tall tale tallin

Guilt.

2011-03-25T00:44:00.002-04:00

Honestly, as of a week or so ago I hadn't gone shopping or bought clothes since christmas time. Okay, thats not true, i bought a pair of nude pumps, but I felt guilty so I retuned them and got my brother his birthday present instead. So I am going to go out on a limb and say that I deserve this one. And that jumper I bought... more on that later. But can we please talk about how amazing these are? No one understands how picky I am with shoes, first of all I have been looking for the perfect platform wedge since last summer. Any shoes I own with a heel have to have certain proportions and a certain degree of slant, this one is perfect. I don't even need to mention how perfect the colour is.

So, no more eating for me this week.

{shoes DKNY}

Winter flower.

2011-03-06T21:20:00.005-05:00

Like always I have been beyond busy to take care of myself and comb my hair to look pretty for pictures. However, I also went on vacation, which is like being busy, except you are having fun. The best part of my vacation was meeting up with my parents who finally got a hold of my new Canon Rebel T2i which has long been back ordered all across north america. So for a week (most of it without internet) I spent my time experimenting with it, and becoming the annoying person who makes everyone around them look like a tourist. I took pictures of everything I ate (mostly because it was so good and I wanted to remember it), everyone around me and about a thousand pictures of the mountains.

I also brought along a summer dress, just so that I could run outside onto the ski hill after it closed and stand out against the chilly snow. Everyone who past by gave me stares, I need to start getting used to it if I ever decide to become a serious fashion blogger...

My vacation was beyond wonderful. I am starting to get bad at not doing work without feeling really guilty, but by the end of the week without having internet I had pretty much given up any hope on trying to get anything done. A lot of annoying little things happened too; loosing my passport, losing my driver's license, forgetting my computer's power cord, the airline pulling my baggage and making me wait around for it for hours the next day. Good thing I am pretty good at letting things go. Anyways, more pictures of sun, snow and scrumptious feasts to come. This week is posed to be a little lest hectic than last, and I am excited to share the result of what last week brought. It's delightful.

{dress H&M shoes forever 21}

Grandma Valentine.

2011-02-14T17:07:00.004-05:00

I am pretty sure this is my first Valentine's since I was 16 where I was single. I may have had one in there somewhere, but it was obviously uneventful and not traumatizing. Well I have decided that it is definitely the better option. I had no expectations and today was wonderful. Okay, first of all I should explain that I have only ever actually celebrated Valentine's with a boy once, because I tend to find myself on vacation during the second week of february, but nevertheless, today was better than any boy love. Actually, I am sure there are some men out there who are great at v-day, but I never had that.

My theme of the day was "romantic grandma" if that makes any sense. I got this knit 3/4 length skirt over the weekend, which fulfilled my skirt need for the winter. I was searching for something like this back in the fall, but to no avail, and then I found this on sale for $15 and I new it was fate. I got the clutch for the same price too actually, that was a score and a half. I don't know why it is, but I can never find an everyday purse that satisfies my needs, but a clutch is just a little piece of perfection and I have way too many. So much easier to by, much more difficult to justify.

happy valentine's day!

{skirt zara shirt h&m cardigan ricki's tights le chateau belt gap necklace antique purse zara}

String beans.

2011-02-11T11:17:00.006-05:00

I think I am starting to have a blogger pose. The last picture being it. Mostly I just look like a lima bean, but whatever works. I usually take a whole bunch of pictures and then look at them and adjust and take more or what not, and when ever I go back through the pictures, a good third of them are standing like that. I don't even notice that I do it.

I call this dress my sack dress, I wear it all to often. Mostly because if I take off the belt I am basically wearing a nightgown. I tend to do a lot of homework in it. How glamorous.

{dress french connection belt h&m boots urban outfitters jewelry vintage and random}

Tough as licorice.

2011-02-06T11:42:00.003-05:00

I really hate my tripod. It has uneven legs and it doesn't get nice and vertical when I want to take portrait shots. So i just ignored it and took wonky pictures that look like I don't know what I am doing (I don't). Also, I was drinking at this point, so I didn't really care much anyways.

It was two of my girlfriends' birthdays, so we got dressed up and went to a martini bar. It was a really nice night, so I basically decided not to wear pants. this dress is pretty much to short to sit down, so I just avoid that. I wore this outfit when I went home for the holidays, and everyone there liked the leather & lace combo, so I decided to do a Toronto repeat. It's nice how that works out somehow.

{dress h&m leather shirt h&m boots le chateau necklace family heirloom belt gap}

Top knots and dinner rolls.

2011-02-03T11:55:00.002-05:00

Although I mist preface this by staying I subscribe to the Southern philosophy that bigger hair makes for a smaller body, I was still ecstatic this morning when I was finally able to pull back my horrifically grown out bangs. Since I refuse to go to a hair dresser here in Toronto and pay good money for someone I don't trust, I have had a little to much going on up top as of late. When I went home for christmas I was too broke to go to my wonderful blonde afroed (that is probably not a word) hairdresser, so it has been since August! How gross. I am growing kind of attached to it though. The last time I went to visit her I was considering hacking it all of, but now I don't think I would have the balls to do it.

Today is one of my friends' birthday, which means I get to dress up and go out to dinner. I also get to ride in a car (this doesn't happen very often for me, so it is kind of a big deal), which means that I get to wear heels. Even though it is Chinese New Year's we are going to have a big East Indian style feast! I am really excited to take the night off from my lovely little apartment/cave.

There are two main reasons why I haven't been posting outfit posts as of late; one, I have been dressing badly. It just happens, forgive me. And two, I have been pining over getting my new Canon Rebel, which I ordered a month ago, but as it seems the entire continent of North America is under supplied. So I will just have to wait my turn. Hopefully I will get it for my trip to B.C. later on this month. It will be nice to learn how to use it out in the mountains, because I honestly will have no clue what I am doing.

{dress random old sack shoes h&m bracelets gift, le chateau, vintage, coach belt gap}

Well hung.

2011-02-02T14:39:00.006-05:00

Procrastinating while doing something productive but totally unrelated has the tendency to make you feel less guilty. This is a trick I use frequently, it's the main reason why my closet is arranged by colour and sleeve length. It's also how my apartment will get spotlessly clean for two days, until I have to construct a model out of styrofoam or carve a spoon out of wood. So the other night I finally got around to hanging up some pictures I have had for a while, as well as one Kaari gave me for christmas. I also bought a clock at the One of a Kind Show from Tansy &co.

The top image is by Winnipeg artist Marcel Dzama who is absolutely amazing and my new true love. The bottom picture is by a Winnipeg artist too, but I am not exactly sure who.

And my little block mounted clock, which took me forever to choose, but I like the contrast with my little squirrel salt & pepper shakers.

Mod 'baum.

2011-01-28T22:11:00.002-05:00

This little house was a project I did for school. It is actually a small part of a quite large Frank Lloyd Wright house called the Rosenbaum House. We were given a floor plan and were allowed to do anything with it. I wanted to make a little granny house, but I think I would probably live here if I got the chance. I think I might spruce it up for my portfolio, it's the first 3D drawings I have done on the computer, it took me all night on my last night of school to finish it. It was my first as last all nighter of last semester.

I still think I like drawings by hand though, who would want to live in a house that shiny?

How to live like a designer.

2011-01-17T12:14:00.002-05:00

Anyone who knows me in real life knows that I am a big time complainer. I try not to be, but I kind of just go on and on like word vomit until people stop listening or my mother tells me to shut it. Anyways, this gets increasingly worse when I get on the subject of school, I talk about how I never sleep, I spend on my money on large format printing and all I eat is cheese (which sounds really good, but at 4 am it gives you really bad indigestion). Well, although it does suck most of the time, sometimes it is amazing, i.e. last night. Yesterday I made pizza from scratch, dough and all, I even made extra and froze it so that I could make more pizza in the future. I topped it with artichokes, roasted red peppers, goat's cheese and old cheddar. The only think that would have made it better would be if I hadn't forgotten to put on the prosciutto I had. I also had half a bottle of wine left to top it of. Mind you, I wasn't particularly productive after drinking it...

