Essence & Elegance

It’s going to be a beautiful weekend in Bayfield and Paul Bunyan Lake Front Resort is the place to be!! 🌞

I’m excited to be a vendor at Paul Bunyan’s Spring Market in the Rec Hall from 11am – 2pm tomorrow (Sunday)!! 🎉

I’m enjoying girl-time with my “partner in all things fun” Dianne Monteiro Andernacht 🤪 while our guys spend time bonding over games of golf ⛳

If you’re in the area, follow the signs and swing by to say Hi, shop and eat some great food truck goodies! 👋🛍️🍟

Wishing you a wonderful and safe long weekend! 🥰

You know it's the start of summer when Hamilton has it's first ART CRAWL of the season! 🎉

James St. in Hamilton closes access to cars at 5pm and then it's all about strolling the street to see all of the ART!

I'll be set up in front of Phoenix Emporium at 133 James St. N.

AND, I won't be alone ... The Balanced Betch will be with me!

We hope you'll stop by and see us if you're in the area! 👋

I have a secret!! 👀

It's a new Product Line to introduce you to! 🐸🌼🏆

Last month, I took some time to get back to my roots and simply PLAY with clay. I loved every moment of it! ❤️

Just in time for March Break, I'm introducing the non-toxic Air Dry Model Clay kits! They are perfect for beginners and children!

These are now available for purchase at

I still have more plans for this Air Dry Clay Product line, so stayed tuned!! 😍

It's time for a new collection! 🎉

Yes, I am a Bridgerton fan 😁 so, I thought I would try my hand at making some earrings inspired by the popular Netflix series.

The collection is now available at Next Time Around and I'm excited to hear your thoughts on the pieces!

In closing my 2025 books, I just want to say … what an incredible November it was!

In the previous 3 years, E&E had raised a total $550 for the Veteran’s Poppy Fund with our handmade Remembrance Pins. In a moment of hope last October, I made a goal to beat that donation total (for THREE years) in ONE year … and I’m SO happy to announce that WE did it!!

Thank you so very much to everyone who purchased a Remembrance Pin in 2025. A total of 184 Remembrance Pins were sold and the donation cheque to the Royal Canadian Legion’s Veteran Fund for 2025 is $560!! The Remembrance Pins are still available for purchase on my website – www.essenceandelegance.com – all donations for future pin sales will be included in the 2026 campaign.

Speaking about this year … 2026 will mark the Royal Canadian Legion’s 100th anniversary!

Incorporated in 1926, the Legion is Canada’s largest Veteran support and community service organization. Founded by Veterans and for Veterans, The Royal Canadian Legion is devoted to supporting all those who served our country and put their lives on the line for our freedoms and way of life.

The annual Poppy Campaign is the Royal Canadian Legion's most significant fundraising event of the year and the major source of funds used for its primary mission of supporting Veterans and their families.

I would like to thank the following stores and their owners for waiving their commission on each Remembrance Pin sold in 2025. This allowed me to donate $3 from each pin, anywhere it was sold, to the Veteran’s Fund!

Kristy, owner of The Next Time Around (NTA), 211 Queen St. W., Cambridge (Hespeler)
Tina, owner of Phoenix Emporium, 133 James St. N., Hamilton
Jennifer, owner of Canvas & Clay, 106 Simpson Street, Thunder Bay

As well as a special thank you to my family and friends who sold pins through their work, their sports teams, their hobby clubs and elsewhere!

The answer to my last post is ... Remembrance Pins!
Our winner is Cindy Lynch Congrats, Cindy! ❤️

I do not call my Remembrance Pins "Poppies", since those are the pins you purchase from a Legion Box during the Poppy Campaign. That campaign is very important to our veterans, and I still purchase one every year in memory of those who fought for our freedom.

What I noticed, though, was a need for an easily available pin that is sustainable. 3 years ago, I created my own design of a Remembrance Pin. I have given a portion of the proceeds of the pins to the Hespeler Legion Poppy Fund every year. The total donation to date is $550.

This year, I have expanded the reach and my hope is to double that amount in ONE year! The Remembrance Pins are available on my website and in 3 stores (the owners of each store have graciously agreed to waive their commission on the pins, so I can increase my donation $3 per pin!!)

Available at:
Next Time Around 211 Queen St. W., Cambridge (Hespeler)
Canvas & Clay 106 Simpson St., Thunder Bay
Phoenix Emporium 133 James St. N., Hamilton
As well as on my website:
www.essenceandelegance.com

It’s that time of year for me again! Making hundreds of the same polymer clay item. Can you guess what it is??? 👀

Comment your ONE guess below! Every guess (even if it’s not the right answer) will be entered to win an Essence & Elegance gift card to use on my website! 🥳

Check back on Wednesday to see the answer and our winner! 🎉

NEW product release and ... a funny personal story included in this post!! 👀

In the 10 years that I’ve worked with polymer clay, I’ve never made a “ghost”. I could never figure out how to make a ghost look unique. It’s just a white piece of clay with black eyes and a black mouth, right? 🤔

NOT THIS YEAR!! Introducing the “B***y Ghost”! She is slightly pink faced that her b***y is showing! 😮

A funny backstory (or TMI) … as I aged and my daughter grew into a teen, then a woman, I often joked that she “stole my nice butt” and she’d slap hers and say “yup, I got it from my Mama”!

Not that this is a clay image of how she looks in a ghost costume, BUTT (pun intended!) it may – or may not – be dedicated to her!! 😂

The B***y Ghost earrings are now available tax-free on my website essenceandelegance.com

They are also available at Next Time Around in Hespeler.

Phoenix Emporium in Hamilton and Canvas & Clay in Thunder Bay will receive them early next week.

You got it from yer mama xoxo

The Nightmare before Christmas Collection is here!!

Now available on my website ... essenceandelegance.com
(the pick-up option is encouraged until Canada Post is back in full swing)

Also available at:
Next Time Around in Hespeler
Phoenix Emporium in Hamilton
Canvas & Clay in Thunder Bay

2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the final report and calls to action for Truth and Reconciliation. A time to reflect that Every Child Matters and to treat others with Respect and Kindness.

September 30th is known as Orange Shirt Day in Canada and my handmade Orange Shirt earrings are now available on my secure website www.essenceandelegance.com and at Next Time Around
211 Queen St. W. Cambridge (Hespeler).