feathers of gold

shades of blue

2012-02-08T23:15:00.009-05:00

I always seem to take photos, save them on my computer, and neglect to share them, so here are a few that are a couple months old.

I found this simple silk top at a thrift store. Though this is a beautiful sea-blue top on its own, I felt the urge to decorate it with some rhinestones.

I've wanted to try this technique with pearls and a big cozy sweater, too.

Diptyque Oyédo eau de toilette // Butter London Artful Dodger Nail Lacquer

Gosh, I love Diptyque's package design so much. Oh, and it smells deliciously fruity. Yum!

The feathery-leaf motif on this bag is really something. It's rare to see this kind of treatment on leather bags, so I couldn't pass it up.

tales of endearment

2012-02-02T15:50:00.001-05:00

1.// These handmade leather cardholders by Falcon Wright would be perfect for carrying around my Instax Mini exposures. They're super cute and made locally in Toronto by two talented artists.
2.// I'm not exactly sure what I would use these vintage mesh pouches for. I think they would make for terrific gift bags or for storing away trinkets.
3.// I've always loved jewelry that incorporate geometric shapes, especially triangles, and this necklace by Cursive Design does not disappoint.
4.// Lace oxfords: I would want to wear these everywhere.
5.// Seriously, how adorable is this swan tote bag?

I find myself endlessly browsing through many of the great articles from Natalie Joos' Tales of Endearment when I came across this one of Eri.

Eri is a clothing designer based in Japan, with a really wonderful wardrobe. She also has a beautiful home, which she shares with her boyfriend and their cat, Yama. While growing up, her father owned vintage stores in New York and Japan, and along with her brother, they would fashion some of the pieces that their father curated.

It's hard to tell from the angle of this image, but the second vase from the left is in the shape of a hand.

I'm not sure what I love more here, those rings or the nail design.

paulova ceramics

2012-01-23T19:04:00.000-05:00

I'm in love with these cork jars that Paulova Ceramics used to make.

But these new jars would look mighty nice sitting on my kitchen counter, too. And check out this sugar, salt, and pepper set. I feel calm and peaceful just looking at them.

persona

2012-01-15T20:33:00.000-05:00

I find it quite interesting to see what people carry in their bags. I'm also a fan of neatly organized items. So, not surprisingly, I really loved Jason Travis' Persona diptych series. The series captures portraits of friends and strangers based in Atlanta, along with their personal goods found in their bags.

I've posted a few of my favourites so far from his ongoing project.

rifle paper co.

2012-01-07T16:29:00.000-05:00

Lately, more so than usual, I've been actively looking for home-related items: furniture, home accessories, and housewares. Since my immune system failed me in the past week, I'm reminded of the importance of humidifiers. I don't own a good one at the moment, so I'm ready to drop a pretty penny on one of these. An old landlord used to tell me that he hasn't gotten sick once in 15 years or so, when he started using a humidifier every winter season. I believe it.

In scouring the internet for home stuff, I also came across the paper goods of Rifle Paper Co. Although I'm typically drawn to graphic design like this with hard edges, I do like the raw edges of Anna's hand-painted illustrations. In particular, I have my eyes on the Botanical Coaster Set, but the other items from the Botanical collection will brighten up any home, too.

twenty twelve

2012-01-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year!

organic

2011-12-22T01:40:00.003-05:00

Beauty essentials:
I use dry shampoo to refresh my hair between washes, and this one by Lulu Organics is a favourite.

Lately I've been wearing the scent "La Chasse aux Papillons" by L'Artisan Parfumeur. It makes you feel like you are in a field of flowers.

Jurlique's Moisture Replenish Day Cream works wonders and truly keeps my skin moisturized throughout the day. A must-have for the wintertime. It's a rich formula, which I occasionally use as a night cream.

I love this image of Nicole Simone.

Finally, here are pictures from the book The Art of Manipulating Fabric, including the instructions I followed (see first photo below) on how to make fabric rosettes for a hair clip in a previous post.

wishlist

2011-12-14T12:00:00.001-05:00

Fuji Instax 7S Pink
Denise Lestor: Lepus Print
ArnsdorfSS11 Crystal Pattern iPhone Case
After obsessing over chained brooches/collar clips for so long, and then seeing this image of Carrie from WishWishWish, I finally decided to look for one. I placed an order on Etsy for brass leaf brooches/collar clips. I cannot wait to receive it and start wearing it. I suppose I can cross this one off my list!
Topshop: Swing Velvet Bow Coat
Glitter Booties
The Vamoose: Redline Marble and Hammered Brass Earrings
Leah Goren: Picasso Cats Tote

polli

2011-11-22T17:20:00.001-05:00

Not only are these collars from Polli adorable, but they're made from 75% recycled stainless steel and sustainable plantation plywood. I applaud companies that are socially conscious of where their materials are sourced and how their products get manufactured.

liesl pfeffer

2011-11-19T21:44:00.000-05:00

Liesl Pfeffer skillfully cuts and arranges photographs into mountain collages. Such a simple concept, but so wonderfully executed.

frankie & russh

2011-11-11T21:02:00.001-05:00

Now that it's getting colder outdoors, I love to cozy up with a warm cup of tea and a couple of magazines to get me inspired. Two magazines I've been reading as of late are Frankie and Russh.

Sarah brought back a copy of Frankie magazine for me from her visit to the U.K. a few weeks back. As I mentioned in a previous post, Frankie is rare to find in Canada, so to be able to flip through a physical version was exciting.

Super adorable collars by Hand Hook Yarn. I just had to check out their collection. They have some colourful pieces to go with any top imaginable.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm really into jewelry worn on the 'back'. I posted an image with a similar concept from an issue of Lula magazine. I'm unsure whether there is even a proper term to describe this type of jewelry or how it's worn (I realize that it sounds kind of silly calling it 'back' jewelry, haha!), but it's intriguing because it's so unsuspecting.

norwegian wood

2011-11-07T00:45:00.001-05:00

Not to be confused with Haruki Murakami's novel or the Beatles song, Norwegian Wood is a Montreal-based label that brings together unique elements and textures in their accessories and apparel in uncommon and ethereal ways.

dadu shin

2011-10-19T19:06:00.005-04:00

Beautiful feathery creatures in Dadu Shin's work. Love the textures and subdued colours, too.

jill bliss

2011-10-07T21:04:00.000-04:00

Having been a fan of Jill Bliss' work and her vibrant, nature-inspired stationery for years, I jumped at the idea of getting a Jill Bliss phone case for my iPhone.

I ordered Bliss' "Poppy" design for the iPhone capsule from Uncommon. They also take custom orders where you can upload your own photos, with which they'll create your own one-of-a-kind case. Pretty nifty.

I recently visited the Apple store and noticed that they sell selected Uncommon cases if you like their products but are hesitant to place an online order.

(As many of you already know, the visionary behind Apple, Steve Jobs, has recently passed away. Our thoughts go out to Steve's family and friends.)

the horse

2011-10-01T00:26:00.019-04:00

I was introduced to The Horse a few months ago while skimming through a copy of Frankie Magazine.

They have a wonderful new collection out featuring all sorts of straps, twists and ties. Their collection includes footwear for women and men. Unfortunately, autumn is quickly approaching for us, so I won't be wearing any of these gorgeous pieces any time soon.

through the looking-glass

2011-09-16T13:51:00.000-04:00

I ordered this hexagon locket from Etsy back in June when I was fascinated with preserving small trinkets in glass. It's roomy enough to put a small photograph inside, as most lockets traditionally hold, but I'll most likely continue to use it to encase small pieces of nature and mementos.

rosette hair clip: self-made

I made this rosette hair clip with scraps from a vintage dress I shortened. Some might view scraps of fabric as trash, while I envision a potential craft project. I find it to be a great way to recycle fabric.

Making this rosette trio was fairly straight forward. I followed a technique from a creative little book called The Art of Manipulating Fabric. I'll try to post it up soon, so you can make your own little rosettes.

semi-precious

2011-09-10T23:29:00.001-04:00

I have featured Carly Waito's paintings before, but upon viewing her current work on her new website, I felt compelled to share some of my favourites. Now I can't wait to pick up more specimens in the near future.

asymmetry

2011-08-31T01:25:00.000-04:00

Sarah Philips - Mustang Skirt

I've practically been living in my maxi skirts this summer, and it's likely I'll be wearing them into the fall as well. As much as I love long, flowy, full length skirts, I definitely like the look of asymmetrical shapes.

I was planning on sewing an asymmetrical skirt this season and haven't gotten around to doing so, but hopefully this will be my next DIY project. I tend be attracted to things that are uniquely shaped/draped.

Black asymmetrical shirt dress

Dip Back Maxi Skirt

Coury Combs / FancyTreeHouse

shades

2011-08-23T22:00:00.002-04:00

Karen Walker makes such wonderful sunglasses. I picked up Karen Walker's Number One from Chasse Gardée and have been wearing them all summer long.

Below are a few other sunglasses I've been 'eyeing'. I love cat-eyed glasses, but I also love round frames as well. Both styles are reminiscent of vintage trends.

(from top to bottom):
Karen Walker - "Rover" in Deep Tortoise,
Karen Walker - "Helter Skelter" in Tortoise,
RetroSuperFuture - "Lucia" in Safari/ Gold Metal,
Chloë Sevigny for Opening Ceremony - "Darling"

polaroids

2011-08-09T20:51:00.009-04:00

A few Polaroids capturing some of the lovely things that surround me.

I cannot describe how envious I am of anyone who went to the Bon Iver show in Toronto last night. Luckily, for anyone that was unable to attend their show, their full performance at The 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. last week is available for streaming or downloading here. Nothing comes close to an intimate live performance, but this was such a treat to listen to.

For those who are new to Bon Iver, I would suggest checking out their latest, self-titled album. Holocene and Michicant are on replay on my iPod. Pure magic.

ron van der ende

2011-07-28T17:06:00.014-04:00

Ron van der Ende makes some pretty impressive 'crystals' using scraps of wood.

summer fever

2011-07-18T17:33:00.003-04:00

My two favourite shades of lipstick at the moment are Nars' Schiap (left) and MAC's Vegas Volt (right). They look gorgeous worn alone, over lip balm with SPF (your lips need sun protection too!). But they also blend together to make the perfect shade of pinkish-coral.

The summer heat has really been kicking in this month. I'm not sure how much longer before I start to melt. Although I've waited a long time for summer to come, I'm starting to count down the days until fall/autumn arrives. Sigh, the grass is always greener on the other side.

wishlist

2011-07-10T13:59:00.000-04:00

Just a few things that I am currently head over heels for:

Victorian maxi dress (misovintage)

Silk Cape (alexandragrecco)

1960's sunglasses (belljarvintage)

Triple strap (handmade) flats (goldenponies)

Vintage perfume bottle necklace (FreshyFig)

Vintage alarm clock (TheVintageParlor)

cœur fantôme

2011-07-08T12:02:00.002-04:00

I can't get enough of these photographs by cœur fantôme (formerly, deerlings & ghostthings).

silk dreams

2011-06-29T16:40:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I can't believe what a abundance of talented independant designers there are on Etsy. I happened to stumble upon two wonderful designers with a similar aesthetic.

Kelsey Genna is a designer from New Zealand. I've been searching high and low for the perfect pair of silk trousers, and these pink ones by Kelsey Genna really attracted my attention.

