Updates

Hello Everyone! Happy (belated) Chanuka to those celebrating last week, Christmas is fast approaching and the city is bustling with holiday bazaars and shoppers. Now if only the snow can stay on the ground it would feel a lot more like Christmas!

T-love has been doing a couple of bazaars this past month and was a great success! I've been hustling like crazy and my dining room table has seen more beads than food this month! However, now that the bazaars and events have died down I have some more time to post all of these new creations. Please come back and visit this week and new photos will be coming up.

If you're having trouble finding that something for a hard to buy for person, custom creations are ALWAYS my pleasure!

Also, watch out for my Etsy store coming up soon.

Lady Love's Holiday Ornaments are going quickly so be sure to email MJ and I with color preferences to see if we have any left in stock!


PEACE AND MUCH LOVE,

Tara

LOVE this special time of year!!!

The holiday season is all about peace and LOVE! And there are many reasons to love the new hand-made ornaments that my very talented friend MJ of lady Jane's treasure trove and I have made in honor of love. We have aptly named it Lady Loves Holiday and you can visit our special blog here; http://ladylovesholiday.blogspot.com/

Reasons to LOVE these ornaments:

- For the love of the earth we re-purposed vintage jewelry and samples of vintage wall paper to make the ornaments.

- Show your Mom how much you love her by getting her an one of a kind, hand made ornament instead of something generic from a big box store.

- Bring one of these ornaments as a Hostess gift and make them feel really loved by taking the time to get something original.


You can purchase these ornaments at Lady Love's Holiday Blog, Fait Ici, and at Old Skool Crafts Holiday Bazaar coming up next weekend (Dec 11-12).

HOLIDAY BAZAAR THIS WEEKEND!

Come see T-love and many other fabulous local designers selling their creations! The good thing about this Bazaar is that it's happening over two week-ends, so if you can't make it this week-end or would rather do some "window" shopping before you make the plunge and buy a gift please stop buy!

This is a great opportunity to buy friends, family or lover a very special locally made one-of-a-kind gift! You will NOT be disappointed.

PLUS T-love will also have some Awesome hand made Christmas ornaments made from folded vintage wall paper and jewelry. Perfect for a Hostess or Mom gift! (stay tuned as this week Lady-Love holiday will be launching our blog for these ornaments)

Peace and LOVE!

Tara

Coming Soon...Holiday fun with Lady Love!

MJ of Lady Jane's Treasure Trove and I are combining efforts this holiday season to bring you some LADY LOVE holiday creations. Stay tuned for some pictures this week! She is coming over tonight to do some brainstorming and crafting...

Oh the possibilities... Vintage jewelry and origami...

OooooOOooooOo... AaaaAAAaaaaAAa

Montréal's Annual Gem and Mineral Show

Get ready all you rock collectors, Montreal's Annual Gem and Mineral show is this weekend at Place Bonaventure! More than 90 dealers selling precious and semi-precious stones, jewelery, amber, pearls, stone carvings, unique crystal specimens, fossils, beads, sculptures and tools.

The Club was founded in 1957, incorporated in 1964, and has served the gem and mineral hobbyists in Montreal ever since.

They have a workshop/clubhouse in the Montreal area, where members gather to practice their crafts, or socialize and exchange information. .

Every year in the fall, they host their annual gem and mineral show where the public is invited to
visit dealers from many parts of Canada, as well as other parts of the world.

Any one else as excited about this as I am??

Nov 5-7th (Friday, noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Price: $7

Fairy Origami Earrings ***SOLD***

These fairies came all the way from Switzerland, and some of my very first origami paper that came in an assorted package; they are therefore one of a kind and cannot be made again. A t-love one and only, and the first item of T-love's Soulmate line.

I hope these fairies bring you many happy returns!

23$

Olive and Fuchsia Bib Necklace

Olive, fuchsia and varying shades there of a really popular this season, long live the colors of summer flowers to brighten up a typically gray winter day of February! Why not spread a around some of that inner sunshine?

Necklace measures 19.5 ".

Sterling silver, olive green shell discs with complimentary pieces of origami about 1 " wide.

