freckles & ash

2012-01-25T13:04:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Himmeli mobiles from AMradio on etsy. They are just made of straws and string!

2012-01-23T11:16:00.001-07:00

This song has me dreaming of warm sun, and definitely got me through last weeks subzero temps! Literally, I was dancing at the bus stop to this song.

2012-01-17T19:46:00.002-07:00

Well, this is certainly going to be one hell of a before and after.

I wanted to share some shots depicting the current state of our basement. After months of agonizing over what to do, we are finally starting to proceed with the repairs. The basement specialists have been in and left us with a fancy new drainage system. Since our foundation is so old (it seriously looks like packed sand and gravel in places) and will probably allow moisture in forever, this was the best route to go in our opinion. And now we get to start putting it back together.

Here's a shot of the guest bedroom, where the bed is to be situated. The repair work will allow us to fix some of the strange and poorly installed casing details that have bothered me from the beginning.

Here's the lovely south facing bedroom window, which allows ample amounts of nothing into the space. Also note, there is no lighting installed anywhere in the two rooms down here.

Here's the pinky brown media room.

And another shot looking toward the actual media wall. ooooh, ahhhhh. Beyond that is the laundry and crawl space.

And this is the vignette at the bottom of the stairs.

Can get any worse than that right? I'll keep you updated over the next couple of weeks with our progress!

2012-01-16T07:37:00.001-07:00

College feat. Electric Youth, A Real Hero. From the Drive soundtrack.

I can't get this catchy synth beat out of my head lately.

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not much of one for new years resolutions, but I know that I definitely want to spend more time this year curled up with a good book. And this video makes me want to dance with them too!

2012-01-12T08:00:00.002-07:00

Back in November, I wrote about a little quickie makeover I was planning for my entryway. Well, we've now been living with it for about a month, and it is fabulous! So, here's what we did to get our wallpapered effect.

For those of you who don't recall, here's the mustardy before. Our entry is only 4' by 6', so it's really hard to get full shots of the space. The first step was to paint the wall. We have chosen a soft white to use in the house, Classic Gray, OC-23, by Benjamin Moore. We have been using the Aura paint in the matte finish. It is fantastic.

Next is to choose your instrument of choice. These are Sharpie poster paint markers! They come in three thicknesses, and I bought two of each of the larger ones, and one of the smallest, since I didn't know how much coverage I would get from each. They come in oil and water based, so make sure you get the water based. It will dry faster which is important for minimizing any smudges. I just picked them up at Michael's for about $6 a piece.

The other thing you will need is a straight edge of some sort. Using a metal ruler with a cork back is the best. It is easy to hold in place with one hand, since the cork gives you some grip. And since the markers are quite liquid when they go down, you want the cork thickness to raise the ruler off the wall and prevent and bleeding.

And then you start drawing. I had loosely planned out my design before, but it was quite spontaneous when I was actually working on the wall. Start at one edge and work outwards from the corners. You will have to do your longer lines in stages, so you should feather out the ends as shown in the photo above, which helps to camouflage where you had to reconnect the line. After a couple of lines, you will get the hang of lining up the lines perfectly with the various thicknesses of markers.

When drawing the lines, I kept a rag on had to wipe the edge of the ruler each time. I removed the ruler by putting pressure on the lower edge, which lifted it away from the wall, and was easier to grab. Be careful not to touch or smudge the lines, as they won't dry immediately. Wipe the edge of the ruler each time to make sure your hands are clean before touching the wall again. If you do smudge, its easy to touch up the lines with a bit of your base wall colour when you are all finished.

And here's how it turned out! I did lines of two different thicknesses at random angles all over the wall. I stopped myself short, since I was sure I could have kept going and would have over did it. All in, the linework took about 1.5 hours of work. Painting the wall was another 2-3 hours.

Here it is all set up again. The room isn't accessorized as I eventually want it (that mirror is far too tiny!), but it looks pretty damn good for now.

2012-01-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

A great guide for all you working in creative fields!

Beautiful letterpress poster by Jessica Hische.

2012-01-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Beautiful painterly iPhone cases by Jenny Vorwaller.

Available at Society6.

2012-01-09T08:00:00.001-07:00

Incredible cover of one of the best songs from last year:

2012-01-03T08:00:00.001-07:00

In memory of the incomparable Eva Zeisel, I wanted to share with you a TED talk that Eva did a while back, speaking of play and beauty and her continuous search for adventure.

photo via

Rest in Peace, Eva.

2012-01-02T00:52:00.002-07:00

Music Monday: The Head and the Heart

2011-12-26T15:15:00.002-07:00

For the last Music Monday of 2011, I've made a playlist of all my favourites from the last year that will make 2011 memorable for me. Hope you enjoy!

Track List:

1. Heaven's on Fire by The Radio Dept.

2. Alter Ego by Tame Impala

3. When I'm Small by Phantogram

4. At My Heels by Twin Shadow

5. Midnight City by M83

6. Gave You All by Mumford and Sons

7. Baby's Arms by Kurt Vile

8. Peacetime Resistance by Kings of Convenience

9. Big Black Car by Gregory Alan Isakov

10. I'm Losing Myself by Robin Pecknold featuring Ed Droste

2011-12-20T15:12:00.003-07:00

Action bunny, with gold pants!

Someone please buy me this.

Available from Jen Ray in her etsy shop, Corduroy.

2011-12-19T11:40:00.002-07:00

So I haven't forgotten about this space. Just very busy, as I'm sure everyone is this time of year.

Over the weekend, I almost teared up at a commercial featuring this song, until it turned out to be for McDonald's. Even so, this is a really lovely song. And I will always laugh at how I discovered it.

2011-12-03T19:18:00.001-07:00

Isn't this the cutest ring!

From The Harbinger Co, who sell many beautiful things.

2011-12-02T15:53:00.002-07:00

I have a really great weekend ahead, part of which includes finishing several projects around the house that we have just never got to. So I'm pretty excited to get started. It's like living in a new house each time we get something finished.

Love this beautiful hammered brass collar necklace from youngfrankk on etsy.

These tote bags from Maude and Tilda are sublime. Tongue in cheek fashionista sayings are hand printed onto these canvas bags from Paris.

I think that my new entry area needs some new quirky accessories. At the top of my list is this beautiful gold bird bowl from Jonathan Adler.

These are great graphic molecular illustrative necklaces from Aroha Solhouettes.

happy weekend!

2011-11-27T21:31:00.003-07:00

So necessity must really be the mother of invention. This week the husband committed to hosting his work Christmas party at our house. Which I'm thrilled and excited about, but the unfinished projects lying around are making me less than enthusiastic. First on my list is our entryway.

You may recall way back when, that I wanted to complete the entry fairly quickly after moving in. And I fully intended to. I've had three rolls of Ferm wallpaper sitting in the closet for 13 months now. But our hesitation was/is our abysmal front door that needs replacing. While it's on the hit list, there have definitely been more pressing items to attend to. And I refused to spend all that effort papering the entry if the new front door is going to screw it up.

But I can't possibly have a house full of people show up and have their first impression be an unpainted, half finished room. So, onto plan B!

What is plan B you say? Well, I don't want to give too much away, but here are some images to tease you a little bit.

I can't wait to share the results!

2011-11-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

In honour of Feist performing in Calgary tonight!

2011-11-18T07:38:00.001-07:00

It was kinda sorta an early weekend for me, as I am in Montreal right now for some work and play! But either way Friday is Friday, and it means sleeping in tomorrow and having fabulous adventures au francais! So here we go:

Handcut map of Montreal from etsy artist studiokmo, pictured above. There are many fabulous locations to choose from.

s[edition] is a great new contemporary art website, where you can download digital artwork from today's leading contemporary artists for a super deal! Artists include Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, and Mat Collishaw.

Lololove these green glitter ombre nails on Alexa Chung. I must figure out how to do these for the holidays.

Turkey, Cheddar, and Apple Hand Pies! Oh my!

happy weekend!

2011-11-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Two!

2011-11-15T07:46:00.001-07:00

One of my favourite suppliers, Schoolhouse Electric had some big new over the weekend. The shop has expanded their line to become Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co, featuring a great array of homewares, furniture, and utility items in addition to their fabulous light fixtures.

For me, Schoolhouse is always on the edge of design. It seems that despite the popularity of classic, utilitarian pieces over the past little while, there is still a huge gap in the market for unique, quality goods. While many retailers seem content to simply modify what is already out there, Schoolhouse continues to push the boundaries.