LittleGracie is the second exquisite shop I found. I love the asymmetrical use of ruffles in her designs. It's simple and minimal, yet ultra feminine.

postal service

2011-06-22T23:40:00.044-04:00

pyrite specimen, 'spirit' quartz specimen,
antique rose brooch, amethyst necklaces

I love receiving packages in the mail. I always get that sense of excitement upon opening a package and unveiling a surprise.

Sarah sent over a package filled with goodies, and among them was the wonderful book: Audubon's Birds of America. I've been looking for a concise book on ornithological paintings, and I can't think of a better collection than this masterpiece by the legendary John James Audubon.

I wanted to share some of the illustrations, so I thought I'd take some images of the book along with a few rocks I've collected.

Unfortunately, these photos don't capture the details in these crystals. I wish you could see the layers of colour and texture in the amethyst slice. It resembles a hazy violet landscape. My intrigue heightens when I see how the natural facets of the stone reflect light and offer a spectrum of colours.

strummer: autumn/ winter 11'

2011-06-14T12:16:00.000-04:00

Strummer's Autumn/ Winter '11 collection is a wonderful source of inspiration for the seasons ahead.

Although I'm guilty of failing to include denim pieces in my wardrobe (besides one vintage floral jumper and a dress), it's nice to see denim shirts and skirts coming back.

five and two

2011-06-07T22:20:00.001-04:00

I must have these FIVE AND TWO necklaces. Where can I get such perfectly-sized titanium quartz crystals? I need to know.

postcards

2011-05-31T12:26:00.002-04:00

Some pretty flowers growing on a tree in the neighbourhood where I live. One of my favourite things about the warmer weather is the beautiful plants that accompany it.

I thrifted this blouse a while ago, and I have been wearing it quite often since it is unbelievably comfortable. The crystal necklace is a piece I made a year or two ago.

Sarah gave me a small stack of vintage postcards which I might frame in the future. Photographed above is a postcard from the Netherlands, and one from Austria with a hand written note on the back. It's kind of exciting reading about the life of a complete stranger from a different time and space.

le cahier

2011-05-27T12:39:00.000-04:00

This is another notebook I bought from O-Check Designs, a Korean stationery brand.

I still remember the days when I used to draw all over my workbook covers during elementary school, usually filling every last blank space on the book. I'm not sure I would wish the same fate for this notebook though.

cecilia carlstedt

2011-05-22T21:59:00.001-04:00

I love the unexpected pops of colour in an otherwise neutral body of work by Cecilia Carlstedt.

alexa & superga

2011-05-13T13:16:00.005-04:00

Alexa Chung photographed for the shoe company Superga's S/S 2011 campaign.

The wardrobe for this set is so pretty - those two dresses are divine.

erie basin

2011-05-07T19:33:00.002-04:00

I've always had an affinity for unique antique jewelry, and Erie Basin, a Brooklyn shop curated by Russell Whitmore, is one of those places I can spend hours looking through.

While browsing through their blog, I found some gorgeous pieces of jewelry and art from the 18th to 20th century.

arsenal

2011-05-04T23:06:00.006-04:00

I am so behind on posting some of my sewing projects. I finished this over 8 months ago! It's a diaper bag I made for a friend who had an adorable baby girl last October. If you can believe it, the fabric I used came from a single heavy weight tea towel. Every last piece of the towel was used, as you can imagine.

A few dear friends are currently pregnant, and I couldn't be more thrilled for them! I am really looking forward to hand making something for their little ones in the near future.

macarons

2011-05-01T21:54:00.001-04:00

After spending the day out with a friend yesterday, I brought home these amazing tasting (and looking) macarons and chocolate dipped oreo cookie by Petite & Sweet. Coupled with a cup of tea, it was the perfect way to end an afternoon of beautiful weather.

sunrise

2011-04-25T21:58:00.000-04:00

I've almost forgotten how much I enjoy using Polyvore.

Hope you all had a happy Monday!

reed danziger

2011-04-21T19:54:00.000-04:00

The elements in these highly intricate paintings by Reed Danziger are quite contrasting -- they are both delicate and bold, organic and geometric. The complexity in these pieces blows my mind. There are so many neat little details to focus on!

new camera

2011-04-17T18:41:00.003-04:00

I've been thinking about purchasing a new camera for a while, and I finally bought one! I couldn't be more excited! I was debating between getting either the Canon Rebel XS or the Nikon D3000. I settled with the latter after seeing some phenomenal images that were taken with this model by fellow bloggers.

It'll be a bittersweet farewell to my former camera, a Sony Cybershot DSC-W30. At the risk of sounding corny, I've had many memories with this camera, which was a gift from my parents many years ago. However, it is only so long that one could tolerate the camera mode dial switching on its own.

I'm still learning how to use the camera, as I'm kind of a beginner when it comes to photography. This is my first SLR camera, so I definitely have much to learn. I literally want to take my camera and get lost in the wilderness to try out my new device.

Now, on to making a pretty strap for my new camera...

swan

2011-04-12T22:10:00.010-04:00

vintage swan dish/ring holder

During Sarah's visit last month, we went for lunch at a lovely Thai restaurant and had some delicious Pad Thai and mango salad (my favourite!). After lunch, we headed down to the St. Lawrence Antique Market and spent the afternoon browsing through some beautiful antique jewelry, memorabilia, and other antique trinkets.

It seems to be getting increasingly crowded at the Market which, on the one hand, is lovely to see that more people are interested in shopping for antiques, but on the other hand, makes it more difficult to browse. We also spotted many adorable dogs walking throughout the market. It was definitely a highlight of the day. :)

My sister left with an Art Deco-inspired trinket box made with mother-of-pearl mosaic tiles. I ended up finding this delicate swan dish which I instantly knew would make a perfect ring holder.

a new leaf

2011-04-11T02:29:00.011-04:00

I mentioned in an earlier post that Sarah and I were working on "something special" for the blog, and here it is -- our new layout!

