beauty & style Archives – magpie3studio

Jan 25

by Lara in beauty & style, green living 0 comments tags: body wash, diy, easy, economical, environmentally friendly, essential oils, natural, self-care, sugar, vegan

DIY good morning sugar scrub

I’m a big fan of essential oils and I like to incorporate their benefits into my day whenever I can. During the winter months here in Canada my skin can get exceptionally dry. I start most mornings with a warm shower that includes my homemade sugar scrub – which is moisturizing, exfoliating and really refreshing. We keep a bag of white sugar on hand for brewing kombucha and I use the same white sugar as the base for my sugar scrub. It’s less abrasive than raw sugar and also dissolves nicely on my skin. I only add a couple of drops of essential oils as a little goes a long way, and I usually mix two or three different oils in each jar of body sugar. The final ingredient, olive oil, adds skin softening moisture. In the past I have also used grape seed oil, apricot kernel oil and avocado oil. They are all moisturizing and softening, but olive oil is my all-time favourite. Directions: In a medium sized bowl mix together: 1/2 CUP white sugar 1/3 CUP olive oil 6 DROPS of skin-friendly essential oils (I like 2 drops of each: lavender, eucalyptus & sweet orange oil) When using […]

Aug 06

by Lara in beauty & style, craft & sew 0 comments tags: art, community, craft, Kids, make, sew, Support local

My new favourite handmade bag

Do you have one of those friends that can sew anything? My friend Isabel is one of those people. A couple of months ago we met up for coffee and she had the cutest little bag. When I asked her about it I wasn’t surprised that she made it herself, and when she offered to make me one I jumped at the chance. To start, I looked through Isabel’s fabric and chose a medium pleather brown and matched it with grey poplin for the exterior. When it came to choosing lining for the inside of the bag, my husband suggested I get a yard of fabric printed up with one of our kid’s paintings as the design. I decided to go with a simple, little watercolour of a robin my son made back when he was nine. Once the lining arrived, Isabel showed me a selection of zippers, trim and hardware to finish off the bag. I’m super pleased with how my bag turned out! I absolutely love it, and it goes with everything. It was really enjoyable being part of the design process, and as an artist I love to support other artists, so this project was right up […]

Jun 13

by Lara in beauty & style, travel 0 comments tags: art, budget, Canada, city, eat, family, hike, holiday, Leonard Cohen, Montreal, murals, travel, visit

Our visit to beautiful Montreal, Quebec

The Canadian city, Montreal, is a favourite destination for those wanting a little taste of French culture mixed with contemporary charm. A city filled with murals, pastry shops and the cutest consignment clothing stores, we found no shortage of things to do and see. Highlights of our trip included visiting the Notre-Dame Basilica, hiking Mount Royal, exploring Old Montreal and attending the annual Mural Festival in the neighbourhood of Mile End. We split our nine day stay between a hotel downtown and a flat located in the heart of Plateau-Mount-Royal. To get around we mostly walked and relayed on Uber. Having visited in June we saw no shortage of bike rentals available throughout the city; and Montreal is known for their award-winning Metro. Before our visit to Montreal we brushed up on our French, but honestly most everyone spoke fluent English. (Although our efforts to speak French were greatly appreciated!) We found Montreal to be a very stylish and friendly city, and we can’t wait to go back. Our daughter is in the process of moving to Montreal to attend university and I’m sure she’s going to love it. The spectacular interior of the Notre-Dame Basilica. The view from the […]

Aug 06

by Lara in beauty & style 0 comments tags: art, clothing, fabric, hand-made, headbands, recycled, retro, sew, vintage

meet Maple And Oak Designs!

A few weeks ago, while on our way to the Wild Mountain Music Festival, our friend Emily told us about an amazing tent full of vintage-inspired bags, scarves, and headbands. As soon as I was through the gates, wrist-banded and camera-outfitted, I made my way over to the vendor tents to seek out the creator of these hand-made treasures. For anyone who knows me and my penchant for anything vintage, Maple And Oak Designs did not disappoint. Maple And Oak’s vendor tent was full of color and pattern, with prints of gingham, polka dot and floral taking center stage. Vintage crates that had been painted a lovely shade of turquoise were stocked with headscarves and bow ties, while a rolling-rack displayed eye-catching triangle scarves and silk-screened bags below hand-printed tea towels. Enter Leonie Vatter, the owner, designer, and maker at Maple And Oak Designs. Originally from lovely Lübeck in northern Germany, Leonie and her husband Guillaume now make their home in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; just outside the Rocky Mountains. With her gorgeous German accent, Leonie tells me how she designs, sews and markets her creations by herself and finds inspiration in vintage photographs, personal travels, old diaries and the fashions […]

Jul 26

by Lara in beauty & style, green living 0 comments tags: beauty, diy, easy, economical, environmentally friendly, face, hand-made, make, natural, oats

DIY honey & oat face wash

My favourite face wash by far has to be homemade ground oats and honey. The ground oats lightly exfoliate and clean sensitive skin without over-drying, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties which calm irritated skin. Nourishing honey helps open pores while providing antibacterial and antioxidant properties that keep skin clear and glowing. This 2-ingredient face wash is also inexpensive and easy to make. Ingredients: 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup ground oats Directions: In a blender or food processor, pulse oats until they are finely ground and resemble whole-wheat flour. Combine the honey and ground oats in a small mixing bowl. Spoon into a small jar or container and store in a cool dark place for up to 2 weeks. I keep mine in my medicine cabinet. To use the ground oat and honey face wash, put a quarter-sized amount onto wet fingertips and lightly massage onto skin in a circular motion, avoiding eye area. Rinse completely with warm water. Occasionally I add essential oils to my oat and honey face wash. A few drops of Lavender essential oil is great for balancing the oils in skin, while a couple of drops of Tea Tree essential oil works wonders on acne-prone […]

DIY good morning sugar scrub

My new favourite handmade bag

Our visit to beautiful Montreal, Quebec

meet Maple And Oak Designs!

DIY honey & oat face wash

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