My Dad

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything here.

This is because I lost my dad a couple of weeks before the holidays.

He was awesome.

He was funny.

He was always there.

And of course, always will be.

Love.

Updates and New Favorite Aprons

It's a mad house at the ole studio these days with preperations to the One of a Kind fully underway. Ups and downs along the way of course, but I do have the help of 3 lovely interns from Ryerson!! Chelsea, Katy and Yvonne. (Hello to the parents who have been googling me... ;))
These ladies are rocking my world! Tons of help.

I'm currently working with denim for the first time. Which in turn broke my serger... which thank-god-fully has been fixed. Production stopped for a day and I almost went crazy... pacing the floor...

I'm so excited about my denim skirts! There is also corduroy in the works. Hopefully I can have some photos by the end of this week. No promises.

For now here are a few of my favorite new aprons that will be available at the show! Notice how the monkeys in the pink apron have pink hearts for bums...

Show at the Drake!

So there's a last minute little show going on at the Drake Hotel this coming Thursday!
A handful of designers from Fresh Collective will be there, including me of course!

The Make Sale presenst - "Living La Vida Local!" (that's us) :)
at The Drake Hotel - 1150 Queen St. West @ Beaconsfield Ave. Room 222
9pm to 1am

Precious Pink Designs - Semi-precious, glass, wood, etc. Jewelry
Zippan Designs - Sterling Silver and Wood Jewelry
Keri Rounding - Hand Felt Accessories
Cipolla - Bags, Wallets, Cute Accessories of the sort
Jordynn Mackenzie - Bags and Wallets

I believe there should be cocktails... but I'm not sure exactly of the venue... so just come out anyway :)

We'll be in Room 222!!!
See you there!

Desserts 'n Skirts at FC

I know I mention Fresh Collective a lot but I'm not sure if I've ever said what exactly it is.

Well... it's a very cute little boutique along Queen West (the shopping mecca for those not familiar with Toronto). There is an average of 20 designer who are members of the store. As a member, you rent out space and work one day a week in the shop.

This is my little 3-foot clothing section for Desserts 'n Skirts.

I also have two jewelry cabinets that the previous jewelry shot was taken from.

I work on Thursdays! You should visit.

And the AFTER

Fabric Fabric Fabric!

Doesn't even look like the same space does it?

Studio

So, we've been in the new studio space since mid June. These photos were taken pretty much that week, right after the move. The photos here are pretty much the four corners of the room, it's one nice, big open space.

The first photo here is my corner. It's where it all goes down.

Notice my empty cutting table, not too cluttered floor (yes some clutter, but in a creative world there has to be).

So, we'll call this photo the before photo, as I am about to show you a more recent photo of my work space. In all it's glory.

Necklace

Notice the necklace on the bust that I made with the pendant I showed you earlier in the month!

This is one of the shelves of the two jewelry cabinets that I have at the store... Fresh Collective.

My blue shelf.

Window Display

Here are the photos of the display that I've had since mid August at the Fresh Collective. My new favorite fabrics on the skirts! I have this window until the end of the month... so merely days left :(. Bye bye window.

More Fun Fabrics

Most of these fabrics are for aprons (especially the psychadelic black and crazy ones) but some I loved so much I though I'd try skirts with them, like the beige and camouflage ones... I'll show you later. ;)

I've been slaving away in the studio for the past couple of weeks. Tons of aprons coming out AND I made a dress!! I love my dress. I've only made the sample which is full of mistakes and fixes so I'll show that one off when I've made more. I'm also going to try and make a blouse out of the same idea of the dress. So much to do and get photos of to show you!!!

Also, I've been slacking off on this blog thing. In my mind I would like to post at least 10 times a month. And it's now the 29th so it looks like you're getting hit with 6 posts in about 3 days.

Not a problem. I have things to show you.

See you in 5.

New Pendants in the Making...

I've been wanting to start making these for almost a year now, maybe even over a year? I'm finally on it! It's been a matter of finding all the things I needed to make them... but here we are. At least it's begun. I still need to find some lighter coloured wood.... a bit of variation.

For now here are a couple of pendants that I have yet to turn into necklaces. Coincidentally they match PERFECTLY with my new fabric that I showed you the other day... with the browns, blues and yellows.

That wasn't even on purpose. Can you believe it?

It's true.

Mmmmm mmmm good

As per summer tradition, here is one of the (not-so) little guys that was consumed while on holiday. (Notice that he doesn't even fit on the plate?)

I miss him so.

Now back to work.

I have begun work on all the skirts for the feature window coming up on the 16th. Very excited about that! After that it's straight on to the One of a Kind Show preparation. Full speed ahead and I should be able to reach my insane goal... or at least get close. We'll see.

Tons of fabric to play with and more photos coming soon!!!

It's Go! Time

Back home and back to work but so excited! I have so much new fabric it's a bit insane.

I'll have a feature window at the store (Fresh Collective) from August 16th to the 31st and I'm making a bunch of skirts out of this fabric!

I can't wait to see the finished products and will definitley post photos!
Some really cute fabrics for aprons I'll show you soon too!

Stay tuned.

My dad just walked in with a box full of lobsters...

Just sayin' is all.

Clams - Check!

Thank god I got those out of the way.

So I'm home, catching up on rest. I always sleep more when I'm here. I think it's because it's so quiet, and I just revert back to being 16 years old.

I will be checking out the fabric store (yes, singular) while I'm here. I always find some cute stuff for the aprons when I'm here. That way when I get back I can start slaving away at the sewing machines... Oh the excitement up ahead... ;)

I DO look forward to the day when I can pay people to do my sewing for me... just open a box and have a pile of finished merchandise... Ah the dream.

On Holiday!

I'm off to visit the family in Moncton N.B. for over a week... where I will be baking lots and eating lots of lobster, fried clams and of course... home cooked meals.

I'm sure that once again, in the coming month, I will be posting more about food than anything else :)

Oh yeah, I will also be seeing friends and stuff like that... ;)