Les Doigts d'Or de Cyprus

I remember, as a little girl, this magazine called Les Doigts d'Or (Golden fingers).

One day, I thought, I will learn how to make dentelle (lacemaking). When I saw this video of women from Cyprus, I reached out for my magazine from 1973 that I have kept for so many years. The video revived my inspiration to learn this technique.

There's simply no comparison to handmade needlework. These women bring it up to an art form with traditional needlework. I'm sad to hear this woman talking that this tradition will come to an end. However, with the popularity of the handmade movement I hope this tradition will stay alive!

Burn Rubber Baby!

Well stock of Piccolo Pouches & La Piccola Wallets.

With the upcoming craft show season about to start... let there be rubber!

We're getting ready producing more recycle rubber inner tube pouches and wallets. It's hard to evaulate how many to make because we have only one show under our belt. Each show is so different from one another ...we can only guess.

It's in my nature to over prepare for any situation. So, I figure I've made enough and can make a last minute rush if need be.

So far we've made over 200 Piccolo Pouches. There's a major learning curve working with rubber. And, I'm happy to say that my confidence is high producing these little gems.

This year our goal is to participate in craft shows. We started off going to many to scout them out. It's a jungle out there. The amount of craft shows has exploded. From sustainable, farmer markets, festivals there's many to choose from. What's more amazing the cost can start at $25 to over $1000 for a selling space. Richard and I navigate through this maze and booked ourselves for the Summer. It starts this early June right through to November.

Some of these shows are very expensive and in order to participate we have partnered with our friend Helene. She is the Sewing Goddess and we're happy to be co-partnering and look forward to be working along side her.

For more details follow my Galstudio Facebook page!

Epic Expo

Someone offered me free tickets to this weekend's Epic Expo. It's been so long, I almost forgot about them and this morning Richard and I set out.

The super electric Bug!

Epic is the sustainable consumer show & eco-marketplace. Overwhelming came to mind. The quality of the show is quite high, housed under the very green newish Vancouver Convention Centre.

As usual there was hybrid cars. But, the most interesting was a converted VW Beetle with electric battery cells. This unique Beetle is from an electric car club from the engineer students from the University of BC. They tested this car by driving across the country in 14 days. Two students and a dog made the trip.

I was excited to see the Canada Post electric van and I hope to see this out on the roads soon. There was interesting things to learn. We talked to a young guy about bees. I didn't know that the bee population was going down. In some parts of the United States, bees are actually trucked in to pollinate. Sure makes you think how important bees are to our food supply.

There was plenty of free stuff. This is the best show for free samples. Beer, chocolate and more beer and chocolate and natural products are in abundance. Free samples are everywhere. An enjoyable sustainable day!

The future of electric mail?

Recycled plastic toys...

...made us thirsty for good beer!

Mme. Bonbon meets the Bruges

I'm lost in my creativity. Where's time gone to? 

I have so many projects on the go that I wonder how I can ever get around to completing them. The good thing, yesterday I managed to finish two knitting projects.

The winter of 2009, I completed my first double knit project. When I purchased the bamboo yarn I thought it would be perfect. I love the way how double knit allows you to create a different pattern, on both sides, at the same time. Here, I kept it really simple with horizontal lines in the back and verticle lines in the front. It makes me think of one thing... a candy store!

I consider myself more of a knitter. The book, 'Crocheting Master Class', caught my attention because I wanted to know what the top crocheters of the world are doing. There's a fine line with crochet: either it's really good or tacky. No middle ground. This book represents the best and the worst of the crochet world.

I love the technique of Bruges Lace. I have seen it done before with fine cotton yarn. Then I saw it, in this book, with wool and I was inspired. I didn't follow the pattern exactly because I didn't have enough wool. Instead, I decided on modifying the pattern to make a nice long scarf.

It was so nice to crochet again. I'm planning my next crochet project, in fact, right now!

The Rubber Traveler

The one of a kind

rubber inner tube custom bag with recycled

pop bottle felt liner... 

I just made a 'custom special bag' for one of my friend's who's off to Thailand next month. He's requesting a bag with adjustable detachable straps for his Netbook.

