5 Mother’s Day Gifts That Beat Flowers
Mother’s Day is right around the corner! We’re not going to tell you to ditch the flowers and candy in favour of something more thoughtful — we think most moms are pretty amazing, and deserve something thoughtful and unique as well as flowers and candy! We can help you with the thoughtful and unique part (you’re on your own for the flowers and candy).
Turn messes into cheeky fun with these Bullseye Burp Blankets and Honest Washcloths from My Favourite Blanket. Hand made out of a soft and super-absorbant cotton/bamboo blend that is washer and dryer safe. Because, after all, they are designed to get… dirty.
Give Mom a little time-out with a treat from the Naked Soapworks line of bodycare products. Naked products are 100% natural, handmade in small batches, and guaranteed cruelty-free! They also smell delicious enough to eat.
What kind of mom would like to be given a seat to one of our workshops? A mom with little kids at home who could use an afternoon away from them, or a mom with adult kids who would like to spend an afternoon with them! And it’s no coincidence that we have a Card Making Workshop scheduled for Mother’s Day this year. It starts at 1:30, which leaves you plenty of time to treat Mom to a yummy brunch on Main Street first.
If classes aren’t Mom’s thing, you can still spend some quality creative time together with a needle-felting kit from Blushing Lotus. Learning a new skill together is always a bonding event!
It’s true, jewelry is hardly an unusual gift for Mother’s Day! That having been said, we have a fantastic collection of unique pieces from Pink Gargoyle Designs, Megz Majewski, Lotus Flower Pendants, and A Cagey Bee, among others. Whether Mom’s already a fan of one of our artists or whether you’ll be introducing her to something new, we’re sure to have a piece she’ll love.
Oh, and if you’re still thinking of flowers and candy, may we suggest that while you’re on Main Street you visit The Flower Factory (Flower arrangers extraordinaire!) and Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France (Trust us. We know our bonbons, and these are delicious!).
DIY or DIE!!! Field Trip
Every once in a while, we pack up our DIY or DIE!!! workshop series and go on a field trip. We love getting out into the world and getting involved in some of the amazing interactive events that happen in our beloved city, and participating in larger events helps keep our enthusiasm and creativity levels high. One of our favorite events to be involved with is the Vancouver Mini Maker Faire, and we were excited to help kick off the 2012 event at last night’s Maker Faire Fundraiser with a little bit of interactive crafting.
We packed up a bucketful of colourful wool roving, some felting needles, and a big woolen easter egg, and then invited people to try their hand at a little bit of needle-felting.
People really didn’t need a lot of coaxing! Turns out most people really like being given the opportunity to repeatedly stab something.
The end result of the evening’s efforts was impressive!
Now that we’ve had a little taste, we’re already getting giddy about the main event in June. The Vancouver Mini Maker Faire is only in its second year, and has already outgrown its first home (the BCIT campus on Great Northern Way) and has moved to the Forum Room at the PNE (they grow up so fast, don’t they?). Mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss it!
Meet your Makers
Thursday, March 15th marks the kick-off for Maker Faire 2012 ! Join the organizers of Maker Faire for an evening of food and drink, live music, and interactive demonstrations (Plush will be there, “interactively demonstrating” one of our favorite crafting activities for anybody who wants to try their hand at a little bit of needle-felting!). This is your opportunity to meet some of the 2011 Makers, and to learn how to become a 2012 Maker.
The doors open at 5:00, and the suggested donation is $10-$15. As a bonus, your admission to the fundraiser also gets you in to see the MOVs current exhibitions!
Flake Out Kicks Off On Main Street
Let’s just get it out in the open: Main Street has a reputation. Sure, we have a reputation as being ground zero for lovely things that are all-kinds-of-ethical: locally made, upcycled, organic, sustainable, vegan. We have a reputation as a haven for hipsters. And a reputation as an urban Vancouver neighbourhood that –despite the skyrocketing rents in the area– has a high concentration of artists and musicians here to keep the place interesting. And although we might try to deny it, we’re all aware of the other reputation we’ve built up over the years… the one you’re all whispering about while our backs are turned as we sip our fair-trade organic almond milk lattes while we pore over the latest issue of Wallpaper (you don’t need to whisper, you know. We can’t hear you over the really-obscure-I’m-sure-you’ve-never-heard-of-them-band we’ve got playing on our iPhones anyway. Wait, are we still using iPhones?). Let’s just get it out into the open: we have a reputation for being a bit eccentric. For being just a little quirky. A little nutty. For being –do I really need to say it?- just a tiny bit flaky.