Higgins Mirror with Rope Hanger

I love the contrast of the smooth, cool bronze with the rustic quality of the rope hanger.

Schoolhouse Extension Cord

This piece perfectly illustrates my point. Schoolhouse effortlessly elevates the classic cloth extension cord.

Ticking Stripe Sheet Set

I love mattress ticking and cannot get enough of it. These are fabulous, although I wish they were available in grey or black.

Blackline Stoneware

One thing that we haven't seen a lot of is stoneware. These pieces are nicely modernized with bold black rims and stripes. I'd love to see these on my kitchen counter.

Factory Light No. 4 Cable Pendant

And these gorgeous enamel pendants would look stunning over my kitchen island.

2011-11-14T17:26:00.001-07:00

Music Monday: Washed Out

2011-11-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

It has been a tremendously sad and difficult week in our house. On Monday, we had to say goodbye to our sweet Margot.

She was the most loving and amazing companion that anyone could ask for. Everyone who met her instantly fell in love with her. She loved running in the park and swimming in the river. Every day we would come home to her sitting on the back of the sofa so she could watch the world outside, and watch for us to come home. Each night she would curl up behind my knees to sleep.

Now our house has empty corners and empty hearts.

Margot, I miss you so much.

2011-11-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

this girl is remarkable

2011-11-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

2011-11-07T07:17:00.003-07:00

This guy's got a bit of that Dylan quality about him, with the slurring lyrics and simple guitar based songs.

2011-11-06T22:01:00.002-07:00

Now that's it's fall, I'm getting in the habit of big cooking days on the weekend. This weekend I made my favourite vegetable soup for lunches all this week.

Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup

2 tbsp Olive Oil

4 Leeks (white and pale green parts only, sliced)

3 Celery Stalks, sliced

3 Carrots, cubed

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

1 pinch of Red Pepper Flakes

Salt and Pepper

5 1/2 cups of Stock

1 1/2 cups of Water

1 small Butternut Squash, cubed

2 Yukon Gold Potatoes, cubed

1 bunch of Swiss Chard, sliced

1 can of Beans (I like Romano Beans)

2 tbsp Lemon Juice

2 tbsp Fresh Mint, sliced

2 tbsp Fresh Dill, sliced

Heat oil in a large dutch oven. Add the first 6 ingredients and cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes. Add stock and water and bring to a boil. Add squash and potatoes and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until veggies are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the greens and beans and return to a boil. Stir in lemon juice and herbs. Season to taste and serve.

2011-11-05T19:25:00.003-06:00

Sometimes inspiration can strike in unexpected places, and I experienced that earlier this week when wandering through Anthropologie.

My sister is getting married next year, and it turns out she loves lace. We both thought that it would be a great graphic element to tie everything about the wedding together. I started to do some research and see what was out there, but everything I saw was overtly feminine and romantic and a little too pooh-pooh for my sister. Then I saw these plates.

I love that these plates have a grittiness to them, which helps to tone down the feminine quality that lace is intrinsically tied to. It got me thinking of an overall softer gothic feeling, which I think will be perfect for my sister and her beau.

Tattered Lace Plates by Anthropologie

2011-11-04T19:54:00.002-06:00

So Fab Friday turned into crazy busy Friday. So I'm going to keep this short and sweet.

Microsoft has released a series of videos depicting it's vision of the future and the further integration of our lives with technology. I think this is the start of an interesting conversation, and would love to know what you think:

2011-11-03T15:32:00.005-06:00

One thing I adore is a gorgeous children's book, and I am pretty thrilled that one infamous little shell is having his story hit bookshelves this week.

After the incredible viral success of their youtube video, Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp were approached to move their character to new mediums. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: Things About Me picks up where the video left off, touring the audience through various parts of little Marcel's life.

The book features beautiful oil paintings created by artist Amy Lind that perfectly capture Marcel and his surroundings. The authors chose not to photograph the images, to help remove the book from direct comparisons to the film, and I think it was a brilliant choice.

Marcel has also been issued as an audio book/app, and features narration by Slate, as well as some interactive screens to enhance the digital experience.

And what's next for Marcel? Plans are in the work for future books, and an accompanying television show and I for one can't wait to see more of this little shell's world.

Oh, and you can buy the book here!

2011-11-02T09:35:00.000-06:00

Words can't describe how excited I am to see this film:

2011-11-01T10:26:00.000-06:00

Happy Movember! I checked out the new website today, and was completely blown away with the amazing graphic design for the website and campaign. I love the vintage references and the gritty manliness of the whole thing.

This year they even have a mobile app, so you can monitor your donations, recruit friends, and view different options for styling your 'stache.

They are also encouraging people to host Movember Parties in their homes, and you can apply to have this package sent to you in support of that. How fabulous!

Please visit the website and donate today!

2011-10-28T11:14:00.002-06:00

This week, every day was perpetually Friday for me. So I'm glad it's finally here and I have time for some R&R. How about you?

Image above of rice fields in China, from this collection on The Cool Hunter. This post is from a few months ago, but I keep returning to see these stunning images from around the globe.

I j'adore this perfect hobo purse from Marc by Marc Jacobs fall collection. I hope my husband is saving that link for my christmas present.

I love this peek of the Oly showroom at High Point that Heather put together, over on Habitually Chic.

I recently read this Paul Arden classic. It's brilliant in it's simplicity. And will only take about an hour of your time.

I have just discovered the fabulousness of Nowness. My favorite videos include this stop motion piece from Spike Jonze and this tour of the McQueen studio. The fabric shots are heart stoppingly beautiful.

happy weekend!

2011-10-26T18:43:00.002-06:00

Today I discovered Tattly, which has produced an incredible line of design driven temporary tattoos. Designed by notable illustrators, such as Julia Rothman and Marc Johns, many of these make you wish they didn't just scrub off with some soap and water.

2011-10-24T07:27:00.002-06:00

M83 is back with a new album, and their debut single Midnight City.

2011-10-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

I've been slowly going through wrap up post's from this year's IDS West show in Vancouver to get a feel for the standouts from this year exhibitors. And also feeling increasingly more depressed that I didn't bother to make the trip this year. Oh well. I will live vicariously through the internet. So I thought for this Friday, I would share a few of my favourite finds.

Seattle's Ladies and Gentlemen Studio made their first appearance at the show, with a great selection of homewares. Their Superior Servers have been widely circulated on the web this year, but they also have the mega doily rug from hand crochets cotton rope(above), the aquabrass side tables made of old lamp parts, and the lovely porcelain gem necklace.

Salari presented a beautiful line of wool poufs called the Salsa Lounge. I thought I was over poufs but these are making me rethink the issue.

Also from Seattle, Iacoli & McAllister were present showcasing their interesting collection of graphic, geometric jewellery, lighting, and furniture. Standout pieces include their Spica Light, Necklace No 3, and the Hex Weights.

Inform presented a fabulous booth, which included these organic ceramic Aloe Blossom light fixtures from Jeremy Cole.

I have mixed feelings about Molo, but I really like their soft, corrugated paper Cloud Softlights.

happy weekend!

2011-10-19T20:30:00.001-06:00

One of my favourite shops in Vancouver is Provide, which sells a fabulous collection of modern home goods. A few weeks ago, at IDS West, Provide announced their own in house brand called Provide Made, and are starting off the collection with a series of bold cushions inspired by the cube.

I love the colours, I love the geometric prints, and I love the graphic orange top stitching. The pillows are all made of silk with a duck/down insert. They retail for $170 for the 18" x 18" size, and $199 for a 24" x 24". I'd say that's pretty good for something that's all handmade.

2011-10-17T12:14:00.002-06:00

Last week was a highly anticipated musical week for me, with Feist's new album Metals and Mayer Hawthorne's new album How Do You Do both debuting. Feist gets enough press with her profile, so I thought I would share one of my new favorite tracks from Mayer. Born outside of Detroit, Mayer is very influenced by the Motown sound, which I love, because I grew up with a lot of Motown music too. At age 14, my favorite musical act was the Supremes.

2011-10-16T21:22:00.001-06:00

I think this is a great metaphor for vision and following your path to the bigger picture. Thanks to my friend Diane for sharing this with me.

Faber Castell from eric yeo on Vimeo.

2011-10-13T22:30:00.005-06:00

November 2011 Issue of Fashion

I am having a pretty awesome day today. My friend Dan texted me this morning, telling me that I was featured in this months issue of Fashion magazine. Seriously? It is so crazy. I never would have imagined myself in a fashion publication.

