I had an amazing time at Got Craft? and met so many lovely people. It was a fantastic show as per usual – the lotus events duo always do a stellar job. This time they had their work cut out for them a bit more than usual with the last-minute venue change. They rose to the occasion and found a great venue (Templeton Secondary – yep, we all went back to high school!) and it was a great turn-out!

I always seem to debut new products at Got Craft, last holiday show was the first time I sold my mason jar candles (which sold out the first day!) and this spring I tried out some small coloured mason jar candles, along with some vintage/reclaimed crystal and glassware candles.

I’m really excited about the great response I received to both of them and will definitely be making more for upcoming shows.

coloured mason jar candles

vintage/reclaimed glassware candles

Also, I can’t wait to take part in the mini Got Craft? at the Vancouver Mini Maker Faire!

Check out the upcoming events page for more info!

I cannot say enough good things about this past weekend at the Make It! show.

It was fantastic to be surrounded by so many talented and passionate crafters, designers and artists. I had a ton of fun and met so many wonderful people. As always, Jenna and Chandler did an awesome job organizing everything and everyone I saw – both visitors and vendors – was smiling all weekend. 

I was busy all weekend and didn’t get a chance to take many pictures, so unfortunately these few iPhone snaps will have to suffice.

But before we get to those – I’d like to send a huge hello and high-fives to some of the other vendors I met this weekend:

My lovely neighbours Jill at Bees Wax Works and Madeline and Laurent at Arbutus Candle Company (needless to say, our section smelled amazing!)

Anita and her awesome knit goods (definitely wishing I had made it over to get one!) at Make More Happy, Marlene (who shares my love of vintage books and ephemera) at Quotes & Notes, Jen at Jen Ellis Designs and Lana from Lana Betty who are both also going to be at Got Craft? this coming weekend!

I chatted with and met more vendors than that, but for the sake of actually posting this, I have to unfortunately leave it there.

Also big hugs to old friends Kat from Foe and Dear, Sarah from Sarah Mulder Jewelry, Kellie from The Rice Babies, Kari from Belvedere and Christi from Bueno Style!

you can head over to http://www.etsy.com/shop/hellolittlewren and have a look

It’s still pretty new and I’m in the process of adding more items, so if you have any feedback or tips I’d love to hear them.  Regardless, I’m so excited to finally be selling my products online!

2) I will be at the Make It! Vancouver April 19 -21!

Click on the image above or head over here to get $1 off admission to the show

3) I will be at the Got Craft? show April 27 & 28!

I am so incredibly thrilled to be taking part in these amazing shows!

They are my ‘can’t miss’ shows in Vancouver. Each time I go I’m blown away by the talent and how well they are organized. I could honestly go on and on about how great Make It and Got Craft are and why you should come if you’re in Vancouver, but for once in my life I’ll keep it simple:

they’re super fun, they’re full of a ton of cool people selling awesome stuff, and I’d love to see you there!

I’ll be selling different things at each shows (one of the benefits to making a lot of different things) so I highly recommend coming by and visiting me at both shows.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I originally saw the idea for the surprise inside cake here and had to try it! 

It didn’t go quite according to plan, but luckily it turned out in the end. The main problem was I used a regular cake recipe when I should have used a pound cake recipe. So use a pound cake recipe. 

Basically you make two cakes. They can be different kinds or you can dye one and not the other (which is what I did).

First, you bake the one that is going to be the shape inside the cake. Once it’s baked and cooled (you can put it in the fridge), you cut it up in to thick slices and then cut the shapes out with a cookie cutter.  

Then prepare the batter for the second cake. Put the cut out shapes in the bottom of a second pan – I put a bit of  batter on the bottom first so the hearts wouldn’t tip over – and then cover them completely with the batter for the outside cake. Bake as usual, though I would recommend checking to see if it’s done often from about 30 minutes onward. 

I’m excited to try it again! (with the proper type of recipe for the type of pan I used this time) It would be great with an bunny shape for Easter or an initial for a child’s birthday. 