35$

Layered chain Origami Necklace **SOLD**

This necklace has a small gold filled chain, a medium sterling silver chain, and one super funky gold toned polyester chain, all to be brought to together by a cobalt blue piece of origami.

Necklace measures 18.5 " at it's shortest and 20 " at it's longest.

28$

Healing Crystal Necklace - 3 color combos

Rock crystal has been used as a healing tool for thousands of years. It is said to stimulate mental clarity, emotional stability and to facilitate and focus meditative states. It is also said to stimulate positive thoughts and feelings, and to amplify psychic abilities.

This necklace will have you feeling AND looking good! :)

Measures 18.5 " long

1-Sterling silver, gray freshwater pearls, antique gold polyester chain.
2- Sterling silver, cream fresh water pearls, Grey polyester chain. (sold, but possibility to make again)
3- Sterling silver, silver fresh water pearls, black polyester chain



30$

Double Happinness Earrings

Chinese ceramic ware is an art form that has been developing since the dynastic periods. China is richly endowed with the raw materials needed for making ceramics. The first types of ceramics were made about 11,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic era. Chinese Ceramics range from construction materials such as bricks and tiles, to hand-built pottery vessels fired in bonfires or kilns, to the sophisticated porcelain wares made for the imperial court.

Although probably not from the Tang Dynasty these double happiness beads are very popularly seen in most popular Chinese ceramics and jewelry, I even bought myself a full necklace of these beads while I was in Hong Kong !

Sterling silver.

15$

China Town Necklace

The hand painted Chinese porcelain bead and to the crisp royal blue of the agate stone, and polyester chain seen so often on traditional Chinese porcelain items, give this funky necklace a definitely classy Asian feel.

It measures 27 1/2 " long. Sterling silver

40$ (50$ with matching earrings)

Hello all... I will be away on a much needed vacation for two weeks to gorgeous Switzerland with my lovely Swiss man. I'll be able to check e-mails from time to time, but no posts until the end of October. Hold tight plenty of new jewels to come...

T-LOVE now @ FAIT ICI!!!!

I am soo excited as I just dropped off my first retail display at this awesome little shop in St.Henri. Fait Ici is it's name and local products are the game. It has a great vibe, great products (like the non carcinogenic nail polish I just bought sans formaldehyde!) and a wonderful owner who is so enthusiastic about getting back to our roots and supporting locally made food, produce, household goods, and a whole lot more! They even have a blog with lots of interesting topics to read about.


Here's a little blurb about Fait Ici!

Fait ici is an eco-conscious general store that showcases high quality products primarily made in Quebec.

Fait ici promises to provide you with an option that delivers on quality and sustainability. We’ve done our homework about the products on our shelves. We know who makes them, where they’re made, and how their produced.

It is also a throwback to the days when shopping was an experience. We aim to provide our clientele with a thoroughly modern twist on an old concept, the general store.

Fait ici is located at:

2519, Notre-Dame O corner Charlevoix
Montreal, Québec, H3J 1N6

Uke Fest

Dobriy den! (Good day!)

The Ukrainian Festival was a blast! I got to share my table with a wonderful person I met at Marché La Récré, Zuemy of Es Pera! it was really nice to have a partner there as it made set up go a lot faster, bathroom breaks easier, and Perogi runs possible. :) I was really glad to have some one to chat with and share in the wonderful cultural experience.

I just want to say that the Ukrainian people are very kind, and friendly and welcomed us (non-Ukrainians) very warmly which was very refreshing. So many different people came out to the festival, young, old, Ukrainian, and non, people from the church and the neighborhood; you really felt like you were part of a community. Not to mention the beer garden, dancers and singers, perogis, and sausages (if you eat meat) it was one of the better festivals that I've been to in Montreal.

I would definitely do it again next year. See below for some pics from this year's festival.

UKRANIAN FESTIVAL THIS WEEK-END!!!

For all the culture lovers living in Montreal this weekend's Ukrainian festival promises to be a blast. With everything from a Beer Garden, singers, dancers, local artists, and yummy food, you are sure to have a GREAT time, and learn a little bit more about Ukranian culture while you're at it! The festival schedule and details are below...

