Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm spending the next few days relaxing with my family and enjoying the holidays.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful holiday season and that you get to spend some time with your loved ones!

pandacub wants...to keep calm and carry on

Ever since joining Etsy, I've seen many, many items with the "Keep Calm and Carry On" slogan. (If you're on Etsy a lot, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about).

The original "Keep Calm and Carry On" sentiment was used as a motivational poster and was produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of World War II, but never used. It was rediscovered in 2000 and has been re-issued by a number of private sector companies, and used as the decorative theme for a range of other products.

With only a few more shopping days until Christmas, I guess this motto can also work for us last-minute shoppers to take a breath, relax a little and enjoy the holidays before they're over!


Top row:
1. Keep Calm and Carry On-2010 Wall Calendar 13x19-Oxford Blue-Customizable Colors, $14.95 by KeepCalmPosters
2. Keep Calm and Carry On Blue Shopping Tote Bag, $35.00 by keepcalmandcarryon
3. Keep Calm and Carry On (Black) Keyring, $4.99 by SIMPLYCHARMlNG

Middle row:
4. Keep Calm and Carry On - Hot Pink - A Scrabble Tile Pendant , $6.95 by thegildedlily
5. Keep Calm and Carry On Giclee Print in Garnet 11 3/4 x 16 1/2 inches , $18.00 by PaaPuuPrints
6. Resin art cuff bangle bracelet - Keep Calm and Carry On in red, $20.00 by DesignsbyTami

Bottom row:
7. Keep Calm and Carry On, $39.90 by klacustomcreations
8. Keep Calm and Carry On Perfume, $15.50 by themefragrance
9. Keep Calm and Carry On Vinyl Wall Art Decal Laptop size, $8.50 by ChuckEBrydWallArt

50 books in 2009 - update 8

Here's update 8 for my "50 books in 2009" goal.

Eek! So little time left! I'm definitely not going to make 50 books, but it I'm still going to get as many read as I can with the time I have! My work schedule has been a lot more demanding than I had expected and has seriously cut into my personal time.

If you have any favourite books that you think I might enjoy, please leave me a comment or send me an email! I'd love to hear some of your book suggestions as I'm always look for something good to read! And there's always a goal to be made for next year! :)

1. I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles, finished Jan. 18
2. Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir, finished Jan. 27
3. Miss Marple's Final Cases by Agatha Christie, finished Jan. 30 (re-read)
4. Brief Gaudy Hour by Margaret Campbell Barnes, finished Feb. 8
5. The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson, finished Feb. 18
6. The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir, finished Mar. 3
7. Elizabeth by David Starkey, finished Mar. 11
8. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, finished Mar. 31
9. The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie, finished Apr. 3 (re-read)
10. King's Fool by Margaret Campbell Barnes, finished Apr. 21
11. Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie, finished Apr. 28 (re-read)
12. Gastronaut by Stefan Gates, finished May 3
13. The Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffrey Steingarten, finished May 13 (re-read)
14. It Must Have Been Something I Ate by Jeffrey Steingarten, finished May 25 (re-read)
15. Kitchen Con by Trevor White, finished June 4
16. The Year of Eating Dangerously by Tom Parker Bowles, finished June 18
17. The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain, finished July 2
18. The Best of Food Writing 2001, edited by Holly Hughes, finished July 14
19. The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory, finished July 28
20. My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes, Aug. 1
21. The Best of Food Writing 2003, edited by Holly Hughes, finished Aug. 4
22. The Best of Food Writing 2004, edited by Holly Hughes, finished Aug. 13
23. Candyfreak by Steve Almond, finished Aug. 20
24. I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles, finished Sept. 23 (re-read)
25. A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain
26. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
27. The Seville Communion by Arturo Perez-Reverte
28. My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme, finished Nov. 2
29. The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir, finished Nov. 17 (re-read)
30. Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton, finished Nov. 19

31. Young Bess by Margaret Irwin, finished Nov. 24

32. Elizabeth, Captive Princess by Margaret Irwin, finished Dec. 6

33. Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain by Margaret Irwin, finished Dec. 16

Currently Reading:

Sushi Economy by Sasha Issenberg

Coming Up:

101 Dishes to Eat Before You Die (I feel another set of goals coming on...)

what? it's december???

