Vacation Day

I never really get vacations. Even when I go out of town, I combine work and don't get much rest. Today I had the perfect vacation day. We rented a pontoon at the lake, grilled out, swam to several islands, tanned, and relaxed sans distractions. I got in a little embroidery, but mostly I set guinness world records for times jumping off the 2nd level and sliding down the slide. Pontoon day is my favourite day of the year. I already can't wait for next summer.

Spools of Lilac

Home sweet home... nesting is fun. I do wish that I could share more of my creations lately since I was on such a blogging kick, but I'm really enjoying my limited (eh hem, very very limited) access, (as in if I'm online for more than 3 minutes you'll see a post from me here). I'm enjoying summer, and I'm enjoying work. I'm also enjoying quality time with friends. And specifically, my darling friend Lori.


I could gush for hours about her, but I will basically let these photos of her home do the talking. She is so creative and good at spilling her vivid imagination onto everything she touches. I wish I could be more like that. Lori is an aspiring children's storybook writer, and you can see sparklings of that here! And OH MY GOSH. Look at the photos of her parents with deer?!



If Martha Stewart came out with a Barbie Doll, it would look like Lori, head to toe.

Today a wish sat next to me on the train ride home.
She didn't say much.
Just smiled.
Ever so sweetly.
Ever so simply.
I didn't need words.
I didn't need a touch.
I just needed to know she was close.
And within my reach... when I was ready.
(by Lori)

I have some great little updates on Say Ooh. Be on the lookout!

Kelly & Danny

This sweet couple was wed just a month ago. I had the honour of creating matching bride and groom accessories, along with the boutonnieres for the groomsmen and hair pretties for the bridesmaids. It was a fun project for a stylish, laid back (as in fairly stress free!) wedding. I was there day of to help things flow in the right order, and really enjoyed being a part of it on that level as well.

Philip Chad shot some lovely photos of the couple lounging in the park, enjoying their first las paletas as Mr. and Mrs. How cute!

Building Things

I had a couple realisations last night.

One, I own nearly as much vintage/ remade lingerie as I do clothing. Could easily be more. I should probably start selling again.

Two, I spend more time at Home Depot than online, at the mall, and at the gym combined. I try to split my time between two Home Depots and a Lowes so they don't get to recognizing me every few days. I have 4 drills at my house right now, but do not actually own my own electric. I spent 30 minutes last night drooling over a cordless black and decker. The employee in the aisle probably thought I was faking it, as I was wearing a 50s cocktail dress.

Auxiliary

I try to be versatile in my vision for my own creations, but it's always fun to see the designs and settings through someone else's eyes. Molly, a stylist for NY fashion mag Auxiliary saw my lingerie at Splash Panic and asked me to share some pieces for a swimsuit editorial. I checked out the photographer, Luke, and was thrilled to be a part of it. I tend to showcase my fashions in a very innocent, playful, sweetheart manner... but I adore the attitude and sassyness dripping in these shots. Check out the pdf version of the whole issue on their site, or order a copy!

DESTROY fashion!

Forgive me for my lack of posts; there's certainly not a lack of action and creativity on my end! This project is quite old, in January 2009 I sewed costumes for a music video for Destroy Destroy Destroy. I think the video looks pretty great... I love the old timey, creepiness to it. And Mom, it's metal.. so you might want to mute the volume and just look at the costumes! Watch here or below.

This week I rewarded a long day and night at the office by taking in a film at The Belcourt, the only place I go to see movies (rare). In the late 90s, I briefly dated a graffiti artist and got really into it. Not tagging, just appreciating. I even got to see some real Banksy tags while I was studying in London, exciting. Exciting! I really love his stuff, but in a way that I don't really know what to say about it. That is exactly how I felt about the film Exit Thru the Gift Shop. I saw it with my friend Paul, and we tried to talk about it for a few minutes afterwards, but phrases were jumbled and I couldn't put my finger on what or how to think. You just need to see it. It's incredible on so many levels. I hope it's playing in your city right now! There's a trailer on the site, in case not. I think this quote from Banksy sums him up well, "Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a f***ing sharp knife to it." Thierry Guetta is pretty mind-boggling too.

Some of you are probably thinking "Colleen works literally ALL the time. She must be rich now. What is she doing with all her money?!" Well, you're correct. I am now devastatingly wealthy, and putting that money to good use. How? Well, In this 95degree heat, I drive with the driver's side window down.. and the AC on. Luh-luh-luxuuuurious!

$35

I don't do a ton of "mid-range" shopping. I prefer to shop dirt cheap at the flea market, or get nice things from Anthropologie (okay almost always on sale, but still good quality). I stop by Target or Forever 21 on occasion for quick things, but it's a rarity. I just want to own things that will really last, which is ironic considering my new job, more on that later. But brand new pots and pans are expensive, especially when you have lots of things to replace from moving altogether too many times in the last 6 years (approximately 12, I just did a rough count). Anyhow, I passed a TJ Maxx the other day and just so happened to have received a $40 gift card in the mail recently. Since December, I have been searching high and low, far and wide (NY, LA, NASH, eeeeeverywhere on the WWW) for the perfect, nude coloured heels. No. Luck. ANYWHERE! So doesn't it seem wrong that I stumble upon them (literally, tripped over the only cute shoes in the whole store that happen to be a size 7) that I find the exact style, height and colour at a discount store? Thanks Steve Madden, but why did your cutest shoes not even hit Macy's? I found them for $34.99 tho, so I was more than happy. This purchase would be easily covered with my gift card, but what I REALLY needed was pots to cook all my yummy vegetables in. Cute, matching pots. Pots with non-stick power. I had searched high and low for two weeks for such a product that was not $79.99 per pot. Lo and behold TJ Maxxx.. you win again. You had several half sets, non-matching sets, and ugly pots. But... there was one full set of three ADORABLE pots to match my cute new vintage kitchen. These great pots are the prettiest soft turquoise, which just so happens to match the inside colour of my white, french bathroom trash tin. Granted, how many people will notise that my pots match the innerworkings of le bain?! Well, I catch these things. The set of 3 was only $35, a breath of fresh air post drooling-sesh at Le Crueset. What's a girl to do? Use the gift card for the shoes, which were way cheaper than she expected to pay, or use it for the much needed pots, which were cheaper than she expected to pay?


Obviously I got everything, completely guilt-free.

Here is a snippet of my new place. It's coming together, I can't wait to share more! I found the gorgeous two-piece brass outlet cover at the fairgounds, 2 for $1. This old trunk (I don't know, early 1900s at least) is quite ragged but easily worth a couple hundred. It was marked $10 at the flea market, and while I love bargaining with the vendors there, I almost wanted to offer him MORE! The books I have been collecting for awhile, mostly rare vintage children's books, random old stories with strange titles, french method books, and a 1930s book of Parisian maps from my Grandfather.

Today I googled: lace vinyl placemat. No luck.