Thanksgiving Light

Had a lovely weekend - filled with family & friends.
We also had some crazy warm weather for this time of year.
I actually had to go looking for a pair of sandals in the back of my closet.
Some pretty afternoon light inspired me to grab my camera for the above.

Thinking of one my dearest friends right now.

Good and British

Things that make me feel good...


1. A copy of British Harper's Bazaar, simple and ethereal with Ms. Moss on the cover. The cover is gorgeous and just what I needed after my earlier rant about no art on modern day magazines.
See the conversation argued intelligently on Escapade.
2. Beautiful golden Royal postage on a special anniversary gift package from the U.K.
I like that the British post is termed "Royal Mail." Instant coolness.
3. The special gift! A silkscreening graphic map of London from Bold and Noble.
Thanks Ms. Lovely!

Mail Out

I really am lucky to be able to mail out lovely things to lovely friends.
Stamps from here and here!

A Gifting Weekend

Had a lovely weekend, filled with birthdays and good conversation.
Here are some images of what went out. Hand-wrapped gifts with hand-printed cards.
The designs are mine and I printed them during a silk-screening workshop I've been doing for the last little bit. I love the contrast of the subdued feather versus the electricity of the pink image. It's also funny what a difference paper makes. I printed the feather on antique grey poster paper and the pink image is on white velvet stock. These are the small, nice details of silk-screening!

Blast from the Past

I found this vintage address book in an overcrowded store in the east end of town.
I picked it up for one of my friends who loves all-things-old.
It was mainly unused, with only a few addresses throughout.
After closer inspection I saw that the entries dated back to before there were postal codes in Toronto.
Then we found an address that looked like a military address in France.
It read, "Capt. Harold Orr."
My friend sent me this link later that night.
It talks about a man named Harold Orr, his family, his love of skating and even how he taught his "little dog to sit on a chair with spectacles on and a pipe in his mouth."

I have no idea if this is the same man but I am fascinated either way.
It was kind of crazy to hold something so personal and ordinary to someone from what now seems like a completely different world.

London By Day & Night

A paper profile of London.
Sent to me by my favourite Londoner.
Interesting what a little bit of light can do to a photo.

Lovely Afternoon

Had a wonderful afternoon with my best friend.
We chatted. We laughed. Talked about getting older. Talked about food and family and life and careers. Had some herbal teas.  And ran out of time before we knew it. I loved it. I love her.

I also find Sophie Van de Perre's work pretty lovely.

Through Heart Shaped Glasses

Sometimes you just need a little motivation.

I am not feeling great today. Our plans for our day off today was to paint the living room white (it's currently pink) and we're pretty done with it. So that's the plan but I am not feeling great today... so I am determined to change up my mood even if it's just through saying to myself that I want to feel more motivated. Plus, I have a phone date with a lovely friend that lives in England. I'm exciting to catch up with her... So I should start feeling better .... right ... about ... now... GO!

Inspiring fashion image found here.

Elegant Things

A virtual bouquet for a darling friend.
She's flying home today and I hope she'll get back safe.
There's karaoke to be had!

Happy Birthday Lady Jones.



Top image.
Photo by Natasha Bardin.

Christmas Things!

Some special things from Christmas.

The little box was filled with homemade shortbread from a special friend.

The rest of the images are of my new typewriter and Suite Henry stamps!

My husband sure knows how to make me happy. He's too clever and sneaky! I had hinted at the typewriter and actually almost bought a new one online but he found this beauty at a thrift store.

I loooove typewriters. Their sounds, their looks and the type they produce. This one is from the seventies apparently. The stamps completely surprised me. I could never have guessed he would think of getting me them. They're going to be so useful and fun!

Good times ahead! 

Handmade Gifting

Sometimes it takes an event to get inspired.
I put this gift together for one of my closest friends.
It was very nice to have a good reason to get my hands stained with ink.
I found a beautiful saffron scarf and printed it up.
I was pretty happy with the results. My humble little sketches looked kind of cool as a pattern.
I stamped the cards, scribbled down how great she is, and wrapped it all up with indigo twine.

Special Things

Things that I am in love with this morning:

1. late night drinks with friends

2. the sunshine pouring in my window (even if it's Monday!)

3. this colourful and wonderful photograph

4. Happy Birthday Ms. B!

Photograph by Natasha Bardin.

Daily Snippets

That letter I sat down to write got written and what's even better is that I actually got it to the post office on the same day! It was satisfying. I never get letters in on the same day as I write. This was a feat but I had to get go to a proper outlet because I needed the correct postage for it (it's going overseas). I couldn't be lazy and just drop in a post box. I used some hand silk-screened letterhead I made last month and was really pleased to be able to send it to my friend.
The above image is a vintage photo another friend found.
I'm pretty fond of it.
It makes me smile while I do the dishes.

Real Glamour

I was lucky to stand in awe in front of Marilyn and the beginnings of Audrey... Oh my!
Both are the work of Robert Scott Chiarella.

Halloween Evening Bliss

We've been fashionable zombies.

Tina and Ike.

This year we were French. 

Stereotypical baguette-carrying, beret-wearing, scarf-tying, moustache-sporting Frenchies. 

Luckily, we had a glamourous little spot to drop into.

We went way west to Parkdale and hung out with our lovely group at a newly renovated space that was filled with beautiful art and wonderful conversation. 

Happy Halloween indeed!

Tiny Book. Big Advice.

"Art is a hard mistress, and there is no art quite so hard as that of being a wife."

One of my beautiful friends recently gifted me with this lovely little book.
She knows I have a penchant for vintage-y things and how much I love to read about culture and etiquette. I'm two thirds of the way through Emily Post's tome! My friend also knows that I am a new wife. Published in 1913 and written by Blanche Ebbutt, Don'ts For Wives is filled with tid-bits and advice for how to be the best wife you can be. Some of the teachings are a little dated (it was 1913 afterall) but some of the messages have no expiry date.
My favourite?
"Don't nag your husband. if he won't carry out your wishes for love of you, he certainly won't  because you nag him." It's true! (Even if my inner nag tells me otherwise)
 And it's advice not exclusive for a wife.
A husband would do well to follow it too...  as far as I am concerned ;)

Badge Your Bud

I want.

Found here.

Important things

I sent this note to my best friend. 

She had put me down as a reference on her Big Sister application. 

It was easy to write because she's an amazing woman and an even better friend.

I think it's really important to tell people that they are not jerks. 

And that they don't suck. 

Original letterpress note by Suite Henry at bookhou.

Greetings from England

The only thing better than getting a hand-written note from your farthest-away close friend...

Is when she happens to include a super-cute-cat-tea-towel from her weekend in Sweden.

She's pretty great, I know. 

Lady Mail.

I advocate giving good friends good nicknames.

I also advocate sending them mail.