If you remember, I used to have a laptop sleeve made of recycled rubber inner tubes on my Etsy shop. The bag is a cross between my SoMa iPad Envelope  and the Laptop Tube.

This Netbook has specific dimensions: 10 1/2 X 7 1/2 inches tapered at the front (1/2" thinner at the front).
The rubber is inconsistently crooked to begin with, difficult to have a completely flat sheet. It's not perfect.
And the only way for me to figure it out is to make a 3D model in foam core.

As much as I love to work with rubber, it is challenging to work with. I find that I can't impose my ideas onto it. Often the first idea changes. I have to constantly adapt my design to follow the natural movement of the material. But when it works, it's fabulous.

I'm very happy with this design. I love working with the imperfections of the rubber. I'm in the zen of sewing taking a flawed material working with it to make a wonderful final product!

Velcro closure...

First time I used metal clasps!

Artist's In The Window: The Return

Remember the first time I was the Artist in the Window? That was last January 29th.

Well, Richard and I was eagerly back and making our famous Polka Dots cycling cap. Yesterday, we were the Artist(s) in the Window at Bird on a Wire Creations. It's such a great idea that Karen welcomes different artists every Saturday to show their craft.

It's nothing liken to a handmade show where you feel like you have to perform to sell your artwork. Depending on the show, you don't always have enough time to share with clients. I like this hands on approach where the main emphasis is engaging with the public. Of course, sales are good too! This is where Richard shines. His fountain of cycling knowledge is advantageous. I believe with Richard, that he presents an non-threatening aspect. Cycling guys feel comfortable enough to enter into a crafty handmade store without their girlfriends! In fact, a father with baby girl stopped in to chat with Richard and to buy a cycling cap.

Richard is now selling his Cycling Art Cards at

Bird on a Wire Creations!

The sun was not there but plenty of people showed up. We learned from a bike mechanic of a newer bike store to check out around Hastings & Nanaimo in Vancouver. We also met a cycling couple from Bellingham, Washington who were amazed at how Main street was so vibrant. 

It's wonderful to meet the new employee at Bird on a Wire, Shelley. She has a beautiful welcoming smile to greet customers. 

A great day, it went flying by. It felt like working in an open studio!

A good sign...

June will be Bike Month in Vancouver and 

we will be both back as Artist in the Window!

Loving the Entrelac Way!

The Entrelac Bible!

I came across this excellent book from the library. It's called Entree to Entrelac.

My first Entrelac design,

The Queen of Diamonds Scarf.

Two years ago, I found online, a scarf with an interesting diamond pattern. A free pattern was offered and I tried it. The pattern was written without graphics. And, it took me a few trials to follow the pattern. It was difficult to understand. I sketched it out and discovered it was ....easier.

I made my first Queen of Diamonds Scarf and it sold right away.

After my second scarf I wanted to knit something else. I came across this book and it all made sense. Everything I figure out two years ago, was here in this book with fantastic easy to follow diagrams. I'm so excited with all the different patterns that you can do with Entrelac but I don't know which project that I'll knit from this book.

One things for sure, my next project will be something with the Entrelac design!

My Queen of Diamonds Scarf #2.

Bloom-ing in Ft. Langley

Springing towards the Fort Langley Community Hall

Sunday was a perfect Spring day. Richard and I drove to Ft Langley to see the Bloom Market. A handmade market from 40 independent artists selling their one-of-a-kind items.

Ft. Langley is outside of Vancouver providing a mix of urban and rural eye candy on the banks of the Fraser River. This was the first time, for both of us, to visit Ft. Langley. It's an old village that is beautifully restored. We even saw a train go through the middle of the town adding to the quaintness.

We were eager to see our friend Helene and her husband Graham as vendors. Musician, Graham Walker makes and sells his own children's music CDs. Helene sells her fine handmade garments for: children, men & women.

It was fun and exciting but we're not convince if this is a market for us. There's so many artisan markets blooming everywhere that we have to take our time and pick the right one!

The kids are loving Grahams' music.

Quest for the Orangeman

I'm happy that the Orangeman is back!

We sold out on the Orangeman Cycling Cap last November, and I'm happy to present the new & improved Orangeman Cycling Cap!

