Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

What are you doing for yourself this year?

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Poster from Orange Beautiful

Over the holidays this year it occurred to me that I need to take on new habits that nurture me, and help me to move my life forward in the directions I would like to see it go.

I’m often a bit slow to join in when it comes to new trends – unless they’re tech related! So it comes as no surprise to me that I have only begun yoga now – years after it became “the” exercise of choice by many of my fellow city dwellers here in Vancouver.


Yoga pants from Purusha people

I have known for a long time that I needed to become more serious about developing an exercise routine, as I’m not as strong or as energetic as I have been in the past. And this has become of special concern to me as my husband and I plan to have children sometime in the next couple of years.

While starting yoga was at first intended to be a means of getting exercise, I have been thrilled to find more in it than I first expected. As an admitted Type A personality relaxation does not always come easily to me – so I am finding the yin and yang of the classes so enjoyable. By this I just mean the way the classes alternate between poses that challenge the body, and those that deeply relax it. I now find myself craving the quiet moments in class – and while these moments can truly be found anywhere, there is something special about sharing them with a group of people, in silence.


Yoga mat bag from Sweet Simple Beads

I have been surprised by the spiritual aspect of yoga, as I didn’t expect for it to be so powerful. For myself, I come to yoga with my own faith – and I see it as one of the vehicles by which I can express that faith. It is a time of centering and reflection, but also a time where I seek to improve my health and general outlook on life. I feel very confident that it is one of the many things I will take on this year that will be a nurturing and positive force!

I would love to hear about the habits and activities that nurture you and bring you life! Please feel free to share in the comments section.

Green Love

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I find the best stuff in the Try Handmade Gallery! Here are some simple and satisfying bath products from Green Love.

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Green Love: I am a mom with two wonderful daughters (8 and 4 years old). My husband and I run Green Love together. We started making and selling natural bath and body products because we wanted only the best for our family and the Earth. We strive to use only high-quality ingredients that have real health benefits along with making you look and feel great! We are committed to protecting the environment and taking care of our bodies naturally. We do our best to live a “green” lifestyle and to reduce our carbon footprint. We even ride a bike to mail your packages! You can count on us to always have great customer service and great products – satisfaction guaranteed!

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Bees, please.

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Now that winter is making its inevitable approach and days are starting to get shorter, I find myself lighting candles almost every evening. There is nothing like the golden glow of candles to add a little romance and warmth to a room. It has been said, though, that “we breathe what we burn”. In the case of paraffin-based wax candles, what is burned is a mix of petroleum, chlorine bleach and several other potentially harmful additives. As the flame flickers, toxic soot is released into the air. This soot contains a myriad of dangerous compounds including benzene, ethanol, acetone, toluene, formaldehyde and naphthalene.

You don’t have to be a chemist to understand that this is some pretty nasty stuff to be inhaling. In fact, the soot released by the paraffin candles is very similar in chemical make-up to diesel exhaust! One way to avoid introducing airborne pollutants into your home is to forgo paraffin candles and choose those made of 100% natural beeswax.

floral pillar

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Aloha Hawaii

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Life is funny. I was thinking about local sellers in Hawaii today because I thought it would be nice to give a shout out to the birthplace of our Prez. I know he’s been getting a lot of flack, but I personally still have total confidence in him. Especially now that the health care bill is finally in place. Millions of people are now going to have basic health care. Sounds pretty good to me. Hawaii is of course the birthplace of President Obama. He was raised by his single mother, and seems like she did pretty much all she could to give him a great life. So this Shop Local column is not only dedicated to Mr. President, but also to all of the local ladies in Hawaii who are making things, and making things happen.

Huladesigns is not just a mom, but also a daughter who share this site that features their handmade brocade clutches. This creative duo live on Maui, and make designs which feature repurposed brooches and other cast-off jewels. The results are just the right size for a few essentials for a night out on the town.

Like many crafters out there, I started making clothes for my dolls when I was big enough to use a needle and thread. I was really into my dolls, and created a virtual world for them replete with furniture, houses, and all the trappings of doll-dom. As you may know today’s doll-obsession is the American Girl, which is more expensive that the Madame Alexander’s I coveted. So when I found alohagirldollclothes who makes pretty dresses for the American Dolls, it made me happy and brought me back to a simpler time when making clothes was just a part of life.

