Harobed goes to the movies - literally!

Although you wouldn't normally think of aprons as star material, two of my Harobed aprons have been featured on camera in the past while.

Both aprons were from my Team Family designs - aprons that come in mix and match colors and four sizes - that people buy for children as well as themselves.

One apron appeared in the well-received video - "Spiderman's Ultimate Foe".

The second was part of the costuming for the Shirley Regal character in the feature film "FriendsDon'tLetFriendsDateFriends (see below)".

(If you're wondering, yes, that is me, as I was in the movie. Next to me is Rhonda Parker, writer and director of this witty rom-com film.)

Keep your eyes peeled - you never know where Harobed aprons might show up next...

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

Counting down to the holidays/November Shows!

Hard to believe but we're now in the pre-holiday season and, at Harobed Designs, we've got a number of shows booked for November.












We've been hard at work, making lots of unique items that make perfect gifts. We're using some "teaser" photos around the edges of this post, to give you a taste of what we'll be offering - while supplies last!










This year, we're putting details about all our shows in a single blog post, so you can refer to a single post for any you'd like to attend.









Here is the calendar in a nutshell (see below for location and time details):


Sunday, November 17: Doane House Hospice, Newmarket

Friday November 22-Sunday November 24, Seasons Christmas Show, Toronto

Monday, November 25, Royal St. George's College, Toronto

Friday, November 29, United Way Craft Show, Newmarket




As always, some of these shows are fundraisers for good causes, so they offer an excellent way to stock up on your gifts while contributing to the community.


As for Harobed Designs, many of our one-of-a-kind items have been made from re-purposed fabric, trim and ribbon remnants, materials that would otherwise have to be discarded.




We'll have a selection of aprons in both adult and children's sizes,... luxury hangers - again for both adults and children... tea cozies... ladies vests... soft toys... and more. Exact items offered may vary from show to show.




Which would you rather offer your guests this holiday season...?

...This?

Or this...?

Stock up on some of our luxury hangers and wow guests when they arrive for your celebration!





Doane House Hospice            

10 a.m. - 4 p.m
Newmarket Community Centre
200 Doug Duncan Drive
Newmarket, ON
905-967-0259

Seasons Christmas Show         
10 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Fri)/ -6:00 p.m. (Sat)/ - 5:00 p.m. (Sun)
International Centre, Hall 5
6900 Airport Road
Mississauga, ON

Mistletoe Market                     
10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Royal St. George's College
Howland Avenue
Toronto, ON

20th Annual Craft & Gift Show           
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
York Region Admin Centre
17250 Yonge St.
Newmarket ON
905-830-4444


Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

April 2013 Shows: Coming to a neighborhood near you!

Polka dot crop jacket, comes in two versions

Harobed Designs, my company, is currently booked to do three shows this April!

Rather than create a separate blog post for each, I've decided to post once and put all the details in a single post, for everyone's reference.


Here are the dates and cities; full location details are at the end of the post, below the photos.






Sunday, April 14 - Thornhill, ON

Shawl in abstract design, from silk pieces

Sunday, April 21 - Bronte, ON

Saturday, April 27 - Waterdown, ON

With the approach of summer, I'll probably be changing the mix of items I offer, although everything has been designed here in Canada and made here as well.

Periwinkle cozy wrap

I'm still rather surprised - and sometimes shocked -  that, for some show visitors, the "Made in Canada' moniker seems to be a turnoff. These folks actually favor factory-made product from India and China;  when it is offered by one of the vendors, that's what sells.

Some shows have stricter policies and do not admit foreign imports

One-of-a-kind vest

Detail of vest

April 14, 2013

B.A.Y.T. Craft and Gift Sale, 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sponsorhood by the Sisterhood of BAYT synagogue, to raise funds for their community outreach work

Peony & sea foam hangers

613 Clark Avenue West, corner York Hill Blvd. Thornhill, ON, near Bathurst Street.

The show is in the wedding hall. Parking is available!



April 21, 2013

Spring Has Sprung!  10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bronte Legion Branch 486
79 Jones St. Oakville, ON near Lakeshore Rd.

Sponsred by The Paper Bag Bride.  Beneficiaries may be a local dog rescue organization, which the craft sale organizer hopes to have on site, with dogs for adoption.

I've been told there's "tons" of free parking spots and lots around!

April 27, 2013

Hostess pinny in sunflower

2nd Annual Spring Artisan & Craft Show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sponsored by the Waterdown Legion's Ladies Auxiliary (Branch 551)
Proceeds allow the Ladies Auxiliary to continue their work with veterans and their families.

If you have any questions, I can be reached at:

deborah(dot)harobeddesigns(at)gmail(dot)com

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

  

Winter Blues Vendors and Craft Bazaar (Feb. 23, 2013)

Who says you have to have the blues in winter? It's easy to avoid them by doing some shopping.

Whether you're looking for yourself - or for birthday or wedding gifts - you'll find plenty to choose from at the upcoming Winter Blues and Craft Bazaar.

Harobed Designs is taking part - and we're already wondering about the merchandise we'll be offering...







Is it still a good time of year to offer one of our luxurious tea cozies?












Or how about adding some sunshine to someone's life, via our sunflower yellow apron?

Then, there's always a selection of our Cozy Wraps, lightweight but super warm, in case anyone is going on a cruise or will be in overly air-conditioned places in the not-too-distant future...