The fabric is thinner and more comfortable than it's predecessor. The new version is made from cotton/polyester twill and 100% natural cotton trim.

This was a long quest that lasted awhile, around four months. I hate it when fabric suppliers don't renew their stock thinking that bright colors only sell in the Summer. My quest is actually half done. I'm still looking for the three color Dutch stripe.

I've exhausted my limited resources around town, now I'm ready to go outside Vancouver on a road trip.Tomorrow we'll check it out and go to Port Coquitlam to check out Fabricana's notion sale. Cross my fingers!

Early teaching days & two new projects

 Le Cowl

There's always time to knit. Or should I say crochet. I just finished a big cowl (above) & a knitted scarf (below).

I don't remember when I crochet something so big. The largest project I made lately are dishcloths. Although, when I was young I was crocheting more than I was knitting. I was in grade 4 and Madame Pinard was my teacher. She always gave us 1 hour free time at the end of the day. Call it down time.

I suggested to her that it would be fun to gather students to crochet. I was making my mother a blanket and this gave me the opportunity to work in secret at school. It was a surprise. I remember the colors: four squares sewn together mostly black with accents of teal, purple & yellow. Even now, when I think about it those colors were dynamite. I bet that one of my family members has it in their Québec cabin.

My classmates thought the idea was fun, too. Their was five girls involved including one boy. I actually helped them all in their Christmas projects. After Christmas, it ended lasting for one term. It was short and intense and a lot of fun. It was an experience that I will always remember showing people my love for crochet. It was my first teaching experience.

I finished a similar scarf (last posted here) 

so comfortable that I wear it everyday.

So, I decided to make this one for sale!

Celebrating our new Paris-Roubaix cycling cap!

Richard wearing the new Galstudio...

Paris-Roubaix Cycling Cap!

Today is the 2nd anniversary of Galstudio's very first cycling cap sale. It's hard to believe it's two years ago. And, to celebrate we're proud to introduce our ....new Paris-Roubaix Cycling Cap!

French Tricolore detail...

Vive le France!

Images: Galstudio

When I first discovered Etsy, my ambition was to sell my knit goods. Here are some stats. That was November 2008. By March, 2009 Richard suggested that cycling caps will sell. I listed my first cycling cap in mid march, a few days later it sold in the United States.

That was my first sale on Etsy and I knew that my cycling caps would be popular. This was the first step for Galstudio to become a platform to sell cycling caps. When Richard came on board, last year, it became our real business.

My very first cycling cap was called Paris-Roubaix. It took me many hours to develop it. Richard was picky with the design, he said, “It just had to look and fit right.” The cycling cap had to sit comfortably on top of the head. It's not a baseball cap. So, I had to make a mock up design... many of them. I chose the fabric a classic brown/beige plaid. I haven't seen a cycling cap like it before. I had purchased enough fabric for two caps. And, both sold right away.

Now, I like to bring back the name and a new cycling cap. I love the name Paris-Roubaix, and I'm so excited to present it as a 3 panel cap with a new feature; 2 bold black stripes for that racy feel. Richard's idea was the French tricolore and my idea was the placement of that splash of color. I think it works elegantly well.

After close to a thousand caps made, I’m so happy how Galstudio’s cycling caps have evolved. I feel that, with this new Paris-Roubaix, I’m bringing the cycling cap to the world of haute couture!

Stretching My Rubber!

Richard with the new Musette de Ville bags...

We've been very busy! And, I have gone crazy developing new products with the help from Richard. Our new 3 panel caps were just the beginning...

Our new SoMa Rubber iPad Envelopes. 

I woke up with the idea of the envelope and put it to paper, make the pattern & the prototype. I just love when it goes together, smoothly.

A few days ago, we discovered a new supplier of fabric. I couldn't find this fabric until now. It's called Ecospun felt, made from post consumer pop bottles. Not too thick but the perfect thickness for the
SoMa Rubber iPad Envelope. I don't own an iPad, but I tried my prototype envelope at the local Apple Store. We couldn't be more excited when we touched the iPad. I'm in love! I turn towards Richard and declared, "I want one!"

