Crafty Movement Comes Home

There’s a bohemian DIY craft movement bubbling just below the surface of the London mainstream shopping experience. On Saturday July 17th, local Londoners can get a peak into this movement as Jamie (aka Batty) hosts a crafty open house at the edge of Old South London. Jamie’s the soap maker behind “Batty’s Bath” and says that “our last open house was so successful, we had to do it again and this time, we wanted our friends there too”. This time Jamie will be joined by several of her crafty friends including Brandy and Erin, the monster makers behind beStuffies, and Elizabeth of ElizabethMD Jewelry Designs.

Batty’s Bath, offers delicious bath products made with cruelty free and vegan friendly locally sourced ingredients. Jamie is a self-proclaimed “tree hugger,” who integrates her motto of “tread lightly” into what she creates – whether it’s through the ingredients she uses or in her packaging. Some of her products include the delicious chocolate covered strawberries lip balm, citrus mist body scrub, coconut cream whipped body butter and other mouth-watering flavours For more details and a sneak peak at products available please visit BattysBath.com

beStuffies, creates a variety of creatures and totebags including monsters, bears, zombies, vampires, aliens and market bags. Their products are made from a variety of new materials, recycled materials, and odds and ends that may otherwise have been discarded. Their goal is to create imaginative and unique plush softies. All their creatures are made with love and care. Their motivation stems from a want to move away from mass produced product into the one of kind handmade. For more details and a glimpse at their products please visit beStuffies.com

ElizabethMD offers one of a kind jewelry for one of a kind women. Everything from being draped in swarovski crystals for a black tie affair, to fun every day bracelets, necklaces and earrings that will never go out of style. Being a one of a kind designer, there is constant change going on in the shop so to keep up check in often at ElizabethMD.etsy.com

Londoners and other area locals looking for unique handmade finds will want to come out to this open house between noon and 7pm on Saturday July 17, 2010. For directions, address location, and more visit the Facebook Event Page.

Local Loving

Drew and I finally had some days off together so we totally took advance of this rarity! We got out and about to a few of the local hot spots that we've been wanting to check out. Our first stop was the new Relish restaurant. They had their grand opening on June 11th and I had heard so many good things about them since then! Good news travels fast! I love that a "veggie burger" isn't some after thought at the bottom of the menu - any of their burgers can be a veggie burger! They have 40 different "burger topping combos" and you choose what type of patty you'd like. Drew and I have a hard time finding places that we both like so Relish was SO refreshing because we both loved everything we got! We'll definitely be back again soon :)

Next on our list of places to visit was Weezi (also see her Etsy shop here). Lisa and I had become "twitter friends" but hasn't meet in person yet so Drew and I took the opportunity to walk up to her shop on Friday. I've got to say it's one of the funky and cutest places I've been in a long time! Lisa and I hit it off right away in person and you'd swear we had known each other for years! It's so great meeting like-minded people who are also just a few blocks away!! I seriously can't tell you how excited I've been lately about connecting and forming friendships with such amazing people like Lisa, Erin, and Brandy! You girls all rock my world!

If you're in London, Ontario and haven't been to Relish or Weezi yet, get your butts down there!

Relish is located at 135 Wortley Road.

Weezi (shown in the picture->) is located at the corner of Albert and Richmond Rd. (right above Prince Al's). Let Lisa know "batty" sent ya! ;)