little bitty girl

So much for trying to post more often. I just cannot get into the swing of posting regularly. I think one of the reasons for my writer's block is simply because for the longest time, I refused to blog about anything relating to work. Which makes it very hard since I am a workaholic and many of my really interesting moments happen during work or while I am thinking about work. I had mentioned this dilemma to Lisa S, who was convinced that somehow I would find a way.

And so here I am, finding my way.

I was in New York this past month attending the ICFF. I don't know what it is but I just love going to exhibition shows. There's a certain energy and buzz about attending ones that have interesting products and ideas that you just can't get from reading a magazine or blog. It also has to do with being in NY itself.

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Posted in Coveting, Delectable Design, Furniture

I've been meaning to start this category for quite awhile now but have not had much time. A small selection of my friends used to get an email weekly of random links. Usually, they consisted of miscellaneous things that I would covet (definition: to wish for longingly) or thought that they were items that they would also find appealing. It was time to finally post this because, frankly, my bookmarks were getting a little ridiculous.

These are just a smattering of things that have caught my eye in the past little while...

1. I bought one of these flasks by Shinzi Katoh for Marie for Christmas. Check out the rest of this designer's products. If I could, I would seriously buy almost every single thing they have listed on the site.

2. I feel like every year, I ask the hubby for one of Abigail's gorgeous works. I think the hubby refuses to get me any more jewelry as he's always putting them away. I have the very bad habit of just taking off my jewelry and leaving them where I took them off. But I'm thinking, if I ask VERY publicly, he'll actually get it for me...

3. I don't know what it is about these cute, random people by Meredith Dittman that captivates me. But captivate me they do.

4. Toronto Life magazine had a great issue about design in Toronto. Coe & Waito was one of the featured designers. You know my bird love, there's something about the clean line of the bowl with the one quirky print that gets me.

5. This was actually one of the things I wanted to get for Marie for her shelf from one of my all time favourite shops. But it feels like every box I send her, there's some sort of bird thing and I didn't want her to think I was completely cuckcoo (even though I probably am).

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Posted in Coveting, Delectable Design

So I saw this on Design Sponge the other day and thought it was so hilarious. It's basically a bunch of pictures showing what they consider the worst European interiors of 1974. I simply had to share my personal favourites.

Can you imagine having an entirely green kitchen? As if you would get a car that matched your kitchen. Even better yet, what is a barn doing at the end of that kitchen.

I can't get over the carpeted bathrooms. And the colours and the prints! Even the nude, sexy girl could not inspire any good thoughts on the design.

I wonder when we look back (or when our kids look back) at our homes, whether we'll feel like cringing, the way I do when I look at these?

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Posted in Delectable Design

I asked Stefan for worms last night.

Bet he's never heard that request from me before. Usually it's the usual random stuff: a cottage, a new designer bag, a table that we don't need, a cute playhouse for Mindy, duck to cook etc.

But last night, I really wanted worms.

This is why.

Toronto has pickup for organic waste. Except for our place because it classifies as a commercial space. Which, in some ways, is ridiculous because people still make organic waste in office spaces. What about restaurants? Why are they not required to have green bins?

But really this is not about a city issue. It's a "me" issue. I just hate that all our organic waste goes into a landfill. Worst yet, I hate that our garbage smells until we throw it out. (I also refuse to throw out garbage until the bag is full or really stinky). And there doesn't seem to be any solution (at least a convenient one) that allows us to compost in our place. We don't have a balcony, and we don't really have plants (hello? Me, the person who kills cacti?)

I've looked into Bokashi, a very cool system that uses microorganisms to break down kitchen waste. Except you also need some big hole in the ground to bury it in for it to really work. I could technically try to freeze our kitchen scraps and use someone else's green box, but let's be realistic. I won't even go to an expensive gym I've signed up for if it's 5 minutes out of my way.

So it seems the best alternative could be worms. I could give the worm casings to Mama Kang and her urban jungle/balcony. Except why aren't there any cool worm bins? Living in a loft means everything is out in the open. It kind of needs to go with our design aesthetic. The closest alternative I found is this one, which costs $1500.

And if I bought that, then Stefan would really think I was crazy. He already thinks I am crazy enough.