T-Love will be there with many other artists, so come and visit for your chance to see the new fall collection, with fringe necklaces with funky chain and all new earrings to bring some pizazz to your wardrobe.

Friday	September 10th 2010	6pm - 10pm (BEER GARDEN)
Saturday	September 11th 2010	10am - 10pm
Sunday	September 12th 2010	10am - 5pm

The Montreal Ukrainian Festival will showcase performances by various Ukrainian, Canadian and Quebec artists, singers, dancers, comedians and choirs.

Throughout the day, festival-goers will be able to browse through many kiosks featuring Ukrainian cuisine, folk art and crafts, local businesses and information booths.

To keep the young ones entertained, the Montreal Ukrainian Festival will offer a supervised children’s area with games, face painting and other fun activities.

Directions via Public Transport (STM)

• Joliette Metro station (green line)
  Take the 67 bus (St-Michel) north until Bellechasse. Walk 1 block east.
• St-Michel Metro station (blue line)
  Take the 67 bus (St-Michel) south until Bellechasse. Walk 1 block east.
• Beaubien Metro station (orange line)
  Take the 18 bus (Beaubien) east until St-Michel Blvd. Walk 1 block south to rue de l'Ukraine, then 1 block east.
• Rosemont Metro station (orange line)
  Take the 197 bus (Rosemont) east until St-Michel Blvd. Walk 1 block north to Bellechasse, then 1 block east.

View Larger Map

Three's Company Origami Earrings

Two pieces of origami and rock quartz crystal beads make this number a great accompaniment to any jewelery lovers collection. These are the mini origami pieces, so the earrings itself are not too big or long, about 1.5 inches. Sterling silver

18$

Or choose any 2 for 30$

Fresh water pearl and Dogtooth Amethyst Earrings **SOLD***

These pretty little things are very romatic in the details, but the rectangular form gives them a modern twist. Dogtooth amethyst stones are complemented by white fresh water pearls. Sterling silver

18$

Or choose any 2 for 30$

Funky Grape Cluster Earrings ***SOLD***

I think these are one of my favorite pairs of grape cluster earrings, they are totally original, and one of a kind as I have run out of those awesome purple beads at the bottom. They are little longer than the original version of the grape cluster, just over in inch long. Made of of an assortment of swarovski crystals, little round green jade beads, and a jasper that looks exactly like wood. I think they have just the right amount of sparkle and color to jazz up any outfit! sterling silver.

20$

Green Thumb Origami Earrings **SOLD**

Origami earrings with many shades of green, perfect for bringing out the green in your eyes! They are accompanied by 9mm black agate beads that have been specially treated to give them a completely different look.

18$

Or choose any 2 for 30$

Simple Ametrine Earrings **SOLD**

This stone baffles my mind as it is a mix of Amethyst and Citrine, giving this stone a multi-colored hue. They are accompanied by embellished sterling silver posts and punch colored Swarovski crystals.

18$

Or choose 2 for 30$

Swing Origami Earrings

These ones remind me of a swing, the fun part is sitting in between the two chains! :) These origami earrings are about the size of a nickel and are just over 2 inches long. They are accompanied by a violet Swarovski crystal, and sterling silver chain.

18$

Or choose 2 for 30$

Perfect Match Grape Cluster Earrings

The picture really doesn't do these earrings justice. The top and bottom beads are some of my favorite from my collection, matt glass beads (the same as the one in the Mary Jane Earrings) the color of paprika, perfectly pairs with Czech glass faceted beads in a lovely turquoise color.

18$

Or choose 2 for 30$

Something Blue Mini Origami Earrings

*** SOLD***
I've been noticing that my blue origami earrings are always the first to go, who ever said pink was for girls and blue was for boys didn't consult the other sex. These two pairs use the same star-gazer lily printed origami paper, but put together two different ways. The first sports lovely, sparkly swarovski crystals in magenta, clear, and mily lavendar. The second is an origami version of my grape cluster earring using light denim colored Czech glass beads.

