SPRING DEALS

I know, I know, it's just getting ridiculous how much time I'm letting elapse between posts these days. It feels as though I haven't visited this old friend in ages, poor little blog.

I've been busy, working away in the studio but also finding a lot of pleasure in working on myself. I've been taking pilates classes twice a week and trying to take more time to spend with friends. I feel like I've pretty much managed my stress situation and am beginning to enjoy making things again, which I wasn't for awhile. Life feels like it's coming together in a really positive way. Of course, knowing that Spring is on it's way helps a lot too!

I guess the big news is that three weeks ago I moved my studio out of my home and into a space in Mile End. I'm sharing with a group of fantastically talented ladies and am absolutely loving being out of the house every day (even if I usually have some significant trouble getting there before noon). I've been intentionally leaving my computer at home, and I don't have a cell phone so I'm breaking some of the bad habits I got into working from a room in my house (I'm looking at you, Law & Order.) I also just booked a short trip to Mexico where I've never been and am so keen to explore. I'm craving sunshine and colour and delicious food and simply seeing something new.

Of course moving & traveling means *Spring Cleaning* is essential and so I'm clearing out the little remaining stock I have from the F/W collection - mostly at half-price. Here's what I have left (I promise, this is the last time you will see these same photos again on this blog!):

Green Saturn Dress, last two available in S & L. Was $240 now $140.

Mauve Saturn Dress, last one (!!) available in M. Was $240 now $140.

Cream Victorine Blouse, last one (!!) available in S. Was $180 now $90.

Black Victorine Blouse, last two available in M & L. Was $180 now $90.

Green Eshe Blouse, last one (!!) available in L. Was $140 now $70.

Black Eshe Blouse, various sizes. Was $140 now $70.

Mauve Eshe Blouse, various sizes. Was $140 now $70.

I also have two little Easter-hued cubist clutches which I never added to the shop but am doing so now, one in a supple, soft, banana lambskin and one in a vibrant mint. Check out the SHOP or email me if you're interested.

GOODNIGHT DAY, HELLO LEGGINGS

Beautiful Tara-Lynn of Goodnight, Day looking casual and chic in her Ursa Minor leather leggings. Check out more photos of her eclectic style over at Boots & Pine, Arden Wray's fantastic photographic love letter to Toronto's creative contributors.

PREPARATIONS

Getting all my goods together for Puces Pop this weekend, including oodles of new diamond clutches in various colours.

Come by and say 'hello'!

Puces Pop
September 22nd-23rd, 2012
at St-Michel Church, 105 Saint-Viateur West
Opening Hours: 11am-6pm

NEWSIES

New for me:

New shoes, thank god. I was down to one pair but now find myself with FIVE pairs from which to choose. This must be what lifestyles of the rich and famous is like.

New earrings from Artworks in Edmonton, basically gold bobby pins as my friend Genevieve pointed out, which brings me to:

New bag. A gift from said Genevieve, a gorgeous linen crystal tote bag designed and made by her. She sells them online *here* and I highly suggest you take a look at them because they are simple and crisp and beautiful. Thank you G, xo.

New for you:

Little parcels ready to ship out all over the world.

Cubist clutch in Electric black. Love this black suede and ultramarine lambskin combination.

Cubist Clutch in Nude Beauty. This is absolutely my favourite version yet - I am all over mixed neutrals.

Suede fringed scarf in Ballet Beige - I have two of these available.

Diamond Clutch in lemon pebble. Once upon a time there were three of these but this is the very last one ever, poor little lemon pebble. As always, you can find everything *here*.

DIAMONDS IN THE PALM OF HER HAND

Some weeks ago I made a number of simple & supple 'diamond' leather clutches meant to sit like a slouchy jewel in the palm of one's hand. I sold some at Puces Pop and am listing the few I have left now for sale. See here for details.



