A card for everyone on Valentines

Feb. 8, 2010 – Our name alone is a sure sign that Valentine’s Day is a holiday made for us.  But not everyone loves lace and hearts and chocolates at Valentines. For those of you who want to do something a little bit different on Valentine’s Day, we’ve got you covered.

There are ScotiaMade’s (now Wry and Ginger) seriously funny notes from an irrevrent, and possibly rabid, squirrel:

New to the store are macabre Valentine cards by local graphic designer Sarah Semark of Triggers and Sparks:

You can buy the cards individually or as a pack of six. I think my favourites are “My heart burns for you” (a flaming anatomical heart) and “I only have eyes for you” (eyeballs).  You can read about the creative process behind Sarah’s cards on her blog.

We also have a lobster card from Dawson’s Print Shop that says, “You’re a great catch!”

Of course, if you do want something on the sweeter side, we do have a card for you. If the Wry and Ginger cards are seriously funny, then Katie Muth’s cards are seriously pretty:

So, a little something for everyone who has a special someone they need a card for.

A Farmer’s Market Favourite

February 1, 2010 -  No, not Mary’s cinnamon rolls or Chef Darren’s wraps (two of L-A’s market favourites). This is a different kind of favourite from the Market: Angry Sheep Designs. 

You might remember Shauna Jones’ unique handpainted clothing and wonder why she hasn’t been at the Market lately. Well, she’s relocated to Whitehorse. Fortunately for Haligonians, we’re carrying her t-shirts and underwear. 

Shauna started painting clothing because she was sick of the finding the same old cookie cutter things at the mall.  That’s probably why she’s such a great fit for our store.

The underwear could make a great Valentine’s Day gift. Because nothing says “I love you” quite like underwear with construction equipment or breakfast foods (for both men and women) on them does.

Here’s a few of the designs by Shauna that you’ll find in the store:

We also have onesies with Shauna’s custom designs on them for the wee ones in your life.

Restocked: Lee Meszaros’ Merit Badges

January 27, 2010 – One item in the store that (almost) never fails to get a chuckle out of people are Lee Meszaros’ clever Merit Badges.  We’ve had them in the store for ages and we’re pretty excited about the new ones that arrived last week. 

For being as sweet as pie

For having a bun in the oven

For being a busy beaver

For being cute as a button

For being a smart cookie

For being nutty as a squirrel

For being a happy camper

For going out on a limb

All the new badges are $25 each. Older badges are now $22.

Valentines with a Shibang

January 25, 2010 – Just as they were putting Christmas chocolates on sale, stores were displaying Valentines candy and cards. A bit too early for us.  But as February gets closer, we’re breaking out the red and the hearts (well, breaking out more red and hearts!). 

One of our favourite Valentine ideas comes from Robyn Stephens of Shibang Designs.  We like her felt appliquéd purses for any time of the year, but right now we’re smitten with the hearts on her coin purses, pencil cases and cosmetic bags.

 They’d make a great gift on their own or you could fill them with other goodies.  You could hide some jewelery in a coin purse. Put some gift certificates or tickets into the pencil case (movies, concerts, or maybe plane tickets if you’re surprising your sweetheart with a holiday).  You could fill the cosmetic case with something sweet (candy) or naughty (maybe a little something something from Venus Envy). Your call. Either way, I’m pretty sure the Shibang will be a hit.

On the shelf: Glassware by Kyla Francis

Jan. 20, 2010 –  One item we can never keep on the shelf are the Halifax glasses by Kyla Francis.  It’s easy to understand why – they are pretty fantastic and make great gifts. Especially when it’s a gift for someone who is homesick for the streets of Halifax.

And while we love her city streets, we’re also big fans of Kyla’s other designs.  She has some really fun glasses that keep your dishes from getting bored and gives your morning OJ a pick me up.

 Check out some of her other glassware – it’s really hard to pick a favourite.

 

The Make Great Pets

 Craft Monster

Outside Gus’ Pub

Urban Animals

January Contest: We’re looking for handmade goodies

January 18, 2010 – We’re always on the lookout for new handmade Canadian goodies.  We search high and low through craft fairs, One of A Kind trade shows, and Etsy in order to find things we love and want to share with you. But sometimes, the best way to find an artist is through word of mouth.  That’s how we found the fantastic felted creatures, pillows and tea cozies from Heart Felt. It’s a big country, so if Marilyn’s daughter hadn’t come into the store, we might never have found her in Saskatchewan. 

So that’s why we’re turning to you: Who is your favourite Canadian artist/artisan?  Is there handmade work out there that we should know about? 

The rules for suggesting something are:

1. It has to be Canadian.
2. It has to be handmade (or a small-run business).
3. It isn’t already sold in the store.

Otherwise, it’s a free for all. Suggest clothing, accessories, housewares, toys. You name it, we’ll look into it.

