WILDTHING

Bodice as tribal mask? Why not.

Sometimes I want to make art again.

SUCKER FOR PUNISHMENT

.....'Cause who wouldn't want to sew a bodice with 34 pattern pieces??

For anyone who knows what I'm talking about, this is a very good example of 'minding your notches'.

MORE PHOTOS OF THINGS THAT ARE EXCITING ONLY TO ME

I bought some fabric last week. I'd kindof been hemming and hawing over the decision since before Christmas but I was feeling in high spirits this past Friday and decided to just go ahead and do it. Not quite an impulse buy then....right?

Anyway, the fabric arrived this week and I now have these two beautiful bolts sitting in my studio just waiting for a finished pattern. On the left is a beeeeeeautiful Italian wool/cotton blend I fell in love with the moment I saw. The right is a Spanish knit that has the feel and appearance of angora sheepskin....gorgeous.

Both will become coats for my Fall 2011 collection, I'm so excited.

SUEDE, SUEDE, LEATHER, SUEDE ETC.

Leather is quickly becoming my favorite material to work with. It's so forgiving, and inspiring, and interesting to play around with. Before I know it I'll have a whole new wardrobe filled entirely with leather garments - which is going to suck during hot Montreal summers.

Why did it take me so long to embrace the beauty of this fantastic material? It's all I want in life.

So, yeah, I went leather shopping yesterday and (in addition to a heavy black cowhide for Fall samples) came away with two beautiful new suede skins, a dark, desaturated indigo and a pale, muted blue-grey. I simply couldn't pass them up. Then in the afternoon I cut scarves, one of my favorite things to do because it takes a lot of time, but not a lot of thought, leaving me free to watch Top Chef while I work (oh, the hardships of the self-employed).

I've just added the finished pieces to Etsy too, how's THAT for fast fashion?

That's all for today.

THE LAST TABARD

Ok! I've just posted my very last wool tabard up on Etsy. This one is made from a different wool than the previous grey and navy versions. This fabric is a slightly finer weave with a smoother texture and it's darker in colour too, more of a charcoal grey. The fabric falls slightly heavier as well so the drape is marginally different.

Like I said, this is the last tabard of the season, though I still hope to make some up in silk for Spring. If you just happened to want a grey wool one though, now is your *last* chance.

....AND I'M BACK!

Better late than never, right?

So basically this is what happened...Puces Pop was good, busy, crazy, then I hopped a plane back home to visit with family and friends for the holidays. Ate endlessly, saw only about half the people I'd hoped to, and discovered a distinct fondness for boggle - seriously, what an awesome game. Hopped a red-eye back to "new" home, walked in the door and collapsed for two days. Ate a lot and bought a leopard skin coat. Accidentally slept through New Year's eve and missed the party I'd planned on going to. Also missed the chance to show off my new coat. Watched the new Star Trek movie and slowly worked my way through the Judd Apatow repertoire. Re-read Lord of the Rings (in progress). Generally flexed my nerd muscle.

Then, this past Monday, I got back to work. Cleaned up the studio and made some calls. Organized my patterns, sent off some packages and started thinking about all the stuff I have to do, which in turn kept me up all night. But now I'm starting to feel in the swing of things again and the next two days are going to be fantastically productive, so I tell myself.

Anyway, I just posted a couple more items on etsy today: two scarves, a bag and a pair of special order gloves. I'm also hoping to post my very last tabard online later this evening - It's like I'm actually working!! So if you're looking for a little diversion tonight, go check out my shop, because your diversion is my livelihood, which keeps me from slacking, and that's what makes the world go round, or something.

Suede Fringed Scarves, $40 each (I want to make more of these so if you have a special request by all means let me know)

Calfskin Bucket Tote Sample, $65

PUCES

I'm gonna be here, it's true. Working on finishing up some pieces today and tomorrow for the event.

