I have said time and time again - there is nothing better than creating something with your own two hands. In a world where life is moving at super sonic speed, where we want instant gratification, where we live with our phones attached to our hands (hi, me!), the act of sitting down with a crochet project or a card making kit forces us to put all of that nonsense into a time-out.
For me, the crafty spark hit when I was in Gr.8. I remember sitting at a sewing machine and making a small tote bag for one of our class projects. I had never used a sewing machine before so when it all came together and looked like an actual tote bag (lol), I felt something light up inside. I felt pride that I actually made something with my own two hands.
Fast forward to about 7 years ago, I was introduced to a pile of card stock to make handmade greeting cards and that sparked the idea of starting a handmade business. I wanted to create a community where everyone from the beginners to the seasoned crafters were given a reason to step away from the noise of the outside world. I wanted to give people an opportunity to try something new, learn how to crochet, fall in love with fabric and to feel "that feeling" of giving someone a gift that you made.
My goal is to take over the world with one kit, one card and one ball of yarn at a time. Life is infinitely better that way! Xx
(PS: Head back to my homepage and click "DIY Craft Kits" at the top to get started on your very own crafty project)
As someone who grew up in the 80's, it was very common to see a granny square blanket on someone's bed or hanging over the back of a couch. Mothers and Grandmothers spent hours stitching up blankets that contained these multi coloured squares.
What I didn't know was that the granny square pattern dates back to the late 1800's where the pattern was published in a needlework publication (Weldon's Practical Needlework). No wonder we grew up surrounded by granny square blankets - they have been around for quite some time. What I love most is that this pattern is still going strong to this day.
Crochet designers worldwide have put their own spin on this classic pattern and have expanded beyond making the standard blanket. You can make purses, phone holders, table runners and clothing. All featuring the classic granny square design.
When my husband was little, he spent a lot of time at his Baba's house. She was an avid crocheter so she was always stitching up a project of two. Eventually he asked her to make him a blanket so she gathered up her yarn scraps and got to work. We still have her blanket and I just love looking at her stitch work. Never, EVER underestimate the love that is passed down through a handmade gift.
If you want to learn how to start making granny squares and you're not sure where to start, then follow the link to my YouTube video to get started. It's a great pattern to get started with as it utilizes just 2 stitches. Have fun and please send photos of your creations - I would love to see them!
If the crochet bug has taken over, then have a look through my Crochet Pattern | Kit collection to keep going!
Yes, I know it's August. However, we're almost into September which means Christmas will arrive in about 7 minutes. I don't why this happens but it just does so I thought I would highlight some festive things that are available, to help you plan and get ready.
Christmas Card Kits
I have 3 handmade card kits available and I just added bundle options to each listing so that you can stock up if you have to send off a lot of cards. The best part is that you can start working on your cards now to have them ready for December which is one thing you can cross off from the festive "to-do" list. If you need a lot of cards, then the Advent calendar is something to take a look at. It comes with 24 individually wrapped Christmas card kits.
Sewing Kits
If you are heading down the handmade path for Christmas gifts this year, I have festive fabric options for the quilted coaster and teapot cozy kits. These projects were designed to be easy enough to whip up a few gifts in no time. Everyone needs a little festive, handmade touch to their decor for the season.
Crochet Kits
Psst: check out the chunky wool scarf pattern and/or kit. It's easy to make and perfect to battle the colder weather during the fall/winter months.
Ready to Ship!
Now, if you don't have the time or the patience to put anything together then browse through the gift section below. Everything is made and ready to be shipped. I can even ship it directly to someone if they live in a different city/town than you!
During the Covid years, crafting kits became a lifeline. They gave people a chance to learn a new craft or to have a project to work on as a distraction from the news. From there, traditions were started and still continue to this day
*A mother/daughter duo will now order Christmas Card Kits every year and then plan an evening to put them together. Christmas Card Kit
*In November of 2020, I received a bulk order for Christmas Card Kits. The lovely woman who ordered them normally makes her own Christmas cards every year. However, that year she just didn't have the time as her son had just been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. With the kits that she ordered, she was able to bring them with her and put them together during her son's weekly treatments, and was still able to keep up with her tradition of sending handmade Christmas cards. Festive Card Kit
When I hear stories like this, it's just something else. It's part of my mission to not only help where I can but for people to discover their inner crafting spirit.
