BBBlog

a january walk before the snow

The Rothschild family was  recently the focus of the BBC TV series the Aristocrats . Lord Jacob Rothschild doesn't like to be thought of as an aristocrat but he does like to give thought and supp...

New Year Iterations

  New Year resolutions are always a challenge.  Collectively we have made 2015 of them since our Roman-Judeo-Christian calendar began and before that  I am sure one can obtain a PHD in tradition...

Boxing Day Gusto by Alanna Cavanagh

I still like to read the paper newspaper, usually the weekend edition of the Globe & Mail.  Pass off the Business section, which I should read,  to my Dad and gravitate to the Style section...

Kitty has found a home ....

Put it in the Kitty....

Niece Sarah's cat  Littles does not look the least bit interested in our new Kitty cosmetic bag,  even the bird book could not entice her; although she does like to play with the tassles on the z...

Happy Thanksgiving and long live...

.....your  Brave Brown Bag!  This warm brown material is actually natural rubber made by rainforest Indians in South America.  I will be using this textile in a new Wax Eco design this Spring.  C...

Where's my windbag?

Just finished reading the Great Gatsby for the first time, the book ends with 'So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaslessly into the past'.  That is some current on the north s...

Poppies and poetry

This is a swatch of an English fabric by Parkertex which I call Poppy.    Interesting how the scan shows the colours and texture  in such rich detail.  Very appropriate for yesterday's Remembranc...

Buds, baubles, bags and the GCA

  Off to Florida to visit family and participate in garden club  luncheon and show in Sarasota.  Featured speaker Dianne Battista will give talk on influence of flowers on jewellery.  En route, ...

Our Halloween doppleganger

   My production manager, Debbie, has a Boston Terrier puppy called Lyla.  Debbie's family adore their pets:  Lyla, Molly a black lab and several cats.  They are all extremely well cared for, go...

Stairway to BBB .....

 I wish this was our stairway to our upcoming Fall Studio Sale, but no matter we have a wonderful lineup of autumn colours full of character.  For those of you who have visited our studio on the ...

What is Vintage Wax?

All these different wax finishes on our wax cotton can be confusing.  We are working on our  BBB textile story and how we developed our various wax treatments.  Often, as is usually the case, I w...

Name the squash and how many?

Or should that be squashes?  But really how many squash do you think a Brave Brown Bag can hold?  Now how is that for a Canadian Thanksgiving/Columbus Day carryall?   Hope everyone had a ...

A windy apple

The answer may very well be blowing in the wind. However, in the above photo ,it's an apple entitled 'Big Michigan' by family friend and sculptress Pixie Shaw, effortlessly pivoting in the breeze...

Chiming earrings?

Well how charming to receive these in the mail, but I had no idea what they were for.  Exquisitley wrapped and all the way from Japan.   First:  I fear a customer is returning a bag for r...

My favourite home....

Mine own, of course..... I trust one can say this without undue narcissism because home is wherever one is truly comfortable, be it in a treehouse, a penthouse, or your first bachelor pied a terr...

The Pink Poppi Shop.

Christina Droumtsekas, owner of Waterloo based Pink Poppi well, need I say loves pink flowers!  It will be a busy Fall for Pink Poppi as they are in the midst of moving to a new location within t...

Over the bank In good COmpany!

Photo of a jaunt to the bank of my childhood friends. Such a musical graceful gait!  Last weekend, the weather was about like this but I was not sauntering down this bank quite like this; I was c...

Sunflower perspective

Have you ever laid down in a bed of Thyme?

I am very lucky to have a thyme bed.  First I started weeding, kneeling, plucking invasive clover and inhaling the wonderful scent!  And then kind of slid into a snooze after shooing away a barage ...

The Paper Garden metaphor

Thank you Conko!

We would also like to thank the Conklin Foundation for this wonderful opportunity.  We are so happy that the sale of our clown tote helped support the talented junior rhythmic gymnast Ms. Katheri...

Mood indigo curious

Kyoko Uino of Gojuon sent us this photo of a display case in their petite boutique in the Ginza section of Tokyo.  Artifacts from the lost art of penmanship,  antique writing implements for handp...

In search of limestone

The BBB went to Paris - Ontario that is -  in search of a setting to photograph our new Antique Wax tote in the unusual shade we call Limestone.  We arrived at  Maus Park Antiques and the adjacen...

Highbrow, lowbrow, no brow....

I always wondered what signorina was espying whilst crew members seemed pretty unconcerned;  a 19th century watercolour by Italian artist Gabrini purchased by great grandparents which eventually di...

Never underestimate our Grand Catchall

As I was saying:  never underestimate our Grand Catchall.  Although log carrier might not be the first use that comes to mind, it is quite amazing how many are the uses for this light as a feather ...

Gone fishing.....

Gone fishing for Fall inspiration.  My bait is 2 silver need polishing serving spoons, lemons wizened with age and a bag that I fell for in San Francisco at Monique Arnon Antiques.    Beware, Mad...

Fall Preview: wax leather aka le sac de charlotte

Sustainable, generational and timeless!

It was such an honour to receive this email with photo and BBB geneaology, if you will.  Say no more.  Here's Georgia! Customer Campbell writes:  " I am sending you a picture of my grandaughter,...

A day at the BBB Spa...

  No photoshop here.... just some much needed TLC for this old chestnut Midi belonging to a customer of ours.  The BBB spa package:  first handles are spiffed up, bag is laundered, a baselift on t...