Wow - where did the year go?!

I can't believe that it's already December! I'm so not prepared for the holidays, although I have managed to buy a couple of gifts already and the only reason I bought them was because I got them on Etsy and I had to buy early to make sure they arrived on time in the post.

Otherwise - YIKES!

Which reminds me...time to start writing those greeting cards!!!

Are YOU ready?

free shipping at pandacub all weekend

Looking for some cute little accessories for the holiday gift-giving season?

My little Etsy shop, pandacub, is offering free worldwide shipping all weekend, so why not browse for some great deals?

Pandacub accessories make perfect stocking stuffers, or offer a imaginative way to decorate a gift!

Or...you can always treat yourself to something nice too!

pass the turkey...

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends! I hope you have a lovely long weekend holiday and lots of great food to enjoy!

november giveaway winners

Thanks everyone for entering my November giveaway for a set of menagerie bobby pins!

The 2 randomly-drawn winners are:
MizzSnape
JenniferB

Congratulations! You'll both get a set of menageris bobby pins with 5 animals of your choice! :)

more photos from vegas

Just a few more photos from our trip to Las Vegas.

The one crazy thing about Vegas is that the buildings imitate so many famous world landmarks.

This was outside the Venetian hotel (where we stayed)...which was a beautiful example of Italy - complete with gondolas


and Paris (the Paris hotel)....

How about New York City (New York, New York hotel)?


and Egypt (the Luxor hotel)...

Besides the international travel, there's so much light, sound and distractions in the city! But I did find lots to inspire me as well...

viva las vegas!

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I really enjoyed Las Vegas far more than I expected to. It's so...unreal! Everything is WAY bigger than life and all lit up. And the place just doesn't sleep!

No matter what time of day (or night) hubby and I headed out, there were always tons of people on the street and in the casino. The only thing that we didn't find easily was places to eat at 2 in the morning. :)

We stayed at the lovely Venetian hotel and the staff and service we received there was amazing.

There was one thing I HAD to do while in Vegas - and that was to do the CSI Experience at the MGM Grand (I'm a big CSI fan). It was a little disappointing, especially as it cost $30 a person, but I'm glad I did it. Basically, you get to "play" at being a CSI - you get a case, you examine the crime scene, go through the different labs and then present your findings. It was pretty simple, so it's hard to mess up, but at least I can now say I've done it.

What didn't disappoint was the Cirque du Soleil show we saw. There are so many to choose from in Las Vegas, but we decided to go see Love, which features music by the Beatles. It was mind-blowing! I can't even begin to describe the show. It was spectacular on so many levels. We had amazing seats and there was so much to take in. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has the chance to see it. It's definitely worth the price of the ticket (which is on the high side of Cirque shows). I'd see it again in a heartbeat.

We also checked out every hotel/casino on the Strip, saw the Bellagio fountain show 3 times (twice during the day and once at night), did a little shopping, a little gambling, and tried to avoid the street corner card "flickers" (if you've ever been to Vegas, you know what I'm talking about!)

The other thing I love about Las Vegas is the food. There's so much good food at every corner. And there are celebrity chef restaurants every where you look! If you want to check out what we ate while in Vegas, keep an eye on the food blog I share with my sister, Chubbi Bunnies. I'll be posting a day-by-day account of what we ate, along with lots of mouth-watering photos.

I'm sorry to say that I'm back to work tomorrow. It's really hard to come off of "vacation-mode", especially when you were having so much fun. I didn't think I'd like Vegas so much, but I had such a great time that I know we'll be going again soon!

love going on vacation and seeing this...

Well, pandacub and hubby are off to Las Vegas for a week! Finally! I'll be sure to share lots of photos once I return, but in the meantime, I hope everyone has a safe and lovely week.

p.s. I love the few hours before going on vacation and seeing this:

Weather in Toronto (where I'm leaving from):

Weather in Las Vegas (where I'm gong to):

introducing pandacub pips

I was kind of bored last night and doing some random Etsy stuff for my shop (cutting fabric, gluing bobby pins, etc) while watching TV and for no reason, decided to rename one of my products and expand the collection.