Also!! I want to update and change some styles, specifically the Cubist Clutch (see below) and so I'm clearing out the pieces I have in stock now (not made-to-order items) for $60 each. I'm going to bump the price back up again in two weeks, so if you were looking for a cubist clutch to buy, now's a great time. Take note: I will likely not be making more of these styles once they are sold out!


OK! Talk soon.

A CLUTCH OF CLUTCHES

Long time coming, as usual, I finally added my new mixed-leather clutches to the shop this weekend. We actually had some sunny weather (for a change) so I was able to take photos on beautiful Saturday afternoon between bouts of book-reading and wine-sipping on the back balcony. All this after a perfect morning spent with Genevieve eating dim sum and wandering down to Reborn in old Montreal to ogle Arielle de Pinto jewels. Just a wonderful day, really, I've been needing one of those.

Anywayyyyy....

I added 7 new cubist pouches to the shop, which you can view *here*. They are all made with favourite bits of leather I've been hoarding over the months and years, and all lined in a natural-coloured organic linen. My favourite-of-the-moment is the Pebble Pink which I am tempted to keep for myself, though I suppose I can always make another should I decide I need to.

Though  I have enough leather to recreate some of these (the Pebble Pink for example) others are one of a kind. Please get in touch if you have questions!

~Evening Grey~
 
~Pebble Pink~

~Lamb's Ear~

~Midnight~

~Neapolitan Cream~

~Whiskey & Water~

~Smokey Sage~

CHANGE OF SCENERY

I took a little break from Fall design early this week to play around with some fun(er) projects. I needed a rest from tedious drafting and sampling and decided to make! creative! work! immediately!
I plan to take some better photos this weekend, but for now here's a glimpse of my latest. I hope to add a number of hand-dyed linen scarves and Springy leather pouches to the shop next week - time to add a little colour & pattern to my life.

OLD FRIENDS

Hey, remember this guy? He sat in my shop for a grand total of 30 hours before going on a little adventure and only now is he back in my hands and happily lounging in Etsy-land.

This is what he looks like when I wear him, happily resting on my shoulder as we get to know one another again. See how I'm growing out my hair and it looks like there's a rug on the back of my neck? Well, that's fun too.

Here's what he looks like from the front and the back, just a nice little bag with a good attitude and a sense of purpose, what a fella.

Do you want him for your own? Send me an email, maybe I'll give you a 20% discount code, maybe I'm just feeling generous today. Maybe you need a good, reliable bag in your life. Maybe this is the one for you, I dunno, but *here's* where to find him just in case.

LAZY FRIDAY POST

I've finally uploaded a new scarf to the shop - one which I made a couple weeks ago and have been keeping all to myself. I'm not usually a hoarder of my own pieces, but after visiting my leather guy and finding this perfect green/gold suede I had-ta-have it. There are certain colours I just adore and this musty-golden-olive is one of my top colours, second only to my number one favourite which I've affectionately dubbed "baby poop". I know, I know, I'm doing a really good job of selling it, right? No kidding though, find me the perfect faded green/brown and I'm in heaven.

I have a complicated relationship with colour.

And I'm rambling.

Anyway, here are a couple more pics of this favourite scarf, and a *link* too if you want to check it out further. Happy weekend!

IT'S UP

Hand-Slashed, Genuine Black Leather Pencil Skirt. Find it here!

COMING THIS WEEK

Stay tuned this week as I post a few new items in my shop, including this hand-cut leather skirt you may remember from way back when. I finally found the time to perfect a few details and am feeling ready to make it available to anyone interested. I'll be taking proper photos tomorrow, with listings going up (hopefully) no later than Thursday. I'll keep you posted.



Happy I finally got a chance to show off one of my very favourite paintings too; my Nana bought this fox on a trip to London many years ago and gifted me with it when I moved to Montreal. It's ghostly visage haunted me throughout childhood but it now feels like my familiar, watching over me as I work.

For me the fox head has become a personal talisman of sorts, something I cherish and feel protected by. I wear my Pyrrha fox head ring, or the bronze amulet my sister gave me for my 30th birthday everyday: