A Space of Our Own

It's been a couple weeks since we last posted - time flies when you're putting together an application for the Vancouver 2011 One of a Kind Show...and doing other odds and sods!

Speaking of the application, one of the requirements is that artisans must share photos of where they make their wares. We've just taken our photos and thought you might like to see where the UrbanStitch Inc. magic happens.

Stacey's sewing space

Jen's home office/sewing space

(I clearly need some art on the walls -
the room is a work in progress)

Shop 'til You Drop

We've been busy as bees since getting back to the grind in 2011. You can see the fruits of our labour in our now stocked online shop.

Shop 'til you drop at www.etsy.com/shop/urbanstitch

PSSST! These make awesome Valentines gifts for that special someone, or for family and friends. We'll keep updating the shop with new products (including items from our men's line) as we make them so check the shop often for one (or two...or three...) that you absolutely must have.

Let us know what you think of the line so far. We always love hearing what fabrics, colours and styles you prefer.

New Style!

Jen and I have been trying some new styles and here's a preview...!

I've called this one "Grey Sportif."

It's made with a beautiful grey wool weave, nylon black straps and a funky silver ring accent.

This is a Ladies size Large (14" wide by 19.5" in length when laid out flat). It fits any shoe up to a size 9 ladies cross trainer or running shoe.

The lining is a bright, tomatoe red cotton print with white swirls and petit black daisies. The grey outer material has a factory-ironed, striped wave, giving it a subtle, soft texture.

So... what do you think...? (If you really like it you can find it for sale on our Etsy Shop!)

A Heavenly Dish

Stacey and I have a history of taking turns playing Martha Stewart and cooking fabulous meals to enjoy together. Now that we're on opposite sides of the country, this has become a bit of a challenge. I recently learned that my friend H has set a goal to become a better cook and has asked me to teach her what I know. This isn't a crafty related post but it does involve some artistic presentation so I thought I'd share.

As a full-time student, H is often pressed for time so we've been talking about how cooking good/healthy food doesn't have to be complicated. Earlier this week H and I figured out what menu we'd like to cook and then have our significant others join us to enjoy the fruits of our labour. Yesterday she came over and we set to work making:

- Parsnip and ginger soup

  (From Jamie's Food Revolution by Jamie Oliver);
- Cabbage, date and apple slaw 

  (From one of H's cookbooks - I can't recall the name);
- Sweet potato purée with goat cheese and truffle oil 

  (From Epicurious);
- Rosemary crusted pork tenderloin with red wine reduction
  (From HIREATH); and
- Meringue nests with yogurt and berries 

  (From one of H's cookbooks - I can't recall the name).

I'd never made meringue before but I knew it wasn't difficult. Luckily I had a piping tool laying around and was able to build it up like a little nest to fill with a dollop of yogurt and top with mixed berries.

The only clean plates I had left after our many courses of dinner was a set of Christmas plates. Appropriately, the plate exhibits how heavenly the dish was - delish!

Let us know if you have any great recipes you'd like to share - we're always looking for some to try out!

Look what I found!

Well looky here... I was playing around with my camera today and gosh! I'd forgotten about these pics we took at the craft show before Christmas.

I love this one with Jen in the background. :o)

Every time we would display a ShoovelopeTM on "Betsy's" shoulder or fill one with shoes to demonstrate how the ShoovelopeTM works, it would be snapped up by the next happy customer. So sure enough, just after this picture was taken, the bright 70's Orange Floral one on Betsy sold and so did the Motled Green with Stitched Flower...

It was a fun couple of days!

A Pop of Colour

As Stacey mentioned a few posts ago, we're in talks with an amazing Canadian company about doing an exclusive line of ShoovelopesTM for them. My first task is to make some samples for them in fabrics that their customers will love.

Last night I met up with one of their designers to pick out fabric and we found some great stuff so I thought I'd give you a sneak peak! (You may want to put your sunglasses on...)

As you can see, there are some awesome pops of colour that will be great for spring. We'll keep you posted on if we'll be working with this company. In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed - it would be an incredible opportunity!

Bork, Bork, Bork!

If you're a fan of the Muppets, you know that "bork, bork, bork" is the Swedish Chef's favourite expression. What does this have to do with UrbanStitch Inc. and the ShoovelopeTM you ask? Let me tell you a funny story...

Yesterday I was looking at the traffic our blog has been receiving internationally and was excited to find out we have readers in Sweden!

I relayed this info to my boyfriend and he joked, "maybe it's Elin Nordegren...she's back in Sweden now." Then he changed his mind and decided it was the Swedish Chef and started talking in mock Swedish just like the Muppet himself (it was uncanny!). It went a little something like this "flugen oingey boingey Shoovelopey..." I think he should've been a Muppeteer.

Image courtesy of MuppetWiki

All jokes aside, whoever you are in Sweden, we love that you're interested in what we're up to and hope you keep readin'!

Our Customers Say Such Fabulous Things!

We just received a nice note from one of our pre-Christmas customers who gave a ShoovelopeTM to 3 people on her Christmas list...and kept one for herself.

The note was to thank UrbanStitch Inc. for providing great gift ideas and to let us know that they were well received on Christmas morning! Included in her note were some great comments from those she gave them to:

  "I had the best looking shoe bag for my New Year's Eve wedding"

  "What a great travel accessory - you think of the best gifts!"

  "I love my shoe bag - fancy!"

Awwww! It's always nice to receive great feedback from the fabulous people using our product.

Did you receive a ShoovelopeTM for Christmas? If so, let us know your thoughts!

Word is gettin around...!

We figure that over 100 ShoovelopesTM were given as gifts this Christmas. (Maybe you were one of the lucky ones...) The word is spreading! A witty friend of mine even wrote this on my facebook page the other day...

"1902 - A.F. Callahan invented windowed ENVELOPES. 1990 - The JACKALOPE appears on America's Funniest Home Video's. 2011 - One word, three syllables, SHOOVELOPES. (Patent pending, copyright of UrbanStitch Inc.)"

Made me giggle. :o)

And for those of you interested in HOW the ShoovelopeTM works, here are the instructions:

Welcome to 2011!

Well, welcome to the New Year folks! It's been a lovely holiday of family, friends, food and fun. And while we spent time away from the "serious work" of UrbanStitch Inc., we really couldn't stay away from crafting altogether... Jen made Bitters for her Sweetie so he can make delicious sour cherry and vanilla Manhattans. Tres chic and tres yum!

I sewed some Merry Christmas bunting for me and my sweetie to hang next year in our new apartment. (We haven't moved yet but soon!) I used Christmas fabric left over from last years craftiness and stitched and ironed the layers together. Each time we put it up we'll think of all the amazing things that happened in 2010. (Such as the year ShoovelopesTM were born!) That's the best thing about Christmas decorations -the memories that go along with them... 

It was a lovely holiday indeed...
But now the festive season has come to a close, so it's back to business for us at UrbanStitch Inc. Jen is looking after some small business banking things for us (how did I get so lucky to have a business partner who's so good at those things!) and I am ogling fabric stores online. I'm being very businesslike about it to help us find the best fabrics for Spring/Summer. I have even made a spreadsheet. (Although I must admit, it's a very colourful spreadsheet! lol)

But the most exciting thing for UrbanStitch Inc. is that there are plans for an exclusive, limited edition line of ShoovelopesTM for an amazing Canadian company. We are tickled but we can't tell you any more details -not yet! :o)