and then you kind of end up here - part 2 of the story

just take my photo already, so I can go play!

Growing up I was rarely inside. I loved adventuring around the neighbourhood. I grew up in an era where parents let their kids run wild and loose on the streets of suburbia. I was a bit of a lone wolf too, out for my own adventures and whoever was around could tag along. But I also had no problems amusing myself.  Neither of my parents were outdoorsy folks, or really very adventurist. But my Grandma was. She was a traveller and a homebody all in one. She was truly a remarkable woman! I most definitely have her spirit in me. But the point is, I didn't grow up with summers at the cottage or camping or any of that. I camped in high school but that was more of a party away from parental supervision kind of adventure ;) But I was comfortable with being in the outdoors.

Then I moved to Vancouver right after college, after I'd gone out there for my reading week break. I started life over, in the middle of the mountains and old growth forests and ocean wildlife. I explored around those first years, before settling in Vancouver proper and I loved those times. Discovering all the little hidden spots, meeting new people, creating my own story as I went. Most of my friends went out of county to explore after college, I chose to explore my own country. And I connected and fell in love with the natural world that makes up a huge part of Canada. There is no greater peace than being lost in your own thoughts on the top of a mountain, looking over miles and miles of forest and sky and ocean. This was home to me. That sounds cheesy but it was true for me. Not everyone can disconnect like that to be able to get lost in such a large space. But it's where I'm most comfortable. Not that I'm anti-social, I just find social times harder to focus in.

One of my favourite spots on the planet - Summerland, BC

And I think you can see that in a lot of my stories and illustrations. It was such a huge part of my being, it was going to be evident in my work. That's a big part of what I related to in the Finnish shops, the use of natural elements in their work. In the years I lived out West I also saw those natural resources be sold off and cut down and disrespected. Now, while this is not a political post, it's important to know this, because I discovered something about myself after moving back to Toronto. I am 100% Tree Hugger. Yeah, I used to make fun of them. Now I realize I've always been one. Funny how that happens. And I'd forgotten that part of me after a few years back in a bigger city, where strolling through a park does not measure up to a hike in the forest. Sorry. It just doesn't. Walking through city parks reminds me how badly we maim and litter our nature. When you're deep in the forest you are completely detached from civilization. It's untouched by us. I got kind of angry. Why does no one care? Don't you want to have fresh air, and trees and clean oceans? (this would be the point I realized I really was a Tree Hugger type!) These are not issues that are of particular interest in areas of the country where you don't live side by side with nature. It's not Toronto's fault, this is a common thread within a lot of cities in Canada, and North America I'm sure.  And I want to make a point that I am not a Toronto-hater. It is what it is. It may not be for me, but it's great for a lot of people. But it could use a bit of a green make-over. We all could be reminded how to live a cleaner existence and lessen our footprint on the planet. If you've followed me for the last few months on twitter and instagram you may have seen signs of this shift. This was my personal growth. Finding that side of me again. I'm not usually one to bow to peer pressure or to follow the pack, but I found that coming back to Toronto, being around old friends, old habits started to emerge. That's all on me. That's also not Toronto's fault.  I've always been quite comfortable with who I am, sometimes a bit lost, but never unsure of myself. That's what I was feeling. Confused and unsure of what the hell I was doing anymore. That was new territory for me. But as those old friends started to fade away, and I started to gravitate more to like minded folks and find my place in a creative community I started to be me again. But that's when the thunderpeep story started to change...

packaging parties!

Small business is hard. A creative small business is hard. Not only do I run thunderpeep by myself, I also work a full time day job (affectionately referred to as Le Day Job) and make an attempt to have a social life in that spare time. This tests friendships (trust me breakups with bad friends are as important as breakups with bad boyfriends), makes trying to start new relationships a challenge (it's almost kind of a blessing being single with no kids to look after, but the boyfriend situation needs to change, at least so I can have someone to help with all those OOAK load ins ;) and planning for a future with questionable income very challenging. But any small business owner knows this, I'm preaching to the choir here. We all do it because we love it. But somewhere towards the end of 2014 I realized that I wasn't really loving it. I wasn't happy. This wasn't what I'd set out to do, and the love just wasn't there. Having come back on side with that little Tree Hugger me, I had a long look at the greenness of my own business. Was I doing the planet a favour, or was I contributing to the problem. Sure there's a place for stationery in everyday life. There are eco-friendly ways of producing and encouraging people to not just recycle but to reuse the products was also possible. At least I hoped it was possible. Cards are pretty disposable, maybe I should be making more long term pieces. Maybe I just didn't want to do it at all anymore (don't worry, this story has a happy ending)

That's when things started to go sideways. In a way, I was personally being rebranded, so shouldn't that mean that my company will move in the new direction too? Plus I turned 40, always a good time for a big life shakeup. Right??!!!

read the next chapter here!

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the year that can go away now

that was 2014 for me. Until December rolled in. 2014 was a challenging year. Both professionally and personally. But as I sit here on the first day of 2015 I remember that it's the challenges in life that truly define you. Or should I say, how you overcome those challenges is what defines you. And I feel soooo ready to get 2015 started!

If you follow me on social media (instagram is my personal fav so go follow me now because 2015 is going to be even more fun to watch play out) you'll know I took a step back and hibernated after the One of a Kind show ended. I was completely burnt out and honestly needed to digest everything before I could share it. I'm kind of introverted that way. I don't really like to share personal stuff with people, honestly even with friends (except for those handful of close ones!) And my personal life was suddenly the most interesting part of my day. Well sort of. Lot's of unexpected business stuff was playing out as well but it was all too overwhelming for this little peep.