This design came to fruition a bit later than we anticipated, but we think the extra time we took to polish all the finer details was worth it.

We can't believe feathers of gold is already a year old. Thank you all for visiting our blog, especially to those who have been with us since the very beginning!

pins and needles

2011-04-10T17:35:00.009-04:00

Gold filigree and pearl brooches are my weakness, although I don't wear them often enough. All of the ones pictured above were thrifted for $4 or less each. The background is the excess fabric cut from this dress. I've since added more pins to my collection, maybe I'll share them in another post one day.

oh, summer

2011-04-04T22:58:00.009-04:00

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted in about 4 months! I'm glad Jessica has been holding down the fort. It's April of 2011 already? Time certainly flies.

But the temperatures are rising a little bit day by day, we are slowly but surely moving into above freezing weather now. Thank goodness, because I am so tired of the snow, the clouds, the cold. I started thinking about summer dresses to remind myself that warmer weather is just around the corner.

Here's a dress I thrifted and altered last summer -- I shortened it a good 12 inches or so and used the excess fabric to make side pockets on the dress.

i am vintage lover

2011-03-28T15:37:00.008-04:00

While visiting Gary Pepper Vintage's blog, I stumbled upon this lookbook by I am Vintage Lover that was too lovely to not share. This store's name really resonated with me, and I'm sure with many of you as well.

sam battersby

2011-03-26T16:12:00.003-04:00

Aren't these prints by Samantha Battersby as elegant as can be? My favourites are her Art Deco portraits.

You can purchase prints of her charcoal and pastel illustrations from her etsy store, Matou en Peluche.

white light

2011-03-25T19:25:00.006-04:00

lace cape: self-made

This was a little Sunday project I did a couple of weeks back. Sewing is not really my strong suit, but I still enjoy trying my hand at it every now and then. For me, sewing can be really frustrating at times, but, as the proverb goes, 'the journey is the reward'. After all, you learn through practice and making mistakes.

I'm kind of in love with capes at the moment. And, lace capes? Even better. I have a few small sewing projects in mind for this summer and I'm very excited to get started on them.

amethyst

2011-03-20T22:03:00.003-04:00

I made this ring ages ago, but I finally decided to take a picture of it recently. I have quite a few pieces of mineral jewelry, but I cannot get enough of their unique beauty. I'm really excited to check out the Toronto Gem and Mineral Show again this year. Hopefully I can stock up on some goodies to make more rings.

amethyst ring: self-made

I just wanted to take a moment to share my thoughts with you all. Lately, I've been feeling brokenhearted after seeing and hearing about all of the devastating events occurring worldwide, particularly in Japan. Sometimes I feel like the luckiest person because of everything that I have in my life, and it tears me up inside knowing that too many people in this world live in poverty, illness, discrimination, and oppression.

I often feel undeserving of the things in my life knowing that much of what we possess, like what we are born into, are arbitrarily granted to us, and I just wish I could share everything I have with the world. However, there are also so many people out there doing beautiful things for others and raising consciousness about tragic circumstances. These individuals are utterly inspiring to me.

If you can, please donate to help those affected in Japan to help restructure their lives.

lover: a dance for one

2011-03-15T16:02:00.006-04:00

Yet another beautiful and classic new collection by Lover.

I can't wait until it's spring and the snow clears up (yes, it still snows mid-March in Canada) so that I can wear my maxi skirts again.

The duo behind Lover was featured on The Selby. As a fan of the label, it was a nice treat to sneak a peek into the creative couple's home.

lula magazine: issue eleven

2011-03-08T14:44:00.005-05:00

I picked up the latest issue of Lula and have been eager to read through some of the articles featured in this issue. However, I promised myself that I must first get through a few novels that have been flooding my bookshelf.

As usual, after browsing through the magazine, I came across many inspirational images.

What an adorable birdy hair clip and sequin top!

daydreaming

2011-03-04T01:25:00.002-05:00

I've updated Polyvore with a few new sets a while ago. I thought I'd re-post them here on the blog as well.

Oh, if only I were lucky enough to have some of the things on my wish list. Particularly, a bottle of perfume by Byredo, which is regrettably not available in Canada. Sigh, one day...

shae acopian detar

2011-02-21T14:46:00.003-05:00

Dear Shae Acopian Detar,

You have an amazing aesthetic! I absolutely love your styling and photography. I find myself wanting to live inside the many worlds that you create in your images.

woodlands

2011-02-12T20:08:00.004-05:00

o-check day planner, bear & tassel brooches: self-made,
agate slice necklace: gift from Sarah

I've been meaning to share these two brooches I've made over the last little while. I cannot believe that it's already mid-February; where has time gone?

You might recognize a few of the pieces I used for my tassel brooch from an earlier post. It was about time I put some of those findings to good use.

On a side note, Sarah and I are working on something special for the blog, and we hope to have it up soon. We're very excited about this and we hope you like the outcome when we're all done! We've also created a Flickr account where we'll upload our blogged photos. So, pay us a visit there if you'd like!

nature morph

2011-02-03T01:28:00.006-05:00

Artist Amy Ross runs a fantastic (and humorous) blog called Nature Morph. Her anthropomorphic approach to nature and "plant-animal" watercolours puts a smile on my face.

unearthen crystals

2011-01-12T17:01:00.008-05:00

I've been eyeing these bullet necklaces by Unearthen Crystals since they've been available on Bona Drag. Every pendant is unique and one of a kind, which makes it difficult to choose a favourite.

to be adored: s/s '11

2011-01-08T15:00:00.027-05:00

TBA has come out with another impeccable collection for this upcoming spring/summer. Binbin McNiven, the visionary behind this brand, created TBA only a year ago after graduating from Brighton University in 2006.