In addition to toting this magazine around to my parents and friends this weekend, I will also be glamorously raking leaves, and doing an airport run to pickup my well travelled husband. Oh, the life of the modern fashionista.

These are the most perfect riding boots for fall. Have I posted these before?

I am loving these quirky paintings by artist Jenny Ottinger.

This fabulous print by The Best Part is two in one. By day it's a lovely friendly scene, but when the lights go out, all sorts of unexpected details pop up.

If our weather was a little more tolerable during the winter, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Vespa. And this great new mod helmet would be the perfect accessory.

happy weekend!

2011-10-12T22:18:00.001-06:00

25 ways to wear a scarf. Who knew?

Thanks to @mackayjennifer for sharing on twitter

2011-10-08T10:54:00.004-06:00

image via B&B

In the last 12 hours I have been exposed to two things that are getting my feminist fire burning again. The first is Jian Gomeshi's interview with icon, Gloria Steinem, who is the subject of a new HBO documentary, entitled Gloria.

During the interview she paraphrased Olof Palme, and this quote really struck a chord for me.

"the gender roles are the deepest cause of violence on earth, because they normalize dominance and submission, subject, object, even violence and control, and so on, and he said, therefore, it was the responsibility of every government to humanize those roles."

The visuals that her words formed for me were really rather frightening. And I'm sure everyone has a wide variety of instances where this quote can apply, and that's scary in itself.

You can hear her full interview on Q with Jian Gomeshi here.

And here's the trailer for the HBO film:

Trailer

The second is the trailer for the film Miss Representation, which was shared on twitter by David Brunning. Again, equally striking, in particular due to the age of many of the participants and their realizations at 15.

2011-10-07T09:02:00.003-06:00

I don't know about you, but I am so ready for a long weekend. I'm really in the mood for wandering through the leaves, and turkey, so it's a good thing it's Thanksgiving. Wishing all my Canadian readers a lovely long weekend filled with family and friends.

My friend introduced me to Saatchi, a great online art collection with a huge variety of images in all sizes and price ranges. The piece above is by Claire Desjardins from Quebec.

Anna of Door16 (aka 'she who can do no wrong') introduced me to Scarf Shop, and now it's the perfect weather to stock up on their beautiful hand dyed silk and cotton scarves. I love how large they are. It's so simple to be stylish with great pieces like this.

I love the playful geometric jewellery over at A Merry Mishap. The hand carved shapes from polymer clay are so cute, and a great price! So you can buy all your faves in all sorts of colours.

happy weekend!

2011-10-06T10:55:00.005-06:00

Welcome to my dream house.

This modest mid-century bungalow is the current home of Bungalow Industries, a branding and identity firm out of the UK. They have outgrown their humble abode and recently put it on the market, but not before giving their real estate campaign their own spin.

In addition to the beautiful photography, Bungalow produced two brochures regarding the property. One outlines the house and neighbourhood, full of archive images and photographs from Fahrenheit 451 which was filmed in the area, plus all the details from the house itself. The other is a photographic recollection of the renovation that Bungalow did to the house.

If I was a realtor I would be taking serious notes. The design of the webpage and the two brochures blows away any home marketing material I have ever seen. Doesn't it make you want to move right in?

2011-10-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

Sarah Burton continues to push the boundaries over at Alexander McQueen, as showcased at Paris Fashion Week, where she presented the Spring Summer 2012 collection. Typical militaristic McQueen motifs such as helmets, epaulettes, and corsets were contrasted with layers of soft ruffles and lace, bringing a feminine freshness to the brand. Hues of cream, coral, and gold dominated the palette, with touches of black. Funny, those are the colours I am looking at for my bedroom now. Here are a few of my favourite looks:

Images courtesy of Fashionologie

2011-10-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it took me 6 months to discover this song, since it features two of my favourite musicians. In March, Robin Pecknold from Fleet Foxes released a 3 track solo EP called Three Songs, and this is one of those tracks, which also features Ed Droste, from Grizzly Bear.

If you are interested in downloading the tracks, they are free and all available here.

2011-10-01T11:04:00.004-06:00

One year ago we claimed these walls and this roof as our own.

What makes a house a home?

We fill our home with memories and moments. We fill it with love.

Here are a few things that fill our house with joy.

2011-09-30T15:40:00.001-06:00

This week I tweeted something about refusing to wear tights until at least October, so this picture seemed pretty timely. Well, that time is nearly here, and this weekend will be spent preparing to buckle down for the cold hard winter ahead. This week you only get two links because they are both awesome and brought me incredible inspiration this week.

Last night I attended an EVDS lecture at the U of C, and one of the speakers was Ingrid Fetell. She writes a blog called Aesthetics of Joy, consults at IDEO, and is a great designer to boot. Her words really touched me yesterday, so I'm going to spend a lot of time this weekend recollecting her presentation, and reflecting on my design mantra and philosophy.

And I know I posted this band earlier this week, but seriously. Please go and download their music immediately!

Encaustic painting above by Beverly Owens, from her Pattern Collection

2011-09-28T14:48:00.000-06:00

Artist Profile: Mandy Stobo

I was first exposed to Mandy's paintings after seeing a series hung at Caffe Rosso here in downtown Calgary. Intrigued by her work, I set off to google and found out that in addition to her incredible paintings, she was also working on a project called Bad Portraits, where she produces quick "ugly" paintings of anyone who sent her a picture.

All summer I have been following her twitter, and seeing a few people I know get paintings done. This week I finally messaged her, and shortly thereafter, this arrived in my feed:

Pretty awesome right?

This is one done of my friend Chelsea.

And this is Brie.

They have nice eyelashes.

And you can have your own! Send Mandy a message here to have one commissioned.

And if you are in Calgary on October 6th, come down to Caffee Rosso and see an exhibition of the Bad Portraits, plus see the rest of what First Thursdays have to offer!

2011-09-26T13:39:00.001-06:00

I am loving this tune by the Kings of Convenience. It has a beautiful softness to it, and reminds me a bit of Simon and Garfunkel. Enjoy!

2011-09-24T14:12:00.002-06:00

Today Jim Henson would have been 75 years old.

My life is richer for having experienced your genius. Thank you.

2011-09-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

It's Fab Friday! So lets get right to it shall we?

L. O. V. I. N. G. these beautiful, vibrant floral paintings by Lulie Wallace.

Gorgeous string lights with porcelain shades from Pigeon Toe Ceramics.

John and Juli over at Mjolk are sharing a few new shots of the store, after being featured in the latest issue of Dwell! Also, a peek at their new packaging for their online shop. So cute!

And my favorite cheeky blog, Unhappy Hipsters, has a new book! It's Lonely in the Modern World is filled with the photo's and captions that UH is best known for, but also features a guidebook for living modern.

And finally here's a little tribute to REM, who decided to part ways this week They are a strong part of the soundtrack of my life, especially this song.

happy weekend!

2011-09-21T21:07:00.002-06:00

It's time for CIFF again! Every year the film fest rolls in and out of town, and I always seem to regret not getting out more to see what it has to offer. So I've been spending time going through the website and watching the trailers and I've pegged a few that I'm really interested in seeing. So I'm buying my pass and I"m going to eat a lot of popcorn. Here's what I'm checking out:

El Bulli: Cooking in Progress

2011-09-20T08:30:00.000-06:00

I discovered Good Fucking Design Advice last fall, after seeing the site featured on The Donut Project. GFDA is a collaborative project between Jason Bacher and Brian Buirge, and was founded during their grad studies, through their shared frustration with the design business.

The pair have produced a variety of products which share their credo, including posters, pins, t-shirts, and mugs. Their posters are the first thing that I noticed them for, and each new edition temps me more than the last. I think the newest black on black edition would look fabulous in my black office.

The whole site brings it back to the basics. Simple and straightforward rules to working in design, while maintaining your passion and drive to keep doing good, fullfilling work.

In celebration of their 1 year anniversary, they put together this video below, Good Fucking Design Advice; The Passion Project.

G.F.D.A. / The Passion Project from Alexander on Vimeo.

2011-09-19T07:56:00.001-06:00

I have spoken about my love for Michelle Williams before, and here's more proof why. Michelle is featured on the cover of the October issue of Vogue, where she's photographed in character as Marilyn Monroe, from her latest film, My Week with Marilyn.

Stunning.

You can see the rest of the photo's in the next issue of Vogue.

Photo's by Annie Liebovitz for Vogue.

