26 September 2011

56 - still hard at work

i have decided to extend my work(ing) getaway in the old stone house to focus on studying for my comps, which means that i am also extending the sale in the shop until the weekend. simply enter the coupon code FREEFALLSHIP during checkout to receive free shipping (domestic & international) on your order.

this Polaroid-inspired illustration by artist Amy Blackwell perfectly captures my surroundings as i am "hard at work," accompanied by either a cup of coffee or warm cup of tea and various other delicacies. i try to stay inspired by the little things to counter what often seems like the heaviness of my work, and Amy's work always inspires in a light-hearted way. i especially love her charming animal portraits, which are available along with the "Polaroid - Hard at Work" print in her lovely shop


images Copyright © Amy Blackwell

23 September 2011

55 - music mix: waiting for you (to come home)




while i am waiting for andrew to arrive, i put together my first music mix. each song was carefully selected to reflect how much our hearts long for each other, or because they either remind me of him, or him of me. together they have the feeling of nestling in on a fall evening waiting for your love to come home. i can't wait to be home together for good. enjoy.

  1. Between Atoms - Krista Muir
  2. Her Eyes Dart Around - The Felice Brothers
  3. If I Were a Sailor - Nicole Reynolds 
  4. Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
  5. To Build a Home - Cinematic Orchestra
  6. Who by Fire - Leonard Cohen
  7. So Everyone - Bonnie Prince Billy
  8. I'm in the Mood - John Lee Hooker
  9. Yegelle Tezeta - Mulatu Astatke
  10. Green Grass - Agathe & Fine
  11. I See a Darkness - Johnny Cash
  12. Unknown Legend - Neil Young
  13. White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
  14. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
  15. Left on Laura, Left on Lisa - The Avett Brothers
  16. Comptine d'un autre été - Amélie Soundtrack
  17. Woody - Hayden

54 - friday favourites: soft & feminine Etsy notes


for this week's friday favourites, i am essentially recycling an Etsy treasury i recently curated featuring a number of my favourite Etsyians and independent designers (a handful of which are also local & Canadian!). i have been so focused on my studies this week that i have not spent much time browsing the interweb, although i always manage to find time to participate in the Etsy community (while it obviously serves as a distraction in ways that are both productive and unproductive, i also think it helps to ground me). i can't seem to stop looking at this collection of lovelies, i think because it plays to the girl in me, which often emerges in surprising and unpredictable ways. while i have traditionally been drawn to earthy, warm, and neutral tones, i am opening myself up more and more to a range of pastels that i find to be a certain kind of feminine, mostly nudes and roses and blushes with soft undertones. they seem to strike a chord deep inside me that i am unable to resist! so instead, i have been embracing these softer notes...







and as always, have a lovely weekend! i'm taking a break from studying to spend mine with andrew.

xo

22 September 2011

53 - blooming leopold

Lauren Winter of blooming leopold recently released the lookbook for her fall/winter 2012 handmade collection, and it is gorgeous! featuring brown wool tweed, black velvet, floral corduroy, and ivory & black organdy in loose, boyishly feminine fits, the new designs are elegant, laid back, and perfectly rustic. shot at the Historic Rock Castle in Hendersonville, Tennessee, the photos have a dreamy, nostalgic charm that captures the lure of fall. while i might be drawn to the stone house in the background because i am currently staying in one (not to mention that historical stone houses have a particular place in my heart!), i find its inclusion in the photos to be wonderfully inviting, making we want to nestle in for the season—in brown wool tweed and black velvet....

view the full lookbook here and visit the blooming leopold shop (where all items are made to order) for more details.

19 September 2011

52 - hard at work


i am out of town on something of a work(ing) holiday, nestled in a quiet old stone house in a small town along the St. Lawrence River, where i will be spending the week studying for my upcoming PhD comprehensive exams. inspired by this lovely silkscreen print by Erin Dollar, which i am posting as both an illustration of the week ahead of me and as an artful reminder of the work i need to accomplish this week, my goal is to remain focused and "work hard." while i am always hard at work, steadily working days & nights and weekends, i am also constantly distracted at home by any number of things: nova lily and other art-making projects, playing house, wedding planning, blogging/reading blogs, snuggling with my kitty.... as September is quickly passing by and deadlines are fast approaching, i need to stay focused on my academic work so that i can get through this phase of my degree, return to my life with andrew, carry on with my research, and devote more time to my art.

so, it is time to crank out some serious work. and there is no other placed i'd rather be....


visit Erin's etsy shop for more artful goods. you can also find Erin on her blog.