Binbin herself confesses that she wears mostly her own designs mixed with vintage pieces. I can certainly see the vintage influence behind her collections.

images via style bubble

secret garden

2010-12-27T21:51:00.004-05:00

I thrifted this dress for next to nothing and paired it with some vintage jewelry and shoes for an outfit I wore to my friend's wedding this past summer. Oh, how I long for a warmer climate now...

I loved the pattern on the dress when I first saw it, but it was an awkward length for me -- the bottom hem sat a couple inches past my knees. So, I shortened it a good 10 inches or so and used the excess fabric to sew in some hidden side pockets. It's casual enough for me to wear day-to-day now, so I do just that. Except I'm wearing it these days with a cardigan, tights, and boots (something like the pieces below) to stay toasty.

lara vincent

2010-12-15T21:34:00.005-05:00

I am still very much in love with floral crowns. So, how could I possibly resist Lara Vincent's handmade felt floral headdresses?

Lara Vincent's trinkets evoke something magical. Of this, I am sure.

love yourself

2010-12-10T01:59:00.006-05:00

Lately, I've been indulging in some new fragrances that I have added to my family of perfumes. One of my latest is "Bianca" by Tocca. It's a really beautiful blend of citrus and green tea, with top notes of lemon, mandarin and lavender. What I also loved about this perfume was the packaging it came in. When I opened the box, I was pleasantly greeted with a little reminder: "Love Yourself". This made me smile. I think it's so important to be self-reflective and introspective.

I thought I'd also share a glimpse of a drawing I've been working on. I'm kind of obsessed with doing nature studies after picking up a book on birds for $1 at a book sale.

sarah mcneil

2010-12-06T23:56:00.004-05:00

I can't get enough of Sarah McNeil's work. The lines, colours, and textures in her illustrations are so soft. You can purchase her goods at her Etsy store.

first quilt

2010-12-02T00:02:00.006-05:00

I decided to make a baby quilt for my friend Chris' new little girl, Emily. It turns out that quilts are quite easy to make, but the process can be highly time-consuming. Choosing the fabrics alone was a little daunting, as The Workroom has a wide selection of very lovely and very quiltable fabrics; I spent a good 30 minutes or so in the store before deciding on the fabrics pictured below (click image to enlarge).

Measuring, cutting out, sewing together, and pressing all the squares required the most time. Other than that, all the topstiching was quick and easy -- they're only straight lines. The last image shows a close-up of the names I embroidered.

on a monday...

2010-11-29T23:44:00.019-05:00

Mondays are my favourite days of the week. They mark the start of a fresh week.

So, in honour of this new week, we've decided to start a Polyvore page to share our collection of fun online finds with you. We hope you like it!

diane birch

2010-11-27T18:19:00.002-05:00

Diane Birch is a musician with an amazing sense of style. Among others, she credits Coco Chanel and Jane Birkin as her style icons and is inspired by the romantic and classical Baroque era both in music and style.

Below, in one of my favourite ensemble of hers, she mixes vintage with designer pieces while attending NYFW.

nadinoo

2010-11-23T20:22:00.004-05:00

Nadinoo is a beautiful clothing line based in Britain. With each garment hand crafted, you can be assured that each piece is unique and individualized. It's hard to find such personalized service like this these days.

Autumn/Winter '10 collection:

Equally lovely was their Spring/Summer '10 collection:

lanvin for h&m

2010-11-20T00:39:00.013-05:00

Without a doubt, the Lanvin for H&M line has generated much anticipation and excitement. The collection hits stores today. Here are my favourites:

jon klassen

2010-11-19T00:32:00.008-05:00

It's hard to believe that it's been about a month and a half since I last posted. October was extremely nutty for me, and I'm glad that I have a little bit of a breather this month before the pace picks up again. Expect plenty of posts from me as I catch up on sharing the various sewing projects I completed over the summer.

Ridiculously talented illustrator Jon Klassen recently won the Governor General's Literary Award for a book he illustrated, Cats' Night Out. I love his subdued colour palette and the mood that his work evokes.

audrey kawasaki

2010-11-09T10:07:00.002-05:00

Audrey Kawasaki's work is sensual and serene. I love that she uses wood as her canvas. I think the grain in the wood add to the beautiful texture in her work.

Discover the rest of Audrey's paintings here.

of lace and collars

2010-10-22T19:16:00.007-04:00

A couple of months ago, I did a post on a pearl collar that I made. As a follow-up to that post, I wanted to share a few more collars that I have made and collected.

lace/ feather collar and amethyst necklace:
self-made

(close-up of collar)

This neck-piece is made from a gorgeous feather-motif collar I bought from a textile shop. I had a small bag of vintage rhinestones that had been sitting in my bead supply box for some time, so I decided to scatter them along the collar. Although the rhinestones are quite small, the hint of light that they capture is quite lovely.

lace collar: self-made

This is a simple collar that I made using lace trim. Nothing excites me more than browsing through sewing trims and notions. It's definitely the first place I head towards upon entering a fabric shop.

dress: h&m, lace collar: thrifted

Last January, I was lucky enough to score this lovely collar at a local thrift store. It was accompanied with a tag, classifying it as a 'Belgium Lace collar'. I was able to acquire this piece for the bargain price of $1 CAD, and I can't tell you how thrilled I was when I found it.

decoylab

2010-10-09T18:28:00.006-04:00

What lovely decorative clocks for the home.

Find them here at Decoylab.

inspiration board

2010-09-28T22:43:00.006-04:00

inspiration board: self-made

When I was younger, I loved using embroidery hoops, typically for sewing sequins and beads on pretty fabrics. Now, I discovered another use for embroidery hoops: making inspiration boards.