2011-09-16T09:34:00.000-06:00

As I write this post, it's kind of chilly and overcast, and I am feeling fall and loving it. Fall to me is long walks with the dog through leaf filled parks, layers of cozy cashmere sweaters, nights filled with jazz, and red wine to keep you warm. It's so romantic to me. I don't know why. Are love stories typically set against the flaming colours of fall foliage?

Anyway, these are links to get you settled into the change of seasons, even though I know when most of you read this, it will be like Indian Summer out there. Oh well.

Sukan is a fantastic etsy shop that sells pillows that are handmade from old kilims, and suzanis. A great variety of beautiful patterns and colours are available. Perfect for making your home warm and cozy.

These are the cutest taupe fingerless gloves, complete with leather button. Great for those chilly fall mornings.

I'm on the hunt for great boots this year. I have a really hard time finding anything that fits my legs properly, but these Julia Lace Up Boots from Frye look awesome. Their classic Campus Boots look great too. Oh, or these.

And here's a bit of Miles Davis, because he is so fine.

2011-09-15T12:01:00.003-06:00

Hello gorgeous!

Eames Lounge and Ottoman

Herman Miller, the manufacturer of many iconic designs, such as the work of Charles and Ray Eames and Isamu Noguchi, has introduced some fantastic new finishes to freshen up these classics. The new finishes include white ash woods, pearl leather upholstery and powdercoat metal finishes.

Noguchi Table

Here's an installation of the Eames Lounge and Noguchi Table complete with the Herman Miller Canvas Office system, and a Lindsey Adelman Chandelier, at the product launch in Chicago earlier this year.

Eames Aluminum Side Chair

It seems obvious really that these chairs have new powercoat options, as we saw this trend move through the plumbing world over the last couple of years. These Aluminum Group chair are completely reinvented with their slick monochromatic look.

Eames Soft Pad & Aluminum Group Management Chairs

Eames Aluminum Group Chair

All products available through your local Herman Miller dealer.

Photos courtesy of Herman Miller.

2011-09-14T21:00:00.002-06:00

Check out these plates!

I want them.

Awesome right? Even more awesome is the fact that they are part of the new K by Keaton collection, by person extraordinaire, Diane Keaton. (swoon!) And those plates above go for less for $5 a piece, because the collection is in association with Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Keaton is well known as an architecture and design enthusiast, and has been involved with architectural preservation through the Los Angeles Conservatory for many years. She describes the collection as having an "American look, which I think comes out of this factory-barn idea".

It's a fantastic collection, even though it is limited to these items and a few plain dishware pieces. Though very simple, the bedding has great detailing, like the asymmetrical zig zag on those pillows and the blanket stitch detailing around the cross accent pillow. It's great to have something designed so well to fill the more affordable part of the market.

Available nationwide at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

2011-09-08T10:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I found the most beautiful book. No surprise, it was by Sibella Court, an interior stylist and owner of The Society Inc from Sydney, Australia.

It is called Stylists Guide to NYC and has been designed as a guidebook through Sibella's favourite haunts in New York City. (Where was this book 2 months ago!!!) The book carries forward with a similar art direction to her previous book, Etcetera, and website, having an assembled ephemera feeling. And it is just plain beautiful.

via The Prippy Handbook

When you flip through the pages, it already feels like an old friend. Sibella has carefully assembled her favorite shops into categories such as Furniture & Interiors, Oddities & Curiosities, Kitchen & Table Paraphernalia, and Haberdashery & Handmade. Even that list is delightful!

Sibella worked as a stylist for over 15 years in New York and shares many incredible finds here. She depicts the shops through photography, typography, and a collage of little bits and pieces along the way.

And it appears that another book is coming out soon! Nomad: A Global Approach to Interior Style will be available in November.

Fabulous.

Photos 3-13 via Notes to a Further Excuse

2011-09-07T08:28:00.000-06:00

On Monday I got to do something really indulgent. I got to listen to Jian Ghomeshi on Q on CBC. And he didn't disappoint, as usual. On this episode he featured musician Colin Stetson.

Stetson is a musician from Montreal who defies any genre and performs a wide variety of reed and horn instruments. He has leant his talents to a wide variety of amazing bands including LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, and most recently, as a member of Bon Iver. His second solo record, New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges was released in January 2011, and was recently shortlisted for the prestigious Polaris Prize.

Prepare to be mesmerized.

2011-09-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

More than anything, I am a coat fiend. A really fabulous tailored coat is all I love in fashion. So I pulled together a little roundup of a few gorgeous pieces that would look marvellous being modelled by my shoulders.

Eastward Dress Coat, Anthropologie

Pancho & Lefty Pocket Cape, Lauren Moffatt

Noir Boucle Jacket, J. Crew

Emerson Camel Coat, Emersonmade

Cropped Box Pleat Blazer, Smythe Les Vestes

Double-Cloth Townhouse Trench, J. Crew

Ashley Coat, Mackage

Black & White Car Coat, Emersonmade

2011-09-03T10:30:00.002-06:00

5 years

Loving what I know of you,

and trusting what I do not yet know,

through all that life may bring us,

I pledge myself to you

I will hold you, laugh with you, and cry with you.

I will be faithful to you in thought, word, and deed.

I will be your loving partner as we build a life together,

and I will be your faithful champion as you pursue your own dearly held dreams.

Happy Anniversary Beast!

2011-09-02T15:55:00.003-06:00

It's my 5 year wedding anniversary tomorrow. Crazy.

5 years ago my married my high school sweetheart. That last part makes me cringe, to be honest. Everyone gets this saccharine expression when they hear it.

5 years has changed us so much. We are adults now, even though it doesn't seem like it at times. Funny because you should feel like an adult when you actually get married, but now that I look back, I really didn't.

Typically I would use this as an excuse to celebrate and go for an expensive dinner, but I don't seem to need an excuse for that these days. I think we are going to keep it low key, and enjoy some down time together.

Hope you all have pleasant weekend with your loved ones.

The new issue of We Like We Love is out!

This fantastic etsy shop offers colourful ikat and batik pillow covers in lots of 9 for $180.00! An incredible deal.

Anyone who calls themselves the Lipstick Queen must really love lip gloss. I love this range of products and the great graphic design of the packaging to boot.

This was our first dance at our wedding, for nostalgia sake. I wish it had a cuter video to accompany it, but oh well.

2011-09-01T08:15:00.000-06:00

I was first introduced to Alanna Cavanagh's work at the Interior Design Show in Toronto this past winter. She was asked to design a mural for the Style at Home booth, which was really phenomenal. The booth was clearly one of the best in the show.

Here's a photo of the booth that I took during the show.

via DecorWrite

And here's a better view of the mural image in it's entirety.

Alanna is an illustrator and printmaker working in Toronto. She has an incredible list of clients, including The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, and Penguin Books. She also writes for Uppercase Magazine.

via The Workroom

Alanna's Scissor Prints were also featured in the windows of The Workroom during IDS. The Workroom is a great quilting and sewing shop in Toronto, and these prints perfectly suited their display.

It's Alanna's beautiful screenprints that I am most drawn to. I love her bold but simple use of colours, and of course, the whimsical nature of her drawings.

This is a cute example of her illustration work.

Above 3 via Alanna Cavanagh

And I love her hand lettering. It a perfect scrawl; a feminine script with an edge.

via Arren Williams

Here's a picture of Alanna, hard at work tea staining one of her Penguin Bookcovers. These are my favourite pieces from her portfolio. Each one stained by hand to create a truly one of a kind piece.

via English Muffin Blog

And here's a shot of it in situ. So beautiful.

Prints are available for purchase at Oliver Yaphe and you can also inquire directly with Alanna herself.

2011-08-30T09:00:00.000-06:00

A few months ago, we attended a friend's wedding, where we were given a CD of some of the couples favorite songs. This is my favorite track from that compilation.

2011-08-29T11:50:00.004-06:00

Guess what I won!?!

Thanks to Alanna Cavanagh for the print and to Emma Reddington of the Marion House Book for hosting the giveaway. Our kitchen will be next on the list for a paint job, so I can't wait to get this framed and hung in there!

I think I'll do a bigger post on Alanna this week, for those of you unfamiliar with her work.

happy, happy!

photo's by Janet Kimber

2011-08-26T11:38:00.005-06:00

It's been a busy week this week, and I am really looking forward to curling up with this little face this weekend. I'll be sunning on the porch, making sandwiches, running errands, and just generally enjoying these last summer days. How about you?

I adore this great vintage bar cart from goseek's etsy shop.