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Posted in Delectable Design, This is Why

The new, very long awaited masthead is finally up. I couldn't really want to make it too "fall-ish" as it really isn't quite yet. The flowers are still blooming and the grass is still oh so green.

Yesterday, it was a humid, hot 31 C (87.8 F) here and over the weekend runners had to drop out of the Chicago marathon because it was too hot... I am not going to turn this into another rant BUT I still bump into normal, every day people who believe that global warming due to human activity is all mumbo jumbo. I just don't see how anyone can go through all these weird weather patterns and think it's normal.

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Posted in Delectable Design

....as of yet.

Some people have asked as I am usually pretty fast at putting up a "new look" for this blog. I am usually inspired by the weather but Mother Nature has been screwing up my system.

Last week it was 15 C (I had to wear a jacket at night) and today, it's a blistering 30 C, but with the smog and humidity, it feels like 40 C. I wish I could peel my skin off.

It is coming along. I saw a flower bed that totally inspired me last week. When it doubt, look to nature for inspiration as it never fails.

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Posted in Delectable Design

I had a hard time being inspired to do a winter re-design for this blog. Except, I was getting really bored of the fall one. Why haven't I been inspired?

Well, because we haven't really had a winter until now, which is a mighty scary thing in my part of the world. It just makes me so aware that something is really, really wrong with the world and we have to do something to stop it.

Anyway this isn't going to be a lecture, just random thoughts that have been bouncing round in my head. I've decided that I'm going to make an effort to live a "greener" life, be more aware and educate myself on how to do this. So in the spirit of random thoughts on this topics, here are some links -

I watched An Inconvenient Truth. If you haven't watched it yet, I highly recommend that you do. It'll change the way you think about our world (or at least I hope it'll have that effect).

Here's another really awesome site that has lots of interesting and educational info.

Even Mindy's going green! She's now using an alternative kitty litter and so far, no real complaints from princess perfinicky.

Last but not least, Louise did some great whimsical drawings of animals who are at risk. It makes you smile and sad at the same time. I love this, this, this and this, my personal favourite.

Background prints of redesign by Squidfingers.

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Posted in Delectable Design, Randomness

Man, this entry was this close to being entered under the "What's Bugging Me" category. Only because the Fall masthead and colours were done a couple of months ago. Stefan has been very busy at work and hadn't been able to do it. This has gotten me thinking that I should just learn the CSS stuff needed to do it myself. I am an independent woman, right? Hear me roar!

Although in all fairness, he does do it for free...

So, as you can see by the design, I've really been inspired by all over print. Interestingly enough, I saw a lot of it in Spring 2007 fashions as well. I am looking forward to mixing patterns and prints in my wardrobe. Other prints and patterns that I've been seeing and loving on Flickr -

Duck Egg
Printing Blocks
Window Frost
Temple of Heaven
Sweet Horse Chestnut Droop Pattern 2006

The background patterns in this design were provided by the ever talented Squidfingers.

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Posted in Delectable Design

I'm back! That didn't take long, did it? It's weird but those few days really helped clear up the verbal constipation within me.

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Posted in Delectable Design, Randomness

Sometimes having your brain twin on the other side of the country is very inconvenient. Marie and I have to schedule our phone calls around our different time differences, and debate ideas on things especially fashion and design through pictures and email.

I've been working on decorating ideas on a soon to be revealed surprise and am having a bit of a harder time having no female perspective other than my own. The boys around me are like Stef and tend to like the modern European clean look. I like to mix it up a little with quirk and vintage. Since time and money is tight, it leaves me with very little options. I can't really go antiquing or garage shopping.

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Posted in Delectable Design, Joy-Friends

I absolutely love Virginia Johnson's work. I was first introduced to her gorgeous designs by Ra, who is the purveyor of all things beautiful and cool. Virginia is a textile/fashion/homeware designer and illustrator. Her works have just the right combination of whimsy, colour and clean lines to tickle my senses.

I recently got to go to her studio to take some pictures and my hands were just itching to touch and browse through every piece. I wanted her bikinis, all her pillows, her pieces of clothing etc. (Stef! Are you paying attention? Good potential presents in case you run out of ideas) She even had her sketchbook out of inspirations and I always love being able to see into a designer's head. Her sundresses just made me think of lounging in sun drenched beaches at Ibiza or Santorini.