18$

Or Choose any 2 for 30$

Tropical Paradise Mini Origami Earrings

There's still time left this summer before the "F-word" and the "w-word" to sport these earrings. Mango or Strawberry Daiquiries anyone?

18$

Or Choose any 2 for 30$

Oasis Bead Show

This past weekend while I was at Marche La Recre a friend of mine, C, told me about the Oasis bead show that was going on at Place Bonaventure. Knowing what freaks us jewelry makers can be about stones, beads, etc, C knew that I would be all over these beads made in Uganda, Africa.

The Company is called Akonye Kena Self-Sufficiency Project Ltd was established in 2009 to provide young artisans in Uganda a venue to sell their goods and earn a sustainable income.

Akonye Kena arose from the volunteer experiences of its founder, Richard Kennair, in Uganda over the past 8 years. Richard found that while there were many self-sufficiency projects training youth in a ‘sellable skill’, the success of these projects varied.

The challenge to be met was how can we provide an outlet for these well-intended projects so that they can truly be self-sufficient and not reliant on aid. The result was Akonye Kena.

Meaning I will help myself in Acholi, a tribal language in northern Uganda, Akonye Kena is a program that works with community-based self-sufficiency projects.

Women At Risk is based just outside of Jinja, Uganda. They are a group that works with young women, many of whom are single mothers, who are either working the streets or at risk of working the streets. WAR provides non-judgemental support, counselling and training offering the young women the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Akonye Kena is the primary sponsor of Women At Risk, providing close to 100% of funding for the group.

The beads that I bought, similar to the ones below were made by women in Uganda from recycled paper and then coated with a sealant that makes them water proof.







These Pictures do not do these beads justice. As an artisan working with paper these beads have really inspired me. Look out for some creations I will be posting soon using these beads!

Hopefully if I have enough demand I will continue purchasing these beauties in a effort to support this wonderful international project!

Love,

T

Jade Flower Origami Earrings

These babies are chunky but not heavy thanks to the lightness of the paper. Which is partly why I LOVE the origami concept so much. I often find that bigger earrings are annoying and heavy and as much as I love them I just want to take them out at days end, NOT THESE GUYS! :)

Flower shaped jade beads in a pale green tone are accompanied by origami about the size of a dollar coin. Sterling silver.

18$

Girly Pink Grape Cluster Earrings

These fun earrings bring out the little girl in me, and I have to admit that every little girl that walks by my booth at Marche La Recre says "I love those ones!!!" in her most enthusiastic voice. Any earring that promises to inspire the little girl in you, to let loose and be fancy free has got to be a winner.

I can imagine these complimenting a little black dress perfectly.

Magenta Czech crystals are paired with soft pink fresh water pearls. Sterling silver.

18$

Origami Necklace **SOLD***

The necklace measures about 34" and hits about mid bust.

Adorned with multi colored pieces of origami this necklace is sure to stand out and match with most any outfit. The origami is complimented by clear rock crystal faceted beads, and linked together with sterling silver chain and clasp.

40$

Romantic Rose Quartz Origami Earrings

Rose Quartz has a gentle vibration of love for the owner. It gives inner peace and helps in all matters pertaining to love in all its forms. Rose Quartz opens the heart to love.

This origami earring is about 1.5 inches in length, rose quartz stones, and a soft but colorful mix of origami paper.

18$ ***SOLD***

Dogtooth Amethyst Origami Earrings

Purple has long been the color of royalty and nobility. It is a deep, passionate color that evokes emotions. People who desire purple colors are individuals who like to make a personal statement, and express their unique taste. The Greek work "amethystos" basically can be translated as "not drunken" , expresses the ancient folk belief that the stone protects its owner against drunkenness. As the myth goes, drinking wine from an Amethyst goblet would prevent one from becoming inebriated. The gemstone still symbolizes sobriety.

Remember to bring your amethyst goblet ladies, on girls night out! ;-)

This earring is about 1.5 inches long, blue and purple origami paper, accompanied by "dogtooth" Amethyst beads.

18$ ***SOLD***