Emma from the Marion House Book is giving away a print by Alanna Cavanagh this week. Alanna designed the booth for Style at Home at IDS this year, and it was a big fan fave. Be sure to enter. Or not, because I would love to see that print hanging in my house!

I just discovered these lovely shear pendants by David Gensler of Serum Versus Venom. Beautifully handcrafted in Brooklyn, these remind me of a charm my mum used to have on her old charm bracelet.

And Florence and the Machine have a new album due out in November. Here's the long awaited first single!

happy weekend!

2011-08-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

Despite the damaged basement, I'm still planning the finishing touches for the rest of the house. So I brought home some lovely Quadrille fabric swatches as options for the bedroom, to accompany these drapes.

2011-08-22T17:37:00.002-06:00

Words to live by:

“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.”

from Jack Layton's letter to Canadians

RIP Jack

2011-08-21T09:17:00.004-06:00

Every so often Ikea launches a product that perfectly combines design with their economical price point and quality. The Lack bookcase was one of those pieces for me.

via Elle Decor

It's appeal was in it's great proportions, the substantial thickness of the shelves, the clean lines. The structure was the perfect start point for so many great styling opportunities. The large fixed shelves allowed for lots of great display space. And the basic nature of the form was easily manipulated to make the piece uniquely yours.

via Beau Lifestyle

And I wasn't alone. There are hordes of photos on the internet of this piece in use in all sorts of fashionable interiors. It was a piece that transcended budgets and appeared in all environments.

via Pinterest

See? This spring, Ikea announced it was discontinuing the piece. Why? All good things must come to an end I guess, but when a furniture piece is this popular and versatile, you would think Ikea would have thought twice about removing this from their inventory. They could have doubled the price, and it would still have been popular.

RIP Lack Bookcase.

2011-08-19T08:58:00.001-06:00

It's a video Fab Friday today, and I'm featuring 3 things that made me happy (happy thoughts!) over the past couple of weeks! Hope you have a good weekend. I need some R&R for sure. Maybe a massage? At least that will be covered by my insurance...

I get the House and Home magazine newletter each week to my inbox, but most of the time just delete it without really looking at it. But this episode happened to catch my eye, and I love the way Sasha Seymour has integrated 70's classics into her space.

I love stop motion animation, and here's the worlds largest! Incredible.

Move, Eat, Learn. These videos made the rounds a few weeks ago, but they completely filled me with joy. 3 guys travelled all over the world and documented their trip in these videos. Make sure to check them all out.

2011-08-17T21:55:00.004-06:00

So it's been a bit rough around here the last couple of days. Last Thursday I discovered mold in our basement, after some water leeched in during one of the downpours we had. It was in the spare bedroom, after I noticed that the drywall was rippled. I was alone in the house that week, and really don't go down there very often anyway, so I guess it had a couple days to really soak in and make itself at home before I found it. It's so gross. Mold. Yuk. I'm so embarrassed and I feel like I let down my poor little house and made it sick. I know that's probably a stupid thing to think, but I do.

I'm even more embarrassed over the ridiculous amount of money it is going to cost to clean it all up. The carpet was damp all around the edge of the basement, which means it all has to get ripped out, the drywall ripped out, the insulation ripped out, and then they do the mold remediation, which involves lots of chemicals and fans, and air balancers. Oh, and money.

Then we have to figure out where the water came from and try to prevent it from happening again.

So all in all, I'm not feeling up to blogging much lately.

I will abstain from posting any mold pictures because that's gross, and this should be a happy place (see illustration above, via). However, I will share the process with you so that everyone can learn! And it means that I get to redo the basement, which was okay, but now I get to make it better! (silver lining)

2011-08-03T08:30:00.001-06:00

I discovered Austin Kleon through his series on 20x200. He is an artist and writer from Austin, Texas, and he produces these great graphic poetry pieces. Created from blacking out articles from a newspaper, they have created so much buzz that they were published into a book, Newspaper Blackout, in 2010.

What is Marriage?

How it Works

Overheard on the Titanic

The Travelogue

2011-08-01T11:15:00.001-06:00

Life List: Eat at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant.

New York presented all sorts of great opportunities, but unfortunately, there was no sea kayaking, no camels, and I definitely wasn't buying property there. But it had loads of restaurants, 2 of which are owned by Gordon Ramsay. So it was pretty easy to make this my NY Life List item.

The London Hotel is home to both Gordon Ramsay at the London, and Muse by Gordon Ramsey. We decided Muse was more our speed, especially with all the other restaurants we had planned to eat at. You can order a la carte, or have the Chef's menu. We decided to have the Chef's menu and eat the same things, so we could better compare notes.

Prior to our first course we were served a taste of potato and leek veloute, which was fresh and creamy. Then we had bread and butter, which I wasn't very pleased with. The bread had such a thick, tough crust which was really difficult to eat. The butter was fine. I guess I'm a bit of a butter snob though.

First Course: chilled tomato gazpacho, marinated lobster, avocado puree, dried tomato

This soup was a nice summery start to the meal. I love when they pour the soup over the accoutrements at the table, and they did just that. Sometimes I find gazpachos are over seasoned, but this was very nicely balanced with a fresh tomato flavour. I hate when tomato soup tastes like pasta sauce.

Of all the restaurants we went to, this one felt the most designed. The restaurant was designed by David Collins Studio, and was conceptualized to bring together "classic British style with Manhattan vivacity." It had a subtle, sophisticated colour scheme with a crisp geometric ceiling design, and touches of sparkle throughout.

Hand sewn silver buttons on the soft grey-blue shagreen banquettes.

There was a nice level of ambient light throughout, that allowed the space to still feel intimate.

Sparkly chandeliers were hung over the bar. There was a nice variety of materials such as textured glass, lacquer, stone tile, woven wallcovering, chrome, and wood. It kept the space interesting, despite the subtle colour scheme.

A shot of the grid work design on the ceiling.

The worst part of the interior? The lame table decor. Seriously? When was the last time I saw those glass marble things? I think I was 12. They would be better off to do nothing.

Second Course: pastrami spiced baby beetroots, air-dried duck ham, Kendall farms creme fraiche

You can't go wrong with beets in my book. These were perfect.

Third Course: sauteed sea scallops, english peas, crispy bacon, lettuce hearts, sauce paloise

This was the highlight of the meal for me. The scallops were divine. The peas and lettuce with the bacon, delightful. Don't you just love a good fresh pea? And that sauce. So delicious, I can't even describe.

Dave didn't like the sauce. But opposites are supposed to attract right?

Fourth Course: dry aged strip loin, pommes anna, roasted portobello, spiced eggplant

I chose the beef for my main, while Dave had the skate. Honestly, beef is beef to me, especially coming from Alberta and getting to eat great beef all the time. The winner on this plate was the pommes anna. I loved that little stack of thinly sliced potatoes. The loser was the portobello. It was boring.

And this was the vanilla custard with citrus fruits, steel cut oats, and mandarin sorbet. I ate it before I remembered to take the photo.

It was a nice light and refreshing way to end the meal.

The steel cut oats were the curious part. They were served still hard, but I think had been baked to bring out their nuttiness. Curious and unusual, but pretty good.

After some coffees, we wandered around the neighbourhood to take in some night sights. Times Square was incredible, with more people packing it at night than during the day.

I can't get back soon enough.

2011-07-31T16:33:00.001-06:00

Paul McCartney just re-released his first solo album, McCartney, and I have been playing this piece on repeat for the last couple of weeks. Perfect for slow, summery mornings.

Singalong Junk

2011-07-29T09:15:00.002-06:00

image via

Oh god. This quote speaks to me so well. I have been caught feeling up columns at Chinook Center, and have many intimate encounters with furniture pieces over the years. Designers, you know what I'm talking about.

So it's another Friday, and another long weekend! Long weekends make me want to be productive. But on the other hand, sitting in the sun in the park sounds pretty great too. What will you be getting up to?

The online magazine world continues to explode, and my newest find is Kinfolk Mag. This magazine makes me breathless with it's beautiful imagery, and text. Absolutely swoon worthy.

My mum and I scooped up copies of Jeni's ice cream cookbook the minute it came out, and holy hannah... it is awesome. We tried the Star Anise Ice Cream with Candied Fennel. It left us speechless. So ASAP, I will be purchasing a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker for myself to make all these amazing creations, as well as getting a personal trainer, to offset the copious ice cream consumption. My Monday Night Supper Club better watch out...

I've been looking for mattress ticking fabrics, and my search led me to Ian Mankin out of the UK. He has a fabulous range of utility inspired fabrics which speak to everything I love.