Some of my bobby pins that are made up of smaller buttons are sold in sets of 5 and I love making pretty matching sets. I had a few that were based on the seasons for inspiration and then others that were matched based on colour. They're a great way to accessorize with a little colour.

So, as I was playing with my fabric, I decided to try and create as many different colour sets as possible and will be posting these in my shop in the next couple of weeks.

Also, they used to be named after the seasons or colours, but I've decided to give them a common name and make it a real collection. So...I'm officially introducing...pandacub pips!

According to wikipedia: "Pips are small but easily countable items. It is used to describe the dots on dominoes, dice, denote suits, and is the name for the small seeds of some fruits. It could be used as a synonym for dot in most situations, for example morse code."

So, I think "pips" are a cute way to describe these little bobby pins. What do you think of the new name?

hello november!

Wow, I can't believe it's November already! There's only 2 more months left to 2009 and this year has absolutely flown by.

If you're planning on getting some pandacub goodies as gifts for the holidays, shop early and don't forget to take the busy holiday shipping times into account!

november giveaway

With the holidays coming up on us pretty quickly, my head is swimming in circles (well, part of that may be due to my vertigo, but that's another story...) with all the work that needs to be done!

So, to put a little bit of fun and cheer on my daunting To-Do list, I'm going to host a giveaway!

There will be 2 winners - each winner will win a set of their own menagerie bobby pins. These bobby pins are so cute! With slightly smaller buttons than my usual bobby pins, they feature a collection of cute animals. The winners will each get to choose FIVE animals to make up their own custom menagerie!

Here's how to enter:
Visit my shop, pandacub, then come back here and tell me what your favorite thing in the shop is! Just leave it in a comment on this post.

Want extra entries? (you must complete the first step above before doing these)
- 1 extra entry: Follow this blog. Leave a comment telling me that you've become a Follower or that you were already a Follower.
- 1 extra entry: Become a Facebook fan at http://www.facebook.com/pages/pandacub/82432588156. Leave comment telling me that you've become a fan.
- 3 extra entries: Follow me on Twitter (pandacubcafe) and tweet about this contest (use the tag @pandacubcafe so I can see your tweet). Leave a comment letting me know you've done this.
- 5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Leave a comment here and include the URL where I can see your post
- 10 extra entries: Buy anything from my pandacub shop. Come back and leave a comment letting me know what you bought and your Etsy username.


Remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Notes:
- This contest closes at midnight (ET) on Sunday, November 15, 2009.
- Winner is chosen randomly using a Random Number Generator.
- Winner will be announced on this blog shortly after the contest closes.
- This giveaway is open worldwide.

GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!

getting in the mood to be scared...

I'll admit it...I'm a wimp. I don't really care to be scared out of my wits. Watching 2 hours of a horror movie will give me vividle horrifying nightmares for 2 months. Oh, and I hate clowns.

Halloween for me was (as a child) more about getting candy and dressing up in a fun costume than being scared. So, now, as an adult, it's not a holiday I really do much for.

But I did have to have this necklace from Tiana Rutledge. It's really different, perfect for a subtle Halloween touch and it's even prettier in person!

star sign rings - update

These lovely baubles are going pretty quickly - maybe people are already starting their holiday shopping early?

As I mentioned before, only 2 of each ring was made, so these are in VERY limited edition. I would love to make more, but I can't find these vintage Italian intaglios anywhere so unless I can discover a new stash, these will stay at 2 each.

Here's an update on what's available:
Aries - 2 available
Taurus - SOLD OUT
Gemini - 1 available
Cancer - 1 available
Leo - 1 available
Virgo - SOLD OUT
Libra - 2 available
Scorpio - 2 available
Sagittarius - 2 available
Capricorn - 1 available
Aquarius - 2 available
Pisces - 2 available

pandacub travels to...Las Vegas, USA

This one is real, actually, as The Hubby and I have booked a trip to Las Vegas in November (hopefully this goes through, as our September trip was cancelled). We've never been and wanted to go and see what all the fuss is about. Neither one of us gamble, so we're there more for the lights, the sights, the sounds and the food!