It was the perfect fit and I knew I didn't have to re-adjust it . We took it back to the studio and started production. Richard got busy washing all the inner tubes and had them all dry for me to start. I like the different colors of felt on the inside and it's so beautiful.

This is our 2nd generation of musette called Musette de Ville. The first musette was more simple like the classic design except for the added zipper. We felt that we needed to redesign the strap. Everyone prefers to wear it at a certain length. So, we made the strap adjustable and we designed a stronger strap with fabric & rubber inner tube. It was Richard's idea to have the musette match the 3 panel caps. I added the stripes & corner tabs to solidify the bottom of the bag. It's stronger than a typical musette bag but lighter than a messenger bag. It's the perfect day bag on or off the bike.

I'm so proud that our two amazing products are now on sale on Etsy & available at  Bird On The Wire Creations in Vancouver!

Galstudio's New 3 Panel Cycling Caps!

The newest design...

Richard sporting 'The Canuck Cycling Cap'
Galstudio's 3 Panel Cycling Cap!

Over a year ago, I had the idea of creating colorful cycling caps. With a small business, we often wear many types of 'hats' and certain ideas get put away. It seems that time is always scarce for new projects.

Richard and I are excited to present part of our new collection for 2011...

The Canuck, Le Belge, La Francaise, Viva Italia & Good Vibrations.

These 5 caps are all colorful and we believe, fun to own & wear. This project has been so fun to work on. I don't know if it's because of the new 3 panel design or the colors. It's wonderful. Richard has worked hard on each cycling cap description now available in our Etsy site.

We're already working on new design ideas for 3 panel cycling caps!

"Joong" Hay Fat Choy!

Today is the first day of the year of the Rabbit and I proudly made an authentic Chinese delicacy. It’s called Joong, sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves.

Richard was raised on this and his earliest recognition is eating it at Chinese New Year. With the popularity of Dim Sum, it can be enjoyed everyday. I love it and it’s a specialty and quite unique. Not one is exactly alike. It has all the elements of a comfort food that I find pleasing.

Because of Richard, my Chinese cooking is pretty good and I found it both fun and challenging. It’s not your regular grocery item. And, not every Asian store carries the ingredient. I’m a Quebecer and growing up I never knew of any restaurant to carry this dish. It’s quite the joy to discover it through Richard and rewarding to actually make it. It’s easy.

This is like Tourtier, a Quebec family delicacy of meat pie. Every Quebec family has their own recipe.

Heres my interpretation of the old Chinese dish called, Joong...

First you have to gather all the ingredients. I admit, I wanted to include preserved duck eggs. But, I bought the wrong type and it was stinky and I had to toss it out. Every ingredient has it’s own in this, mainly flavoring. Richard tells me he grew up seeing it incased in dirt and found in an obscure Chinese grocery store in Edmonton.

The main ingredients (found in Chinese stores).

This makes 14 Joong…

1.              (2 ½ lbs.)     Glutinous Rice

2.              (42)             Banana Leaves dry

3.              (1 C)            Raw Peanuts

4.              (1/2 C)         Dry Shrimp

5.              (10)             Dry Chinese mushrooms

6.              (4 )              Chinese Sausage

7.              Preserved Chestnut (optional)

8.              Preserved Duck Eggs (optional)

9.              Roll of White String (no dye it’s toxic)

10.          Soya Sauce

11.          Cooking Oil

The night before; soak your banana leaves in warm water and soak your rice in separate bowl. Best to use the bowl of soaked rice to add weight so the leaves don't float to the surface. Next day sterilize by immersing your leaves in a pot of hot water. Then separately soak your shrimp and mushrooms in hot water until soft. Best to buy the mushrooms sliced, they soak faster. And precook your peanuts by boiling in a pot for about 15 minutes.

Rinse your mushrooms & shrimp and saute them in cooking oil add a dash of soya sauce and set aside. Rinse the rice place in a bowl and mix in ¼ C of soya sauce and set aside. Slice your Chinese sausages and your ready to wrap.

Here’s the fun part. Start with two leaves that you roll the end to form a cone. Hold with your left hand and put in 3 T of rice. Then add the rest: a few sausages, peanuts, shrimp/mushroom mix. Place a third leaf to add height to your cone. Having fun yet?

