BUSY BUSY BUSY

Sorry about the total lack of posts. Mary and I are both working all the time, she at her million jobs and over-the-top homemaking (sorry Mary, but you're just so good at everything), and me as I prepare for Smart Design Mart here in Montreal.

As you can probably tell from the image above, Smart Mart is a curated showing of some very talented designers and craftspeople from in and around Montreal. It opens this Friday (my Birthday!!!) and I'm rushing like mad over the next three days to finish sewing styles, print business cards, complete the clothing rack and table I built and take a bath at some point, hopefully. I'm lucky and happy to be a part of the event but it means this week is basically a write-off for me. Hopefully if you're in town you'll stop on by Friday, Saturday or Sunday to say hello.

If you'd like to see what I'm up to please visit my other blog, ursaminorstudio.blogspot.com, or check out my Etsy shop *here* for new clothing styles as I make them.

And don't forget to visit Mary at her seriously beautiful blog Mary Hudson (aka anemone, honey) if you'd like a study in ideal living.

LOVELY BIRTHDAY BRUNCH

I threw a small birthday brunch for a girlfriend last weekend and it was my favorite sort of simple food. I then followed it up with the richest most ridiculous cake I could think of from a Tartlette recipe and an afternoon at the Vancouver flea market. I love days off.

CAKE REVOLUTION (NOT 18th CENTURY FRANCE)

100 Layer Cake highlighted these cakes by Magpie's Cake last week and they are simply dreamy. I'm not sure I would ever even want a wedding cake, let alone something so dramatic as these.... but maybe I could just have one for a party sometime? So what if they start at $10 a slice -- art (even the edible variety) is worth it, right?

A GOOD TIME FOR A NAP

I think this room was made special for me. I generally feel that the more white in decor, the better, but I love the warm gold tones with the dusty purple in this bedroom, it feels so peaceful. That mix of colour gives a nice warm in the winter, cool in the summer feel too. Oh and there's a giant M, for Mary.

Image found on Lynne's blog, tea for joy.

ROMANCING

Jessica is having a Valentine's day contest on her blog, nokomis, for to find the love-i-ist video of all time. There's a prize and everything, just post your favorite romantic scene on film.

I shared this treasured gem:

However, if I'd been smart I would've posted this beauty:

In case anyone wants to win this contest, heed my advice: sometimes you want prime rib, sometimes you want meatloaf - especially if you're the lovely Jessica and it's Valentine's day.

CRAFTY SISTERS

I have really been enjoying the guest blog over on Design*Sponge this week. All the gifts seems like as much fun to create as they would be to receive -- and who doesn't want a personalized pickling kit? Those Blessings sisters sure are crafty.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

I have design on the brain. Design and everything that goes along with it. I recently finished a 104-week calendar to organize my life and clothing line over the next two years. Totally liberating, I'm so used to running around like a chicken with my head cut off and I can't wait to see if what I've dubbed THE SYSTEM makes my life a little simpler, or, you know, livable.

Came across this via Fashion Incubator, a new favorite quote from Verbal Croquis:

This post is for those who think fashion is glamorous. This post is for those who are thinking they may want to pursue fashion as a career choice…You think designing is easy and fun? Honey, designing is only 1/10 of a designer’s job, if you’re lucky. Ordering samples, picking swatches, making samples, overseeing fittings, schmoozing over the phone, meeting with vendors, research research research, trying to get everything to cost out to your pricepoint, edit edit edit, hyperventilate, hyperventilate, hyperventilate, lather rinse repeat but make it snappy-I want it all done yesterday. Don’t get me wrong-I love all that stuff. And I love love love my job. There’s nothing else that I want to do.

My point is that’s HARD WORK. If you’re lazy, don’t get into fashion. If you imagine yourself with your sketch pad all day, get over yourself and find yourself a sugar daddy. If you’re stupid, you will get screwed over many many times, by your vendors, by your contractors, by your very own employees, employers and coworkers.

Ain't it the truth? I learnt the hard way, blindly, fumblingly and STILL feel like I know nothing at all.

SOMETHING QUITE SPECIAL

Since Mary and I started this blog a few months ago I've wanted to do a series of posts on a subject of great interest to me, sparked in part by this article, that is, the ascending stars of contemporary Canadian fashion. I've felt for awhile that there is something quite special happening amongst a set of designers who, in one way or another, have ties to this country. Not that a talented Canadian is unique, certainly, but a whole whack of them taking the fashion world by storm is, in my opinion, special. What particularly excites me about these designers is that they are making garments appealing to a truly progressive fashion client and seem to be doing so with great subtlety and ease.

That they are primarily expats working abroad says something about the possibility of success or fame for those who remain in the country - not especially encouraging for someone like myself just starting on a new line. Still, inspiring, cause for pride and certainly worthy of highlighting.

Before I ever began on my own series of posts about these designers, however, I found Laura Minquini's amazing blog, The Canadian School (from which the above chart is taken), which focuses on select rising Canadian talents including most of the big guns, Rad Hourani, Calla Haynes, Mark Fast, etc. To her list I'd love to add some who I consider up-and-comers, Clayton Evans, Jennifer Ann Gilpen, Heather Martin, Travis Taddeo, Audrey Cantwell, Maryanne Mathias.... I could go on.

Anyway, a deserving subject, and a great new blog to add to my favorites.

{image via The Canadian School}

SHARING IN THE LOVE OF PEARS

Another beautifully seasonal and delicious looking pear recipe by cannelle et vanille -- Elizabeth you have started a trend.