Crafty glory.

2011-01-14T21:17:00.003-05:00

Okay, I must admit, I am painfully, painfully behind. While my friend Michael was in town we went to the One of a Kind Show, which is like a curated art show of crafts. There were so many wonderful artisans that it would have been

I got to meet Sarra Tang and go to see her beyond beautiful collection HOI BO, the leatherwear was a stand out for me. The oversized wristlets would make for the perfect ice skating purse (and we all know that I need a purse specifically for that occasion). The only problem is that there is only one place you can buy it in Toronto and then online at A2ZANE which doesn't carry my favorite pieces or any of her jewelry.

I am not going to lie, Missy Industries plays into my inner goth child. I need some bullet inspired accessories to go with my wardrobe of black. Also, the linear ring looks like a brass knuckles while only having to fit one finger. Available on etsy.

Another great leatherwear designer Rachael F. she has lots of bags but what I like best is the jewelry, there are the most darling heart studs made of leather. Who would have thought that would be so charming? Not available on line, but in plenty of shops, including Cha Cha Place in Winnipeg.

I had been looking for a clock for my kitchen for a while, and I finally found the perfect little block mounted one by Tansy & Co.. I probably annoyed the crap out of the designers mother who was working the booth, because it took me forever to decide, and they were trying to close down the shop. Still, I am really happy with the one I got, however it still needs to be hung on the wall over my stove instead of sitting on it.

Mary Katrantzou.

2011-01-11T12:32:00.004-05:00

This collection is an interior designers dream. Literally being able to step into a beautiful world through Mary Katrantzou's fabric would make every place maker feel a little more sophisticated inside. A portico covering my crotch? I'm there.

{sources; style.com, vogue.com}

To infinity.

2011-01-10T02:14:00.001-05:00

{source; unknown, number TEN architects, facehunter}

MMXI.

2011-01-04T01:51:00.003-05:00

New year's eve. A night of high expectations that intend to set the tone for the year a head. Well, if my night was any indication for the next year it will be full with easy going house parties and a little to much bubbly.

Every year I make the same resolutions; spend less money and procrastinate less. Which are basically things that I always try to work on, but this year I intend to try to make living alone enjoyable, or at least for the next three and a half months until school is over and I can move out.

Mountain goats.

2010-12-27T14:02:00.004-05:00

A bunch of my friends left the other night to drive 14 hours to a mountain in Montana to go skiing. I was invited to go along but due to lack of ski pants, gloves and funds it was an impossibility. So to make up for it I have concocted a nice little assortment of how I would dress if I was able to be up in those mountains. This is probably for the best because it was going to be with conservative doctors and businessmen to be, who don't understand the point of pom-poms and ear muffs, and think that the Man Repeller is ruining women. I do have a trip planned for a week in the mountains in February though, so some of this might come in useful. I think it would be a good idea to get a cute little pair of Sorel's anyways.

Mountain Goat by talltaletallin

Rag & Bone / Grayling Sweater, $249
Rachel Comey / Boatneck Sweater, $209
Graphic stripe cardigan, 90 GBP
Superfine Chilly leather appliqué skinny jeans, $300
Oasis Skirts| Black Long Ponte 50's Skirt | Womens Fashion Clothing |..., 40 GBP
Womens Black Snowflake Leggings - Clothing - desireclothing.co.uk, 12 GBP
Hope / Field Boot, $608
Marc by Marc Jacobs Shearling and nylon lace-up boots, $295
Sorel 'Tivoli' Waterproof Boot, $100
【ELLE SHOP】フォックスファーボンボン　ミトンブラック×グレー｜ラドロー（LUDLOW）｜ファッション通販エル・ショップ, 25,200 JPY
Missoni Zigzag-knit scarf, $675
Maison Michel Goat fur earmuffs, 225 GBP
Rag & Bone / Estelle Hat, $150
grayling fair isle mittens, $140
Brightly Twisted Tie-Dye Scarf available at vionnet boutique los..., $95
Origin Beanie, $28
Chocolate reindeer mittens, 8 GBP
Tumblr. winter christmas snow

Impracticalities.

2010-12-24T01:42:00.002-05:00

I packed in a bit of a hurry before I came home for the holidays. It seems that I only managed to stuff in some party dresses around the christmas presents I brought back. Looks like this holiday is going to be an over-dressed one!

My fair lady.

2010-12-21T13:26:00.005-05:00

During the semester one of my friends was given an amazing portrait by her boyfriend, painted in back and white it was one of the sweetest gifts anyone could ever receive. Coincidentally, another one of my friend's boyfriend is taking a life drawing class and did a portrait of her and gave it to her at pretty much the same time. Needless to say I was super jealous. I love portraits, and I have the cutest little one that a friend send me over the summer, but you know girls, they get jealous and always want what they can't have. So since I don't have a boy to draw/paint/take my picture, i figured I would just draw one for myself. Well that turned out horrible, I seemed to have forgotten that I can't really draw that well.

Well, I tell friend number two about this, and she goes "oh, my portrait is not like a normal portrait, it's... different." Considering I had never seen it, i had to take her word on it. So a month later when it came to exchanging christmas presents I was delightfully surprised by this sweet little likeness of me. I know, I know, I am not a blonde, but those lips are fabulous and it is way to much fun. I think I am going to put the two portraits beside each other, maybe start a little project getting friends to draw casual pictures of me, see what they think I actually look like.

Big town, little christmas.

2010-12-19T22:17:00.003-05:00

Before coming home for the holidays I was determined to set up my christmas tree, even though I new there were going to be no presents underneath it and I was just going to have to take it down by myself when I got back to school in january. I thought it would be perfect to do it while Michael was in town, and get some other christmas enthusiast to come help. As long as I provided wine and sweets I knew they would show.

Lucy is extremely particular about the placement of the ornaments, which Michael wasn't really able to pick up on. She did try to explain that similar decorations needed to be spaced around the tree, but I think Michael was just enjoying himself to much to really care. She did end up moving a lot of them around when he wasn't looking though.

The first picture also gives you a better idea of how tiny my apartment actually is. With my dresser right beside my desk with my (folded down) dining room table right in front.

The tree turned out really well in the end. I continued with last years colour pallet of silver, blue, black and white with a secondary theme of birds. The topper for the tree is a feather snowball that I made last year, with a bird's nest and sparkly blue feather/plant. It makes a huge mess and is to heavy to be supported by just one branch alone, but it adds to the theme. There are a couple things on there that really don't go with the theme at all, which Lucy insisted that we hide in the center of tree, or on the back which faces the street. It worked out well though, however it is kind of hard to tell since most of the decorations are white...

Next year I was thinking of doing a whole origami tree. It would be a little time consuming, but there are so many pretty papers that would look good as ornaments.

House guests.

2010-12-13T19:27:00.003-05:00

After a week of no sleeping, Michael came as the light at the end of the tunnel. I had a mad rush to try to clean my apartment of cardboard (not accomplished) and dirty clothes. It was Michael's second annual christmas visit. Void of touristy Toronto things, and full of visits, food and craft shows. Of course we managed to get in some shopping, which is basically a tourist haven anyways, and the everyday Toronto experiences like the TTC and the financial district. There was really not enough time to everything, there were some restaurants we missed out on, but I am going to use that as leverage to make sure there is a 3rd annual visit.

Michael brought the snow all the way from Winnipeg, of course it has all melted by now, but it was the most light and delightful snow I have ever seen. We went up to north york to visit Ikea and my friend Gaurav. Gaurav had never driven in snow before, he didn't even know where his defrost was. It was slightly terrifying, but it was so nice to be in a car rather than a stuff subway, that I just buckled up and yelled directions from the back seat.

On our way home from Ikea we missed the last train and had to take the worlds longest bus ride downtown. Before we got kicked out of the station though, we took lots of pictures. Some of the newer subway stations have fun tiles and stainless steel. Makes you kind of dizzy after a bottle of wine.

On our last day we did do a little bit of touristy things, mainly going to the CBC museum and walking around the financial district. My favorite buildings in toronto are the TD towers, by Mies van der Rohe, so I took Michael because he is the only person who would appreciate a plain black building as much as I would. We snuck in and sat on real Barcelona chairs, well okay, I only sat on the bench. But on the inside you can appreciate all of the details, like the fonts that are used to indicate the front desk. I would have taken a picture but I think that the security guard would have gotten a little suspicious. Also, there are cows in the courtyard.

New discoveries.

2010-12-11T23:51:00.004-05:00

Ah, back to the blogging world. How nice it is. I have found a couple of worthy things in the past couple of days that i found memorable. I think I might have to make some cookies next weekend! At home of course, when I don't have a kitchen that is the size of a closet.

I know that Kate Bingaman Burt has be circulating around the blogosphere, but I never seemed to find her when I wanted to pass it along. So now I have the link, and will not be able to loose it. She draws little illustrations of the things she buys from day to day. What a wonderful way to keep track of your finances, no?

You must, must, must see the darling little cookies over at Forty-sixth at Grace. They are perfection, plus there are accompanying recipes. There are also button shortbread cookies and feather ones.

I have been trying to collect little bits of Toronto, Judith Geher is an artist from around town whose style is so admirable. She paints on wooden panels with oils. I almost like the unfinished pieces more than the finished ones, they look like colourful ghosts.

Insomnia.

2010-12-09T17:48:00.002-05:00

The last week of school aka the week that rose up from the underworld, is finally over. I calculated that I slept for approximately 11 hours over the span of 5 days. I have never worked so hard in my life, all night, all day, all night, etc. etc. These are a couple of moments from the last few days of school suffering.

Key words include; energy drinks, coke, candy, homemade cookies, exacto knives, cardboard, cardboard, cardboard, printer problems, and wine with friends when possible.

This is one of the fruits of my labour, a little lounger chair made completely out of cardboard, it can support a person and it makes for a nice beach chair as long as you don't get it wet. It may not look like much but this thing nearly killed me, it definitely kicked my butt, to the point where I considered dropping out of school. Anyways, long pathetic story short, I managed to make it work and now I am kind of proud of it. I might post more Interior Design assignments, that week might have been painful, but it sure produced some little gems.

The ice and snow.

2010-12-08T14:15:00.005-05:00

now that school is over and my house guest has fled I have a nice long to-do list to diligently strike things off of. this is one of those menial things that I have been saving on my desktop for a while and always wanted to post.

I found these on Sea of Fertility, which is normally a personal style blog, where she not only posts outfits, but she illustrates them. it is the sweetest thing and worth checking out. The photographs are by Melvin Sokolsky in 1963, I would love to see them reinterpreted for today, but these are still so classic today. You can see the rest of the set here.

Untitled.

2010-11-20T22:16:00.003-05:00

My friend emily came in to toronto for a couple of days for the third time this semester. Whenever she comes to town I get to go out and do slightly touristy things, or fun whatever that I wouldn't necessarily do on my own, so on that stream today we went and got mani-pedis. It was her first ever pedicure! which I think is a shame, because it is one of my ultimate indulgences. For a person who spends way to much time on their feet, they are a must. Anyways, i went a little crazy with the glitter and got it on my hands and feet. I am a little upset that it is to cold for anyone to see my feet though, which is the reason why it got matching (gross, I never match) fingers and toes.

We also went on a mad boot hunt, but it has been a less than successful boot year all around. Once giving up we went to the AGO gift shop, which I think is better than the AGO itself, because the only thing that is really all that interesting in that museum is the model ships in the basement. I bought some postcards to send to my hometown, but I think I might have to keep them because I love them all and don't want to send them away.

Mon Petite. Part II.

2010-11-18T23:41:00.003-05:00

A couple more pictures of my apartment. I realize these don't really give you much of a general sense of what is going on. It is kind of on purpose, as everything looks like a bit of a hodge podge when put together. My whole apartment is a mish mash of ikea and hand me downs. True student living. Obviously I paint everything I can get my hands on. The furniture isn't the biggest problem, other than the fact that there isn't enough room for it all, but all the stuff that I have no storage for. I really need to get better at hiding things. I have an amazing storage room, it doesn't have shelving in it though, so everything is stacked and, like a hoarder, I am afraid that one day things will fall over on my head and crush me. So I try not to pile everything to high.

bed.

storage.

fridge.

vanity.

shower.

candelabra.

Mon petite. Part I.

2010-11-18T23:13:00.004-05:00

The last couple of days has been a nice, long procrastination. Worth it though, after an assignment I didn't enjoy I have decided to make a conscious effort to make the design process more enjoyable. When I applied to this program I thought I would get to sit in cafes and sketch pretty buildings or walk around on warm sunny days taking pictures. Well it has been the opposite of that rather, sitting in my apartment hunched over a desk trying to make perfect little drawings. This is not the romantic design experience I had envisioned. So I cleaned my apartment, went for coffee and drew pictures. Now I have shifted my apartment around to make a mini studio, to promote mad creativity.

Before doing this though, I took pictures. For now I will give you little snippets of some of my favorite things.

entrance.

hallway.

living area.

coffee table.

desk.

dresser.

After taking these pictures I feel like it looks like there is less "stuff" around than there actually is. My apartment is so tiny that I constantly feel like there is no where to put things down, or move them to. I was going to try to do a purge, perhaps that still might happen in the kitchen, especially now that I know what cooking things I actually use. I wish however I had room for a waffle maker. That might make my life.

South pole.

2010-11-17T22:15:00.002-05:00

Last night I was attacked by a surprise thundershower after work. I was not prepared and ended up running all the way home. Once i got there I changed into the warmest thing I could think of; faux fur! Busted out the vest and the blanket that reminds me of home. I cozied up. I probably should have made myself a cup of tea, but I was alright anyways. Although my apartment is definitely mine, I am still trying to make it look like home. Perhaps I will clean it up tonight and take pictures in the morning light.

Fcuk the man.

2010-10-27T01:52:00.003-04:00

I've been studying menswear stores for school recently, business plans, floor plans and advertising. The last part is the most enjoyable, and I have been loving this series of advertisements from french connection. This man is so perfectly manly, hairy, a little bit stout, he looks like he could be your country husband. He would BBQ for the family while drinking beer and smoking. He would be slightly moody, but always a little bit romantic at heart. I could have a country man like that.

Waist not.

2010-10-27T01:14:00.005-04:00

I love a natural waist and a little retro inspiration and some modern reinterpretation. Honestly though, I am obsessed with waists. If I am having an off day and want to wear a sack (because I actually have a lot of these) then I just whip out a belt and cinch it up and feel like I make a pretty convincing put together person.

{mad men, an education, yokoo}

The end.

2010-10-27T00:02:00.002-04:00

This afternoon I went to a funny little lecture on The Death of Cinema. It reminded me of all the amazing closings and the typography they used in "the end." The lecture was more about the way we watch movies and how we can't call them films anymore. We watched a little video about how watching movie on a cell phone is cheating you out of the movie experience. Which I agree with, going to the movies will always be my favorite way to watch movies, and it's not just because of the nachos.

{source}

WPG PART TWO.

2010-10-24T22:56:00.003-04:00

I love weddings. I love love. I am a super big suck for people who are happy and mushy and disgusting in love. Megan is my first friend to get married. I guess I am getting to that age where all of a sudden everyone I know will get married and I will have to hope that they will have the good taste to put me in a nice dress. No sage green anyone, please.

Megan's wedding was absolutely beautiful, apparently it all came together in the last week, but it looks amazing, and it was the perfect setting for the couple. Megan rarely wears anything but black, so it was fitting for her to not wear a traditional white dress, or shoes for that matter. This girl killed it in her little boots all night.

How sad is it that this is the only picture I have with Megan. We kind of look like we are at a smoozy christmas party. I wasn't going to buy a new dress to wear, but when I saw this one I new it would be perfect for a fall wedding. Just after getting it a lady came into my work and started yelling at me "H&M hates fat people, they only carry size 2, 4, and 8! What about the fat people, those aren't real sizes!? I tried on so many dresses and there are no fat girl dresses! I found the perfect dress, but my size doesn't exist!" She was really being rude, but I asked her what dress she wanted out of curiosity. When she described it, it was exactly this dress. I felt bad telling her that I had it. Then she apologized for being so crazy. I had to help her find another dress but I think she was slightly traumatized. It's probably good she didn't buy this one though, I didn't breathe all night, and I definitely could have made a bigger dent in the dessert buffet if I hadn't worn something with boning.

{dress H&M, shoes le chateau, clutch grandma's vintage}

WPG.

2010-10-21T19:18:00.003-04:00

Any one who knows me knows that I cannot cook. It's a fact. Not only that but cooking is one of the things that make me angry, and anyone who knows me knows that I am not an angry person, I may be a bitch, but I'm not angry. Anyways, I digress, I hate cooking. So I decided to host a belated (canandian) thanksgiving for ten. I made a nice juicy chicken, mashed up potatoes with the skins on them, made mushy stuffing and thats about it. My mom made the rest, but I like to think that I was an integral part. My girl Hillary who can actually whip something up out of no where brought over warm heart shaped biscuits and sweet potato tatter tots encrusted in ruffle chips. It was a feast. And I helped, which I am way too proud of.

Going home always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Everything is so happy and not stressful. Friends and family are always abundant. And this sounds like a greeting card. Oh well, anyone who knows me knows that I love winnipeg.

MTL PART DEUX.

2010-10-21T18:25:00.002-04:00

Since returning to toronto after montreal and winnipeg I have been a complete disaster. Nothing has worked out for me, My entire monday evening and tuesday were spent compiling the world's largest bibliography. I volunteered because I thought it would be easy, but apparently not everyone is a university educated and scholarly like me. kidding. but it was a big plain.

Not to mention my fridge was full of nasty rotten food. and I mean nasty, but I won't go into that.

Anyways, this is just not my week, so I going to go to a coffee shop, get a huge coffee in a real cup and study for a disaster of a midterm that I need to write in 15 hours. lets see if I can memorize the history of america by then.

MTL.

2010-10-15T19:04:00.004-04:00

Notre Dame, rue St. Catherine's, Old Montreal, the Marriot Hotel de Champlain, Patkau Library.

It has recently come to my attention that Montreal is probably the city where I will end up, after I am done school and brush up on some French. It seems to calm in comparison to Toronto which is a mess of scatterbrained people who don't know which side of the sidewalk to walk on. Where Toronto has mega transit systems, montreal has sidewalks. Maybe it will be different once I am all grown up, but for now it holds a charm.

I was there with school, every year we get to go on a field trip, last year was Boston and this year was basically a vacation. We had a fair amount of free time to walk around and visit the galleries we wanted to see, even though we went to the Musee de Beaux Arts together for a Otto Dix show (which was way more fucked up than I remember from art history). I was really sad to miss Habitat 67, which I was looking for and apparently just missed walking an extra block. Other than that we found our way around, there were some unnecessary bad parts, but I don't want to go into it (losing my passport...) but I won't let it ruin my trip, or my affinity for Montreal.

Cabin country.

2010-10-06T18:40:00.004-04:00

When the weather crisps up and its lot long before the puddles start freezing over night I tend to go a little over board with the sweaters. There is something about knitwear, it's probably the smell, that makes me want to read a book and dim the lights. Going into hibernation in a little cottage like this in Scotland would fit the bill beautifully, you can actually rent this one, it's owned by Rosie the woman behind papa stour. How much do those little picturesque sheep make you want to knit!

{sweater urban outfitters, necklace pyrrha}

Thats just swell.

2010-10-01T01:14:00.003-04:00

Takashi Murakami is exhibiting some work at Versailles. Its kind of one of those epic combinations that doesn't happen very often. Its a little bit horror vacui (a professor once told us never to use this term, but I kind of like it) but not even that much more than what Versailles is used to already.

It is seeing things like this that make me seriously consider why I am a designer and not just leaving it up to the professionals. He created a new kind of art and is trying to create a blending of cultures with it. These are not standards I can compare myself to. Maybe I am just over thinking this because we had to create a shoe from paper for class and there were so many beautiful ones that I could not even believe!

Images from design boom or you know, go see the exhibit in Versailles if you're around any time before December 12th.

The modern woman.

2010-09-27T22:28:00.002-04:00

this photo from W magazine basically sums up how i feel on in the inside right now. It doesn't look nearly as good, but I have a good imagination. I have been stuck at home eating shit food waiting for the end of september to come. Although I hate cooking, I was actually impressed with my cunning wit to come up with all three meals today. I rarely get through a day without buying at least one meal. Today it was just coffee cake topped with pecans, irrestiable.

photo from the stylish wanderer were you can see the rest of the shoot.

The new girl in town.

2010-09-15T11:27:00.003-04:00

Last week a coworker came into town and insisted that I go out with her and her old rich man friends. We all know what rich old men are good for, but to make it work we had to dress the part. Basically tight was the requirement. For anyone who knows me, this is a big deal, i never wear anything thats fully body skimming, but I subjected my self to the experiment. This is the dress I chose, but I basically wore it with killer heels and nothing else. So in attempts to recoup the dress into an everyday wearable garment, I threw on some boots and a belt and called it a day. I might just be getting used to this whole fitted thing.

{dress le chateau. belt vintage ralph lauren. boots target. earrings forever 21.}

Where inspiration comes from.

2010-09-10T23:24:00.003-04:00

For some reason design professors delight in misleading their students. For inspiration one professor passed around a bag of what looked like marbles to all the students. Much to our delight they were not just marbles, but little balls that explode into a scary little reptile looking thing. This marks something very important to designers; TRANSFORMATION!

This is herman.

From this we learn that transformation of an everyday mundane object is the most beautiful thing. Our project is to design a pair of functional shoes out of 1-3 pieces of paper that can be produced with only folds. To practice I start with little origami animals.

A crab and a crane, took me a good hour, but there was a bagpipe band outside distracting me. I will wait for next week for the shoes.

Lunch box.

2010-09-10T23:15:00.002-04:00

My first day of second year. It seemed like an eternity ago that I walked through the doors of Ryerson for my first ever design lecture, naive and fresh faced. Alas, not much has changed, I still seem to think that it could only possibly get easier, right? Anyways, I came prepared, I like to wear an outfit that looks somewhat put together during the day and with the removal of some elements -belt, blazer, shoes- I can get down and dirty with the drafting table. All night long.

{blazer le chateau. shirt h&m. jeans le chateau. belt gap. shoes irregular choice.}

Lake house.

2010-08-25T00:37:00.003-04:00

Last week I got to take some of my favorite people down to my cottage which is located on an island that is all ours. We got to tromp around in the forest, catch sight of the resident deer family. It was mostly way to cold for mid August, but we got to curl up with a fire and keep warm with lots of wine. We even fried up some freshly caught fish! I had to learn how to drive a boat for this to happen, so I was really proud that nothing to bad happened.

Hot summer nights.

2010-08-04T15:55:00.002-04:00

Andrew of Pull Teeth has a nice little habit of carrying around a disposable camera. The polaroids of our generation.

Genetics.

2010-07-22T12:36:00.002-04:00

Spending the past three months at home with my family has been the best thing I could have asked for after spending 8 months on my own. Its scary to think that I am starting to realize that my mother and I are turning into the best of friends. She is the only person I ever talk to on the phone, we go shopping together and eat delicious food (which neither of us make). I realize I am also starting to smile like her, which is kind of unfortunate.

{dress h&m. clutch aldo. bracelet tiffany's.}

Not short on shorts.

2010-07-21T17:38:00.002-04:00

I have to admit, I love me a good dress, but I am getting a little tired of just throwing on one piece of clothing and calling it a day. In the summer when its as hot as it is now, I find myself yearning to put on more clothes. So I decided I need to experiment more with shorts. I am not even a huge short short person I just want to be able to wear something breathable (why are dresses always lined in polyester!?) and easy to wear while I ride my bike around the city. Its a nice new silhouette to test out.

