Busy gal

Our pal Emily (you remember … pretty brunette, studio shop in Toronto’s Distillery District, master embroiderer, mother to super-cute Claire and wife to brainiac Mike), is right in the eye of the storm; the storm called Christmas.

Firstly, she’s re-invented her previously pretty-smart website (www.emilyhamill.com) into one which more closely resembles her work; sophisticated, integral, honest. She is, after all, the real thing; an artisan.

Then, she’s been profiled in November’s Canadian House and Home Magazine (a full page called Style Files – look for the cute pic!).

And now she’s full-steam-ahead prepping to Toronto’s huge Christmas One-Of-A-Kind show. I’ve also heard from a reliable source that little Claire was decked out as Max (from Where the Wild Things Are) for Hallowe’en, courtesy of Emily’s talented tailoring.

And what’s next for our stitching vixen? Stay tuned …

Emily escapes the big smoke

Our friend Emily, who is a magnificent embroiderer, pried herself away from daughter and hubby and hoped on ViaRail to spend a few days with us. We haven't seen her since we moved away a few months ago and she was a welcome sight. After catching-up on our deck and a brief night's sleep we rose to watch the birds bickering over their breakfast seed in our feeders while eating our omelette and planning the days adventures. We started the day walking along the Talbot Trail (part of the Trans Canada Trail) to City Coffee and the Library, before heading to the Beanery for some lunch (yumm). Emily gave us two lovely gifts; a hand-embroidered button for each of us - I got a kitten face and Neil got his favourite little blue briefs. Her studio in the Distillery District in Toronto is heaven for anyone who loves embroidery - we have some of her napkins and rings, a pillow and one of her incredible stitched forest "paintings". We've been fortunate to give many friends her baby gift-sets and lavender sachets. Thanks Em!