Left to right:
Top row:
1. Vegas Vacation - 1.25 inch Pinback Buttons (8), $8.00 by stoopidgerl
2. Photo of Stone Angels and Roman Columns at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas - 5x7, $6.00 by mycraftyfamily
3. Going to the Chapel original painting vegas wedding vintage lounge lizard style by JSANDQUIST, $200.00 by Jsandquist

Middle row:
4. Las Vegas Skyline Cuff, Laser cut and Laser Etched, Hand Painted Acrylic, $35.00 by GetPersonalArt
5. Las Vegas Sign Necklace, $30.00 by plasticbat
6. Enjoy the View, $25.00 by PicturingThis

Bottom row:
7. Las Vegas Map Pinback Button Set, $3.00 by XOHandworks
8. Blingin Las Vegas Poker Chip Pendant, $12.00 by AForestFrolic
9. Las Vegas - Palm Trees - Wall Decals , $80.00 by BadassCustomDecals

happy thanksiving!

Ok, so this is a little late, but I was too busy enjoying turkey on Saturday, turkey on Sunday and then turkey leftovers today. :D

Anyhow, Happy Thanksgiving to all those in Canada!

pandacub wants...turkey!

It's going to be a food weekend because it's Thanksgiving weekend in Canada!

A really quick look at Wikipedia states that:
"Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. It is a holiday celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Thanksgiving dinner is held on this day, usually as a gathering of family members and friends."

Tomorrow we're going to be "gathering" with my family and then on Sunday, we're going to spend dinner with my hubby's family.

Traditionally, there's a turkey on the dinner table, so in honour of that tradition - here's a look at some turkey-related items I've found on Etsy!


Top row:
1. Little Gobbler Necklace - all sterling silver, $42.00 by PianoBenchDesigns
2. 2 Turkey Drumsticks Organic Catnip Cat Toys , $6.50 by OhBoyCatToy
3. Thanksgiving Turkey Custom Applique Tshirt, $20.00 by OhBananas

Middle row:
4. Gobble Gobble For a limited time Turkey Maryjanes, $20.00 by JLPerillo
5. Turkey Place Card/Photo Holder (Set of 6), $35.00 by melaniescrafts
6. Crochet Pattern- Chester the turkey boy amigurumi doll, $5.50 by Owlishly

Bottom row:
7. Thanksgiving Turkey Bib, $15.00 by AnneEverettRae
8. Make A Wish Necklace, $18.00 by crumpetcake
9. Turkey Day Thanksgiving Card, $3.00 by carriescards

what's your sign?

Back in May I previewed a line of Zodiac sign rings but I neglected to follow that post up with a showcase of the whole collection. So here it is!

Made with stunning vintage intaglios that shimmer with bright colours and golden Zodiac symbols, these are an extremely limited. I was only able to get my hands on 2 of each Zodiac symbol and I have been searching high and low and have not been able to find any more of the intaglios.

So that means that I can only create 2 of each ring and once they're gone, they're gone! They are only available in the pandacub Etsy shop. I've already sold a few of these gorgeous rings, so grab your symbol - quick!

pandacub wants...hockey

"Well, hello out there, we're on the air, it's hockey night tonight..."

Ok, so I don't actually have to "want" hockey because the NHL season starts tonight! Eeee. It's been a long summer. My Fantasy Draft hockey pool team is raring to go I'm ready to watch lots of hockey, hockey, hockey!


Left to right:
Top row:
1. Have an Ice Day Baby Infant Bib, $5.99 by fun2wear2
2. The Maple Leaf Forever, $20.00 by Joliet
3. Hockey Skate Bootie, $12.90 by creativepastimes

Middle row:
4. Little Hockey Players, $18.99 by reniebritenbucher
5. I BELIEVE hockey photo card , $3.50 by jmillen
6. Hockey Puck Necklace, $14.00 by HaraAnn

Bottom row:
7. Hockey Player Handling the Puck Decorative Wood Silhouette, $8.80 by mountainbrook
8. Realistic Hockey Puck Soap , $5.00 by daisycakessoap
9. Free Range Hockey Scenario 1 - limited edition giclee print 2/100, $30.00 by LouisaArmbrust

pandacub wants...capricorns

I'm a Capricorn, the astrological sign for those born between December 21 and January 20. The tenth sign of the zodiac, Capricorn is an earth sign, ruled by Saturn and represented by a sea goat.