Or, shall we give fashionistas a head-start on spring weather, with one of our one-of-a-kind vests?

All these and many more of the items we make are possible. But, to know for sure, you'll have to come out and join the fun!!

The Winter Blues Vendors and Craft Bazaar is being held at:

Erindale Presbyterian Church
1560 Dundas St. West
Mississauga, ON

The church is located just to the east of Mississauga Road, if my consultation of online maps serves me well.

Or, you can call the church for directions: 905-277-4564.

The show runs from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 23, 2013!

See you there!


Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

Unleash Your Inner Scarlet Woman!

February is all about Heart! Not only do we have Valentine's Day on February 14, the entire month has been chosen as heart month.

As a result, my company, Harobed Designs, is offering to donate $5 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, for any item purchased from the following, curated from our collection for our Unleash Your Inner Scarlet Woman special.


First, we offer several items in sumptuous velvet - stretch velvet, that can be washed in most cases.

 Pullover in luscious red velvet with white fox trim, size M

 Flirty Velvet vest with ruffle trim, size M

 Deep Crimson Poet jacket, one size fits most.

 Regal velvet vest with satin back and half-belt at back, size M

 Sheer scarlet cover-up, with black trim, one-size-fits-most








 Our Cranberry Glamor Wrap adds a touch of luxury to whatever you're wearing, especially when you are too busy to change before going out. A travel must-have! One-size-fits-most.




















You can also unleash your inner scarlet woman in more subtle ways... as with scarlet accents.

 Silk noil hostess pinny with stunning scarlet poppies. One-size-fits-most - and it's wasahble!

 There's no limit to where you can add a dash of scarlet! Chic hangers such as these give new life to your closet!

 Another cover-up option. Stylish enough to wear out and about - or save it for the boudoir. Again, scarlet adds a subtle but stunning accent. One-size-fits-most.

To purchase, please go to our Shopsite at the following link. Please note, to return to this page, you'll need to use your browser back button, not the Shopsite links.

http://www.deborahcsawyer.com/shopsite_sc/page6.html

Questions about items can be sent by email or via our office line 416-968-0786 or 716-852-2220.
Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

Give gifts for the home!

Team Family aprons: including sizes for kids!

It's that time of year - here in the Northern Hemisphere - where we tend to draw in and hunker down, to get through the colder weather and also deal with the short days and long nights.

All the more reason to think about the home, especially with gift-giving season on the horizon.

At our next show, we're featuring items for the home.

Shown here are just a few of the aprons we'll be offering to customers at the Mistletoe Market, held November 19, 2012 at Royal St. George's  College School in Toronto.

Want your guy to be more active in the kitchen? Try giving him a man-size apron!

Washable silk!

Royal St. George's College School is located in the Annex part of Toronto and is reachable from the Bathurst subway stop, on the Bloor-Danforth line, or the Spadina stop, a little further east. It's located between Howland and Albany, north of Barton.

Flirty polka dots

Public hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There are also a number of public "Green P" parking lots throughout the area plus 'first-come, first-served' street parking.

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

A true gem of a vest

With most of the vests and other items Harobed Designs makes, we create one-of-a-kind pieces and, occasionally, limited run quantities.

I strive to make each item truly a gem. Sometimes, this happens almost by chance. I found myself with some lovely teal ribbon plus some metallic ribbon with a hint of teal in it. Voila! A vest design suggested itself and I got to work

.
The result is truly special. The photos don't do this item justice. You really need to see it in person. It will pair beautifully with white... black... gray... teal... and delicate silver lurex if you have a top in that fabric. The teal can be picked up by the stones in your jewellery.

This vest is also ideal for any woman who prefers silver jewelery - the cool fire of the moon - as opposed to the hot fire of the sun (gold).

Such a vest is also a boon when you're travelling, especially if you are on a tour or other trip with a lot of sit-down dinners. With the right colors in your suitcase, just one skirt or pair of slacks, 2 or 3 tops, and 2 or 3 vests like this one, and you're all set.

As for this little gem, we'll be offering it for sale at the Made By Hand Show. It comes in Medium size only.

And only one lucky woman can own it!

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

This season, not just shades of gray...

There's been a lot of attention paid to gray lately with the publication of the book, 50 Shdes of Grey, but it's not just literature where gray is strong.



Some people are even referring to gray as the new black and, in truth, it is far more multi-seasonal an option than black. In the warmer weather, black can look heavy and make you feel heavy, whereas gray is lighter in look and color.



And, when temperatures drop, gray in suede, wools, knits, silks, etc., creates an extremely elegant silhouette for women of all ages.



With that in mind, I've created a few gray pieces for the upcoming Made By Hand Show on October 27, 2012, in S, M and L sizing.


These vests are truly versatile, you can wear them over a maxi dress... with a sweater and slacks... with a tunic and leggings, ...with a two-piece skirt suit, to turn it into a 3-piece and add another very stylish layer to your outfit.
The fronts of these vests feature our signature Maypole Weave (TM) fabric while the backs are made from washable micro-suede.

The photos show just three of these designs - and, just for those who truly seek the individual and unique, NO TWO ARE ALIKE. When you purchase one of these vests, you will truly own an original!

You can also learn more about Harobed Designs on our Facebook page, including an overview of some earlier designs:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harobed-Designs/167779129904463

For show details, please go to http://www.madebyhandshow.com