I was over at her studio because I was writing a designer profile piece for BlogTO. I managed to also find a recent video interview of her work process on Toronto Life. It was a really great interview and it was just amazing to hear how she went from one inspiration to create her own version of it.

I am completely inspired to re-design my site in the same clean look. I'd better confer with my other collaborators first.

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Posted in Delectable Design

Marie is usually my final decision maker on my masthead colours since we're brain twins. We like to bounce all matters of creative decisions with each other since we both share the same love of things and yet have different enough personal styles (the East Coast vs. West Coast thing) to actually provide some creative comments.

As you can see, this is the first time that I actually did all the work on my own masthead, thanks to the brilliance of Jason Gaylor's brushes. I had been making CD covers for Lisa's Music Swap and had such a fun time doing it that I decided to carry on.

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Posted in Delectable Design, Joy-Friends

Dreary, dark, cold weekend. Mother Nature sure loves messing with my head. I've been working all weekend, hosting my very first sample sale. Needless to say the weather has not been helping much with the traffic, which is such a pity as there are some seriously good things at the sale. Although some brave souls have managed to come by and did score some goodies for Spring.

Luckily, Stefan, my patient partner in crime, has been working (without pay) with me and keeping me entertained with his shenanigans. I rewarded him with his favourite fast food, Swiss Chalet last night. I didn't actually buy it for him but I consented to have it also for dinner as I had previously had my mind set on sushi. What is the fascination with Swiss Chalet and Canadians? I don't quite understand it. It also is one of the first things my brother who lives in New York wants to have when he comes home.

Found this gorgeous new blog called Patternology. Her work is so deliciously organic and feminine. I really wish some days I paid more attention in art class so that I, too, could draw.

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Posted in Delectable Design

Is graffiti art? We were having a lunch time discussion about it in school. Some people think it's defacing a property and some think that it's art.

I think it completely depends on where it is and what the context is. If it's some random tag on someone's beautiful home or store front, then it's definitely not cool. But if it's done in an area where the owner of the building is fine with it, graffiti can be a beautiful thing.

There is an alleyway near where I live that is filled with graffiti art and I love it. It takes up over 5 blocks and for me, it's an art gallery in a sense. It always changes and the colours are always so vibrant. I love that every summer, at a large parking lot near Graffiti Alley, a city group organizes a skateboarding and graffiti art showcase. It's a great way for people to understand the culture. I think it's important to have because it shows people that there are alternative ways to be creative.

I took this picture as part of my last installment of colour week. You can see the rest of the back alley gallery on my flickr account.

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Posted in Delectable Design

I was going to forgo my annual Oscar critique but some have reminded me that it simply wasn't done to turn my back on an old tradition. So here goes.

I miss the days of Cher and Bjork. Where has all the good times gone? Everyone is trying to look so chic so the effect is simply flat. Last night was the most boring Oscars to date. I went to bed after Reese's acceptance speech so that I could read a book. Oscar fashions were just as dismal, nothing but a sea of dark, dark, black, ugly, dark, dark.

Let's start with the 5 worst dressed.

Naomi Watts is one of the most beautiful women out there, why she chose a gown that was skin coloured and looked like a growth peeling off, I am not sure. Perhaps she was trying to look etheral but the effect was lost in all the tulle. Keira Knightly - I so wanted to like her, as it was her first time ever to the Oscars. Her necklace was stunning but her dress seemed very stiff and she seemed uncomfortable in it. Oh Jennifer Anniston! Why black? Why now? She just looked like she was in mourning with that sad dress and the sad necklace. Mrs. Tim Burton (Helena Bonham Carter) was an absolute nightmare in this shiny blue short number. Charlize Theron really needs to stop taking these ugly acting roles as it's really starting to rub off on her personal taste. I didn't even notice how beautiful her make-up was until this morning because I was so distracted by the giant bow. It's a pity really because she so would have been a best dressed if it wasn't for that lopsided thing on her shoulder.

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Posted in Delectable Design, Fashion Smashion, Star Gazing

I am so glad that Stefan is into design the way I am. Granted, he is more into the technical design but there is still the artistic side of him who really appreciates all forms of art. Secretly, I always feel like he's a repressed artist inside the technical monster that he is. Stefan still has all his paints from when he was in high school and Stefan's dad has all of Stefan's artwork still displayed at his home. And the thing is, he really was a good painter back in the day.

