On the road with Galstudio cycling caps: tested & approved!

My friends, Pam and Toby just came back from a month bike adventure through the Oregon Coast, up into the High Cascades and down Northern California. I am so happy to share these picture's of their fun odyssey putting my cycling caps through a great test.

The result: The Galstudio cycling caps both past what Mother Nature could throw at them with flying colors!

Toby has the Capello del Nero cycling cap. Custom fitted for his big melon. And Pam has the Pyrenees cycling cap.

Still life...

Capello del Nero cycling cap, vino & courgette!

Toby & his trusted Galstudio cycling cap at Crater Lake.

Pam with her Galstudio Pyrenees cycling cap at the top of drizzly summit.

Thank you to Pam & Toby for the test.

Chapeau!

Moo in the house.

My new Moo Card.

My Moo hang tags have arrived! Here are the ten I designed. I didn't get the color on the back like the original design. In the back of the card is a roomy white area to put the description sticker of the cap.

I absolutely love my cards and I am going to order my business cards at Moo too. I will definitely change the logo for white. I think it just looks better.

I also changed the label inside the cap. I could not find a place to make them so I decided to make my labels myself. I heat press my logo onto a piece of bike tire inner tube, then I sew it on the cycling cap.

The hang tag that matches the label inside the cap!

Introducing: The New Galstudio!

Introducing my six hang tags...

more to follow.

Boredom is my enemy. Why would I settle on one design where I can go crazy?

I have the luxury to be the designer so I can do whatever I want.

It's my first six designs & six colors. The solid color is in the back of the card. I had so much fun finding the new design. The new font for Galstudio is white and there's also a new banner. I'm in the process of designing a new website where folk's can buy direct. I'm excited with my color choice, ok ecstatic!

I had my hang tags printed and I am waiting patiently for them in the mail. As soon as I receive them I will get my business cards going!

I fall for plaid!

My newest Fall colours!

Wow, look what I found at the fabric store. I can see lots of new caps being made with these wonderful plaids. My favorite is the second from the left, a nice blend of mostly wool with just enough polyester to make it easy to care for.

Shopping for fabric in Vancouver is challenging. You would think that a city this big would have better fabric stores. You definitely need a car here, because the interesting places are few and far apart. Here the spots I consider worthy of interest:

In first place, Textile Clearance House, 5550 Fraser Street. In my opinion this is the best place to find a deal or to find that special fabric but don't expect friendly or helpful staff, you will not find it here!

Second place, Fabricana, 4591 Garden City Rd, Richmond. Now, if you have a few more buck's and you want the ultimate fabric store experience on two floors, this is the place where your creativity can flourish. You really want to check it once a year during the sales event, a must. Do not take it personal if their staff have the tendency to be condescending!

Third place, Dressew Supply, 337 Hasting Street. They have all the notions you will ever need, the prices are affordable and the choice of fabric is great. Their staff will simply ignore you until you line up at the cutting table, which is OK by me. I rather find what I am looking for... by myself. The major problem with this store is that you need cash! no credit here, they just got the debit machine installed. Who knows when the credit card is accepted. They are located just beside the downtown core and Gastown. So ride a bike, take the bus or be prepared to go around and around to find parking.

Textile Clearance House has a 50% off notions sale this weekend, got to go now!

Creativity on demand!

"IdeaSpotting" by Sam Harrison, 2006."

I bought this book a long time ago, but I never read it more than a few pages at the time. Now, that I'm reconnecting with my creativity I find myself longing for inspiration. I just love this book and how it makes you think and look at your surroundings ... with new eyes!

This book is also full of great inspiring quotes, all I can tell you about it is that I try lots of new things all the time!...

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new"

Albert Einstein.

Wow, Saturday already!

You know this week went too fast, I was going to show you the fantastic Fruit Pie I made last weekend. Well here it is anyway...

Shortbread crust, cream Pâtissière filling, strawberry and black berry glaze with black currant jelly.

This is the first creative step towards making an inner tube pouch...

I just love the process to choose the fabric, zipper and the thread. It's a great way to utilize all those little pieces of fabric too small for anything. I found this old thread in my stash. I really don't know when I bought that!

I want more of this @ $.30 thread!

I've been looking around for awhile now, to find the perfect bobbin holder. It's always too small, too pricey, never holds each bobbin individually. I was frustrated with the unraveling thread while changing bobbin at least twenty times to match the color of my pouch. It's not the best looking but it does the job just fine, no more tangle bobbins! I filled it up so fast I guess I have to make another one.

Cheapest, most efficient bobbin holder made from reclaimed foamcore.

Ta-da! I finished all my new recycled Picollo Pouches.

Happy Mary Maxim Memories...

I was born in a small community in northern Quebec, and like most families we didn't speak one word of English. My mother had no problems figuring out the patterns and just by looking at the image, knitted many wonderful Mary Maxim sweaters. As long as I can remember my mom had a sweater on her needles. I don't quite remember where she got the wool or the pattern's but it was always there in my childhood. A fond memory. Everybody in my extremely large family received at least one finished jacket. It was a ritual, my mom would choose the family member, and they would sit down and choose from the catalogue. I don't know how long she would spend on a jacket but she made many each year. Talking about love for your craft!

My mom was the worst knitting teacher. I even had to threaten her to teach me a garder stitch. Well, the threat was minor but the dinner was late that evening. I was around four years old!

Too my surprise, my oldest sister told me that she had saved all the pattern's after my Mom passed away, twelve years ago. My sister sent me this special package, a few days ago, and I was surprised to recognize my own handwriting along with my Mom's on those old patterns. I wished my Mom had recorded who received which sweater. Here are some of the oldest pattern's...