And since I'm navigating away from Facebook I thought all of this makes for great blog content. And I do need to write more. I feel like a different person going into this year, and I want to share that journey of growth. I learned so much from others this past year, that I want to be able to share my growth with you.

Oh My God. So sappy. Not what some might be used to. But that's the way I'm rollin' these days. I'll do a post more on the challenges that were 2014, but this is New Years Day, a day to celebrate and look forward.

This year the business is moving into some very different directions. Can't tell you all of that now, but here's some fun new things.

I'm not sure if you've noticed but I have a huge green heart. I love the outdoors and yes I'm not afraid to admit I have Tree Hugger tendencies (or if we're talking winter I prefer the term Iceberg Hugger - but we're talkin trees here) I definitely feel out of sorts here in Toronto. It's not that the city doesn't do great things for the environment, but it's definitely not as much of a focus as I am used to, and what I think it should be. So not only am I making the personal pledge to do more (yes you can always do more) but thunderpeep is going green too. Not only that, I'm also pledging to do more to remind the world why the human

As of January 1st I'm switching over from the great FSC papers I've been using to a 100% Post Consumer Waste card stock for cards and any paper products will be printed on a wheat/fibre mix paper (yes I said wheat paper). Envelopes are going to eventually all be the awesome new brown bag envelopes you may have noticed I used for the Holiday cards. 100% recycled and 20% post consumer waste material. I won't be using anymore coloured envelopes. Cards sleeves are a necessary evil but I've found some that are actually certified compostable. What??!!! Yesssssssssss! So excited. All these things are great and I'm so happy with the move, but it will also bring a slight price increase, but that won't come into effect until February 1st. So head over to the online shop and stock up at the old prices ;)

I'm really excited to launch the first new collection of 2015. I'm feeling a lot of love lately. I've been spending a lot of time with some great friends and well, this single lady has a very fun new secret crush, all of which has led to some very fun new lovey cards (you know I don't really like to use that Vday word ). All this love and going green led to the naming of the new collection, The 50 Shades of Green collection. I know right! So Excited. These cards are a bit more sweet than saucy. That's just how I'm feeling these days. And they are the first cards to come out with the whole Tree Hugger treatment. I'm aiming to fully launch them the week of January 5th to give you lot's of time to get some for your special friends.

Lastly, my trip to Iceland has been postponed. But don't be sad, I'm sure not. You're going to be super excited when you hear the travel plans I have instead. And just between us, I'm now aiming to spend next New Years in Iceland so that'll still totally happen.

Oh yeah, I'm also dubbing 2015 as the year of the Trolls.

More to come…. How about you? What are your big plans for 2015?

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Shop the neighbourhood

Saturday, November 30th is Shop The Neighbourhood - all across the country. Well really this can translate to any city in any country. But I don't know all the local shops in most other countries. So I'm going to list the ones I do know {and love}

If you're in and around Toronto here's some local shops for you to check out:
Artisans at Work - Danforth East
Arts Market - Leslieville & College/Ossington area
Beadle - Dundas West / Brockton Village
Freedom Clothing Collective
Labour of Love - Cabbagetown
Len - Danforth East

If you're in Hamilton, Ontario the Made by Hand show is holding it's Christmas Show featuring all sorts of fantastic vendors from all over Hamilton and the GTA.

Halifax, Nova Scotia
Dots & Loops
Halifax Crafters Society Winter Market

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Fiddleheads Kids Shop

Vancouver, British Columbia
Bird on a Wire Creations
Blim
Front & Co.
Oscar's Art Books {be forewarned you might get sucked into this store for hours ;}
Regional Assembly of Text

Feel free to share any of your favourite local shops in the comments!

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life's big moments

Blog September Challenge for today: Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn.

This one is so easy. 

boxes everywhere! all boxes were numbered, with a list of everything packed in each box:) I'm so efficient

In March of 2011 I packed up my life in Vancouver and moved my ass back to Toronto (yeah 16 years earlier I took the train across the country and settled in Vancouver ). I left a job that was pretty much my dream job (due to the fact that no one reads newspaper or magazines anymore - not just because I felt like it), a great group of friends (who will always be my friends), and those mountains. Oh.... those mountains. I won't sugar coat it. It was hard. Really hard. It still is hard. There still isn't a week that goes by that I don't miss Vancouver. Not to knock Toronto, but I'm an outdoorsy lady. I live for forest adventures. But the opportunity came up to make a change, something I knew I needed to do. And I may not have a dream job anymore, but I'm creating my own new dream job in thunderpeep. And it's all mine. It's evolved so much in the past 2 years, so much more than I could have anticipated. And I've met some amazing new friends that have helped me grow as a person and find my Toronto self. I don't have regrets... but I know I'll make it back to the beautiful West Coast eventually. Just not tomorrow.

the last days in my sunny Vancouver apartment. I had a view of those mountains. I miss that apartment...

Have you made any big changes or big moves in your life?

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what do I miss...

I was happy to see this question as part of the blog every day challenge. I have been terribly homesick for the west coast lately. Terribly. Miss. The. Mountains :( I miss being able to just go up and get lost in the wild wilderness that is the Coast Mountain range. I could see them everyday from my super awesome West 11th apartment. I miss road tripping to the Okanagan and all it's crazy desert-like dryness after months of Wet Coast Rain. I miss the friends I left behind.

Especially at this time of year, when I'm trying to bring the Midsummer collection to life. It may never have come to be had it not been for that time spent wilderness wandering. One day I will live amongst the mountains again. Hopefully soon....

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