F.Z.B.

I'd like to introduce Frances Zuzu Biesinger, born early the morning of July 26th. We are in love and blissfully living in the baby vortex. Today we will take our first walk.

AROUND HERE

It's pretty quiet around here right now, the calm before the storm, but very soon things will be very different.

In March I moved my studio out of the house and into a shared workspace in Mile End. In part I needed a change of scenery, which has indeed been lovely, but the big reason for the move was that we needed more space at home. You see, in early December I learned I was pregnant with my first bebe.

And so these past few months we've been preparing and adapting our lives to include a new tiny human, just as my body has been adapting and preparing to grow a new life. I've felt really good throughout, physically well and just generally positive despite life turning into, as my friend Sarah put it, "one big nap." I'm incredibly mellow these days, which is lovely considering all will likely descend into chaos before the summer's gone.

Work has taken a hit, as you may have noticed. I'm taking a little break from seasonal collections, and have just shut down any made-to-order items in my online shop. Starting this week I'll no longer be heading to the studio everyday, ergo I can fill these last two weeks of lazy abandon with food & friends, picnics & parties, sleeping all day, three baths per afternoon, shopping & reading & aimless self-contemplation.

And then we will see what the future holds.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been so kind and supportive over the past months. To the lovely ladies of Montreal who hosted a nautical-themed baby shower a few weeks ago (of which I only managed to take photos of the food 'cause, you know, priorities), to friends and family from all over who have offered love & support & advice. And thank you to all who have sent gifts in the post, we are lucky to know such generous individuals. Thank you everyone.

SUMMER SILKS

I'm wearing my clothing loose and minimal this Summer - a perfect excuse to use up some of the luxurious silk prints I've been hoarding in my collection. Two styles I'll be shipping off to Victoire this morning include the 'Molly' dress, a totally reversible style in 100% silk, and the 'Maggie' tank a semi-sheer silk/cotton blend with a metallic all-over print. I'm slowly building up my Summer uniform.

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.

DARK HORSES

I'm so excited to announce that I'll be participating in the inaugural edition of DARK HORSES, a fantastic sale/event happening in Old Montreal this Friday. Organized by friends and fellow designers Genevieve Savard and Agathe Bodineau (of Lalayeah), DARK HORSES gathers together some of Montreal's most exciting emerging designers for a one-day designer's sale that will be open to the public. Following the sale is a DJ event & dance party with bar service - woo-hoo. 

I think this event has a fantastic line up and I love the work of all the designers that are participating. I am honestly worried that I will just end up shopping myself. If you're nearby in Ottawa, Toronto or Quebec and have been looking for an excuse to come to Montreal, this is a good one. 

Please come out and support some emerging talent, we'd all love to see you there. 

MORE STYLES! MORE STYLES!

{Saturn Dress in Slate Green}

I've FINALLY had a chance to take photos of the Saturn Dress, Eshe Top and Victorine Blouse in other colourways with the help of my beautiful friend Yana who agreed to model for me this week. As of today these items will all be uploaded to the shop, both *big cartel* & *etsy*, but quantities are limited and once these styles are gone I will not be making more this season.

Thanks so much to Yana - I couldn't have done it without her. Make sure to check out her insanely cute clothing for kiddies and ladies *here* too - her line Supayana is adorable and so is she.

{Eshe Top in Black}

{Victorine Blouse in Cream}

{Eshe Top in Slate Green}

{Victorine Blouse in Black}

{Saturn Dress in Mauve Smoke}

{Bamboo Jersey Tabard in Black}

And coming soon to the shop, because you asked for it, more diamond clutches with an attached wrist-strap. 

URSA MINOR + POUR PORTER

I recently sent some A/W pieces out to Noel & Brannan's gorgeously curated online shop, Pour Porter. Their styling and photography are fantastic and their new lookbook (which you can view *here*) is fun & wonderful. In addition to pieces from the standard collection, I also worked with Noel to make some special edition Cubist Clutches especially for their shop. Snap up the sage/caramel version while you can as the cognac/rust clutch has already sold out. I just love browsing through all the talented designers they so excellently represent.

{All photos courtesy of Pour Porter}

BOUTIQUE UNICORN

Spied on my way to dinner with a friend last night: Ursa Minor 'Saturn' dress in mauve-smoke featured in this lovely window display at Boutique Unicorn. Other styles available at their Montreal shop include the Eshe Top in black, mauve-smoke and slate-green, and the Victorine blouse in both black & grey.

NEW TO THE SHOP

{Eshe Blouse in smoky mauve}

{Saturn Dress in Black}

The Eshe Blouse and Saturn Dress have officially been added to both the *shop* and *etsy*. In addition to being sold online, these styles are now available at Victoire in Ottawa, Robber in Toronto and Unicorn Boutique here in Montreal, with more shops to follow.

The fabric is a 55% Silk / 45% linen blend with a unique ribbed texture which wears beautifully. The Eshe blouse features vintage brass buttons while the Saturn dress is fully lined and has a sheer silk georgette panel at back bodice.

I will also be adding additional colours of these styles next week (just as soon as my model gets home from her trip to NY!) 

Questions? Send me an email!

OLD FRIENDS

Spending time today looking through old sketchbooks. Perhaps one day I'll draw again.....

ps. what is is about those Gallic dudes who look like they've been punched in the face one too many times... ooh, ooh Belmondo ♥♥

COMING NEXT WEEK...

New Eshe Blouses and Saturn Dresses will be hitting the online shop next week. Both pieces are made of a gorgeous ribbed silk/linen blend of which I am much enamoured. The fabric has an amazing lightness/crispness/flow. Check back Tuesday for details and, in the meantime, enjoy your (Canadian) Thanksgiving this weekend!

VICTORINE WILL BE OURS

My favourite oxford with a twist, the Victorine Blouse will be available in both online shops starting tomorrow. Pictured here in a soft dove grey (though also available in black and cream), this top is made from a nubbly raw silk - lovely and breathable but naturally warm for the coming winter. Look for it tomorrow in the shop and on etsy....

SAMPLE PARTY

I'm going to be selling a ton of samples at Puces Pop this weekend. Most of these are one-offs, many I no longer have patterns for - that means if you see something you like you should snap it up. Sorry for the crummy photos - I am incapable of photographing dark clothing it turns out.

I made this linen dress for my trip to Paris with my sister a couple years ago. I think I wore it once, the day we went shopping at Printemps, and it's been sitting on my sample shelf since.




Aysmmetrical draped top in silk habotai.


Hand-dyed crinkle linen scarf.

Another sample dress I made for myself, intended to rework, and rediscovered two years later.

Come visit this weekend!

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