I can’t resist a butterfly, let alone this butterfly necklace by Oahu’s wavejewelry. Julie Kirby has been making jewelry for thirty years and finds her inspiration in all of the natural elements found in her beautiful surroundings. I am so impressed with the composition of this piece, and the colors of the stones–ruby-zoisite, and black onyx, with sterling silver. She says the stones for this piece sat in her work room for a year before inspiration struck. I know exactly how she feels. Sometimes waiting for inspiration, or even that sense that “this is what you should do” takes awhile to come along. I think what I like most about President Obama is that he has a quiet confidence that all of the best leaders have, and when he feels something is right, he goes after it with determination. Like a butterfly that sits and sits and sits, and then with a flutter it’s off. Mahalo a hui hou (Peace until we meet again).

Dandelions – friend or foe?

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Dandelion papercut – handcut from 100% rice paper by Li of Papercut Diecut

A wise person once said, “It’s only a weed if it bothers you.” Or, in the case of my yard, “It’s only a weed if it bothers the people next door.” Most people want a lush, green, lawn; free of weeds, including (or especially) dandelions. Personally, I’m fine with a bit of colour in my grass, but that opinion is not shared by my neighbours. So, in deference to their wishes, I am going to make a concerted effort to keep my yard relatively weed-free this summer; in an eco-friendly, non-toxic, low-maintenance way, of course. In my research of earth-friendly ways to eliminate Dandelions, I found myself way off-track discovering all sorts of interesting facts about them, too.

Dandelions have a long history as a medicinal herb. In fact, Taraxacum officinale, the scientific name for dandelion, translates to “the official remedy for disorders”. Applied topically, the naturally antibiotic juice can be used for treating everything from warts and corns to clearing eczema and acne. Taken internally, Dandelion promotes regularity and is an effective diuretic, blood purifier and kidney tonic. With a coffee-like taste and all of the medicinal benefits of dandelions, “Dande Day” is a great alternative for people looking to kick the java-habit. Jesse, of Good 4 You, roasts dandelion root and combines it with chicory to make an all-natural, caffeine-free coffee substitute.

As an edible herb, dandelions rank as of the most nutritious leafy greens out there; high in beta-carotene, calcium, iron, and vitamins A and K. The leaves can be used in salads, soups and stir-fries, while the flowers are most commonly used for beverages, such as wine and tea. With this in mind, four:paper’s Jacklynn includes a recipe with each of her wildflower-inspired notecards, like these (above) featuring cheerful, golden dandelion. (Note: although dandelions can be found just about everywhere, be sure to do your foraging well-away from public areas that may have been sprayed with poisonous herbicides, or look for organic greens at your local market or farmer’s market.)


Dandelion fine-art print by Sunshine Art & Design

In addition to being good for your health, dandelions are actually good for the eco-health of your yard…just ask any ladybug. They are a favourite of aphids (a ladybug’s favourite food) and help to detract them from your precious garden plants. Studies have shown that plots containing dandelions contain more ladybugs and fewer aphids than dandelion-free plots. As a result, the gardens with dandelions had less plant-damage and higher yields. In the lawn, dandelions help to aerate and feed the soil and, when you think of it, can actually make your yard-work easier.

I think I would have a hard time finding a mother who hasn’t at one time or another been offered a sticky fist-full of golden dandelion blooms. Perhaps it is their accessibility and abundance that makes dandelions a favourite flower for children everywhere. I remember spending hours as a child wishing on dandelions that had gone to seed; blowing as hard as I could on the white puffs to ensure that my wishes would scatter as far as the wind could carry the seeds. (Much to the chagrin of weeders for miles, I’m sure.) I still find myself drawn to dandelion puffs, but perhaps in the interest of weed-control I should pick up of these cute tees by Ellembee and make as many wishes as I want without scattering seeds throughout the neighbourhood.

With all of that said, however, I’m still going to have to get my dandelion situation under control before my neighbours revolt. According to the experts, the first step is to promote a healthy lawn through regular maintenance and judicious weeding. At the suggestion of a trusted friend, who is a bit of a gardening wiz, I have picked up an addictively-fun (really!), long-handled weed puller to use on some of my in-lawn weeds. As for the weeds popping up in the sidewalk cracks, I am going to try plain old boiling water, straight from the kettle. Once I’ve made myself a cup of dandelion tea, that is.