Creating handmade paper jewelry so you can be pretty in the city -- or anywhere you want!

Despite this grand declaration in my wee years (commemorated on a plaque by my family), I put most of my artistic aspirations on the shelf to pursue more practical things like a career as a librarian, a homeowner, a mum. Over the years my love of art and craft has followed me like a flowering weed you appreciate to a point, but mostly ignore, contain, or pull out of the ground. One day I realized it was time to cut, glue and sew those pretty paper dreams and now I'm grateful to welcome you to my shop, City Lily Studio. The name is a nod to my grandfather who grew beautiful, award winning lilies and crabapples on his Saskatchewan nursery (visit http://www.honeywood-lilies.ca for more of his story). 

My own life is is decidedly more urban than Grandad Porter's: I happily create surrounded by gardens, trees, bricks and skyscrapers on the flanks of Montreal's "Little Mountain". My studio is in a cheerful corner that I set up in the basement of our Victorian house ("our" meaning the cat's, of course, which she reluctantly chooses to share with the two adult and one little human who hang around).

Combining collage with mixed-media art, my jewelry incorporates hand-stitched elements, Japanese washi and origami papers, and other found images. I cut basic geometric forms by hand then layer, collage, paint and varnish pieces into wearable art. Each has a one-of-a-kind character but is sophisticated enough to wear to work or for an evening out and about. I encourage you to treat yourself or your loved ones to a little polish, a little Montreal-style je-ne-sais-quoi.