*Last year, two best friends who live in separate towns from each other ordered their own Handmade Card - Advent Calendar. Once they received them, they got on a zoom call and were able to catch up on life while putting their cards together. Advent Calendar
*A crochet kit was recently ordered by a mother who left instructions to have it sent to her daughter at summer camp. She wanted to send a little love from home and for her daughter to have a project to work on during her down time. Crochet Kit
*A Subscription Box was recently ordered by a lovely woman who lives in a rural area. She loves ordering kits online given she doesn't have a local craft store in her area. Subscription Box
These are just a few examples of the stories I hear when Craft Kit orders come in and I just LOVE IT! So grab your tape runner or a crochet hook and let's go!
~ Cindy Xx
I mean, how adorable are these?
This pattern happened quite by accident. I was cleaning out some old photos off of my phone and came across a photo of a tartan swatch I had saved. I took a closer look at it and decided that I was crazy enough to try and make a pattern out of this.
With the photo in hand, I got to work. Now, it took about a month of stitching and ripping (and let's be real, there was more ripping than stitching), uttering choice swear words, untangling thread, and nearly giving up while eating ice cream to cope but, it all came together in the end.
What's unique about this coaster set is that there are two coasters that are joined together for extra padding. One layer did not hold up to a hot cup of coffee so two layers it is.
Now, if you have a judgemental pile of yarn that is looking to be used, then grab the pattern and get hooking.
Link: Tartan Coaster Pattern
If you don't have any yarn or the tools needed to make this happen or, you are looking for a unique gift for a crafty friend, then this kit is perfect. The kit includes the pattern, the yarn, a crochet hook and other necessary tools.
Link: Tartan Coaster Kit
I'm just a message away with any questions. If you grab a pattern or a kit, I would love to see your finished project!
~ Cindy Xx
One of the things I love most about being a small business owner are the shifts and changes that take place over time.
It's testing new products, trying new techniques, and falling in love with the process of putting a new product line together and hoping the world falls in love with it as I have.
The world of crafting is massive. There are so many paths that you can go down in an effort to tap into your creative side. For the last couple of years, I have been experimenting with a lot of areas and having a blast doing so. I love watching a project come to life but, in my quest to try all of the things, I was starting to move away from creating with my own two hands and instead, getting swept up in what was popular. So I decided to change that...
...and I think I have finally landed on something.
Over the next 6 months, I'll be transitioning into a DIY Craft Kit focus for my business. I have a lot of Card Making Kit fans and people are snapping up my Sewing Kits as well. So I'm taking what is currently working and introducing new yarn things by creating Crochet Patterns and DIY Crochet Kits and bringing them into the crafty fam jam!
My need to convince the world that crochet and sewing is COOL, and that handmade cards carry a certain magic, is why this decision was an easy one to make.
I'm currently in the process of building up the Crochet side of things and it's all starting to come together with more to come. This new path means that everything that isn't related to Craft Kits will slowly dwindle down. As things like mugs and teapot cozies sell out, then that's it. So grab things while you can!
If you are curious, follow the links below to each DIY section.
Card Making Kits: Click Here
Sewing Kits: Click Here
Crochet Patterns | Kits: Click Here
I'm very excited to see where this new path leads!!
It all starts with an idea, or scrolling through social media and seeing all of the adorable project ideas to create.
You buy the pattern, secure the materials and you feel the excitement of putting your new item together. Then, you look at the other 5,789 projects that are sitting there staring at you begging to be completed but you ignore them for the shiny new project instead.
Life gets in the way, or you have a busy week and pretty soon, your new shiny project becomes the 5,790th project that gets added to the pile.
Raise your hand if this sounds familiar? Please tell me I'm not the only one that does this. Please!? Now, the question is, why do we do this? I recently did a studio purge/organize and created a yarn shelf. I knew my yarn collection was intense however, because I kept shoving it into bins it was a case of "out of sight, out of mind".
Now that it's all out and visible, all of those ignored projects are now in front of my face. I even found a pile of yarn that I purchased in December of 2022 because we were expecting a doozy of a snowstorm so, in addition to stockpiling food and wine for the impending storm, I needed 8 balls of yarn to play with. The storm did indeed arrive however, those 8 balls of yarn still have the wrap around them. Totally ignored!
Maybe I should form a support group of sorts so we can all go around and show each other the lost forgotten projects that we had the best intentions for but have never been made. There would absolutely be no judgement as we're all in the same craft supply hoarding boat.
I get quite a few questions throughout the week with respect to product listings and shipping information so I thought I would compile a list of the most commonly asked questions and put them all into one spot. (Psst: I'm just a message away if you have any questions that aren't listed here.)
Question: How long have you been in business for and what made you decide to start this? Answer: I started The Craft Shoppe Canada in 2017 after getting a Cricut and a Sissix Big Shot for Christmas. I wanted to earn a little extra income while being at home with the kids. It started off as making handmade greeting cards and it sort of grew from there.