I picked up this gorgeous floral fabric with my sister during our visit to the workroom in Toronto. They have a such a great selection of unique fabrics, albeit mainly printed cotton.

So far, I've pinned on a mini flower I made using lace trim, a few paper flowers, and decorative tags by o-check. I'm sure the board will fill up quickly as I'm constantly finding inspiration everywhere.

heavy metal

2010-09-26T17:48:00.002-04:00

I'm typically not a big fan of studs or a lot of metal on purses (and shoes, too), but the hardware on these shoulder bags is so keenly used; there is just enough metal to detail the bags. And, I'm a sucker for chain straps.

clockwise from top left: See by Chloe's Cherry Mini Bag; Rebecca Minkoff's Kiss Bag;
MATT & NAT's Laroux Bag; Antik Batik's Friel Purse

tba

2010-09-22T21:32:00.010-04:00

TBA (to be adored) is definitely my favourite autumn/winter 2010 collection. I absolutely love peter pan collars, polka dots/pom-poms, velvet and bows.

I think that the photography for this collection is super gorgeous as well. I find the juxtaposition of beautiful dresses and abandoned spaces to be quite intriguing.

kelly smith

2010-09-19T16:34:00.003-04:00

I'm sure many of you have heard of her already, but I've been a long time fan of Kelly Smith's work.

I always get excited whenever she updates her blog with new illos, and she always posts the most inspirational photos to draw.

Stock up on her lovely prints via her etsy store, Birdy & Me.

skt ceramics

2010-09-16T00:06:00.004-04:00

If I had plenty of disposable income, I would definitely splurge on these porcelain tumblers by Susannah Tisue, creator of SKT Ceramics.

Visit SKT Ceramics' Etsy store or purchase the items in person at her Brooklyn Flea booth.

frankie magazine

2010-09-09T11:37:00.001-04:00

Frankie Magazine is easily one of my favourite magazines at the moment. Frankie is an amalgamation of all things pretty, whether it be fashion, vintage, photography, art or crafts - they have it all!

Here is a peek into their most recent release (issue 37):

And, as a huge fan of brooches and pins (I'm sure my sister can attest to this as well!), I adored this layout from their Jan./Feb. 2010 edition (issue 33):

Sadly, they no longer distribute Frankie Magazine in Canada anymore. Not to worry though, because you can personally subscribe to Frankie and have it delievered to your doorstep, or you can obtain an online version of Frankie.

little salon

2010-09-08T14:46:00.004-04:00

I stumbled upon the cutest little shop nestled in lovely Melbourne. Little Salon features local art, clothing and jewelry.

If you're lucky enough to live in or visit Melbourne, be sure to plan a visit here.

dear creatures

2010-09-08T14:44:00.005-04:00

Dear Creatures' Fall 2010 collection makes me excited for the colder weather ahead.

lady in red

2010-08-29T21:43:00.003-04:00

Below are before and after shots of a skirt I altered (sorry they are a bit blurry, I need to invest in a better camera soon). I purchased it from a thrift store's "buy the pound" section at $1/pound, so it only cost a buck or two. My friend Yoonsin picked it out for me, and I hesitated to buy it at first since it seemed a bit long, as it fell a little past my knees. But at a dollar per pound, I couldn't resist -- I am frequently looking for new sewing projects anyway.

It doesn't look like I altered it in the photo, but months after picking it up, I finally shortened the skirt a couple inches and used the extra material to make two front pockets. (If the pockets are hard to see, click the image to enlarge it for more detail.)

party time

2010-08-23T13:58:00.003-04:00

Here are just a few exciting decorative ideas for your next party!

I absolutely love Confetti System. Nicholas Andersen and Julie Ho, the duo behind Confetti System, have an interesting artistic vision:

"CONFETTISYSTEM's creations occupy the space between the ephemeral and the permanent, evoking a sense of nostalgia and lighthearted fun."

Decorative pom poms from PomLove.

If you are feeling a bit crafty, then head over to Martha Stewart's site to get step-by-step instructions to make your very own pom poms.

Starry Bird Garland / Handsome Fox Puppet
Butterfly Tiny Tags / Birds of Paradise Mobile

Mobiles, hanging things and other fun party items from Royalbuffet.

all that glitters

2010-08-19T00:10:00.008-04:00

I'm constantly experimenting with make-up products, and these are a few products that I have been using recently and have fallen in love with. I find that summer is a great season to try fun, colourful shades.

Please keep in mind that the true colours of these products might vary slighty from the photos, but they are very close to the hues of the actual products.

MAKE UP FOR EVER: Flash Color in no. 000 (light turquoise)

This formula is highly pigmented and very creamy, which makes it ideal for blending. With this product, a little goes a long way. Flash colors are made for use on the face or body. I use this cream colour mainly as an eyeliner and occasionally as an eyeshadow. However, this product smudges and creases quite easily, so if you are using it as an eyeshadow colour, I would suggest using a primer before wearing this. Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion or Too Faced Shadow Insurance should do the trick.

Essie: Nail polish in Haute As Hello (coral) and Barbuda Banana (pale yellow)

Haute As Hello is the prettiest coral colour I ever did see! If you plan on purchasing this shade, make sure you wear a clear top coat to achieve the colour on the bottle, as it does dry slightly duller than most polishes.

Unfortunately, Essie has discontinued the shade Barbuda Banana. But, if you are looking for a colour like this, American Apparel makes a similar nail varnish called 'Butter'.

Anna Sui: Moisture Rich Fluid Foundation in B02

During the summer, I usually stick to tinted moisturizers or lightweight foundations like this one by Anna Sui. I adore all Anna Sui products simply because of their gorgeous packaging. It comes in a cute rose bottle complete with a rose shaped cap - I couldn't resist! And in true Anna Sui fashion, this foundation smells like roses, unlike the multitude of foundations that smell of chemicals.

