Dave Pillow

The one and only Neigh Horse

Last night, wishing to spare our neighbours from the yowling and comfort our seemingly scared but actually sly, beloved tiny tyrant, we let the baby into our bed at 2 am, where he proceeded to squirm and flail, hitting each parent in the face. He insisted on going to the bathroom. He amused himself at length by tickling his ticklish father. He requisitioned my pillow, and named it "Dave". Why Dave? I have no idea. Sadly, Dave was not needed for sleeping, but in order to examine his pocket (i.e. the pillow case). Also, we were offered a running commentary on his all too audible flattulance. BIG toot! I'm hopeful tonight will be less eventful, though he asked for Dave Pillow before bed.

I've been meaning to tell you all about how he learns language, but this anecdote sort of tells you why my blogging has decreased. Some days you just drink coffee until you are able to make it to nap or bedtime.

He's quite the little talker. He's been learning to speak over the last year. At his last appointment with the pediatrician they forgot to ask me to fill in a survey about development. The doctor said she really wasn't worried; they wanted to know if your two year old could string together three words and Gabriel had not ceased talking since she had arrived. I loved signs of extrapolation, when last summer, for instance, he would say things that were logical, but wrong, so he clearly had inferred words, rather than heard them (like "mans" insted of men). Now, I am particularly enjoying seeing him invent and name things. Many toys had utilitarian names, because his parents had to be able to identify and describe them (like Puppy, Monkey and Dinosaur). Lately though, he's named his own toys. A stuffed rabbit at his birthday was instantly Peter Rabbit. A Christmas monster is now Smelly Fred (after the Denis Lee poem). The rocking horse his father built him is Neigh Horse. Amazingly, a blue shark from blythechild was named Rocky Go Shark. But Dave Pillow is the first named, random, inanimate object. I didn't give it to him. You gotta draw the line somewhere. Dave is mine.

handmade and the law

The One of A Kind Show is such a large operation that they have extensive paperwork and contracts for sellers. They of course have lawyers and need to protect themselves against liability. So, part of this paperwork includes informing sellers of pertinent regulations. I've been reading through these documents this morning and I've learned a few things. Officially, to be making pillows or stuffed animals (less than 1000 items per year), in Ontario, I am required to have a licence as a home hobby or craft operator, and to label these items with "New Material Only", my license number, and the content of the stuffing (in both official languages, of course). I have almost never seen this from small hand-makers. Perhaps luckily for me, I will only be selling art at OOAK.

The other concern I have from reading all this documentation is whether my lightboxes qualify as electrical devices and would require an inspection certificate. Also, I'd like to know how much that would cost, and whether it would be worth my while. I do know that the risk of fire or electrocution is nil... but I've been reading Electrical Safety Authority website all morning and frankly have no idea. Clearly, they did not design that site with one-person manufacturers in mind. There are CSA regulations for LED displays but it would only cost me $412 to READ them! (Yes, that was a sarcastic use of italics.) It's enough to make me think I should not sell anything powered at OOAK.

Handmade Olympics

The lovely rikrak (blogger and crafter extraordinaire) is once again hosting 'The Handmade Olympics'. This year, things from secret minouette places is sponsoring 'The Handmade Olympics'. This is a fun event for handmakers to show their stuff, with amazing prize packs for fans of handmade goodies. You can nominate yourself (if you're a maker) and another person in each of 7 categories - and both you and your nominee stand to win some amazing prizes! Check out this post for information on the events and enter each category at:


( event 1 ) :: our favourite handmade goodie with an innovative design
( event 2 ) :: our favourite handmade goodie for kids
( event 3 ) :: our favourite handmade eco friendly goodie
( event 4 ) :: our favourite handmade item that inspires loveliness + wellness (in our homes, for ourselves, etc.)
( event 5 ) :: our favourite handmade personality/group forwarding kindness thru handmaking
( event 6 ) :: our favourite FUN-FILLED handmade OR vintage goodie
( event 7 ) :: our favourite handmaking-focus blog

I hope you'll consider nominating minouette items, or blogs (for that matter). I can't, of course, win the event 5 - since I'm the sponsor - but if you like something and think it just the thing for a given event, by making a nomination you'll be getting a chance to win great fan prizes yourself. This is also a fun chance to see some of the amazing handmade goods which are out there, and find some new favorites. Do check out the fun and follow along!

Urban Dodo

More pillows!

This pillow front is a patchwork of my hand-printed lino block dodo on handwoven Thai gray silk floral, a cotton print urban scene of many buildings in white on brown and dusky rose upholstery fabric. One of a kind.


I like how my lino block printed dodo turned out on the handwoven silk floral fabric. I think of the pink flower like a parasol for dodo.

The brown fabric is from the R. & F.'s neighbour Snoflake and Dagg's excess fabric sale.