I also discovered Merchant no. 4 this week, an online store out of NY that has curated an interesting collection of good from a variety of independent artisans and designers. Most of their collection focuses on really simple, handcrafted goods.

Happy Weekend!

2011-07-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

Most days in New York we started with a quick coffee and a muffin, either from Whole Foods or Dean and Deluca. The Bouchon Bakery is deserving of a mention here, as it is operated by Thomas Keller and served some really beautiful French pastries and great coffee. I especially loved the graphics.

During our shopping excursion to Soho, we couldn't help but stop at Balthazar, a great New York institution. I'd been trying to have a cucumber martini for three days, and I finally got one here. It was blissfully refreshing on such a hot day.

We of course had to order the oysters. Delightful.

photo via

La Esquina was the place I had the most recommendations for. Everyone raved about their corn and taco's. There was no room inside when we went, so we ordered at the window and sat outside. We had a cob of their infamous corn, which was really interesting with a chili powder rub and grated cheese. I'd like to actually dine inside if I ever go back.

My husband would have eaten pizza for every meal if I didn't restrain him, but I did let him visit Artichoke twice. Their namesake pizza was incredible, with a creamy artichoke sauce, and big chunks of melted mozzarella. We ordered it both times.

photo via

Another thing about my husband, he didn't want to eat anywhere that he hadn't researched and ensured that it was worth eating at. But one day his stomach trumped his head, and we stopped into Peels. It turned out to be great spot for lunch, and we really enjoyed the modern take on some American classics.

I was determined to eat and black and white cookie while in NY, so we stopped in at Crumbs one day. It was great, although I don't have anything to really compare it to. It was thick and cakey with a nice, smooth icing.

I'm always interested to see spaces that I have seen published, to see how accurate the photography and story was. Our hotel was quite close to Quality Meats, which is published in Best Ugly, a book that profiles a few of the restaurants by Avroko. Overall I was pretty impressed. The space did feel smaller, but cameras do tend to make things feel larger as they manipulate their viewpoints. Like ABC Kitchen, this restaurant had a really strong concept that flowed through every element of the brand and interior. Being a meat focused space, all the waiters even wore butcher coats as their uniform. So we felt that the best thing to order would be the Tartar. We loved it. It came deconstructed and the presentation was great. Once we stirred it all together, we realized it also tasted great.

Quality Meats also has an ice cream bar which we couldn't resist. You can see why.

One of my favourite places was Bill's Gay 90's, which is one of the original NY Speakeasy's. It was a fantastic piano bar that was full of enthusiastic patrons. We had such an awesome time sipping Manhattan's and Cosmo's and enjoying such a unique part of of the city. This was the one place I wish I could have transplanted back to Calgary.

The one place we actually had a sit down breakfast was The Breslin, which is located in the Ace Hotel. Brunch was good, but made me happy that we didn't spend a lot eating out for breakfast. I never really find that meal to be special enough to justify the extra expense sometimes.

The interior was interesting with lots of interesting art and accessories cluttering the shelves. The millwork and furniture had an old English pup/cafe feel.

On our last day, we stopped over at the Frying Pan, which a bar that sits on one of the docks overlooking the Hudson River. It was a really interesting place, and it was great to sit somewhere in the cool breeze. Unfortunately for me, I tend to get a bit seasick at those types of places. A moving boat in one thing, but a slightly moving dock is another. It was all I could do to drink one ginger ale before bailing.

Our very last stop was for a quick taste of the ubiquitos Pinkberry. I have always wanted to taste their special frozen yogurt and I finally got my chance. Any boy was it good. The yogurt was perfectly tart and sweet. And now I will spend my time trying to recreate it's perfectly balanced flavors. Or, you can now get it in Vancouver!

So that was our food adventure. I've kept one under wraps for a post later this week, and more great details of our trip to come.

2011-07-24T21:05:00.002-06:00

My favourite coleslaw is the tiny container that you get as a side at the Avenue Deli, here in Calgary. I love non-creamy coleslaws, and I have been attempting to recreate the dressing for the Avenue one for awhile. I think I did just that tonight. This salad is bright and crisp and perfect as a summer side dish.

Fresh Summer Coleslaw

1 Tbsp Oil

5 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

3 Tbsp Sugar

1 Tsp Salt

1/2 Tsp Black Pepper

1/2 Tsp Crushed Garlic

1 Tbsp Mustard Seeds

2 Cups of Shredded Green and Red Cabbage and Carrots (This is the size of the pre-shredded store bought bags of coleslaw you can also buy)

Combine the first 7 ingredients in a small bowl and whisk. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately for a really crisp salad, or let the cabbage marinate in the dressing so it gets a bit softer.

I've had cabbage salads with almonds, cranberries, or dry chow mein noodles added, and I think that this salad would be a great base for adding all of those things to as well.

2011-07-22T08:00:00.000-06:00

Here are the problems with going to NY. Calgary is not as cool as NY. So coming home is a bit of a disappointment. Also, you are poor after coming home from NY. Oh well.

Fab Friday!

I discovered Crabbies this week, so I can at least have a good time at home with a bottle of this in hand.

My favourite jewellery designers have ventured into new territory. A couple of weeks ago, Nervous System launched their new lighting collection. Building on their portfolio of 3D printed nylon products, these pieces look like beautiful underwater specimens.

We've decided to do a large artwall installation in our dining room so I'm on the lookout for affordable prints and unique images. Check out this incredible collection of photography, from Vincent Musi. And the best part? These are all free to download and use for your personal use!

This is a stunning handpainted ceiling treatment, complete with timelapse video! I've been more and more interested in unique handpainted walls and ceilings lately. Am I willing to attempt something like this myself?

Ehn Dhr Uunvers [...] from Juls Oh on Vimeo.

Happy Friday!

2011-07-20T23:20:00.000-06:00

So we spent most of our time doing what we love best, eating. It was incredible. So I'm going to take some time here to list out everywhere we visited, because they are all worth going back to! But we ate at so many places, I'm going to divide it up into a couple of posts. So here it is. Our NYC Eating Extravaganza, Part 1.

The first place that we officially sat down to eat at was The Modern, which is the restaurant at MOMA. It featured a great menu of French-American cuisine, and was divided into three courses, and also encouraged sharing. It was very stylish with a glamourous clientele, and looks out to the garden at the museum. Pictured above is the Lamb and Goat Cheese Terrine.

image via

The Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien hotel was really fun. This space is hidden behind a floor to ceiling curtain in the hotel lobby. The only hint that it is there is the smell of sizzling beef on the grill, and the little neon burger sign tucked at the end of a corridor. Inside is a great dive of a burger place, with a very simple menu. The walls are covered in handwritten scrawl from past customers, and the brick wall is lined with names of celebs who dropped by.

image via

One evening we went out for drinks before dinner and chose the Russian Vodka Room. It's dark and moody interior has been around for ages. The menu features several house infused flavoured vodka, including a horseradish vodka that actually turned out to be really good. The menu looked great too, featuring lots of pickled fish and caviar dishes.

Our big splurge meal was at Eleven Madison Park. The entire experience was phenomenal from start to finish. The restaurant was awarded an Outstanding Restaurant Award by the James Beard Foundation this year, and for good reason. The menu features four courses, with a list of only the main ingredient of each dish, so what you eventually get is a complete surprise. The meal was preceded by a parade of incredible amuse bouche's including a Goat Cheese Lollypop. Then after the meal, trays of sweets emerged from the kitchen, which is pictured above. Here you will see the Lemon Shortbread, a Meringue, and an Earl Grey and Blackberry Macaron, each about the size of a quarter.

The end of the meal also meant that this bottle of cognac was left at your table with the encouragement to help yourself. Indeed.

The service at Eleven Madison was absolute top notch. It was like sitting amidst an orchestra as the service unfolded around you. Servers would pop up out of nowhere to replace or remove things, to refill the wine and refold your napkin when you left the table. It was certainly a meal I won't soon forget.

image via

After that extravaganza, we ventured to the West Village to Little Branch. Here's the exterior shot. Sure doesn't look like much.

image via

My husband was a bit obsessed with going to a Speakeasy, and this was the closest we got. Little Branch is known for it's great bar tending staff and delectable cocktails. It's located in a basement with a pair of curious vintage washrooms, and while you sip your drink, you can hear the rumble of the subway as it rolls along nearby.

After we saw the McQueen exhibit at the Met one morning, we went up to their rooftop patio for a quick bite to eat. While the food service was just a couple of cold pre-made sandwiches and drinks, the view of the Manhattan skyline more than made up for it. You should ask at the info booth how to get up there, as only one elevator will take you to the roof.

image via

We went to a concert on a dock one afternoon, which meant we got to try some NY food truck food! We went to the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck for a couple of the best dumplings I have ever had. The Chicken and Thai Basil dumplings had a coconut sauce inside along with other veggies, which made the whole thing taste like a fabulous bowl of Thai Coconut Chicken soup. I will dream about those dumplings.

My husband also insisted on going to ABC Kitchen, which won the Best New Restaurant award at the James Beard awards this year. What I loved most about this restaurant was that the concept flowed through every element of the space. Anything that the guest saw or touched continually reinforced the concept of the restaurant. No surprise it was fitted out with lots of gorgeous pieces from ABC Home, which it's adjacent to. The food was nice, with a focus on local, sustainable, and organic cuisine. But honestly, I don't feel like that was the only restaurant that I could have had that meal at.

That's all for today, but stay tuned for Part 2!

2011-07-18T13:29:00.004-06:00

I {heart} NY, orignal sketch by Milton Glaser

Life List: Visit NYC in all Four Seasons. Summer, check!

New York was fabulous. We had an amazing time, and over the next little while I will be sharing some of our experiences. But for now I need time to recover from my holiday...

2011-07-11T07:50:00.003-06:00

I'm doing my usual vacation beauty prep, and thought I would share this easy scrub with you. My sister works in high end beauty retail and this type of thing can cost upwards of $30 for a small tub of exfoliating scrub. This costs like 2 cents.

In the palm of your hand combine one spoonful of oil (I use olive oil but any common cooking oil will do) and one spoonful of either salt or sugar. If you have any cuts on your hand, I would not use the salt. Rub the mixture all over your hands vigourously. Rinse with warm water to remove the sugar/salt, but don't use any soap, as you want the oil to remain. Lightly dry hands and continue to rub in oil until it is absorbed.

I do this frequently, as I love to exfoliate! You can use this all over, just combine the mixture in a small bowl to make enough.

2011-07-08T10:15:00.003-06:00

I guess I'm starting this Friday off on a low note, as one of my life list items is technically unachievable now. This morning, NASA launched the final flight of the Atlantis space shuttle, marking the ending of the space shuttle program. And I wasn't there to watch it. So I guess that puts that item on hiatus for awhile.

Oh well. It's another Friday, and another summery forecast for the weekend! What do you have planned?

I started this morning off with an Eton Mess donut from Jelly Modern. It was fabulous. Have you been yet? The Eton Mess was a special flavour for Prince William's visit, but they have many other delicious flavours like the lemon, or maple bacon!

I picked up a copy of America's Test Kitchen magazing this week, and I forgot how much I loved Cook's Illustrated in general, and also the ATK show on PBS. Easy, straighforward recipies with great tips and photography. I'm planning to cook my way through that magazine from cover to cover.

We have made a couple of restaurant reservations for NYC, and one that I am particularly excited about is ABC Kitchen. At this year's James Beard Awards, ABC won Best New Restaurant for 2011. You can count on a few foodie posts over the next couple weeks.

Black Sheep White Light is a Toronto retailer of beautiful and sustainable hides. Originally they sold a variety of sheepskins, and have recently added reindeer hides to their line.

Happy Weekend!

2011-07-07T09:00:00.000-06:00

Some classical favourites:

As with many classical songs, you may know a song to hear it but may not know the song name or composer. I heard Trois Gymnopedies being played on an accordion as we were walking through Paris years ago, but at the time, couldn't recall what it was called. We were newly engaged and I thought that it would be a great song to include in our wedding. I remember I kept repeating about 6 notes from tune over and over in my head so I wouldn't forget which song I was trying to find. Once we were back home in Canada, I spent weeks and weeks on classical music websites, going through archives and catalogues and listening to every song imaginable until I finally found it. And we played it during our ceremony, as we signed the certificates. And I will always remember passing that little cafe in Montmartre and falling in love with that accordion and how authentically French that moment was.

2011-07-05T21:10:00.004-06:00

#teamconnie photo via @AlexKGT

For the past 8 weeks I have had the amazing pleasure of joining these fine folks, and many others at the high top table at Charcut, to cheer on our Top Chef, Connie DeSousa. The finale for the show was last night, and while Connie didn't end up on top, it was incredible to be surrounded by so many enthusiastic fans and give her a standing ovation for a job well done.

This group of friends is another example of the amazing power of Twitter. I know I may be preaching to the choir here, but Twitter really has opened up so many incredible social opportunities for me. And I am so greatful for that.

Who are these tweeps? Well they are: @chelseamwatson, @RobWaye, @alexKGT, @brie_elise, @Dave_khan, @chelscore, @jamiepenno, @dansgoodside.

Special thanks to Dan for starting the team and bringing everyone together every week, and to Chelsea for designing our t-shirts!

And here's a great wrap up post by Dan on FoodNetwork.ca!

2011-07-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

Sound the horns! We're kicking off the life list summer with a trip to NYC! Toot toot! While the rest of Calgary is Stampeding it up next week, we will be taking advantage of the down time by enjoying a little holiday. And I know this trip will only get me another 1/4 of the way towards my goal of NYC in all four seasons, but I'm really thrilled to get to spend a week in the Big Apple! And who knows...maybe there are other list items to tackle while we are there.

Besides the obvious NYC attractions, we want to try to hit up some interesting parts of NY that maybe others would overlook or will make our trip unique. Here's a couple of things we are really looking forward too:

The Radio Dept and Asobi Seksu at the Seaport Music Festival (free!)

Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty at the Met (the reason I prioritized this trip)

The High Line (the second phase just opened!)

Bicycling in Central Park

And let's not forget all the fabulous food...

If you have any suggestions for us, leave a comment!

photo above of a Banksy piece in NYC, via High Snobriety.

2011-07-01T09:41:00.003-06:00

Happy Canada Day! This is an extra Fab Friday as it is also a holiday. First long weekend of the summer. I hope you are all getting out to enjoy it. On my agenda? A pig roast, campfires, canoeing in the mountains, learning to golf, and lots of good quality friend time. I can't wait!

Love this Calgary print by etsy artist birdAve. Etsy is also featuring lots of red and white on the homepage today in honour of Canada Day.

Thinking I might like to steal some of my neighbours rhubarb and make this rhubarb galette this weekend.

My friend Alyssa did a guest post over on sfgirlbybay!

And now that the postal strike is over, my latest issue of Anthology mag arrived. You must pick up a copy. It's always filled with such wonderful things.

Loving this Feist cover by James Blake, Limit to Your Love.

2011-06-25T20:00:00.001-06:00

This whole week felt like Friday to me, so I was surprised when the real Friday crept up on me and I realized I didn't have a post prepared. Oh well. So this will be Fab Saturday!

I Love My City print by Judy Kaufmann on etsy. Love the vibrant red, and it perfectly represents how I'm feeling about Calgary these days.

This week Cantos revealed the design plan for the new National Music Center! Allied Works Architecture have designed a stunning structure, surrounding the old King Eddy Hotel and is complete with an incredible bridge that spans 4th St SE.

And my new favourite hometown musician, Chad VanGaalen, who I saw this afternoon at Sled Island in Olympic Plaza. Here's the song he sang for me:

Now get out and enjoy your city in the sun, and all the wonderful things it offers.

Happy Weekend!

2011-06-19T11:19:00.002-06:00

Next weekend is the Sled Island Festival in Calgary, and one of the acts I definitely won't miss is Twin Shadow.

Who are your can't miss acts?

2011-06-17T12:47:00.003-06:00

I've had a pretty crazy week, so I am ready to just relax this weekend. I hope the weather cooperates, and I can lay back in the sun for a bit. And take some time to check out this great stuff!

Wurst now open! (little sneak peek photo above) Make a reservation. It was already jammed last night.

Craft Beer Market now open! 104 beers on tap!

I first heard about Dieter Rams through mjolk. He was the head of design at Braun for many, many years, and has an amazing portfolio of iconic products. This new book from Phaidon is a comprehensive look at his career and the incredible impact his work has had on the world of design.

Do What You Love / Love What You Do prints from coniLAB on etsy.

Check out these incredible shoes from Andreia Chaves. They are manufactured out of nylon using a 3D rapid print machine for the external piece with an internal handmade leather shoe. Wow.

We've been looking towards our summer travel plans, and The Brief is a great new travel website, outlining the hip, must see stops in great places around the globe.

