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.

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. 

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!

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 

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

ENDOR SKIRT

I've just added the 'Endor' Skirt to both *the shop* and *etsy*. New for Fall, this skirt is a curve-hugging mini made of organic cotton stretch twill, leather & suede. Personally I love this piece as at a glance it's such an easy basic, but deceptively complex on closer inspection. The fact that it has some stretch is nice too. I see myself wearing it a lot this winter with wool tights and just a white tee-shirt and black crew-neck sweater thrown on over top. Edgy, preppy, sexy, comfy - done.

Check it out online for more info. 

All photos by Francesca Tallone, www.patternclash.com

IT'S A SALE!

Fall 2012 styles should be arriving in the shop in early/mid September which means it's that time - time to clear out old pieces to make room for new. Starting today all remaining styles from S/S 2012 are 40% off with the code: summerlove. This sale is available exclusively in the Online Shop, http://ursaminorstudio.bigcartel.com/, and only on S/S merchandise.

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*.

OUTTAKES

I finally shot the Ursa Minor F/W collection this past weekend with photographer extraordinaire Francesca Tallone and our beautiful model Vanessa Vick. I'm so happy we pulled it all together - things were looking iffy for a couple days there at the end. Collection photos won't be up for some time but I did shoot some behind-the-scenes shots should you want a little preview. Thank you so, so much to Francesca, Vanessa, friends Steve Wiseman & Jody Zinner who graciously let us shoot at their apartment, and to R for shuttling me to & fro and generally putting up with me for the past two weeks (and ten years.) And now I'm getting sushi takeout and watching cop dramas in bed for the remainder of the weekend.