Anyway, enough about Stefan's repressed artist. He shared with me the coolest site! What an incredible body of work this is and such amazing detail to everything. I could spend hours just going through this guy's portfolio. I loved his use of mixed media, really utilizing the web to translate his views. The way he showed the logos he created and how when you hovered over the actually logo, you would see his thought process? Simply brilliant!

Ladies, click on the "reflect/respect" link and watch the video. Be prepared to be completely humbled and amazed by the message.

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Posted in Delectable Design

Woo Hoo! I am always so excited when I switch my masthead. Only because I have such a short attention span and I get so bored of things quickly. It's another downside to being in the fashion industry, I think.

Lia, Stefan and I have really gotten our masthead making down to a science.

My wonderful Lia, who says that I am the worst and best client. I can always envision what I want but I don't have the skills to execute it. That is where Lia and Stefan come in. I remember the first masthead, which was Spring last year.

"Lia, I am thinking baby pink and mint green with a girly font. Just do whatever you like" I said. She came back with something and I was happy because back then it was really simple. (For the guys who are colour blind, no this is not the same colour scheme as last year. This is coral and lime, thank you very much!)

By summer, I came up with blue and hot pink as my colours. "Think cottage and relaxing. Boats , sun and water." I thought I was being very direct and creative. She gave me three options and I was like,"Err....this is not really what I had in mind...maybe you can add this or do this....."

Then there is poor Stefan, who I've always thought was my own personal web master. I am always expecting him to tweek one thing or another and I always want it right now!! It's even worse now that we're married, because I always think that it's my God given right to demand round the clock service.

Back in the day, I would give Lia colours to work with for the masthead but Stefan would get nothing for the rest. I would say, "Just do variations of what Lia did...." and then I would make him change it because I didn't like his colour combinations.

Yes, I am an unreasonable bum! Anyway, now that we've had a bunch of seasons under our belts, I try to make things as easy for them as possible. Now, I am really specific with details - I send both my overall colour scheme (using this handy tool and Photoshop), an image that I want and just let them do whatever. After all, they both do it for free and out of love for me. (I hope!)

Thank you, Lia and Stef for doing such a great job and for always indulging me!

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Posted in Delectable Design, Joy-Friends, Stefan

Another horrid day, padding up our registry. Marie called it "bare bones" but at least we're asking for things we really need and not miscellaneous junk. I can see how people can go nuts though. That scanner thing is addictive.

I keep telling people that there is no need as I can't see anyone buying us a gift, not because we have no friends, it's because we really don't expect anything after all, WE ELOPED!

Anyways, went to my favourite store, Urban Outfitters to check out the Spring merchandise and found the PERFECT LAMPS! Stefan and I have been looking for lamps to go on the dresser that is in our living room. Our loft is really lacking in light. In the summer, everything is fine because of our large windows but there simply isn't enough light in the winter.

Stefan and I have similar but different tastes. He likes clean lines and I like to mix things up with vintage pieces. This was a great compromise, somewhat retro but not too ornate. We're quite happy with our new purchase.

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Posted in Delectable Design

I had the worst experience today registering my gifts at The Bay. Unfortunately in Canada, they are the only thing going in terms of having everything you need for the home. We had initially gone to the one on Queen Street, since they were the largest location and I felt that they would also have the best selection.

What a mistake!

The woman we encountered was so unbelievably rude to us and told both Stefan and I, that they could not accomodate us, despite the fact there were all these attendents there just making personal calls on the phone. Out of spite, we decided not to register at the store.

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Posted in Delectable Design, What's Buggin' Me

I must admit that I have been feeling less than stellar lately. I am not sure whether I can put my finger on the reason why but I think the lack of sun and warmth plays a big part in how I feel.

Tonight, I stumbled upon this little goodie. It's by Abigail Percy, a designer from Glasgow. How unbelievably delicate and beautiful. Most who know me, know that I have a huge fondness for jewelry, especially earrings. I checked out her Flickr pictures as well and was so inspired by her work.

For some reason, it just made me happier just to see really good design. I know it sounds so weird but I can't explain it. But, I thought I would at least share my new find.

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Posted in Delectable Design, Fashion Smashion