I had a wonderful holiday season and am so thankful for all the support I’ve received from friends, family, Eva & my BFC family and of course all the wonderful people I’ve met along the way.

After a little (ok, big) winter break from blogging I’m back (I promise!) and excited to start some more DIY’s and baking! I’ve also made it a 2013 goal to go on more photo walks so there will probably be pictures from those too (warning: expect lots of west coast nature pictures). I’m also fervently working on applying to more craft fairs around Vancouver and starting an etsy store! Very exciting times friends, very exciting times :)

Anyways, bear with me as more  posts will be coming soon! 

In the meantime, enjoy this picture from a Christmas glitter tree DIY I didn’t get a chance to post in time (ah well, next Christmas I suppose)

I was recently asked to take part in the Dunbar Craft Fair, and even though I only had three weeks to prepare I jumped at the chance.

I have taken part in a few of the Got Craft shows in the past with Barefoot Contessa and always had a great time , but have never done a show on my own. So like I said, it was a busy, busy three weeks leading up to the fair making stock and getting my displays ready… But it all came together and I had a wonderful time and was thrilled with how the day went.

I was also fortunate to have the greatest table neighbours – Christine, with her adorable line fieldtrip, and her husband Stephen were just the nicest and Sylvie with her line Blackbarn Ink was so lovely as well.  I highly recommend you check out both their lines – such talented ladies! I also met a ton of wonderful people who attended the show – it was great to see so many of the items I worked hard to make go to good homes. 

Unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to take any pictures with my fancy camera, but thank goodness for my fancy phone. Here are a few pictures I managed to snap in between rushes.

A HUGE thank you goes to everyone who came out to the show and to my fantastic family and friends for all their support!  

A summer full of enjoying Vancouver in the sunshine took me away from the computer and making things. I had fun, a lot of fun (and even got a bit of a tan!) but as a result I am now working like a mad woman making stock for holiday sales. I have to say, although I whole-heartedly enjoyed myself this past summer, the story of the ant and the grasshopper keeps playing through my head.

Luckily I love what I do and the late nights and hard work are still pretty fun – it’s great to be creating again! 

I’ve been busy creating new products and developing a new look for my Little Wren line (the blog will also be getting a bit of a facelift in January)

Here are a few pictures of the new little wren tags and logo – what do you think?

(these pictures are from my little wren instagram account, follow me here)

Also, keep an eye out for more news about the little wren line (and hopefully a few more posts about fun DIY projects and yummy treats) I’m so excited to share what I’ve been up to with all of you!

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to blog as often as I’d hoped… but I did manage to squeeze in a lot of fun. I’m happy to say that although I have ended up working more than I’d originally hoped, I have definitely been enjoying the summer sunshine! Here are a few snippets from my July…

I did some Canada Day baking – yum! 

I went to the beach… a lot. I’ve become quite the beach bum this year and I have to say, I love it! I feel so fortunate to live close to the ocean, and this is one year where I won’t regret not getting down to the beach more often come September.

I wore some cute things…

I had some yummy drinks…

And of course, admired some pretty flowers…

(all these photos are from my instagram account – you can follow me @laurenjrw and @hellolittlewren)

I was recently over in Victoria for my god-son’s Hungry Caterpillar themed first birthday. It was such a fun day! 

My fabulous and super talented friend Jessica (of Little Pickle Photography) did an AMAZING job putting the day together – she thought of everything! So much thought went in to the food, decor, party favours… everything really. Little thoughtful details that add to a theme always impress me most – they just add so much to an event don’t you think? 

Anyways, it was a wonderful day and here are a few pictures I took with my phone – though I wholeheartedly suggest you check out the far superior pictures on the Little Pickle blog as well. 

They’re a new addition to my Little Wren lineup, and they’ve become a fast favourite of mine. I love that when you’re wearing one it looks like one of those double rings that seem to be so popular right now… but you can actually move your fingers properly, which is something I always enjoy ;)