THIRD sheet I've found in this pattern at various thrift stores and I'm so excited to have it in my roster again. This bad boy is actually a duvet cover which gives me double the fabric!).

I found a really nice dark navy blue structured purse that I originally slated for YARD SALE but am 95% convinced I'll be keeping it for myself. I also got my hands on a lovely rayon scarf (quite summery for you Californian/Australian peeps) and this adorable vintage faux fur winter hat - perfect for being quintessentially Canadian/NorthEastern American. Both the scarf and the hat will be available in the YARD SALE shop once I get a bit of breathing room from zipper pouch making (your thirst for zipper pouches is unquenchable!).