{tank the bay. sweater le chateau. shorts vero moda. belt h&m. shoes cynthia rowley. earrings and bangles le chateau.}

For the love of the game.

2010-07-16T14:05:00.002-04:00

I am really excited. So excited. I am going to play tennis this afternoon. I used to play in jr. high, taking lessons in the summer, but I never really got into it. I have played maybe a hand full of times since then. So I expect that I will be totally useless in a game of doubles. I have a weird affinity for tennis inspired wear for a while, pleated skirts are definitely part of my everyday wardrobe, however, I am not totally sure what I could wear underneath them to make them appropriate for running around and playing tennis.

Yesterday I picked up a little travel tripod. I don't know why I didn't have one before, I suppose I was under the impression that everything having to do with cameras is expensive. However this is not the case and I had lots of fun testing it out in my ghetto back lane. I am going to have to work up the courage to bring it to public places when I am alone.

{shirt le chateau. shorts joe fresh. belt h&m. shoes fake keds. watch le chateau}

MKA.

2010-07-16T09:21:00.002-04:00

{via olsens anonymous}

I can't help but continue to love the Olsen twins, particularly. The other day I was unwrapping a box that had been left untouched when we moved into our house and there was a review of one of there movies from 1994. I think it was Hallowe'en themed.

The formal.

2010-07-15T00:58:00.004-04:00

Some mornings when Michael and I are really committed and we don't give up before we even get out of bed, we will go swimming at the public pool. We do laps to trick ourselves into thinking that we are doing our bodies good, or we have flutter kick races, which I win. The best part is after swimming, when we go for lunch. We try to sit out on a patio and eat salad, to trick ourselves into thinking we are doing our bodies even more good. After such a lunch we decided to indulge in some iced coffee and take a walk through The Formal Gardens at a huge public park on the West side of the city. Some how there was a bridge that Michael had never crossed (he loves bridges), so we had to cross it.

In the garden there are statues, ponds and this sweet little house, not to mention rows upon rows of flowers. There is also a designated section to Leo Mol who is kind of famous for being a Winnipeg sculptor. He makes some very perfect little ladies. Always naked of course.

He also seemed to have a thing for pig tails, but I am not to sure what is up with that.

Afternoon jaunts like this are what is keeping my summer amazing. Last summer I literally spent all my time in an over air conditioned mall, this year I only spend most of my time there. It seems to be making a difference, I feel like I have done so many things that were on my to-do list for this year as well as last year.

{shirt the bay. shorts h&m. bag volcom. shoes le chateau}

The morning after.

2010-07-11T21:27:00.005-04:00

Last night was spent celebrating the love of two individuals, which usually means there is lots of dancing, food, booze and sweat involved. To recover I went with my Hillary and Michael to get us some delicious eats at The Albert Diner. Its actually owned by my friend who bought it a couple of months ago, but haven't had the chance to go since I got home. The brunch is supposed to be amazing, but I was really craving a burger and fries, well, veggie burger and yam fries. I should have taken a picture, but I couldn't wait to eat it.

Michael has been working on growing a beard (11 days!) and I think it looks really good on him, so we had to find him a hat to make him look even more manly. It wasn't to hard, we headed over to Vintage Glory, which really has the best picked vintage in the city. I even found myself the perfect tapestry bag.

We were on team Nederland, but we are not the best fans because we couldn't remember which way our flags were supposed to go.

I love The Exchange District, its a little rough around the edges, but its obvious that back in its day it was really beautiful and vibrant. Now its a weird mix of boutique shops and sketch people. While waiting at the bus stop a crazy lady lifted up my skirt! I kind of freaked out a bit and yelled and ran away. I love this city sometimes.

{shirt sirens. skirt joe fresh. shoes cynthia rowley. clutch aldo. watch fossil}

Post and portrait.

2010-06-18T11:10:00.002-04:00

Last week I received the sweetest note from my friend in Toronto. He drew this little portrait of me on the front of the card, he has the nicest lettering as well. I loved it so much I had to show it off.

Cream.

2010-06-08T18:19:00.006-04:00

Last night I had a last minute date with Hilary and Kaari for a bike ride and some ice cream. We live right in between two ice cream joints, but this is definitely the more charming of the two, its right beside a walking bridge. We get to ride our bikes down a rode beside the river to get there too. Its so summer movie picturesque, so much so that we contemplated the idea of getting a summer job there, just to experience a typical summer job. To bad we are not in high school anymore.

Hillary ordered the most ridiculous ice cream; blue coconut ice cream with cherry dip and sprinkles in a waffle cone. Bleck! The poor kid that was making it managed to drop it in the cherry dip on the first time round, the second time he dropped it in the sprinkles, finally he got some one else to make it. We couldn't help laughing at him and he got so embarrassed.

The bridge used to be a one lane bridge were only one car could pass through at a time. My dad grew up on the other side of it from where I live now, him and his little friends would make bombs and throw them off the bridge. Its a wonder its lasted so long.

We love Communist leaders.

Postman pat.

2010-06-02T20:55:00.001-04:00

I had been wanting to go on a tour of the Canada Post distribution center here in Winnipeg for a while now. Lucky for me, my friend Michael's father works for Canada Post. Other wise its not the easiest place to get access to. As a second bonus Canada Post built a whole new distribution center, basically in the time while I was away. Its out by the airport, so basically I flew away to school and by the time I arrived home it was fully built. It just opened and is getting on track, moving from the old building to the new one. To celebrate the grand opening of the new place they had a friends and family tour and BBQ, so of course I was eager to see it.

The old building was a really good example of High Modernism being built in 1958, the new building is a totally different example of Modern industrial style building. Although it looks really typical there are some neat little design elements, like the diagonal lighting that provides more even lighting vertically for workers.

Apparently I didn't get the memo about having no loose fitting clothing. Everyone who works there has to wear steel toed boots to work, hows that for fashion at work?

Michael's dad Louis was telling us about all the machines, the one on the left reaches on forever. They couldn't even get it though the doors which are large enough to accept semi trailers.

This is Big Al, he processes all of the packages and moves them around the entire building on conveyers.

Every mail address gets scanned and read by a computer to code it and send it off in the right direction. If the label can't be read the scanned image of the letter goes to this room of coders who look at the image to read it by eye and then they can code it. Then there are also people the sort by hand, I am not entirely sure why though. Anything that can't be read and coded gets sent to a room where they destroy it.

The white bins are the old bins, but the grey ones have been redesigned to drain out water incase they get caught in the rain. The trollies got redesigned too, they used to be way bigger but now they attach them together in threes and drag them around the plant. They can also be folded down. I really wanted to steal the bins.

4" of lust.

2010-05-24T00:24:00.002-04:00

{lucky brand jeans}

I have been on a mad hunt for the perfect wedges for at least a month. Luckily I found them, not so luckily my guilty save-money-for-school conscious won't let me go near my credit card right now. I think however, that I might use them as a reward to myself if I can stop spending money on food, basically they only cost a week worth of lunch money!

Little big jewels.

2010-05-20T13:07:00.002-04:00

When I was finishing up my time in Toronto before I came back home for the summer, I ended up spending a lot of time in the book store. All my new friends were sick of hanging out with school people so in my boredom I lusted over glossy pages of design books. You would think I would get enough, but apparently not. However, I am really bad to committing to buying any one particular design book, there is never one that I love wholly. Then I saw this, it basically makes me want to forget about being an interior designer and just go to jewelry design school instead.

I picked some of my favorite designs from the book, although there are many more, but the things I like best are the initial sketches and the write ups on the designers inspirations.

{Scott Stephen}

{R}

{Natalia Brilli}

{Sonia Boyajian}

{Naomi Filmer}

{Atelier11}

{Husam el Odeh}

{Ligia Dias}

Mermaids and marshmallows.

2010-05-19T13:54:00.002-04:00

Hillary always seems to get really lucky on her birthday. Being at the beginning of May you would think that the weather would be a little sketchy, but for the last three years she has had beautiful warm weather where we can hang out outside and drink wine until the sun goes down. The theme of the party was marshmallows; I had sent Hillary a recipe a while ago for marshmallow mermaid pie so she decided to make it and run with it, basically making everything marshmallow related.