For sun protection, I wear a moisturizer with SPF under this foundation.

NARS: Lipstick in Barbarella (sheer peach)

I love this colour by NARS. This formula gives you the right amount of colour and is the perfect blend of pink and orange. It's great for the daytime when I want a light pop of colour on my lips. Because of its sheer formula, it can be layered with other lipsticks or lip glosses.

As with many lipsticks, the colour payoff is quite different than it appears in the photo; the best way to test this colour is to see it in person.

Marc Jacobs: Daisy Eau de Toilette and Glitter Gel Rollerball

I've been building quite a frangrance collection recently, but Marc Jacobs' Daisy perfume is definitely one of my favourites. I received this fragrance as a gift from my lovely friend, Kajani. It has such a fresh, floral scent and it is not too overpowering. The staying power is great too. I like to carry my Daisy rollerball in my bag when I need to re-apply the scent and also because, well, I like glitter :)

dara ettinger

2010-08-16T21:49:00.011-04:00

The beauty of natural stones never ceases to amaze me. Dara Ettinger, a jewelry designer based in Los Angeles, captures all of their organic loveliness in her accessories just perfectly.

Dara's work is currently available at Urban Outfitters and Max&Chloe.

day & night

2010-08-13T23:13:00.019-04:00

I love these fun, colourful ensembles by Cynthia Rowley for the daytime.

By night, I'd dress it up with any look from Chloé's Fall '10 collection. I cannot get enough of the first look with the black-tipped collared blouse and the long pleated skirt!

eibatova karina

2010-08-04T19:26:00.002-04:00

Love these illustrations by Eibatova Karina. The middle portraits are a bit eerie-looking, but they really show off Eibatova's pencil techniques in the hair.

taking shape

2010-07-31T14:45:00.002-04:00

I picked up this dress from a vintage shop in Kensington Market in Toronto earlier this year. I only got around to altering it recently, and it ended up being a bigger task than I anticipated. Initially, the dress had an additional asymmetrical sheer black layer underneath, but I had cut it out before I got around to taking the "before" shot.

I thought a little cropping to straighten the bottom hem was enough to make the dress wearable for me, but the sleeves were still a bit too puffy for my liking. I trimmed the sleeves down significantly and tucked in the excess fabric, and now it's as though I have a whole new dress!

maps

2010-07-28T15:16:00.002-04:00

This is slightly old news now, but these maps by Eric Fischer are absolutely stunning. They map out the locations in cities where photos on Flickr and Picasa were taken/geotagged. The differently coloured lines indicate modes of transportation that the photographers took: Walking (black), cycling (red), and moving in a motor vehicle (blue).

As someone who does quite a bit of design work and also works with research data fairly often, I adore data visualizations, especially when they are beautiful enough to stand as works of art in their own right. The last two images are maps of Toronto, with the left image mapping out modes of transportation and the right image mapping out photos taken by locals (blue) and tourists (red).

sonia rykiel

2010-07-26T20:10:00.011-04:00

With pieces made from fine fabrics such as cashmere and merino wool, Sonia Rykiel's collection is the perfect mix of comfort and glamour.

View the rest of her resort '11 collection here.

drawings

2010-07-23T02:24:00.005-04:00

There are certain things in life that I tend to keep private, and my drawings/illustrations are among those things. I find my creations to be deeply personal and very much a visual representation of my thoughts. During the process of drawing, your mood, thoughts, experiences and emotions truly affect and infect your work: from the medium you use, right down to the intricate details that you make (or do not make) to the pressure or depth of tone or colour that you apply to your work.

Rarely have I ever shared my work with anyone. Though, after being inspired by many wonderful, talented and creative individuals, I felt the need to perpetuate that creative spirit. I should say however, that I am by no means an "artist", but rather a person who admires art and regards it as a crucial component of life. However, I believe that life is in many ways "art" itself, and thus we are all "artists" in some sense.

I've always been inspired by this Nietzsche quote:

"...only as an aesthetic phenomenon
are existence and the world justified."

This claim can be unpacked thoroughly, but roughly speaking, Nietzsche believes that art is the highest form of the human spirit and existence that one can achieve, and it is to that end that I've elected to share my creations with everyone.

My hope is that you will be inspired to create art of your own in any capacity you can, and see the importance it plays in your life. Please be aware that the art that I speak of is not limited to paintings, drawings, or the like, but rather any sort of creative, meaningful endeavour that you choose to pursue.

graphite, coloured pencil, watercolour
(based on image from Frankie Magazine)

graphite, glitter

graphite, coloured pencil, watercolour
(based on image from Lula Magazine)

I do plan on drawing more frequently and hopefully I'll get a chance to share my work with you all when those projects are actualized. I would also like to apologize for the lack of quality of my images, as I currently do not own a scanner.

lauren dicioccio

2010-07-16T21:47:00.003-04:00

The craftsmanship of these embroideries by Lauren DiCioccio is really impressive. In her "sewnnews" series, Lauren hand-embroiders images from The New York Times and encases entire issues of the paper in muslin. I love the loose threads that hang and get all tangled up in a bunch.

snapshots

2010-07-13T19:11:00.012-04:00

Wonderful vintage-inspired photography by HoneyTree.

the long and the short of it

2010-07-12T13:15:00.003-04:00

Soon after I bought this dress from my local thrift store, I immediately regretted the purchase. I was drawn to the printed flowers and its silky fabric, but the shape of the dress was quite unflattering -- it was neither fitted nor flowy.

