My cheap little necklace is a bit of a star.

Months and months ago I bought this crafty necklace for about $9 at Forever 21. Shopping at Forever 21 is always in the moderate - high zone of painful for me. So much snottiness! and so little fabric! Certainly not enough fabric to cover my important places. But I can deal with their jewelry selection.

Anyway, I've really enjoyed this little necklace, and I was happy to see a similar sort of spirit on the cover of British Vogue during the summer, no doubt an inspiration for my piece:

Then - then! - just last week I spotted the exact, down to the very same bead, necklace on Anthropologie's site. For $48.50. Getting a deal is so satisfying, especially on something that I really like. The end!

Something to keep you warm til I get my shit together.

I'm still trying to get back to some sort of normal schedule, what with my new job and side projects taking over. But I think I can actually see the end of the tunnel!

In the meantime, how awesome are the Fall 08 Virginia Johnson scarves? Answer: very.

Owls = wonderful
Peonies = beautiful
Elephants = best

All made from Merino wool and love, I'm sure.
I'll be back soon, promise!

One thing that's kept me so busy.

Yeah, okay, so I've been really busy. But I'm sort of settling back into things now. I've got a new job working with an amazing commercial/editorial photographer, and I've been working on a number of projects over the past month.

Here's one of the many projects: our submission to the Toronto Film Challenge. The challenge this go-around was to create a horror film in 24 hours (from start to finish). We also had to incorporate a phrase ("Welcome Back"), a prop (the jar of horror) and a theme (suspense).

While some of the other submissions were of very high quality, not many groups actually tried to make a scary movie. Most made satires of cliche horror films. So we were doubly proud of ours. Here's our effort!

We've also just received a grant to continue working on a theatre project, and will likely be contributing a theatre/film piece to a festival this summer. It's such a relief when hard work pays off a bit.

But more importantly, I need advice. Which pair of shoes would win, if they were in some sort of eternal battle?





I like the snaziness of the first pair, and I like their asymmetrical front profile, but I also really like the simplicity of pair 2. Both are campers, which mean they're the most comfortable things ever. Please advise.

Flight Paths.

" Every flight path of a sparrow or movement of an ant over a tuft of ground is a message. It is a sign - it needs interpretation."

- Tom McCarthy

I would interpret this as being - despite my aversion to Tory Burch stuff in general - really very charming. The bow isn't too high, you wouldn't need to search around for a camisole (I hate having to buy shirts that require the buying of another shirt), and there are tiny birds sitting on wires. Tiny birds sitting on wires!

A few good Spanish things on this lovely Friday.

Oh, I've been meaning to share this for a while, but I've been forgetful. I came upon this new project for Plaza del Torico in Teruel Spain by b720 Arquitectos in Architectural Record. The architects embedded the plaza with LEDs, and I think that the outcome truly enlivens the historical plaza, modernizing it without obscuring its original charm. Spain seems to understand whimsy in architecture; they are less serious about the art of building. And though I've only been there once, the modern architecture made each city and town feel fun, and like an adventure. I love adventures!


I've also started reading this book, which I bought a few years ago and have just gotten around to. The thing is, it's really heavy, but it's so good that I have to carry it around with me everywhere. I am including it as part of my fitness plan.

Robert Hughes is an acclaimed art writer, and this tome is critical, contextual and personal. It's also very beautiful; the book is sprinkled throughout with wonderfully reproduced colour images.

And also, if I were going to spend $300 on shoes right now, which I can assure you that I'm not, but if I were, I think I'd get these Chie Mihara sweets. I love heels, but I walk a lot and don't have many shoes that are practical with just a hint o' heel. These would be perfect. And I love love the colour. And the soles are rubberized.



This afternoon I'll be trekking to the National Ballet School (which is a block away) to look in their shop with Sarah. We will discuss Why Ballet Clothing Is Always Awesome And Desirable. She may buy a sweater.

Sewing Projects.

My mother has graciously lent me her old sewing machine, which I think was born before I was. And although it's finicky, it's been great to be able to try things out and practice.

(Here she is, with some sweet tomatoes from St. Lawrence Market that I ate that night).