If you really need to see it go online there’s plenty of video’s on how to roll your Joong.

Layer again with more rice and fold neatly into a compact shape. Don’t be scare it doesn’t have to be beautiful but importantly hold the rice. Tie it securely with the string.

Gather all the Joong’s together in a large pot of boiling water for 2 hours to finish the cooking. When ready, piping hot, unwrap and discard the leaves (or compost them) and enjoy your homemade Joong! Oh yeah, add a splash of soya sauce to taste.

They will keep in the fridge in an uncovered container up to seven days… if they last that long. However, if you have too many just freeze them. Make sure you re-boil them for 15 minutes before eating. Enjoy!

Red Fabric Love!

Galstudio's Spanish Lover Cycling Cap.

It all started a few months before Christmas. Galstudio sold out on the Vuelta cycling cap and sadly we found out the fabric was no longer available. It had to be retired. We had requests for a red cycling cap so we set out in search of red fabric.

The perfect red fabric was a challenge to find. In fact, we discovered fabric that was too thick, too thin or not the right shade of red... until now. About three weeks ago, there it was, a beautiful cotton twill in the perfect shade of red. I love working with cotton twill and it's a fabric that is so suited for my cycling caps.

Richard suggested the name for our newest cap, The Spanish Lover Cycling Cap. It's a wonderful name, and so much easier, than Vuelta, to pronounce!

Artist's In The Window

After the fun Richard and I had on Saturday, as Artist's In The Window, I enjoyed creating the video on iMovie. The program is wonderful, since working with Bikes, Books & Beers Podcast on it. Playing with the hands on template was easy and proves again that Mac is very user friendly. Adding music completes the video. It's the first time I played with audio in the program. It's fun.

We were there from 11 to 4 PM, and it passed quickly. Likely due to the rain, we didn't see any cyclists. You can't blame them for not going out in the torrential rainfall. It was a fun experience and productive. We finished our newest cycling cap, due out in a few days. This will be the first of many new caps following in the next few weeks.

We're grateful to Karen of Bird On The Wire, for the opportunity. In fact, she has already spoken to us about appearing in another Artist In The Window, sometime this early Summer. We're so excited!

" I never thought I would do it... in the window!"

Our nice polka dot window display!

As you have read, from this previous post, Galstudio is available since December at Bird On A Wire.

Karen has this wonderful opportunity for artists that sell in her store to showcase how they do what they do. I was so excited when she asked me to be the artist in the window. A fun idea. Without asking Richard I booked ourselves for this Saturday January, 29th from 11-4 PM. He's as excited as I am.

We will be there with my lovely Singer Fashion mate 257 showing how we make our fine cycling caps. As far as I know, we'll be the first ones to make a cycling cap live to the public. How exciting is that? And, we will take this opportunity to launch our first new cycling cap for 2011. I 'll give you all a teaser, it's all about... LOVE!

So, I invite you to meet us and see how we make our cycling caps and to check out the wonderful, diverse, handmade products at Karen's store!

Big Chief Heating Pad

Hot nite with the Big Chief!

Once in awhile, all you need is to cuddle with your heating pad. I had a week from hell but to be able to go to bed with my heating pad is wonderful.

I discovered my heating pad years ago but I hardly use it. I don't know if it's due to the weather getting colder here in Vancouver, but I now use it every night. Now, I've ad-Dressed' it. Richard had an old shirt that was too large for him. I always love this shirt and I wasn't ready to let it go. 

So, I decided to recycle this wonderful design to wrap my naked heating pad!

Notice I kept the 'Indian' label!

Getting Cozy!

In my previous post, it took Galstudio by surprise how the Inner Tube Cafe Racer Cozy are selling. I have been using the Cozy everyday since last Spring. Part of the morning routine. Now, I'm putting more on to the Etsy site and the rest will be on sale at the Bird On A Wire store.

Using a felt liner in between inner tubes proven to work really well as an insulator. I practice so much with the overstitching that I'm getting better at it. I'm having fun creating simple, geometric lines.

The winter here is all damp & grey. So the solution, get COZY & sit down with nice hot cups of coffee!

Introducing Galstudio's new generation of

 Inner Tube Cafe Racer Cozys!