Left to right:
Top row:
1. Capricorn - Zodiac Charm Pendant Necklace with Garnet, $33.00 by turquoising
2. Capricorn Sign Button Set, $3.99 by ziggyflop
3. Capricorn Print 5 x 7, $20.00 by rottobee

Middle row:
4. My Girl Stud Earrings - Green Paper Lucky Star For Capricorn, $3.00 by funnysky
5. Capricorn Incense, $6.25 by SpiritualRadiance
6. Capricorn - Sterling silver zodiac pendant, $28.00 by nellyvansee

Bottom row:
7. star sign - capricorn . ring ., $25.00 by pandacub
8. Capricorn Zodiac Birthday Card, $5.00 by horoscopus
9. Old Goat - CC Star Vintage Necktie Coin Purse, $25.00 by ccstar

pandacub travels to...Rome, Italy

My husband and I definitely have Italy on our list of places to travel to in the near future (he's half-Italian). Not only does Italy have stunning artwork and lots of culture - who can forget the food!?


Left to right:
Top row:
1. Rome - 4 Coaster Set, $16.00 by gertiebyrd
2. Roma, $10.00 by ktwigs81
3. Coliseum, Rome, 8 x 10 Photo Art Print, $12.00 by DESIGNbyHELEN


Middle row:
4. Digital Collage Sheet ATC ACEO Backgrounds Altered Doors Roma Doors, $3.75 by DigitalCollageSheets
5. Vatican Museum Stairs, Italy Fine Art Photograph - Framed, $85.00 by lunagraphx
6. The Tiber, $20.00 by risamay

Bottom row:
7. The Coliseum Necklace, $34.00 by LePhotique
8. Roma Vintage Coat of Arms Pendant and Bottle Glass Necklace, $38.00 by GreighdayVintage
9. Roma Hand-Stamped Pillow Cover, 16 x 16 in Tan Ticking, $35.00 by UnionStudio

sneak attack!

A few months ago I participated in my first Sneak Attack and got an AWESOME blue maple leaf hair pin (perfect for when I go to hockey games - you'll get that if you're a NHL fan).

Since then I've been a big fan of Sneak Attacks. The team is so supportive and full of lovely Etsians who are supportive, encouraging and super fun! I'm so glad I joined this group and they have welcomed me with open arms.

I decided to take a more active part with the team and am sponsoring my first Sneak Attack tomorrow (Monday, September 28, 2009). As a sponsor I'm responsible for choosing the next shop "victims" and I'm very excited with the shops I found!

To learn more about Sneak Attacks and to participate (and see the shops I picked), check out the web site at www.handmademovement.com.

50 books in 2009 - update 7

Here's update 7 for my "50 books in 2009" goal. I'm seriously behind. With all the family drama that has been going on lately, I have barely even cracked open a book. With only 3 months left in 2009, I highly, HIGHLY doubt that I'll hit 50 books this year, but it was fun trying! I'm still going to plug away and hope for the best.

If you have any favourite books that you think I might enjoy, please leave me a comment or send me an email! I'd love to hear some of your book suggestions as I'm always look for something good to read!