Here's the deets:

What: Puces Pop Winter arts and crafts fair
When: December 18 & 19 (that's this Saturday and Sunday), 11am-6pm
Where: St-Enfant Jesus church, 5039 St Dominique (That's right at St Dominique and St Joseph)

Please stop by and support independent artists and designers. Numerous amazing holiday gifts (and the sorts of gifts one likes to give themselves) are to be found.

TABARD REVISITED

I just posted my last two navy blue wool Tabard Cardis on Etsy. The photos I took are just horrible quality (I'm too lazy to take them again) but the garments themselves are beautiful. After this I have absolutely no more of this gorgeous Japanese fabric . Get 'em while you can.

SHEARLING GLOVES

I've just added some shearling sheepskin fingerless gloves to my Etsy. They're 100% lamb shearling with thick black zippers up the side for easy access. Perfect now that *surprise* it's suddenly winter in Montreal. They're $40 a pair and, oh I dunno, would maybe make a nice little Christmas gift for someone. Please visit my shop for more details.

SMART DESIGN MART KINDA PARTY

Smart Design Mart, a fantastic curated sale of local designers, artists and vintage collectors has come and gone. I had the pleasure of spending this past weekend (my birthday weekend!) amongst a group of truly talented peers and I feel really pleased to have stepped out of my comfort zone and participated in this event. Here are my favorite things about Smart Mart:

1) Having an excuse to build furniture, including my log garment rack, branch chandelier, and a table made out of an old window I found on the street. Where will I find the time to begin my new industrial design career I wonder?

2) Having an excuse to wear something other than the leather leggings and black sweater that I wear EVERY DAY when I work from home. Oh, and also to put on makeup and perfume and wash my hair. Oh....except I'm basically wearing a black sweater and leather leggings in the next photo.....um, just imagine how good I smell.

3) To be grouped amongst such talented individuals and have a chance to expand my knowledge of what people in Montreal are making. I've reached this point in my life where most of my close friends are, or are approaching, being self-employed full time and I LOVE! the chance to talk with people who live off their skills and find a way to make it work. Building those relationships is integral to any sort of happiness or success and I really enjoyed meeting more people with whom I can communicate about business, creativity and the like.

4) To be surrounded by best friends and new friends I can't wait to get to know better. I was lucky to be placed between my main girl, Genevieve Savard, and the super talented Audrey Cantwell (the sweetest girl you'll ever meet). I also loved having a chance to visit with Katie and Regine from Victoire (and I even got to hold Eloise(!)) as well as a wealth of other just seriously awesome people.


Pretty Genevieve. Go check out her blog here for more photos of the weekend. And then go buy something from her online shop, she does fantastic work.

Delightful Audrey Cantwell. I'm so pleased to have met and befriended her after so long coveting her work from afar.

Lovely Regine, one half of Ottawa's very best shop, Victoire. I wish I had a photo of her business Partner Katie as well, but I'll just have to make a point of having a Katie photoshoot next time I see her. These are two of the greatest women you'll ever meet.

5) Seeing old friends and meeting new people. It's such a pleasure to have strangers come up to your booth and tell you they like what you're making. I met a lot of people that I really hope I'm able to share future conversations with. I loved being able to talk about my process with people who are interested in that sort of thing, and also to talk about my business with people who are interested in that sort of thing. And the stylists! I'm happy just to look at them.

6) Buying things!!!! And though I was very restrained this time around, I did pick up a little something for my littlest girl. Loyal Luxe was selling these cardboard cat teepees and chalets and, what can I say? I'm a sucker for baby gifts. My baby just happens to be particularly furry. As soon as we brought it home she jumped on the box (they must put catnip in this shit) and she's barely budged from her perch inside it since. Behold Cleo's ghostly visage in the photo below, have you ever seen something so cute?

Anyone who wants a cat teepee for Christmas let me know, I'll try and bring one home for you. I'm hoping Loyal Luxe will also be at Puces Pop in two weeks which, oh yeah, I will be too!

Thanks again so much to everyone who spent so much time organizing, participating in and visiting this event. These are the sorts of things that make for a truly special community.