Well, this month we’re embracing our idiosyncrasies with a little competition to settle once and for all who’s the flakiest of them all! Participating businesses are competing for bragging rights as to who’s got the best winter window display. What’s in it for you? How about the chance to win one of three killer prize baskets (valued at about $300 a piece!) full of goodies and gift cards from local merchants? Not too shabby! And for extra karma points, don’t forget to drop off your non-perishable donation for the foodbank at any participating business (businesses with ballot boxes are also authorized to take monetary donations for the food bank). Actually, never mind the karma points –bring a little something for the food bank to Plush when you come cast your ballot, and we’ll give you 5% off your purchases! Hey, win-win-win all around!
You can pick up your ballot at any participating store, and cast your vote at one of the designated voting stations (psssst… we’re one of them). Flake Out runs from December 3rd to 18th, with the prize draws being held at On The Fringe Hair Designs at 4:00 p.m. on the 18th.
Project Figo
Trick or Treat!
Plush loves all things costumey. Plush loves candy. And, more than just about anything, Plush loves giving treats to strangers. So you can just imagine how ga-ga we get around here every year when Hallowe’en rolls around!
This year, we’re marking our favorite time of year with a little contest. We’ve stuffed as many Hallowe’en treats as we can manage into one of our “Got-it!” re-useable bags (made right here in East Van!), and now we’re leaving the rest to you! Drop by the shop (4296 Main Street) on or before 4:00 p.m. on October 29th, and take a guess at just how much one of these amazing little bags can hold.
The entry with the best guess wins a bagful of locally made goodies valued at over one hundred dollars! The prize includes the following handmade treats: One 4″ “Grim Bunny” pouch from Kukubee, a Sugar and Spice soy candle, five Hallowe’en magnets, a pair of Melissa Abram ponytail holders with creepy skulls, two Hallowe’en cards by local paper artist Lockette, a needle felted pumpkin from Blushing Lotus, one light switch plate with sugar skulls, one Figo kit, and, of course, your very own set of Got-it! bags.
Good luck!
HALLOWE’EN CONTEST UPDATE
Congratulations to local 10 year-old genius Yasmine, who used some impressive math skills to win the contest! There were 271 goodies in the “Got it!” bag, making Yasmine’s guess of 278 the closest.
Mighty Ugly Redux
“Hello, my name is Plush, and I am a perfectionist”.
Ok, so maybe it’s not the kind of thing people form support groups over. Whether or not we need a twelve-step program for perfectionists is a discussion for another day, but last year when the Plushettes were caught ripping out seams that were a sixteenth of an inch away from what they had been aiming for, it was obviously time for an intervention.
Enter Kim Werker, crafter, author, and blogger extraordinaire. Kim is the mad genius behind the Mighty Ugly project, which will turn everything you thought you knew about creativity and crafting on its head (actually, by the time she’s done with it, it may not have a head anymore!).
Here’s the challenge: create the most hideous and revolting little creature that you can. Not cute-ugly! Really ugly. The more grotesque the better. It’s nowhere near as easy as it sounds, and you may learn some things about yourself along the way. For those of us used to striving for symmetry and loveliness in everything we create, it is incredibly intimidating to set out to make something deliberately repugnant. For those of us who aren’t usually artistic or crafty and are intimidated by the very idea of sitting down to create something, Mighty Ugly is a liberating experience, as all the pressure of trying to construct something pretty is gone. It’s sort of like kindergarten, but for grown-ups –there is no wrong way to make a Mighty Ugly creature. Unless it’s too cute.
This fall, the Mighty Ugly project returns to Plush on Saturday, October 8th, from 1:30 to 3:30. Cost is $35, and includes all supplies, tools, and pointers. Absolutely no craft experience is necessary to take this workshop! None! Even if you’ve never picked up a glue gun or a needle, you can do this. Register by phone (604 708 5199) or in person at Plush (4296 Main Street), or online at MightyUgly.com (right now Kim is offering an online special: register 2 or more people for $30/person).
Just Like Craft Camp. Except Better.
Get out your camp stoves and picnic blankets –summer has finally hit Vancouver! It’s time to pack up your gear and head for the hills –or the beach, as the case may be. But once the hiking, swimming, and cycling are done, the summer reading is caught up on, and the hot dogs and s’mores have been devoured, what’s left to do? Exercise a little creativity and make something, of course! Our DIY kits make it easy to pack a little bit of arts and crafts in with your sunscreen and bug spray.