1. I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles, finished Jan. 18
2. Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir, finished Jan. 27
3. Miss Marple's Final Cases by Agatha Christie, finished Jan. 30 (re-read)
4. Brief Gaudy Hour by Margaret Campbell Barnes, finished Feb. 8
5. The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson, finished Feb. 18
6. The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir, finished Mar. 3
7. Elizabeth by David Starkey, finished Mar. 11
8. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, finished Mar. 31
9. The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie, finished Apr. 3 (re-read)
10. King's Fool by Margaret Campbell Barnes, finished Apr. 21
11. Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie, finished Apr. 28 (re-read)
12. Gastronaut by Stefan Gates, finished May 3
13. The Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffrey Steingarten, finished May 13 (re-read)
14. It Must Have Been Something I Ate by Jeffrey Steingarten, finished May 25 (re-read)
15. Kitchen Con by Trevor White, finished June 4
16. The Year of Eating Dangerously by Tom Parker Bowles, finished June 18
17. The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain, finished July 2
18. The Best of Food Writing 2001, edited by Holly Hughes, finished July 14
19. The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory, finished July 28
20. My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes, Aug. 1
21. The Best of Food Writing 2003, edited by Holly Hughes, finished Aug. 4
22. The Best of Food Writing 2004, edited by Holly Hughes, finished Aug. 13
23. Candyfreak by Steve Almond, finished Aug. 20
24. I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles, finished Sept. 23 (re-read)

Currently Reading:


Sushi Economy by Sasha Issenberg
A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain

Coming Up:

101 Dishes to Eat Before You Die (I feel another set of goals coming on...)
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

more photos from the wedding...

I just like teasing my sister since she hasn't gotten her "official" wedding photos yet...

sunny september

As most of you know, September didn't get off to a great start for me and my family, but this past weekend we had something to celebrate!

My younger sister (and only sibling) got married this past Saturday! It was a super-sunny day, but not too hot and she looked stunning.


I'm so happy for her...and wanted to thank her for fuelling my addiction to French macarons. You see, her wedding favour was a sweet box of 4 macarons for each guest, but she gave me an extra box. On top of the box I actually received. Plus I stole my hubby's box. Yep, that's right. 12 macarons...all for me. That was Saturday. I have 2 left.

I do have lots more photos to share, but I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet. Too busy eating macarons. Haha!

giveaway winners!

I printed out all the entries to the One-Year Etsy-versary Giveaway, cut them all up, put all the names into a cap and pulled out the winners late Monday night. I've just finished emailing all the winners and while I wait to hear back from them, I thought I'd share them here now.

I can't wait to see what they buy with their pandacub gift certificates!

Here are the winners:

$30 Gift Certificate
- Sophie

$10 Gift Certficate
- secret cake
- Beth
- JennTRC
- SoyPea

thank you, thank you, thank you

I have some of the best blog readers and Etsy friends around!

Thank you all so much for the tons of lovely emails, blog comments and Etsy convos I've received in the past week since my grandmother had a stroke and passed away.

Even though I haven't met most of you, your sincere thoughts and well-wishes are very much appreciated and definitely helped to make my days a little brighter and gave me something to look forward to. Please know that even if I didn't get to thank each of you personally, I did read everything that was sent my way and enjoyed every message.

I'm back at my day job, back to work, and trying to catch up on all that I've missed. There's lots to be done (my sister is getting married this weekend!), lots of new goodies coming soon (like Twilight-inspired bobby pins) and of course, lots of new photos!

*HUG*

pandacub + shrimp salad circus = giveaway

Just wanted to post a quick note to let everyone know that the lovely Lindsay from Shrimp Salad Circus blog (one that I check out daily) has a great feature on me and my shop!

Head on over and you may learn a few new things about me, see some of my favourite things on Etsy, plus enter to win a $15 shop credit to pandacub!

sorry i've been absent...

Hi gang,

Some of you already know this, but the lack of blog posts this week was due to me spending most of my time in the hospital with my grandmother and then falling asleep in exhaustion.

I had booked this week off for vacation because hubby and I were supposed to fly to Las Vegas for a much-awaited vacation (our first trip in 2 years) but my grandmother passed away on the day we were scheduled to leave, so needless to say my "vacation" has been sad, tiring and very busy.

Needless to say, I haven't done much blogging, Etsying, or much of anything else, but I promise to try to return to some semblance of normalcy on Monday (when I return to work).

Talk to you all soon!

gloomy...

September has started with a bummer. A couple of bummers, to be exact.

My beloved and inspiring grandmother was admitted to the hospital yesterday. They're still waiting for more tests to be completed, but initial tests suggest that she suffered a stroke in her sleep. She hasn't woken up since yesterday, although she's still breathing on her own.