16 September 2011

51 - happy weekend // music video


ever since i followed a link to this music video for Gotye's "Somebody that I Used to Know" (feat. Kimbra) via andrew + carissa, i can't stop watching it. it's so infectious! i love how the animated painting envelopes their bodies. perhaps it's the art historian in me that's naturally drawn to it (i study contemporary body art), but i just can't seem to get it out of my mind. i'm sure i'll be re-playing it all weekend....

have a lovely weekend, friends!

i am leaving tomorrow for a rendezvous with andrew and a week-long "work(ing) vacation," but i will be posting throughout the week. hopefully.

xo

50 - friday favourites: cozy into fall fashion



temperatures are starting to cool down and autumn is in the air! it's making me want to dress in warm, comfortable layers, snuggle up under blankets, and sip hot cups of tea. the textures and earthy neturals of fall are my favourite... so cozy.



15 September 2011

49 - what two things go together: felines and fieldguided


this photo of a cat in glasses by Toronto photographer and cat-lover Robin Sharp of instantt just made my day! the sophisticated feline pairs perfectly with this handprinted tote bag that i recently purchased from Fieldguided, which is becoming something of a collective sign among fans who carry the unmistakable lyric totes around the world. also based in Toronto, the lovely Anabela Carneiro of Fieldguided (which she runs together with her partner Geoff) is a self-professed cat lady in the best kind of way. in addition to occasionally writing about cats on her ever-inspiring blog, she also co-curates a collection of dreamy cat photos together with Erin Gilkes of Atlantic Treefox, called Dream Cats, and has a feature in this playful cat zine produced by Little Burgundy. the magazine also features wonderful illustrations by (and an interview with) Canadian artist Melinda Josie, another one of Canada's leading cat ladies. so much cat love!

naturally, when i unwrapped my lovingly packaged tote, my cat hunter inspected it for approval (i think the photo shows that it definitely met his standards!). i'm waiting to find him curled up on it one day so that i can snag more dreamy photos....

14 September 2011

48 - a love letter to fortnight


after a morning meeting and an afternoon of running school and research-related errands, i opted to relieve my stress by going on a hunt to a local department store for Canadian designed and made Fortnight Lingerie, whose sophisticated, luxurious, and vintage-inspired undergarments recently stole my heart. much to my surprise, i found a small collection from last season's line (dramatically reduced to sale prices!) casually hidden amongst the new fall displays. even from a distance, the clean lines, soft hues, and touch of vintage glamour were unmistakable! i nearly gasped out loud with satisifaction and delight at my discovery -- actually, i think i  might have. with the kind of luck you want to safekeep for moments like this one, i found a good selection of items in my size. trying them on was like sliding on a glass slipper. all the reviews and feedback i had read online were absolutely correct: Fortnight is made for real women, fitting your body in all the right places; their bras are the most comfortable you were ever wear; and the fabrics and cuts make you feel incredibly sexy while still providing hard looked-for support. feeling like a vintage princess (a term i use selectively, as i am hard-pressed to call myself a princess), i came home with the Elizabeth partial bra and satin/mesh high waist knickers, the Rita low rise lace knickers in both black and white, and the Rita lace long line bralette in white (somehow i don't mind sharing these intimate details...).


founded in January of 2010 by head designer Christina Remenyi, Fortnight is a Toronto-based company that designs and hand makes sophisticated, vintage-inspired intimates from lace, mesh, and satin in a wide range of sizes that actually fit. combining glamour, comfort, and versatility, their designs are seductive and timeless, with the kind of quality that makes you want to fill your drawers with them to wear every day.
 
the collection is available in exclusive boutiques across Canada and the US, as well as in the Fortnight etsy shop (where a small selection of lovelies are currently on sale!). they are more than helpful and accomodating with sizing, and the risk of buying such gorgeous intimates without being able to try them on is definitely worth it (having been properly sized in a boutique, i found the bras to be "true to size," but had to size up in all styles of the knickers, fitting best in a medium where i usually where a small).

click here for the 2012 collection teaser.



all photos Copyright © Fortnight Lingerie Inc.