Happy Weekend!

2011-06-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

Off of our kitchen we have a small pantry area. It features a big window, and is actually quite a nice little room. The last owners really weren't using it to it's full advantage though. It was being used as a pseudo pantry/closet, as this house doesn't really have coat closets at the entrances.

Here's the before shot. It featured the same mustardy yellow paint that the rest of the house had, and a shoddy metal shelving system. There were also those black shoe storage boxes mounted to one wall. While the room is adjacent to the back door, we didn't really feel it necessary to have coat and shoe storage here. We were also lacking storage for small appliances and the like, and decided to turn the room into a proper butlers pantry.

Ta da! Here's the after! We are so super happy with the transformation. It feels so much bigger now. We first painted over the mustard with Classic Grey (OC-23) from Benjamin Moore, which is a slightly antique white colour.

We didn't have a big budget for this space, as it was just the kitchen pantry, so most of the items you see are from Ikea. The shelving unit is the Varde, which has a nice butcher block top, and stainless steel shelves below, which is great for cleaning. The floating shelf is the Ekby system, and the little stool is the Bekvam. The aqua sisal rug is from Steeling Home.

I picked up these galvanized letters when I was at Orling and Wu in Vancouver. I also purchased the wire basket there as well.

The wall hooks are from Anthropologie.

I purchased this old window from an Antique shop awhile back. After a good clean, I painted the glass panels with blackboard paint, and added some eye hooks along the bottom for hanging keys, etc.

Glass storage jars from Crate and Barrel. I love their kitchen section, which is full of classic pieces at reasonable prices.

This mint plant is the only house plant that I have managed not to kill. It grows like a weed, and needs very little attention. It adds some nice greenery to the room.

I think the room needs a little bit more art, and I would love to replace the light fixture with an antique schoolhouse style fixture. Other than that, this little makeover is making me even more eager to tackle the rest of the kitchen changes.

2011-06-10T09:17:00.006-06:00

Friday, Friday! This week has seemed very long, don't know how it felt for you. Here are some faves from this week:

Heath Ceramics is one of my favorite suppliers and I have been intending to do a full post dedicated to them for some time. In the meantime, they launched a new collection of house numbers that are just perfect. I hope to see these adorning my home soon!

The new edition of Sweet Paul magazine launched today, full of yummy summertime goodness and beautiful photography, as always. One of my favorite online magazines.

I discovered Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams earlier this year, and her website had my mouth salivating with all the tasty and unique flavours they offer. She now has a cookbook, showing you how to make their flavours in your own home.

I've been reading the blog, forty sixth at grace, for awhile now. Nikole Herriott writes the blog, and while she doesn't post often, the posts are filled with beautiful photographs, and long spare columns of text. Really lovely to look at. Nikole is also behind the fabulous Herriot Grace, which sells handcrafted kitchen goods.

2011-06-08T07:49:00.002-06:00

It's going to be one of those Wednesdays, so I'm going to rely on my iTunes to get me through the day. Today will feature one of my old faves, Mayer Hawthorne, in heavy rotation.

Mayer is from Detroit and continues that city's tradition of great R&B music. I saw him at Coachella two years ago and almost died, he was that good. Get ready to swoon ladies.

2011-06-06T08:00:00.001-06:00

I'm a big fan of painterly abstract art, so it was no surprise that the portfolio of Michelle Armas had me swooning. The beautiful, bold colours combined with the movement of the brush strokes is a really winning combination in my books. See for yourself:

Michelle Armas' work is available in her online shop, and she is also represented by Gregg Irby Fine Art in Atlanta.

2011-06-04T09:38:00.003-06:00

So Fab Friday is Fab Saturday this week. I've been a touch busy. Nevertheless, you still need some stuff to look at this weekend, so here's where my head has been at.

I have convinced myself that my life will be incomplete without seeing the Savage Beauty Exhibit at the Met in NY, about the life's work of Alexander McQueen. After speaking with a friend about it last night, I've decided it's a necessity. Plus, I could knock NYC in the summer off my life list. Perfect. There's a book to accompany the exhibit too; it went into wide release this week.

There was some controversy this week regarding the online shelter magazine industry, after an article appeared in the NY Times, and the subsequent mass rejection of its contents. Grace at Design*Sponge had some really great thoughts about the issues.

Speaking of online magazines, WLWL came out with their 7th issue! Plus it features Lori's house, which I actually got to visit in person last night!

One thing on my life list is to renovate a bowler trailer, and last night I met the charming Capri, who introduced me to her 1964 Travco Motorhome, Myrtle. The blog follows her renovation and restoration, and I will be spending lots of time picking up tips for when I get to finally restore my own traveling home away from home.

2011-05-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

I had a super productive weekend, and I'm happy to have gotten lots of little things taken care of around the house this weekend. It's great to have this stuff off my plate, so I can better enjoy all the lovely weather we've been having. Here's a few sneak peeks of what I got up to.

While running errands in Kensington, I stopped into Cushy Life to see if they had the latest Dwell Bedding so I could check the colours against my drapery fabric. They had these great little oil paintings by Calgary artist Frances Marina Vettergreen, and I couldn't resist.

I don't think I mentioned that we bought a vintage poster from a dealer in Maui while we were there. Well, I finally got it back from the framer, and proceeded to hang it in the living room immediately.

I hung the curtains in the bedroom! They look fabulous.

I've had my lovely design prints sitting on the mantel forever, and finally got around to hanging them while I was hanging everything else.

I hosted tea for my mother in law and some friends on Sunday, so I made a quick batch of scones. I'm generally weary of online baking recipes, particularly scones, as I am very picky. But these were perfect.

I got up to a little bit of gardening, and cleaned up the front porch. Margot dug a big hole too.

Most of all, I have enjoyed just sitting in the living room, seeing everything finally coming together. And feeling very satisfied and very much at home.

2011-05-27T07:50:00.000-06:00

I've had a really exciting week, but most importantly, my sister announced that she got engaged to her sweetheart! Yay! So, being as I have been a bit distracted with the excitement of the impending wedding planning, I thought I would share a few of my favourite entertaining links.

Amy Atlas, photo above, creates the most incredible edible tablescapes for all sorts of fabulous parties. From weddings, to showers, and all events in between, her amazing displays of sweets are so delectable!

Paper Source is my go to site for all sorts of lovely stationary items. Bold bright colours, and great shapes define their basic line, punctuated with bold patterned papers, and a wide array of interesting accoutrements.

Elyse Bouvier is a Calgary photographer who takes simply beautiful photographs.

Maggie Austin is a cake designer from Washington, DC with a really sublime portfolio of work. Isn't this ombre ruffle cake to die for?

Happy Weekend!

2011-05-21T20:14:00.003-06:00

The soundtrack of my summer this year will feature this song by The Radio Dept in heavy rotation.

Heaven's on Fire

And I love this quieter live version.

2011-05-19T22:48:00.002-06:00

It's Fab Friday again. Not only that, but it's a long weekend here in these parts, and I am really looking forward to taking that extra day to relax. My three major projects at work are all wrapping up next week, so I'm sure I will be at everyone's beck and call. But it's thrilling to see these spaces come to fruition, and I'm excited to get to share a couple with you soon!

Graphic designer Beth Chapleau created this great Canadian Winter Survival Kit. Filled with great items of Canadiana to sustain you through the long winter months, it is also beautifully assembled and designed.

The designers at Vij5 from the Netherlands have created a composite wood like material out of old newspaper, and are using it in all sorts of interesting ways. I love the look of the sliced newsprint.

I don't know if anyone else has seen this website, and I am really late to the game, but please check out Portable. A great eclectic website featuring all things design/culture/art.

And finally, I saw Phantogram live this week at the Republik in Calgary. It was one of the best shows I have ever seen here, so here's a tune to kick off your weekend!

2011-05-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

When I was in Toronto in January, we happened upon Hollace Cluny, out of pure chance really. The store is intimate, and houses an impeccably curated line of design products. It was incredible to see a Lindsey Adelman chandelier in person, along with many other treasures. In one corner of the store, I found an interesting book, and started to flip through. It contained the wallpaper collections of Tracy Kendall, and was one of the most extraordinary things I have ever seen.

Tracy Kendall is a London based wallcovering designer. Her innovative designs challenge the definition of wallpaper, in which she utilizes a variety of highly textural elements and found objects.

I have focused on the bespoke collection here, but she also offers a line of printed papers as well. See more on Tracy Kendall's website.