Question: Where are you located? Answer: I'm located in the Southwestern region of Ontario, Canada.
Question: I just ordered a recipe tea towel. Where do I send the recipe details? Answer: Please send your recipe information in an email to info@thecraftshoppecanada.com
Question: Are you able to do a custom order. I can't find what I'm looking for? Answer: I can definitely try and help depending on what you are looking to have done. Please send a message via "Contact us" at the top of my homepage and we'll chat from there.
Question: You make this look so easy - how hard is it to run an online, product based business? Answer: It is definitely a lot of fun. I mean, I get to play with crafty things everyday however, it's a lot of work. People don't realize just how much goes on behind the scenes to make it all happen.
Question: What are your processing/shipping times like and do you offer express shipping if I need my order STAT? Answer: Most of my products are made to order and while most orders can be dispatched within 1-2 days, there are some items take a little longer to make. I do offer upgraded shipping options if you need your order sooner than later.
Question: How can I reach you if I have questions/concerns about my order? Answer: Customer service is very very important to me. If you find your order hasn't arrived in a suitable timeframe, or you have any other concerns related to your order, then please send a message via "Contact Us" on my homepage, or you can send an email to info@thecraftshoppecanada.com
Question: I live in the U.S., how long will it take for my order to ship from Canada? Answer: For orders shipped within Canada, it usually takes anywhere between 3-7 business days. For orders shipping to the U.S., it usually takes anywhere between 7-10 business days. **During holidays such as Christmas, delivery times can and usually are busier so add on extra time during the months of November/December.
Question: I have noticed that you only ship within North America, are you looking to add more countries to that list? Answer: I am looking at opening things up to ship to different countries within Europe but each country has different rules and regulations surrounding shipping etc so I'm doing my research on that as we speak.
Question: Are you able to handle a larger, bulk order if necessary? Answer: Absolutely! I have completed a number of larger custom orders in the past. All I ask is for time to pull the order together - especially if it's a custom order request.
I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas/New Years holiday. I know that we did. I even snuck in an afternoon nap on Christmas Day which never happens. Covid invaded our home mid-December so once that vacated, it was a mad dash to the finish line to get everything done and ready for Santa's arrival but, we made it - hence the afternoon nap.
Time was spent with family and friends, we did a big clean up/purge, I caught a theatre production of Chicago and we ate until our pants decided to no longer fit. I mean, who invented pants with buttons anyway?
It was also a time to look back on an incredible year and set our sights to 2024. I'm not really a resolution person though. Do I want to fit into pants that have buttons again? Maybe, but I'm not going to join a gym and exist on lettuce and water to make that happen. Do I want to do my system a solid and stop eating cookies for breakfast? That's a little more do-able - lol!
I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't feel the pressure to do anything just because everyone else is doing it. We're getting inundated with FB ads telling us that we need to shape up and eat better. Don't feel the pressure to do this just because it's that time of year to do so - do it because you genuinely want to.
My plans for this year are to read 5 more books than last year, to make more time for loved ones, to spend less money on yarn (not), to love myself more and to go on more dates with my husband.
Give yourself grace as you move through the year. Life is to be enjoyed during the busy and quiet moments.
It's a grey, rainy kind of day here so let's ignore that nonsense and chat about craft room organization instead. Whether you are working with a small niche of a space or if you are lucky enough to have a full sized room, your crafty bits and bobs need a place to live. Here's a peak at what I have done in my craft studio to organize my bits and bobs.
1 - Shelves! The hill I will forever die on is that you need shelving. If your craft area is big enough, then invest in floor to ceiling type shelving. IKEA is a great place to start as you can build out different options based on your space and needs. As you can see in the photo below, I put three shelves together to utilize this huge wall space.
2 - Cubes and Totes! Now that you have the shelves, let's organize the smaller things. Garage sales and trips to your local craft store is a good place to start for bins and baskets. If you are familiar with Thirty-One Gifts, they are a direct sales company that has a great selection of totes and bins to keep everything in one spot. That's the key - containment!! If you are a matchy matchy kind of soul (like myself), then you can colour coordinate to your hearts content.
3 - Custom Pieces! Depending on what you are looking to organize, there are companies out there that specialize in custom pieces tailored to certain products. Stamp N Storage is one of those companies that have custom storage pieces to fit tools from Stampin Up, and Creative Memories to name a few. They are well built and very sturdy!
4 - The Quirky Fun Pieces! I love strolling through local craft fairs for unique, handmade finds. These 3 adorable pieces seen below hold my go-to sewing supplies. It also adds a cute and unique touch to your space!
