I’ve been taking jewelry-making classes at Jewel Envy, a jewelry studio that recently opened up just around the corner from me. They bought an old house in desperate need of renovations, gutted it, and painted the whole house a vibrant shade of blue (at which point they certainly had my attention). Inside are two floors of studio space for independent jewelers/metal smiths, and some gorgeous … Continue reading Jewelry Class: casting a ring
There are a couple of things on my needles these days. I’m making a sleeveless dress from this beautiful batik fabric I bought in Ghana, using Burda’s “Fatina” pattern #6051. And on my knitting needles, I’m working on the Erika Cardigan by MillaMia, using Cascade 220 sport yarn. I chose a brighter blue than the model from the MillaMia website, as well as chartreuse for … Continue reading On my Needles: Batik Dress & Colour Block Cardigan
Recently I came across a post from Charity Shop Chic detailing how she took a plain white shirt and used a dip-dye process to turn it into a fabulous pink ombre shirt. I’m a big fan of anything with a colour gradient (aka ombre), and I had an oversized plain white cotton shirt that I rarely wore. The process looked easy, so off I went … Continue reading A Bad Dye Job, but a Kick-Ass Dip-Dye Shirt
Oh my, I’ve just slipped down a rabbit hole. It’s no secret that I have a bit of a “shoe problem”…more pairs than one person should actually need….a habit of perching a pair of shoes on my dresser just so I can admire them….justifying buying a pair of uncomfortable or impractical shoes because they’re a ‘work of art’….maybe you can relate to what I’m saying. … Continue reading Down the Rabbit Hole: Shoes of Prey
How does your garden grow? Well thanks for asking. In fact, it kicks the shit out of all the gardens on my street. 😀 My front yard, May 2013. It was quite an attraction to passers-by. Sorry about the crummy iPhone photo with poor lighting. I know this because lots of people stopped for a closer look, to take pictures, or to exclaim how big … Continue reading Mary Mary Quite Contrary
A mom and 4 babies. Or maybe 5…it’s hard to keep track. Incidentally, one of those Inca-esque decorations you see hanging on my shed looks just like George W. Bush. No joke. I’ll have to get a close-up to show you. Did you know that raccoons use multiple den sites? They have a few sites in an area and use one site or another depending … Continue reading There’s a Family of Raccoons Living Under my Shed
We’re so Canadian. I’m sure you’ve heard about the laughing stock that is our incompetent mayor. Allegations of smoking crack, proven conflict of interest, serial liar and denier until he’s caught with irrefutable evidence, yadda yadda yadda. So there was a protest at Nathan Phillips Square at Toronto City Hall this morning. About 500 or so people were there to show that we want him … Continue reading Anti-Rob Ford Protest
After checking out the rather uneventful anti-Rob Ford protest at Toronto City Hall this morning, Dave and I scooted over to the Chapters bookstore at Richmond and John Streets for a little browsing. And when I say scooted, I mean we went on our groovy purple electric scooter! Dave bought a Sound on Sound magazine, and I grabbed a Noro Knitting Magazine. (Later we would … Continue reading Noro Magazine Spring/Summer 2013
Why are they all a jumbled mess? Most of the shops along Queen and Spadina are dusty, dim, crammed-to-the-rafters kind of places. The selection is great, for the most part, but when you’re feeling a bit like you need to keep one eye out for mice while you’re looking for a great print for a new sundress, that’s a bit, um, off-putting. Part of me … Continue reading Fabric shops in Toronto
Just finished this cute summer top from a “Burda Young” pattern, 7051. It’s got a retro-vibe, 60’s I guess. I used Woodgrain fabric by Joel Dewberry in ‘dill’ that I bought from Quilthome.com. Green’s not normally my colour but I chose it specifically to go with my ri-DONK-ulous Faith Hi Jericho boots made from kermit-the-frog suede leather, courtesy of the inimitable John Fluevog. Given the … Continue reading The Betty Draper Dill Pickle Shirt – Burda 7051
Frivolous At Last 