My grandmother is 85 and has lived more of a life than most people. She raised children as a single, working mom in Hong Kong (how's that for a modern woman?), was a business executive, has traveled around the world (my favourite photo is of her on a camel in front of the pyramids), owned her own flower shop and was super-crafty (you should see her flower arrangements and her soap animals!). I really hope she wakes up and spends a few more years with us...

Then when I got home, I discovered that my adored little newt, Habanero, had died. I put his tiny little body into a tiny little black box and will bury it in the garden today.

September - you are definitely starting out to be my least favourite month of 2009.

pandacub wants...more summer!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I definitely feel like this year's summer has been a total wash-out. And I love hot weather so I'm definitely not happy about it. Especially since I have a long, bitter Canadian winter ahead of me.

So, I'm shopping for summery Etsy things in a bid to extend my favourite season a little bit longer!


Left to right:
Top row:
1. Walnut Thong Mohop Sandals, $90.00 by mohop
2. Let The Sunshine In, Giclee Art Print, $20.00 by printspace
3. 4th of July soapsicles, $4.00 by anniepoo

Middle row:
4. footprint photo notecard, $3.00 by photographybyjenna
5. Set of 3 prints - Panda, $16.00 by photovalle (a little panda sitting on a beach? How perfect is that???)
6. Red Retro Halter Swimsuit maillot pin-up, $62.00 by TheRedDolly

Bottom row:
7. Ice Cream Is Necessary (Print), $18.00 by thedreamygiraffe
8. BBQ Party Invite, $1.50 by helloholley
9. Coconut Earrings, $5.00 by sparklebyalexiacarla

where did the summer go?

I can't believe that it's August 31 already. I'm in serious denial that the summer is coming to an end. It doesn't help that we have had an unusually cool summer here in Toronto which means I feel like I haven't had a summer at all. Humph.

Usually, I love the fall because it means I get to wear cute jackets and light sweaters, and of course, the leaves turn a stunning array of colours. Now that I'm all grown-up, it also means I don't really dread the return to school like I used to.


But, the start of fall also means that winter is just around the corner. And I'm seriously not ready for that yet.

pandacub wants...apples

I don't know why, but autumn always makes me think of apples. Crisp, juicy apples. Or apple pie. mmmmm....

Wait, I just noticed that I seem to do a lot of features on food! haha!


Left to right:

Top Row:
1. Appreciate Your Teachers Sugar Cookies, $15.00 by sugarcookiecouture
2. The Little Apple Tree Soap, $5.50 by sunbasilgarden
3. Scrabble Tile Pendant - Twilight Bite, $5.95 by ThePendantFactory

Middle row:
4. Reusable Cloth Sandwich Bag -- Fresh Red Apple, $6.00 by RosyUndPosy
5. Fresh apples - Canvas pouch, $18.00 by Happybee
6. Gus, $19.00 by flowerhead

Bottom row:
7. Granny Smith, $9.00 by BRadleyBB
8. Adorable Apple Cozy, Hand-Crocheted, $8.50 by UnravelMe
9. The Purist's Caramel Apple, $7.00 by sugarsmitten

2009 kids trunk show at the workroom

I had such a blast this past Sunday at the 2nd annual Kids Trunk Show at the workroom in Toronto. I met some lovely new local crafters and picked up a few treasures as well.

Vintage Paper Parade

Operation Sock Monkey

pupa pupa

I ended the day making two new friends who came home with me! :) Aren't they adorable? I received a super-soft sock monkey from Operation Sock Monkey and a very sweet skunk from pupa pupa. (I'll be doing a feature on both of them later in September).

For more great photos from the event, check out the workroom's Flickr set of the Kids Trunk Show!

pandacub wants...coffee

I love coffee. I love the smell, the taste, the way it wakes me up in the morning. I love my Tim Horton's, my Starbucks and my Illy. I love it hot, cold, as ice cream, as candy. Yep, I'm definitely obsessed with coffee.

Glad to see I'm not the only one!