I hope this peek into my studio lends a few ideas. While it can be fun trying to figure out where to put everything, it can also be overwhelming. It has taken me 6 years to get everything where I wanted it to be so take your time with this process! Xx
I am a creature of habit - there I've said it. I find comfort in routine and being able to set my clock to those daily tasks. I love planning ahead, and I feel comfort when everything is in its spot.
To jump outside of that comfort zone? What?? Why would someone choose to take part in this crazy trend?
We are raised to go to school, find a job/career, get married, buy a house and keep working to maintain whatever lifestyle you have set for yourself. So, I carved out a career in IT recruiting, met the boy, got married, bought the house and started raising kids. Did I love my career? Yes and no. It was fun and I felt like I was making a difference for those who craved a new career for themselves. However, it wasn't a job where I leapt out of bed every morning with determination nor did I feel 100% fulfilled. Having said all of that, life was good, there was routine and we were shuffling through life raising little kids and doing "the norm".
Fast forward to the year before I turned 40. My hubby and I started tossing around the idea of having me stay at home full time with the kids. His career had him travelling quite a bit so it made sense for me to manage our life full time. At first, I balked at the idea. I loved having a career and I loved being able to contribute financially to our household income. However, that was also the same year where I started to forget things like picture day or crazy hair day. My eldest had also joined the volleyball team at school but I could never catch any of his games because they happened while I was at work.
Once the ball dropped on NYE, on the year I turned 40, my perspective on life changed in an instant. Here I was given a chance to spend more time with my kids and get involved with their lives, school and sports. Why was I struggling with this decision? Oh right, it meant an upheaval to the routine that I felt I needed and life was comfortable and predictable.
In the end, I dove into the world of my kids and LOVED IT! I flipped pancakes at their school, organized fundraisers and blared the latest tunes while carting the kids and their friends to baseball and soccer tournaments.
While I loved being a full time Mum, the kids were in school full time so I was getting a little bored during the day. So, I took another step outside of that comfort zone and opened up the Shoppe. Did I know anything about running a small handmade business? Nope, but I have learned (and continue to learn) the ins and outs along the way and I fell in love with what I do. It's exciting to watch something that began as a crazy idea, begin to take root and grow.
Now that I'm becoming famous for shaking up my routine and comfort zone, I decided to fly over to Scotland with my best friends of 30 years and take on the West Highland Way. The "Way" is a 155km hiking trek that we did over 8 days. I mean, let's be real here, I'm the least outdoorsy person on earth. I don't camp unless it's in a cottage with a dishwasher, I have never hiked to the degree where I needed a pack or trail shoes and I love A/C. However, this was a chance to get my feet on my ancestral roots and do something completely out of the norm.
This experience really pushed us to our limits. The terrain was rough and it rained every single day (every.single.day), but the laughter and tears we shed on this journey far outweighed the pain. It was an unbelievable experience - one that I still can't quite put into words.
What I'm trying to say, is that this so called comfort zone that we nestle into is a great place to be - especially for those who crave routine. However, wonderful things happen when you push yourself outside that zone. The great thing about all of this is, is that if you step out and it doesn't work out, you can go back and try again. The important part is that you keep trying.
Last month, my aunt sent me a link to a crafty project that was due to start at the beginning of March. Anita, a lovely crochet designer based in the U.K., was commissioned by a yarn shop to design a blanket for the upcoming coronation of King Charles III. When this was announced everyone was quick to snag the yarn kit which included balls of pretty yarn and a commemorative label to add to your finished project. We found out about this project well after the fact so yarn kits were sold out however, we were able to piece together our yarn needs from a couple of different stockists from London. We couldn't use Canadian yarn for a project like this right? lol
Here is the finished blanket - I mean, the colours are simply beautiful.
Now, my crochet skills are very VERY basic only knowing the two main stitches, single and double crochet, so I was a little nervous about starting a project that looked way out of my league. However, being a Royalist and having an excuse to buy pretty yarn threw logic right out the window.
This is my first official Crochet a Long (CAL) and so far, I am LOVING it! Each week, a new part of the pattern is released which is great for a beginner. It means we only have to focus on small parts of the project at a time instead of feeling overwhelmed by staring at the entire pattern. The weekly release also includes how-to videos by the designer which helps those of us who are visual learners. Lastly, I'm part of a group on FB of lovely folks who are working on the same project and are at the ready with answers to questions that come up.
I have a feeling that this will be the first of many CAL's I take part in...and I'm currently taking wagers on how close to finished product I will get :)
If you want to make your own coronation keepsake, then follow the link below for more info.
CAL Link: https://sirdar.com/coronation-blanket-crochet-along