We drank wine and played croquet on the boulevard, no one seemed to get upset that we were making a racket and drinking in public.

The guy that lived in Hillary's house before her family moved in was some crazy botanist. He somehow managed to mix seeds together to create this really beautiful tree in her backyard that always blooms for her birthday.
Also, check out Kaari's beautiful vintage frock.

Dressing for a marshmallow themed party with only two suitcases worth of clothes proved difficult, so I kid of ignored the puffy, fluffy guidelines. Mirza on the other hand was decked out in his favorite; khaki! Including capri pants and argyle socks.

Croquet can be dangerous kids.

These are fluffer nutters. I think that they are mostly a figment of Hillary's imagination, but she claims that she had them as a kid. They are sandwiches made with peanut butter and jet puff (that marshmallow spread) on Wonderbread. That afternoon we had gone to a tea house for lunch and we ordered little cucumber sandwiches that were cut out with cookie cutters, so Hillary decided to do the same with these.

Dear jesse.

2010-05-18T13:39:00.002-04:00

After spending a night in the park sharing a bottle of wine, a couple of us convinced my friend to leave a love message in a bottle to a local neighborhood crush.
Unfortunately we haven't heard back yet.

She gets around.

2010-05-13T16:16:00.002-04:00

{via design is mine}

There is just something about this print I have. It seems to turn up every so often. Its the top center picture, in the photograph above. I feel like it has a life of its own; this assumedly naked girl hugging a tree. The last time I saw it was in A Clockwork Orange. It never got taken to my apartment in Toronto, I guess I will have to make a home for it now.

Bent on birthdays.

2010-05-09T23:50:00.001-04:00

happy birthday hillary.
love.

Happy mother's day.

2010-05-09T22:04:00.001-04:00

{circa 1987}

Cables and ties.

2010-05-05T17:59:00.002-04:00

Tonight is the resurgence of the knitting club Hillary and I started about two years ago. Its called The Knotty Knitters and apparently they haven't been upholding the tradition while I was away. Most of us are not even particularly good knitters anyways, so its a good time to start projects so they will be done for winter.

I am going to teach myself to cable knit, I will start off with a scarf and maybe one day I can manage something as beautiful as these puppies.

Soles.

2010-05-04T13:39:00.001-04:00

Ryan's amazing boots that he wore to our Year End Show. Notice the tucked in socks.

YES.

2010-05-04T13:12:00.003-04:00

The Ryerson School of Interior Design has a Year End Show for all the students to smooze with industry and show off all of the best projects of the year. There was a bad with a stand up bass and trumpets, free wine and guacamole and cheesey awards to make a very select few feel better about themselves.

The industry people are not yabu or pushleberg, or burdi or fleck but their little worker bees. But they are really only their for the free wine and to look at the fourth year projects. Some of which were really dissapoiting for how long they have been in school. Anyways, this was my favorite project of the whole night.

Needless to say I think simplicity is best.

Awe full armor.

2010-04-30T22:25:00.003-04:00

Today I carried 26 lbs. of rocks, beads and chains through the airport. And I am so glad because this was waiting for me on the other side. I am in total awe of these alternative jewelry options by Armor Jewelry. I have seen a fair amount of harnesses and shoulder pads decked out with chains and jews, but these are so amazingly composed, and the draping is perfect.

My goal for the summer is to wear something that I have made every day. It is going to be a big challenge, but tomorrow being the first of may will be the beginning.

Segovia love.

2010-04-24T12:46:00.005-04:00

I am bad at finding good restaurants on my own. Segovia was mentioned to me by four separate people while I was in Winnipeg last weekend before I caught on. It's in an old house that looks so intimidating that I can't even remember what it looked like before. Not to mention the gargantuan patio that needs to be open by the time I get back.

The restaurant is owned by a couple, the guy is the head chef and the girl is my age. I wish I too could own a restaurant at the age of 21. Anyways, they got a designer who graduated from the university of manitoba to design the inside and out. I feel like it has a really sophisticated conceptual interior that ups the ante for winnipeg.

Needless to say the food was amazing. I went with Ian's foodie, chef friends, which basically mean I didn't order anything for myself, we just had the tapas coming. It was cured meat galore, but my favorite was the seared tuna, which was like an areo bar, it just melted in your mouth. I also tried bone marrow, which may not have been something I would have ordered (okay, I would never be that adventurous), so it was interesting to try. It kind of just tasted like liver to me, but with a different texture. We had dessert too, and sangria. I am no doubt going to make a bad habit of patio lounging here.

Winnipeg weekend.

2010-04-19T22:13:00.004-04:00

I was lucky enough to get to come home for the weekend (even though I am moving home at the end of the month for the summer), since school has just ended I was able to have the chance to totally get my mind off things, see my favorite people and eat, eat, eat!

I prevented my friends from having a dinner of street meat to go to my favorite sushi restaurant Naru, where everything is so beautifully put together.

And just wait until I tell you about my new favorite place, Segovia.

TSX.

2010-04-13T22:27:00.003-04:00

For my very last class of my first year of my Bachelor of Interior Design degree (thats an BID if you were wondering) we were surprised with a field trip. Not all of our field trips are amazing, the last one we were on we spent hours learning the chemistry of lighting. This one however was probably more enjoyable to me than to everyone else; we went to The Design Center which just happens to be located inside my favorite building in Toronto. The Toronto Dominion Bank buildings, there are five of them, and they were designed by Mies van der Rohe in the 1960s, but the best one of the towers engulfs the old Toronto Stock Exchange building. Its a classic art deco building so the contrast is so beautiful. Art deco and high modern buildings have really nice lines and I think they fit together so perfectly.

The Design Exchange is located in the old part, there is a a couple of galleries and the trading floor is used as a space for big parties. We didn't spend that much time at The Design Exchange which meant I had lots of time to kill before going to work. Since it wasn't that far of a walk I decided to wonder around the financial district, which is not exactly a place that I would have gone to otherwise.

The last day of school.

2010-04-13T09:35:00.002-04:00

This is always a glorious day. Its like new years day, so many plans and prospects of things you are so sure you are going to do all summer, like reading books in the sun and spending long hours at the beach. When in the end it seems I spend all summer in an over air conditioned mall helping middle aged women feel better about their ever aging bodies.

But seriously; this summer is bound to be monumental.

The virgin suicides.

2010-04-12T18:08:00.002-04:00

When ever summer comes around I can't help but think washed out florals and white eyelet patterns; basically everything worn in The Virgin Suicides. Finding vintage dresses that fit and still manage to have a bit of a modern enough cut to not look like you have saggy boobs can be quite challanging. However, this summer I am going to commit to infusing more vintage/second hand into my woredrobe. I wore so much of it in my high school years, but once I got a real job to afford real clothes I kind of forgot about it. I still love the hunt for prefect little tresures. Hopefully this summer will lend some time for plenty of excursions to flea markets and garage sales. A big plus is that I have a sewing machine at home as well, which means I have a lot more possiblities.

ROM.

2010-03-22T17:34:00.003-04:00

{Dan Periovschi}

Over the weekend Ian and I went to The Royal Ontario Museum to see the new bat caves. This was disappointing for more than one reason; it was spring break and filled with children and the bats weren't even real! I should have realized this before hand, but I really thought they would be alive. I guess it's not a zoo.

Since the ROM is huge and I have only been there one time before, there was so much more to see. Dan Perjovschi's exhibit called Late News was up and it was so fun. It is so relieving to see something in art that totally lacks proper technique.

Ian kept on mentioning going to see an exhibit called The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame. which seemed like the worst idea to me, but on the way out I saw this huge chunk of amethyst and ran over. Basically the whole exhibit consisted of beautiful, sparkly gems. It was my all time favorite collection I had ever seen.

Around the world in 80 days.

2010-03-21T22:41:00.002-04:00

{anthropologie}

To make up for my friends spending the summer in Europe. My travel plans consist of going home and spending as much time as possible at my cabin. The most I can hope for is postcards.