Left to right:

Top row:
1. Java Latte Coffee Soap, $5.00 by sunbasilgarden
2. Antiqued Brass Coffee Cup Necklace, $6.90 by bunnylogic
3. Death Before Decaf 1 inch pinback button, $1.25 by brainscan

Middle row:
4. caffeine necklace - an elegant representation of your favorite molecule, $85.00 by molecularmuse
5. I Heart Coffee - Art Print, $20.00 by MintPaperie
6. Coffee Corset - Disco Dots in Blue and Aqua, $12.00 by jenngee

Bottom row:
7. Coffee Time in Turquoise Zipper pouch, $7.00 by MadameCupcake
8. Ring - Tiny Little Spot of Coffee , $8.00 by dirtroadsouth
9. Coffee Mug and Bean Set of Hand Carved Mini Rubber Stamps, $5.00 by cupcaketree

one-year Etsy-versary Giveaway!

I can't believe that pandacub is one-year old today! When I opened up shop I wasn't sure what was going to happen and now, 365 days later, I'm at 291 sales, with one craft show under my belt (and another one this weekend) and being sold in 3 retail shops! I'm stunned!

And very, VERY thankful to my lovely customers, supportive Etsy friends, lovely Etsy teammates and encouraging shop owners. A big shout-out to my amazing sister and patient husband, who both have to deal with my questions, weird crafty ideas, marketing comments and general Etsy-obsession.

Since my shop is kind of empty at the moment because a lot of my inventory is being prepped for the Kids Trunk Show this weekend, there won't be any in-shop promotions just yet. But I am having a GIVEAWAY!

This time, I'm giving away five prizes! Yes FIVE!
- one winner will receive a $30 shop credit to spend on anything at pandacub
- four other winners will receive a $10 shop credit to spend on anything at pandacub

Here's how to enter:
Visit my shop, pandacub, then come back here and tell me what your favorite thing in the shop is! Just leave it in a comment on this post.

Want extra entries? (you must complete the first entry above before doing these)
- 1 extra entry: Follow this blog. Leave a comment telling me that you've become a Follower or that you were already a Follower
- 1 extra entry: Follow me on Twitter (pandacubcafe). Leave a comment telling me that you've become a Follower or that you were already a Follower
- 5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Leave a comment here and include the URL where I can see your post
- 10 extra entries: Buy anything from my pandacub shop. Come back and leave a comment letting me know what you bought and your Etsy username

Remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Notes:
- This contest will end at midnight (EST) on Monday, September 14, 2009.
- Winner is chosen randomly using a Random Number Generator.
- Winner will be announced on this blog shortly after the contest closes.
- This giveaway is open worldwide.

GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!

more info on the Kids Trunk Show

If you're in the Toronto area this Sunday, don't forget to swing by the workroom to say hi and pick up some pandacub goodies in person! Plus, meet some other very lovely local crafters! And who can say no to free snacks and iced teas?!

See you there!

(Click on the image to get the full-size version)

pandacub wants...bacon

Nothing says breakfast to me like bacon (and hash browns, and pork sausages, and panckes...) Hmmmmmm...

Anyhow, the smell of bacon sizzling on a pan on a Saturday morning is awesome. I wasn't too surprised that there were a lot of crafty things inspired by the yummy bacon on Etsy, but still...there were A LOT of items!

By the way, chocolate-covered BACON??? How in the sweet-world have I not tried this yet?

Left to right:

Top row:
1. The Bacon Box, $16.95 by lucachocolate
2. Happy Bacon Buddies - handcrafted clay jewelry set, $12.00 by closetoyourheart

3. King Of Meats Print 5x5, $10.00 by waterbears

Middle row:
4. Yummy Bacon Necklace polymer clay, $20.00 by MistyAurora
5. bacon lover greeting card, $3.00 by willotoons
6. Dancing Bacon Magnet, $1.25 by KungFuCowgirl

Bottom row:
7. Tastes Like Bacon, $32.00 by diffractionfiber
8. 4 slices of bacon - vegan soap, $4.00 by DirtyAssSoaps
9. hand painted silk bacon scarf, $57.00 by crrysstall