The overall length of the dress was a tad too short for me to give it much of a makeover, but I was able to chop off a 3-inch strip from the waistline, resew the top and bottom pieces together, and cut the crew neckline down to a bit of a v-neck, gathering the loose fabric with a button. Here's how the altered dress, now more of a tunic, turned out:

marian bantjes

2010-07-08T23:42:00.010-04:00

I have been meaning to write this post for quite some time now, but had been too knee-deep in work to focus on blogging. While I was MIA, one of my favourite graphic designers/artists, Marian Bantjes, did a TED talk back in February that was finally posted online in June. Her talk, titled Intricate Beauty by Design, is nothing short of brilliant and highly engaging.

Marian also has a book, I Wonder, that is due out on October 19th. Here are two spreads from the book (you can find more on her website):

animal farm

2010-07-03T22:16:00.008-04:00

Oh, how I love these precious necklaces! I used to own a few wooden animal necklaces in the past, and in retrospect, I wish I had kept them around.

Yokoo's Etsy Shop has some great creations.

diy: framed lace

2010-06-30T16:20:00.007-04:00

earrings: bow-pearl earrings: vintage,
pink fan earrings + gold rose earrings: vintage (gifts from sarah)

Here's a cheap do-it-yourself project that cost me less than $6 to make. I found this old wooden frame at a local thrift store for $2. My framed lace sits against my wall giving life to the otherwise bare space.

Uses:
You can use your framed lace as a jewelry holder (it works great for earrings, as pictured above) or simply display it on a table or hang it on a wall for decorative/aesthetic purposes.

Materials:

* wooden frame

* glue gun

* lace (preferably sturdy, non-stretch)
* scissors
* fabric chalk

optional:

* felt sheet (used to cover back of frame)
* hook (for hanging frame on the wall)

Instructions:

1.) Remove the glass, nails and hooks from your frame so that you have a clean wooden frame.

2.) Lay your lace flat on a table and place your frame over it to isolate the area you want to capture on your lace fabric. Then, trace an outline on the lace around your frame.

3.) Cut your lace slightly smaller than the perimeter of your outline. The reason for doing this is to ensure that you do not end up with extra fabric peeking through from behind the frame.

4.) Taking your glue gun, start gluing the lace onto one side of the frame and let dry. Next, pull your lace firmly and continue to glue your lace to the other side of the frame and repeat for all other sides.

I found that it was best to completely saturate the lace with glue so that all the ends of the lace were secure.

5.) At this point, you are pretty much done with your frame. However, if you are unsatisfied with the unsightly dried glue on the backside of the frame, then you can cover it with a layer of felt.

Simply measure the frame's border and cut the felt sheet accordingly. Glue the felt to the back of the frame and firmly press the felt down using the back of a closed pair of scissors.

Below is an image of how the back of the frame looks with and without the felt backing.

Enjoy making your framed lace and have fun with this project!

no-ëllk

2010-06-23T09:09:00.002-04:00

These facet boards / mood-inspiration boards / collages / whatever you prefer to call them, are so awesome. What an incredible idea this is to organize a mix of images as an image itself.

No-ëllk is a design pseudonym for Elizabeth, a graphic designer based in Sydney. She creates some truly interesting and atmospheric work. This girl is amazing.

persephone vintage

2010-06-21T23:10:00.004-04:00

Sequined tops, floral blazers and pretty blouses? I feel like a kid in a candy store! Persephone Vintage has some amazing goodies that you can find either on their store website, their etsy store, or their eBay store.

encyclopedia of crafts

2010-06-18T12:24:00.002-04:00

A lovely and thoughtful friend of mine, Sangita, gifted the Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts book to me, which is filled with glossy pages of craft inspiration. I thoroughly enjoy making/crafting things, so this book is right up my alley.

There is so much to see in this encyclopedia and I wish that I could share everything with all of you, but a few pictures of my favourite images and projects will have to do for now.

Origami Paper Lanterns

Block / Stamp Carving

Flower Pressing

Semi-Precious Stones

Cloth-covered mats

Decorative Pine cones

Tissue Paper Flowers

Cut-flower Projects

Pop-up Bird Cards

paul & joe beaute

2010-06-15T21:24:00.003-04:00

Paul & Joe brush holder, blotting paper and mirrored case, floral nail file

Most of my family and friends know that I really enjoy playing with make-up / beauty products. I'm an art lover through and through, and I find make-up to be another medium of art.

One thing that I especially love about beauty products is the packaging. In particular, Paul & Joe Beaute is one of my favourite brands, which is why I was terribly disappointed to hear that Sephora no longer carried their collection. However, I am still very lucky to own a few of their gorgeously designed and packaged items.

If you visit the Paul & Joe Beaute website, you can download some cute wallpapers and screensavers. To find out where they sell Paul & Joe near you, check out their 'Shop Info' section.

treasure box

2010-06-10T19:58:00.006-04:00

dress & belt: vintage

necklaces: self-made

Of all the necklaces I own, I think that these might be my most worn pieces simply because of their versatility. As mentioned in an earlier post, I like to layer multiple pieces of jewelry at a time, and necklaces are no exception.

The lovely jewelry box is thrifted and is a gift from my sister (thanks, Sarah!).

arielle de pinto

2010-06-07T13:56:00.003-04:00

Arielle de Pinto is a Montreal-based jewelry designer. She is best known for her work using chains to crochet necklaces, bracelets and even vests.

ruby boutique

2010-06-04T00:50:00.002-04:00

Ruby's autumn/winter '10 looks are so, so lovely! I'm quite impressed with their styling.

Ruby's sister brand, Madame Hawke, have some great pieces too:

Shop Ruby and Madame Hawke here.

garden collection

2010-06-02T10:24:00.002-04:00

I own an array of flowers for sewing and crafting and these are just a few favourites from my ever-growing collection.

dear golden vintage

2010-05-31T19:30:00.005-04:00

Among several other adorable vintage items, Dear Golden Vintage sells the prettiest 1950's frocks.