Adam Kalkin and his containers.

2010-03-20T22:49:00.003-04:00

For my building technology class a group of us had to put together a presentation on interesting ways to frame walls. At first this sounded like a painful assignment, but it ended up being one of the most fun presentations I have ever done. Aside from doing a skit on how to frame a wall with 2x4 that included sexual references, politically incorrect stereotypes and really bad jokes (studs and cripples anyone?), there were lots of inspiring designs that we stumbled on.

Adam Kalkin was one of them. He uses shipping crates to build the most amazing houses that have the capability to make real houses look like doll houses.

The last unicorn.

2010-03-15T20:16:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was another dreery day, but after going to work and finding out I had the day off I was totally cheery. Ha, this is like a poem. Anyways, I got to take a walk down queen street and look in all the vintage shops that are always closed when I get to go by. Ever since I realized that I would be going back to Winnipeg for the summer I have been trying to make an effort to like toronto before I go home. I was going to use the summer to explore, because by the time I come back for school and get moved in to a new apartment I probably won't have time to run around town much. So for the next month and a half I will try and visit new places and take lots of pictures.

Me and Ian have this bad habit of visiting H&M every time we go grocery shopping, because its on the way. Its no Ian's favorite store, but this time we managed to find him new jeans and a jacket, so it was a good excuse for me to go all out too. I have been looking for a hooded jacket forever, especially since it rains all the time here.

I have been trying to get Ian to take pictures for me, but he is not totally into it. Then I take his picture and he gets all shy and makes his picture face, so I try to make him laugh.

People in toronto wear rubber boots all through winter, which I think is absurd. Although it is wet, it still gets cold enough that you want to wear real boots. So now that its warmed up and the puddles are out I need to protect my feet.

The museum.

2010-03-14T22:19:00.003-04:00

For school I have to visit lots of museums and write about my experiences. Its a really good excuse to go on dates with Ian to somewhere we haven't gone before. So on Saturday I dragged him out in the rain with only one umbrella (bad idea). We went to The Gardiner Museum, which basically houses a huge collection of pretty china, japanese tea pots, and funny little inca figures.

It is also a good excuse to bust out the old lady jackets.

We took a trip to Anthropologie, which is a constant source of inspiration, and I scored some wonderfully coloured tights. We picked up a baguette for cheese and some avocados to make guacamole. We made a huge dinner, well Ian made a huge dinner. I ate pork tenderloin, and I actually liked it. It was on a halved peach with red and green onions and topped with brussel sprouts.

New stud.

2010-03-14T21:48:00.006-04:00

I have been so uninspired with my earrings lately. I have way to many pairs, but they are all big, chunky and pain educing. So to give my ears a break I have been on the hunt for the perfect studs. These are my top runners.

{first two; gilies & brother, last; elizabeth & james}

Bjork's house in iceland.

2010-03-11T00:05:00.001-05:00

the colours, the accent, her sweater. I thought she was going to light herself on fire.

More Fur, More Fun.

2010-03-09T23:54:00.002-05:00

TopShop Unique

Speachless. Other than the fact that Toronto needs a Topshop now. Take that H&M.

Fun fur.

2010-03-04T00:30:00.005-05:00

{images via mr. newton}

I am kind of disappointed that winter is on its way out. After finally coming to terms with wearing my grandmother's fur coat (which I feel bad about because when I was young I asked if I could have it when she died...) I never even got to wear it. I intended on bringing it to Toronto when I went home for christmas but had no room in my suitcase after packing all those presents and Christmas jams (I always bring home jam and honey dill sauce when I go home they are the foods I miss the most). It has been above freezing for the last little while now, which doesn't really require fur anyways. I never even got to debut my fur scarf that I thrifted (it smelt a little odd, so it needed a bit of airing out). Oh well, to late now.

Here's to spring.

Land of ice and snow.

2010-03-04T00:26:00.002-05:00

I don't remember where I found this, but I have been thinking about it all week. I have also been thinking that it has been friday all day today, which is really disappointing.

Awards night.

2010-03-04T00:10:00.003-05:00

Arch blog voted the new Manitoba Hydro building the best office building of 2009. I didn't even recognize it! I was so intrigued i had to look up where it was from and supposed it was some where exotic. The worst part is that I spent 2 years working across the street from this building and I watched it be constructed (it took a really, really long time). When I go back in april I am going to have to go for a tour, all the heating and circulation systems sound so intricate.

Also, Azure Magazine has voted Ryersons School of Interior Design to be one of the top three design schools in the world. Now I just have to remember this of the next 4 1/2 weeks of carving spoons and cardboard models.

Tealicious.

2010-03-01T21:50:00.002-05:00

Saturday was actually nice out in Toronto. It was lucky because Lucy and I decided to have a last minute tea party to kick off the last quarter of school. We all brought tea cups, food and tea. We had mint tea, lemon tea and even toasted walnut tea. Ian made perfectly scrumptious scones and Lucy's boyfriend made little sandwiches. I made sugar cookies, woo! I even received a fresh batch of french macaroons from my new friend ryan. Any friend that brings hostess gifts is a friend to keep.

Here is to five more weeks!

Backyard Bill

2010-02-23T23:12:00.003-05:00

I must introduce you to what must be my favorite fashion blog ever. Backyard Bill is this guy who goes around and takes pictures of people he knows, the great part is that you get to see them in different settings and outfits. It doesn't hurt that the photography is amazing as well. I love that he it's not a self centered blog, he never gives commentary, he just asks the same five questions to everyone. I am not even sure of what Bill looks like, or if that is even his real name.

This last guy here is Todd Selby of The Selby

Homework

2010-02-23T00:58:00.002-05:00

To make a triumphant return back to my studies I started with procrastination. No news there. I spent the evening knitting and watching Election. If anyone remembers that movie, it was from 1999, and Reese Witherspoon can still get away with playing a high schooler. She runs for class president and makes 400 cupcakes that say "Pick Flick" on them (in the movie her name is Tracy Flick). So I decided to brave the snow storm and track over to buy cupcake mix and make my own. Unfortunatly I forgot to buy the little cupcake cups so I had quite a few casualties.

The last ones I left out for Ian because I feel bad about missing Valentines. I also made him a cupcake sandwhich, which is basically the tops of two cupcakes (the casualties) with icing sticking them together.

Tomorrow I will show you my new scarf, but I am still covered in cake mix.

The Big White

2010-02-21T22:20:00.004-05:00

At long last my vacation has come to a close. Spending a week in the fresh air of the mountains only makes returning to toronto that much harder. Taking the wrong bus with an oversized suitcase makes it just plain painful. I have been been looking at these photos (featuring the lovely Michelle and Lauren) for the past two days and I feel like I am reminiscing already. Tomorrow though, the count down begins; seven weeks until the end of school.

I have been wearing this jumper constantly. I call it my Paper Bag Princess dress, because on the hanger it is the ugliest thing. On, well, I don't think it looks so bad, and it is the closest thing to pajamas I will wear out in public. It makes Pulling all nighters in the studio that much more barable.

Let the count down begin!

White Out

2010-02-16T15:46:00.002-05:00

I have been spending my vacation in the mountains of British Columbia snowboarding. However, today the hill has been covered in a thick layer of smog which makes it impossible to see the tip of your board. So I have used it as an excuse to catch up on with winter olympics and fashion week.

Luckily the vibe on the mountain is relaxed and this is the only time of year that I will be seen wearing leggings. This is a peak (haha) of what I have been wearing for the past couple of days.

The Big White by talltaletallin featuring FOSSIL watches

To Alexander McQueen,

2010-02-12T11:20:00.002-05:00

Yesterday when I heard about what had happened I was at work and in total shock. Today all I can think about is when I discovered him for myself maybe about 6 or 7 years ago, I was watching Fashion File and Jeanne Becker interviewed him in his London basement flat. It was a total revelation for me, and he is still the most influential designer on my designs as I know he is for so many others.

Mr. McQueen, you will be genuinely missed.

