Hackett Park Summer Arts & Crafts Fair

This past weekend's Hackett Park Art Festival in Sechelt BC was by far the friendliest show we've been in.

The music was fantastic. The weather beautiful the people that stopped by to chat were very friendly. And, all the vendors were especially nice, too. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the Francophone presence. I had the chance to speak French!

Richard and I had the wonderful opportunity, again, to share our booth with our friend Helene. And, it's going to be fun to come back next year and enjoy the Sunshine Coast rhythm!

Cycling Cap or Baseball Cap?

Benoni Beheyt 1964 Tour of Belgium

Le Tour de France is over.

Richard and I are in withdrawal. And, he is re-watching old Tour dvd's for some satisfaction. I have been thinking of new cycling caps both regular and winter. There's no doubt in my mind, this Tour de France was the most exciting one in years.

During the opening team presentation I question why they wear baseball caps instead of cycling caps? I don't understand why the iconographic cycling cap is seldom worn. Why is the baseball cap accepted as part of the teams kit? It's not that you can wear it during a cycling race.

Greg LeMond 1990 Tour de France.

I'm bias, personally the cycling cap should be brought back on the podium. Just like during 1990 Tour when the proud Greg LeMond and his team wore their cycling caps. I feel that the cycling cap is a proud fashion piece and the cycling world should re-embrace it.

In my utopia, baseball players wear baseball caps and cyclists wear cycling caps!

Just imagine if they all wore the classic cycling cap!

Emily's Quilt

At the beginning of Summer 2010, our friend Guy (the other half of the 3b's) announced that he was going to be a dad. With this wonderful news, this was my chance to make something for the new baby. By September, I realize that I had to make something special that Richard can partake in. That's how the idea of the babies quilt came to be. When Guy announced that it was a girl, I was so excited to make the quilt very girly-girly. I made the design in Illustrator and scanned Richard's Campagnolo chain ring to keep a cycling twist to the girly-girly quilt. I realized, even with Richard's help, and juggling the business that the quilt would not be finished until after the baby is born. We were so busy with the business, I even forgot to photograph the beginning stages of the quilt.

Ready to sandwich the bamboo batting

between the quilted sides.

This quilt was a journey, and self-taught. It really opened my mind to the vast world of quilting. I remember my Ma Tante Phonsine quilting away at night. Small pieces of fabric that she lovingly assembled by hand. Pure Magic!

Quilter's safety pin...

with a bend.

These days, quilters have a vast variety of tools to choose from. Safety pins, a simple material, is specially designed for the quilter. Who could ever imagine that! 

My first overstitch of hearts & flowers...

8 more to go!

I never did applique until now. So, I don't even know if this was the proper way of doing it ...but I love the result.

Making a pattern for the Scallop Edge...

sure helped!

When I first designed the quilt, I didn't know I was going to make a scallop edge. I was online for help on how to finish the edge and saw someone making a scallop edge. What a perfect way to compliment this quilt.

Front...

the girly side with the large E for Emily!

Back...

complete Campagnolo chain rings.

No quilt shall go into the world unsigned.

I'm extremely happy with my first quilt. Without Richard's help of cutting and prepping everything, Emily would probably not have her quilt until she starts to walk. It was fantastic to complete it and a joy to present it to Shelly & Guy and to see seven month old Emily happily rolling on it! What a happy family!

WetCouver Folk Festival!

The wet weekend is finally over and I'm glad to have the Vancouver Folk Festival behind me.

What an experience! There's nothing that can prepare me for the sheer size of this show. I can only imagine what it would be like if the the Sun was out. Sun = people.

We showed our two new caps: Le Chasseur and Classic Racer and Major Tom was back. The caps will soon be on our Galstudio site.

As an entrepreneur ...this weekend was a disaster. As a participant, although it was wet, I enjoyed the music and ambiance. We had interesting folks commenting on our caps. I especially enjoyed the comment from an older gentleman looking at Richard's cyclingart cards. He said, nonchalantly, he rode in a club ride with Sean Kelly. He confirmed Kelly's legs still look like steamer trunks.

We haven't decided whether we will return next year, but we sure would like to experience this festival with more people and Sun!

Saturday was wet... all day!

Friday nite stage set up.

Our shared booth with Helene.

Our new soggy banner drying under the tarp!

FolkFest & New Rubber.

The new Fanny Packs.

Galstudio will be selling at the Vancouver Folk Festival this Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

We've been preparing for awhile now. In fact, this is the biggest show for us, thirty hours in three days. I never thought that I would have the time to finish this new recycled inner tube fanny pack. It's done and now Richard has one and I have one. 

I love them and I have feeling that folks will ask me if I sell them. Depending upon the demand I may have to put some up on the Etsy website. What a better testing ground, in front of literally thousands, to ask their input. 

I worked in the Special Events Industry for over twenty years and, for one thing, I wore a fanny pack. I could never find one that was big enough, fun enough and durable. The stitch would always come apart and the zipper would go. Now, I have one that finally fits and looks well. Richard's fanny pack has a special pull tab made from bicycle chain links... very cool.

They're both made to our own specifications. Richard wanted the traditional plastic clasp tying around the waist. I went for a loose strap that I can either tie around my waist or across the chest. They are similar to our Scuola Pouch but only deeper for more room to hold things. 

For the show we are excited to reveal three new cycling caps. I can't tell what they are.

I'm back to preparing more food for us to bring to the folk festival. It's outdoor and on the beach without any food concession stands. And Richard will not function without food, it's like a military operation... of the craft kind!

I'll have pictures and upcoming podcast soon!

Richard's excited...

the new fanny pack is a winner!

Recycled Bike Inner Tubes on Recyclart

Our Galstudio recycled La Piccola bike inner tube wallet.

For some time now, I'm following this excellent Recyclart website on everything about sustainability and creativity.

It's one of those websites I check out daily because I like how people recycle in a creative way.

I'm very proud to be amongst the ones that re-cycle, re-duce and re-use. And I would like to thank them for showcasing Galstudio's La Piccola bike inner tube wallets, today!

Thumbs Up at the MEC Bikefest!

Yesterday, Richard and I wondered if the weather was ever going to change from the grey rainy start of the MEC Bikefest. 

We set up with the rest of the vendors at 9:15AM dressed for the cool drizzle. It's June and even Richard was dressed in layers still shivering. I had three layers on and with the wind off the water, I wished I had my polar fleece.

I am so grateful that MEC Coordinator/Marketplace, Stephanie Ruane sent us an invitation for this fun event. It was indeed fun. I can imagine if the weather cooperated. By midday, the weather did clear up and the sun peeked through the clouds to help dry up the rain. Special thanks go out to the MEC staff/volunteers for putting on a fun show and so good to see so many people out enjoying themselves ...rain or shine.

We worked hard at presenting a good looking display. And it worked! This was only our second show and considering the weather, we can say it was extremely successful.

I met a french speaking woman, Agathe who works at MEC as a customer service representative. It was very refreshing to speak in French and I never knew MEC offer a bilingual customer service.

It was good for us to be among cycling interested folks. We had valuable feedback from cyclists. Our Galstudio brand is slowly starting to be recognize in  the cycling community.... we look forward to be back next year!