Made By Andi

01.23.12 Update

By andi on January 24, 2012 in Hoakon + Helga etsy shop updates

What happens when you’re stuck inside for 7 days due to a winter deep freeze?? A big ol’ shop update that’s what! Here’s the result of a week’s worth of double sweater wearing, tea sipping, x-files watching on laptop while sewing kinda days. Ever since I began making the Navajo Tundra style, it hands down has become my most popular design. I can’t seem to keep them in my shop for very long so I thought I’d focus on them solely this round. The result is a collection of very beautiful bags with bold navajo colors that will suit anyone’s fancy. Hope you all enjoy ‘em! Oh, and the weather’s finally warmed up around these parts too! yay!

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Make tiny changes to earth

By andi on January 19, 2012 in VIDEOS

I haven’t heard this song in a while until it popped up through genius on my ipod. I forgot how lovely it was. I hadn’t seen the video until now and it’s pretty awesome. How can you not smile at the sight of little guys dancing to music. Pretty freakin great.

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Deep Freeze

By andi on January 18, 2012 in BITS OF MY LIFE

The city I live in is currently in the middle of a deep freeze this week… It is -31 ºC (-23 ºF) !!! Yeah, I know. gross. Since it began on Sunday, I just can’t seem to get warm in my old apartment. I’ve been wearing fingerless gloves and lots of layers as I work in my studio. Static has become a regular occurrence with anything I touch. Going outside is only for last resort circumstances, ie. running out of food (but I will probably turn to old boxes of kraft dinner before I go to the grocery store). Luckily it should warm up this weekend… -10ºC doesn’t seem so bad at all, almost tank top weather, he he.

I just put up a large tote bag update last night. I had plenty of jackets that were perfect for my tote style so I thought I’d do a big ol’ tote update. On monday I hit up a huge thrift store sale and bought over 40 jackets, and you know what that means, next up for bag updates is the Navajo Tundra… yes they are for sure coming back to the shop! I’ve been getting a bunch of you asking where they have been and I just haven’t found the right jackets for the Tundra lately until now. It is my most popular style and keeping them stocked in my shop seems to be a hard task. I’ll be doing a big update on Sunday of only Navajo Tundra’s so if you’ve had your eye on grabbing one, this is your chance. In the meantime, I hope you all are enjoying much more balmy weather conditions than I. Please do share!! Weather bragging is encouraged!! Looking forward to sewing again without snowpants on (kidding). Have a lovely week everyone! -xo

p.s. This pic is one I took 5 mins from my parents place outside of the city before the deep freeze. The prairies sure are a beaut.

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New bags

By andi on January 18, 2012 in HOAKON + HELGA

New bags just added to the shop tonight. Lots of tote bags this round!

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New Bags

By andi on January 9, 2012 in Hoakon + Helga etsy shop updates

It’s been a while since I updated my shop. I’ve been working for the past two weeks on a bunch of bags. I put 40 new items up in the shop tonight. Hope you enjoy! -xo

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8 things that make me smile

By andi on December 16, 2011 in BITS OF THINGS I LOVE

1. Save the Goondocks!! The Goonies, still my all time favorite movie. 2. The Good Life Pillow 3. Lace Ceramic Bird Bowl 4. Crystals + Leather = great combo 5. Cable Knit Mitts 6. Bandit Foxes 7. Paper Doily Wreat Tutorial By Martha Stewart 8. Wool & The Gang for Billabong via The Shiny Squirrel

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JORDAN KLASSEN presents KINDNESS EP

By andi on December 15, 2011 in BITS OF MY LIFE, VIDEOS

Last September a very talented friend of mine Brock Mitchell, asked me to help him out with a film he was doing for the musician Jordan Klassen. I am a huge fan of Brock’s work so I easily said yes. A week later I had searched the city for a long flowy white dress (as per Brock’s request) and came up with an incredible vintage 1940′s wedding gown from a local thrift store. Together along with our friend Angela, we went out of the city and I proceeded to run through wheat fields and forests for the late afternoon. It was a fun day and definitely nice to be part of someone elses creative project instead of my own. Below you will find the finished product, and incredibly stunning video for Jordan Klassen’s Kindness EP shot by Brock Mitchell. (p.s. Take a look at Brock’s film series Shot At The Dark. You will not be disappointed.)

JORDAN KLASSEN presents KINDNESS EP from Shot at The Dark on Vimeo.

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My weekend at the Market Collective

By andi on December 14, 2011 in HOAKON + HELGA, IN THE STUDIO

This past weekend I set up Hoakon + Helga at a local art & craft show called the Market Collective. The MC happens every other month in the city and I love it dearly. I’ve made some incredible friends from this show over the past couple of years. The organizers have made it in to such a great event with live local musicians playing throughout the days, and a photo booth with awesome backdrops taken by local photographers. I really cannot say enough about how much I love this show and how much of an impact it has had on our city. The show itself was fantastic, sooo busy! My mom made some beautiful hand-knit scarves which I sold out of before the first day was over and my jewelry pieces and envelope clutches sold out as well… Nothing beats selling out of a product at a show. It’s definitely a pretty awesome feeling. All in all, the MC never let’s me down. Great friends, and awesome environment, great music, and a chance to talk to some lovely customers.

P.S. Check out this really lovely blog post about my space at the Market Collective. The blog itself is really lovely too!

- xo

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Yummy Beet Spiced Muffins

By andi on December 14, 2011 in RECIPES

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

2/3 c. brown sugar

1/2 tsp nutmeg

3/4 c vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 c. milk

2 c. beets, chopped, boiled and mashed.

Preheat oven to 350F. Wash beets, cut off skins, chop, and boil until mushy. Use a blender to mash.

Sift flour, add baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar. Mix thoroughly and add spices.

In a separate bowl, beat eggs with milk. Add vegetable oil, vanilla. Add beets to mixture. Stir together.

Pour into muffin cups. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes clean when pushed in to the center.

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what’s new

By andi on December 5, 2011 in IN THE STUDIO

Winter is officially here in my city! Lots of snow this past weekend and finally a chance to break out my new boots! I’ve been working hard this past week. Long hours in front of the sewing machine, sipping spicy teas and eating oatmeal with cinnamon and warm apples. (yum) I just added lots of beautiful bags to the shop, most of which I’d like to keep for myself, to be honest.

I’m also prepping for an art market coming up this weekend in Calgary. If you have your eye on a bag in my shop, you may want to grab it before this weekend as it may not be there afterwards! If you are in Calgary this weekend, be sure to stop by and say hi!