I decided not to use commercial patterns, even though I've only ever made 2 items of clothing before. I made my own pattern using old dresses I've got. I learned a lot about what not to do, and I now understand that I should go back to using patterns and take a course in pattern making. I mean, the dresses worked out, but there are some biggie mistakes that will affect how I wear them. But all in all, I'm pretty happy with them considering that they're only my third and fourth sewing projects ever.

Here's the first dress: a taupe linen dress with a trim of brown rosettes. It's actually quite elegant and will look nice under a suit jacket. You'll also notice one of my newest companions, the Diana toy camera. I've been experimenting with it over the last few weeks and I really like it.




Here's dress number two: it's the same basic shape, although it's better built. It's navy, yellow and ivory, with a navy velvet trim. I'm quite pleased with it.



And in other news, Chris and I were wandering a few weeks ago and we happened upon Ministry of the Interior, a fantastic design store on Ossington. We went in because we'd seen that they have these amazing ceramic phonofones made by Tristan Zimmermann that we read about. They're meant to house your ipod buds, and the phonofone amplifies the sound like a speaker. It's absolutely beautiful and we want one really really bad. They're $500-550 and available in white and black, but I feel that the white is way better.



We also enjoyed these Banks In The Form Of Pigs, designed by Harry Allen. They're between $100-250 (I think).
But! We also discovered that they sell the Forget Me Knot rings that I wrote about a few weeks ago, and even though it was Chris' birthday, he bought the sweet ring for me and I just love it. Here's what it looks like:

Also, I told my mother that I painted my nails black and she told me she was grossed out. Aw, mom.

Fall Shoes.

I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted with some of my fall shoes, and I thought I'd share some of my loves.

Here's a pair that I acquired thanks to my mother, who plucked them up after they were discarded from a photo shoot. I've realized that I have all sorts of colourful shoes with baubles and designs on them, but I haven't had a pair of simple black heels, so these are a welcome addition.


These make every outfit look cooler, and they make me walk all sexy-like just based on where the heel is placed. It's hard to explain.


The most comfortable and awesome 3.5 inch heels ever.


Blue patent jazz shoes. Why not?

And here are some beads I may sport with the heels.

I've been sewing away and have made 2 lovely but poorly constructed dresses, which I'll post when Chris gets home and takes pictures of me.

I made a top.

Here's my 4-hour top! I'm pretty happy with it. The fabric was on a pseudo-Missoni-fabric rack, and I think I'm going to name the top Miphony. Here's me wearing it and swirling in the park, just before a delicious 100% deep-fried dinner at Oyster Boy:



That evening was followed by Sarah #2's colourful wedding. She wore three outfits (!) with unbelievable jewelry, but I had forgotten my camera. Sarah told me that it's traditional for the groom's mother to give the bride a gift of 11 full outfits, and she had boxes and boxes of the most elaborate earrings and necklaces to choose from for the event. She also spent 10 hours waiting for her hands and feet to dry after the mendhi, and her hands looked remarkable - especially when you'd catch a glimpse of her from afar. She looked like a carved doll:

I should note that their wedding bands were made with wood from an olive tree. Very unique, as you can see from the photo.

But I have to admit that my favourite thing about the wedding was the poutine station, complete with different fries to choose from, duck and beef, cheeses and gravies. I don't think anything says eternal happiness like poutine.

To the mendhi!

The mendhi on Saturday was a big party, with one of the highlights definitely being the half-English/half-Urdu rendition of "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You". There were beautiful saris everywhere, and some of the most astounding earrings I've ever seen. And I tried hookah for the first time. I think it was apple-flavoured.

Here's what I wore. Pretty subdued compared to the saris. And much shorter.


Tomorrow I'm going to try making a sweater for myself. Wish me luck!

Blouse: Second-hand, Sweater: Tristan, Skirt: Mendocino, Shoes: Taryn

Morning sickness.

Um, I went to the J Crew website this morning, just on a whim, and the colours! The charm! So beautiful. It gave me a hot stomach, and first thing in the morning!

Here are some beautiful looks from their website. There's a lot more there, but I had to be selective.

I'm still really happy that we don't have J Crew and Anthropologie in Canada. It keeps these stores special for me, even though they're everywhere in the States.

Also, I went to brunch this morning with some very fine ladies, and Lisa was wearing a particularly fine dress from Anthropologie, which was a surprise from her charming husband. I have such beautiful friends.