Canadian Roots with a British Touch

I am Canadian! There, my secret is out! However, it's not really a secret as I'm loud and proud of where I come from.

This year, I've seen Canadians come together in ways I have never experienced before. There has been a real push to "buy Canadian" by supporting local businesses and artisans across the country. It has inspired me to rethink how I run my own business and to be more intentional about the materials I choose for my DIY craft kits.

At the start of the year, I set a goal to work directly with Canadian wholesale companies. I wanted every kit that I create to support local makers and suppliers. Then I came up with an idea to take all of this one step further.

My ancestry is deeply rooted in Scotland (with a touch of England and Ireland), so it only felt right to weave a bit of that heritage into my kits. Along with partnering closely with a wonderful yarn supplier here in Canada, I've also begun working with one in the U.K. Blending my Canadian and U.K. roots, feels like a lovely nod to the generations of makers who came before me.

Below is a list of the changes I have made so far:

• Every design and every stitch that goes into my patterns and kits are from my own two hands, right here in my Canadian studio.
• My shipping boxes and supplies are from a packaging company based in Ontario.
• Card stock and envelopes for card making kits are from a small business in Vancouver.
• Yarn, hooks, and notions included in my crochet kits come from trusted suppliers in both Canada and the U.K.
• Even the social media training that I have invested in this year, is based in Canada, with one coach based in the U.K.

In the coming months, I’ll be phasing out some older stock to make room for new materials. My studio will soon be filled to the brim with cardstock and yarn, and I have a feeling Santa might be delivering a few extra shelves to the Shoppe this Christmas!