BOTTLE CAP NECKLACE KIT
If you missed out on making one of these with us at Maker Faire or Car Free Day, or if you want to make a few more, here’s your chance! Each kit contains enough materials for three complete necklaces, with 12 different images to choose from. These are without a doubt the easiest arts and crafts activity you’ve ever come across –if you can wield a pair of scissors well enough to cut out a circle, you’ll be successful!
FIGO KITS
The brainchild of local artist Claudia Segovia, Figo “wishing dolls” are visiting us from a world of dreams and possibilities with the express purpose of helping to make our wishes become reality. Each Figo has a special pocket just for this purpose –you simply write your wish down on a piece of paper, slide it into your Figo’s pocket, and then hug your Figo close to your heart until your wish comes true! The Figo DIY kits are packed with an assortment of fabric embellishment and trims for you to choose from when designing your doll.
NEEDLE FELTED HEART KIT
A favourite at Plush no matter what the season! Each kit is stuffed with everything you need (including comprehensive instructions!) to make six needle-felted hearts. Or make just one heart and use the rest of the materials and a little creativity to make anything else that you want! Needle-felting is a perfect craft for traveling — the materials weigh next to nothing, and you can sit down and do it just about anywhere with very little fuss.
We’re the first to admit it: we’re die hard makers here. We don’t let little things like road trips or camping adventures interfere with our crafting, and why should we? With enough practice, maybe by next summer we’ll be ready to knit a sweater while we’re white-water rafting. Or not. Time will tell!
3 Reasons Steampunk Trumps Swimwear This Summer
If you’re working at home instead of at our Steampunk Drop-in, an appropriate companion would be Jared Axelrod’s excellent podcast, Fables of the Flying City. Photo by Kyle Cassidy.
Let’s face it, it’s way easier for most of us to look fantastic in a corset than in a bikini. But the real reason to stop by Plush for our upcoming Steampunk Craft Drop-In? Okay, well, aside from the fact that it’s free. Yes, the accessories! Who knew that the quintessential steampunk accoutrements fit so perfectly with the season? Here are some helpful tutorials, in case you’re looking for inspiration:
1) GOGGLES No, not for swimming, although you’re welcome to try. Steampunk goggles are useful year round, but nothing beats them in the summer for keeping the sun, sand, and bugs out of your eyes while you’re out boating, cycling, or tooling around in your airship. Here’s a fantastic visual tutorial to help you get started.
2) PARASOLS We’ve been noticing more and more umbrellas doing double duty as parasols in recent years. While we absolutely appreciate the practicality of this, we can’t help wishing for something a little more whimsical. Here’s how Tracy tricked out a thrift shop umbrella.
3) FANS Really? Something that can help you stay cool, and add to your mystique? Sounds like the ultimate summer accessory to us! You can pick up cheap folding fans in Chinatown or at Dressew and turn them into something both practical and spectacular with just a few additions. At least, we’re pretty sure you can. We couldn’t find a single tutorial or image on line to help you out, which we’re taking as a personal challenge. If the Plushettes have time to work on a project of their own at the Drop-In, this will be it.
We were blown away by the creativity and skill exhibited at the Steampunk Drop-in that V-Steam hosted here last year, and we’re super-excited to see what happens this year under Tracy Ernst’s direction! The fun starts at 11 a.m and goes until 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 16th. Admittance is free, and there is no need to pre-register.
Please note that Plush is a fully functional professional workroom full of sharp things and pointy bits, and so we ask that small children and pets (small or large) be left at home, and that you eat all your food and drink all your drinks before you come.
Maker Faire Field Trip
This weekend marked the inaugural run of the Vancouver Maker Faire, and from where Plush was sitting it seemed to be a humongous success! We took our “DIY or DIE!!!” workshop series out for its first ever road trip, which was an immense amount of fun.
We hardly had a second to catch our breaths all weekend, as we crafted our way through more than 700 bottle cap necklaces and magnets with attendees. 700! That works out to more than one every minute, which absolutely blows our minds.
A million thanks go out to our amazing volunteers, without whom we never could have pulled it off! Also a shout-out to the organizers and volunteers at Maker Faire, who did a brilliant job of bringing this event to Vancouver. We’re looking forward to Maker Faire 2012!
