At Home with Kim Vallee

GIFT IDEAS, Gift WRAP | November 19, 2009

Reusable Crackers and Gift Bags by Pi’lo | etsy watch

We have to admit that gift wrapping during the Holiday quickly filled the trash can. It makes sense to explore ways to be more ecologically conscious. And when the packages are as great as these, being eco-friendly feels like an indulgence. The founder of Pi’lo is Heather Shaw, a Torontonian mother of 2 young boys. She hand [...]

GAMES and Toys, KIDS + BABY | November 10, 2009

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Adorable Owls by Kenana Knitters

You will feel double pleased of yourself if you buy a knitted owl by Kanana Knitters as a Christmas gift for a kid. These adorable dolls are fair trade. They are handmade by a knitting cooperative aimed at improving the living conditions of rural women in Kenya. Right now, 300 knitters from nine different tribes [...]

ENTERTAINING, HOLIDAY entertaining | October 5, 2009

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Zombie Plates on etsy

Each zombie plate is unique since they are hand-painted by the Seattle-based artist behind the blog Urban Soule (soule is her etsy shop). She also makes zombie mugs. Plus, you can host a scary Halloween party without fearing the dishes since her plates are dishwasher-safe. This a great find by Angela of Shelterrific, who is [...]

DINING, TABLEWARE | September 28, 2009

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Porcelain Tableware by Linda Bloomfield

UK potter Linda Bloomfield creates simple shapes with tactile satin mat glazes and subtly colored interiors. I like her style. Her tableware collection is sold through many art galleries and retailers across Britain. Lucky for us, the US-based retailer Hygge & West, which ships to Canada in top of the Unites States, carries her line. + [...]

ALL occasions, GIFT IDEAS | September 9, 2009

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Pincushions and Bowling Pins

These two items were to cute for not mentioning them. First, the cutest pincushions I have seen. Renilde was inspired by a small fishing village theme to create this series. Her needlework plays with basic forms in red, white and blue. The pincushions are available at Mieke Willems, a small shop in Belgium. Renilde has [...]

HOME + GARDEN, HOME office | August 19, 2009

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Found Travel Memories and School Themes at Poppytalk Handmade

Poppytalk handmade is a great online market place where you can to fall upon unique finds. You can find original pieces like these illustrations by Matte Stevens. It happens to depict two places I have been to. + Gramercy Park NYC illustrates a stunning area. It is unbelievable that a fenced-in private park still exists in [...]

GAMES and Toys, KIDS + BABY | August 15, 2009

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Crayon Rolls and Wall Wear by Canadian Talents | etsy watch

While I was on etsy, I came across this crayon roll by Little Bird Designs of Vancouver, BC. This is one thing that parents should always carry with them. This ready-to-go crayon roll holds 10 crayons (or colored markers). Just roll, fold over – front to back – and tie! The crayons are included with [...]

KIDS + BABY, KIDS rooms | August 15, 2009

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Building a Nursery Decor from a Cushion | etsy watch

Any home decor starts with an inspiration, a pattern or an item on which you develop your concept. To avoid the obvious theme, why not shop at etsy to find unique cushions that will become the building blocks of your nursery decor? These four cushions are naive to suit a baby environment, yet they are sophisticated. + [...]