And as a thank you for helping us find artists, your name will go in a draw for a $10 gift certificate if we use your suggestion.

You can send us your suggestions by email , twitter or by commenting on this post.  Or you can stop by the store and let us know (we’ll be here on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). 

Contest closes on January 31. We look forward to hearing from you!

Slowly…

January 7, 2010 – So after a couple of weeks of concentrating on my own recovery and taking care my new premature baby, Oliver – we are planning a slow reopening. Tomorrow, Friday, January 8 (11-6pm) and Saturday, January 9 (10-5pm), Love, Me Boutique will be open and Lesley-Anne (bless her) will be at the helm. She will mark down some of the women’s clothing from 20-50% off – Whoa!!

FYI – Next week we will open Thursday from 11-4, Friday 11-6, and Saturday 10-5. It is my hope that we will be on track with more solid hours by the last week of January (knock on wood).

Thank you all for your patience. I thank all of you for your well wishes, your support, and your understanding.

Ch..ch..ch..changes

December 22, 2009 – Hello Holiday Shoppers! This notice is to let you know that Love, Me’s last day for Holiday shopping will be tomorrow – December 23, 2009. As much as I/we would love to be around for all you last minute shoppers, there is a special Christmas Eve package that needs tending to. As many of you have noted, I am pregnant and was due at the end of January. Well…someone else had different plans. I was admitted to the hospital Sunday night and am currently on bed rest awaiting my delivery/surgery slot on the 24th. My mother – god bless ‘er – will be womaning the shop today and tomorrow as we try to do our best to not inconvience you while at the same time keeping me and baby in the good health books. This has obviously come on quickly and unexpectedly and thusly I had not prepared the reigns to be handed over. That all being said..we will open in the New Year but we will just have to keep you all posted on the details and specifics. Stay tuned to Facebook and to Twitter and to the blog.

Happy Holidays to you all! I will see you in 2010!

Secret Santa

December 15, 2009 – I was hosting my (getting to be) annual Christmas Cookie Exchange at my home this weekend and conversation turned to the “work” gift exchange – Secret Santa. While I think this idea has some very worthy potential, I think Secret Santa can go very VERY wrong.

My first exposure to Secret Santa was in my small grade 5 class. We drew names and were told a price limit and the date of the gift exchange. I will fess up and say that I don’t remember what I gave. It probably involved some homemade chocolates which I gave as gifts pretty ritually around this time. But I do remember what I received: a giant (half my size and weight) Candy Cane! While my friends were opening boxes of chocolates, barrettes, ornaments, and mugs filled with hot chocolate, I was trying to figure out what kind of parent supervised or chose this gift. My mouth couldn’t even fit around the thing! I confess, it went into the garbage - packaging and all. The following year, in grade six, the same person got my name again and gave me the same thing – another giant *&^%^%@# candy cane!! I was pretty sure I was cursed. Needlesstosay, I now hate Candy Canes. That is what a traumatic Secret Santa gift can do to a girl.

So my obvious advice is stop buying generic crap like giant Candy Canes to fulfill your Secret Santa obligation. No matter the price limit, there are better gifts to give than bad chocolate, gross candy, and hideous plastic you-name-its. Here is where I toot my horn and all my artists horns – whether your limit is $2 or $25, Love, Me is stocked with great Secret Santa gifts. Trust me, let us help you and you will rock the Secret Santa and not gain a reputation as the dreaded Secret Santa (like my Candy Cane giver).

New Artwork

December 11, 2009 – While the store is fully stocked with all things for Holiday giving – ornaments, stocking stuffers, you name it – we also just installed our newest exhibition.

The latest work is a collection of mixed media paintings from Sarah Gibeault.

Sarah Gibeault’s mix media works are both vibrant and playful. These works are built up with washes of colour, areas of dense colour that appear to be poured straight from the can and marks taken from her textiles work that are directly influenced by the land. Drawing plays a strong roll in the form of figurative, architectural and decorative. They are found both pasted over painted areas of work or drawn directly on the surface as are ornamental shapes. These works take us to communities nestled into the country side, to there backyards deep inside whimsical gardens and further into the interiors of there homes. The creation of these spaces are made up of pieces both fictional and factual. They are brought together in a tongue and check manner to form a non-linear narrative that has been pulled from child hood, her time spent in Halifax and abroad. 

Sarah was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and has lived in Peterborough since 1989. Over this span of time she has also found herself studying on the East Coast at the Nova Scotia School of Art and Design and traveling abroad in search of concepts and aesthetics.

These works are so calming and perfectly delightful. Unfortunately, as with many artworks, the photographs do not do the work justice. When you are out and about, come on it and check these out in person (and then pick up some other fantastic holiday gift ideas).