2010-02-08T00:16:00.003-05:00

I have finally found a lovely little dirty but nice dance bar in toronto. For some reason it was harder than anticipated, but I have not been really trying all that hard. Friday was an exception from my normal two movie friday night hibernation fest, it was my girls Lucy and Lisa's birthday during the week, so we got guzzied up and danced!

I wish I had a picture of the back of this dress, its got some great cut outs and a big gold zipper. I can't help using this clutch every time I go out, not matter what colour my outfit is, sometimes it matches and other times its a little of the unexpected.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

2010-01-30T22:24:00.003-05:00

Last night after a delicious dinner of home made pizza plied high with goat cheese (my current food addiction) Ian and I went to see The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Much to Ian's dismay it was pretty ridiculous, over the top and really, really confusing. Honestly, I didn't even mind that the movie made no sense, that wasn't the point, it was all about the visual. There were also quite a few similarities to Alice in Wonderland, so it didn't strike me as that odd. Nevertheless, Lily Cole may not be the best actress but she sure is one of the prettiest little things. She has such an eclectic wardrobe, it makes me want to mix it up a little.

Here is a little bit of inspiration that I took from the movie.

Miniatures.

2010-01-24T20:36:00.003-05:00

I have been making a model of a bathroom since 9 o'clock this morning, and i have yet to finish. This is what I am striving for; from the Art Institute of Chicago's Miniature Room

Space Planning

2010-01-17T21:20:00.003-05:00

source

Mustache Part II

2010-01-12T23:45:00.004-05:00

So after spending most of the night at school unexpectantly, going home, sleeping through my alarm, waking up a half hour before my assignment was due and literally having to run it to school, having a three hour lecture and then working eight hours, I went to kinko's and Massimo Capra was there! He is my favorite chef on Restaurant Makeover and I was so excited when I heard his amazing voice. It's so much better in person. I smiled at him, and I think he was confused. Its okay, I was still happy inside.

I wish I had time to take photos of the project me and my friend slaved over, it turned out amazing. Maybe later.

And now to make a model of my bathroom!

Alex didn't help me.

2010-01-11T11:48:00.003-05:00

After all that talk of being inspired by Alexander McQueen and his aesthetic, this is what I produce. In the spirit of designing sanitary public washrooms McQueen has failed me. However, I am happy with it so far, it is probably the first thing that I have designed, since being at school, that I actually like. I know it will get ripped apart this afternoon, but thats not the point.

the first day of school.

2010-01-07T21:11:00.003-05:00

and

wooden spoons and public washrooms. the greatest part about all of this is that tomorrow I get to go around town and measure those public washrooms.

Food fights and other natural phenomenon.

2010-01-05T22:12:00.004-05:00

Acid Girls - Lightworks from Scion A/V on Vimeo.

Anything that references Marie Antoinette is good by me, and anything that has slightly disturbing table manners is even better. It also reminded me of this adorable song by The Spinto Band.

Knit, knit, lust.

2010-01-05T21:20:00.003-05:00

If there was any one thing that would inspire me to finish my knitting from last year, it would be this bas ass ensemble from Alexander McQueen fall/winter 2009. Alas, tomorrow I start school again and I still have a whole suit case to unpack from my triumphant return to the city of Toronto.

On another note; I have decided to make McQueen a constant in the back of my mind while at school this semester. I am always so amazed at how he can take a concept and push it further than anyone else. In our design generation its common to see old trends, cut and recut to make more modern design, in a time when it is difficult to come up with some thing completely new this is very important. Making old designs relevant once again. However McQueen just blows that notion out of the water by being one of the most innovative top designers out there.

So here's to you Alexander McQueen, the inspiration of 2010.

Retrospective

2010-01-02T18:19:00.002-05:00

This year brought on the biggest change in my life, I packed up and moved from Winnipeg to Toronto for design school. Being in school and living in Toronto has changed the way I put outfits together and my inspirations. I thought it would be interesting to see how my style has changed and progressed over the year.

Some of the highlights of this year include being promoted to managing a le chateau, attending to many theme parties to count, making a portfolio to apply to Ryerson's School of Interior Design as well as being accepted into the program and moving to Toronto with my boyfriend. Although this was an exciting year for me, I am glad it's over. I want to take all the things that I have learnt and be able to apply them. I know school is going to be just as busy, but having this break has really helped me to realize how much I am enjoying school. When you are in the thick of it I found it hard to see the forest through the trees, but now I am rearing myself up to get back into it.

New Years 2009

(sequins, always)

January

(coat obsession)

February

(the introduction of my rat tail)

March

(the beginning of big accessories)

June

(my brother's glasses)

July

(I love this wall, and a taste of my pink obsession)

August

(my cousin's wedding, part 1)

September

(interior design conference)

October

(trip to boston, in front of the museum of fine arts)

November

(impressive cookies)

December

(experimenting with lipstick, this is a big deal, I generally don't wear any make-up)

In the upcoming year I am resolving to blog more, a lot more. I want to post daily inspirations; outfits, runway, interiors, architecture, and art. We will see how long that lasts, but I am going to use it as an excuse to drop my homework for a bit.

2010: the year of the future

2010-01-01T23:06:00.004-05:00

My new years eve was amazing. After deciding to not worry to much about the night, it just came easily. My friends and I went to our favorite pub that was taken over by a crowd we were so not familiar with. I didn't let the easy going vibe keep me from not dressing up though, and as usual turned to sequins. Unfortunately the dress managed to play Hansel and Gretle and leave a trail of sequins behind me all night long. I had enough tequila to make up for the damage.

Here's to you 2010, may you treat us all well.

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-29T19:07:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone's holidays have been amazing so far. It has been so wonderful to be back at home relaxing as well as running around the city doing all of the things I missed while going to school in toronto.

My christmas was amazing, this was probably the only year where I got pretty much everything I asked for; an iron, a cutting board, a rolling pin, a laundry basket. The only things I did get were a kitten and cable television.

Next up is new years, and I need to finish up my outfit.

Airports

2009-12-10T20:02:00.004-05:00

I absolutely love the airport. I love flying, and packing, going places, visiting people. Tonight I am off to the airport, however, I am not going anywhere, but the next best thing is having your friends come to visit you! Hillary and Michael are coming in for the weekend to shop, drink and enjoy this oh-so-wonderful toronto weather.

p.s. this outfit cost me next to nothing, i think the most expensive piece is the tights.

Toronto

2009-11-30T20:49:00.003-05:00

This afternoon I walked around Front Ave. to take pictures to sketch for class. It was nice and moody out, or as my professor would call it, "emotive."

Christmas Tree

2009-11-30T20:40:00.003-05:00

Last week was insanely long, so I wound it all down by putting up our christmas tree. I had been waiting so long to do this, Ian and I bought it probably almost a month ago, when I made him carry it home from the store. Last week I spent all friday shopping for chirstmas decorations, and now its all put together. Well almost, I need something to put on top, but I have yet to find anything I like. It also needs a skirt to cover up that nasty plastic base and fake furry trunk?
Out of all the apartments I can see, it looks like we are the first to put ours up. I am just overly excited about this, because christmas means going home. Although tomorrow there is a chance of "snow showers" whatever that means, however it may help the city look a little more christmas-y.

2009-11-18T23:00:00.004-05:00

stolen from serial-modeuse, I am in love.

Happy Little Accident

2009-11-18T00:02:00.003-05:00

I took this picture today when trying to get a picture of my outfit, but I like it better, so I will stick with it.

Tonight was a gallery opening of my professors exhibit. She's had her pieces all around the world, I totally had no idea what was going on, but it seemed interesting. It was fun though, my very first wine and cheese!

Santa: Part 2

2009-11-16T22:37:00.003-05:00

Yesterday Ian and I went to Toronto's Santa Claus Parade. It was a really good tool of procrastination, there were really odd floats and creepy costumes. There were marching bands with big brass tubas, and xylophones. Some lady got so excited that she passed out and they had to stop the parade to get an ambulance in. Cops came, and it was the first time that I had ever seen a city issued cop turban.

It was such a nice day, still no snow here yet, it kind of ruins the spirit a bit. Nevertheless Santa made an appearance!