Avril Loreti | Modern Home Decor and Accessories

2012 Calendar Sale!!

2012-01-11T15:52:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

So far my new year's resolutions are well in motion...

I've been trying out a bunch of new recipes like these Pot Stickers from 101 cookbooks...

Taking more photos like this one of Nico, Awwweee Nico basking in the sun!...

Tweeting and pinning all the things i love on a more regular basis...

And the most exciting resolution... put more things on sale!

My 2012 Calendar is now on sale 40% off! I've already found it useful while washing dishes and trying to figure out if this week had a Friday the 13th.. it does... and i also love how it adds colour to my studio (which i finally cleaned... Resolution #3 check!)

Movies and Makers! Last show before Christmas!

2011-12-17T08:07:00.000-05:00

One more day of Christmas Craft Shows to go!

Movies and Makers is today!

Saturday December 17, 2011

11 am to 5:30 pm

Fox Theatre

2236 Queen St East

Swag bags for the first 100 people

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

OOAK Show Finds!

2011-12-09T08:55:00.004-05:00

Dara Dot Designs

Last week's One of a Kind Show was just great! A nice long juicy show with tons of people and amazing vendors. Here are just a few of my favourite vendors that i got a few goodies from at the show. Image above is from Dara Dot Designs. I picked up one of her fringe scarves and it's been wrapped around my neck all week!

Heidi van Veen

Heidi makes such lovely dolls and pillows and other great textiles. I picked up one of her dolls with pretty pink hair. I named her Dana because of all the X Files I've been watching lately.

Krystal Speck

Oh, my show buddy from all the way at the other side of the hall! It would take forever to walk over to you, and it took forever for me to commit to my lovely all time favourite vase. OMG It's the Best! I'm so in love with it. It brings me so much joy!

MoonRox

Monique from MoonRox creates a great array of jewellery. Lots of different materials and she's not afraid to work with lots of colours! That's what i'm talking about!

Denture Thief

Amanda at Denture Thief makes such whimsical artwork. I love my two new ornaments.

Bamboo Lily

Lily's T-Shirts are hilarious and cozy.

Raging Bowl

Melissa's ceramics are definitely some of my fave. I love collecting pitchers and now i have a pretty new one to add to the mix.

Freshly Printed

And to end off my new crop of goodies, i just had to treat myself to Jenn's lovely tea towels. This one with the butterflies caught my attention right away. So Lovely!!

Covet Garden Magazine

2011-11-03T09:12:00.001-04:00

Just one more reason to love Covet Garden Magazine... They included my 2012 Calendar Tea Towel in their latest issue! I think i'm in love with this entire spread. This spread is now my xmas list!

Covet Garden is an online magazine that enters the home of one couple in every issue. "We are interested in spaces that have not been styled by interior decorators and that, above all else, reflect the passions and interests of those who live in them." This current issue follows yoga instructor Fiona and artist Maciek around their to-die-for home! There's also a Miso soup recipe that i must try!

Friday Linky Love!

2011-10-14T09:13:00.000-04:00

Oh Pantone... You've still got it! Christmas Balls!! What will you come up with next?! *image above

If you love getting creative with your packed lunches then you'll find plenty of inspiration at Another Lunch blog.

3 Color Quizzes : Which color is right for you? via Apartment Therapy

Practice your kerning here

Big fan of Advanced Style.

Happy Friday Everyone! Have a fantastic weekend! xoxoxox av

Friday Linky Love!

2011-10-07T11:30:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday Linky Love friends! Have a fantastic weekend and to all my Canadian pals

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Balls Falls Thanksgiving Craft Show is this weekend! I've heard many great things about this show and the weekend is looking totally perfect. Must make the trip out there!

Judy Ross Textiles pillows, scarves, fabrics are sooo lovely

Food Gawker *maybe i'm way behind on finding this site, but omg how it's going to change my entire life. so many recipes to share!

A Thrifter's Paradise via desire to inspire
*I want to live here!

Child's Scandinavian Softie Toy Cat by Janefoster *image above

friendsoftype.com features original typographic design and lettering

"Come Fly Away" Pam Am Inspired Birthday Party via hostess with the mostess

Nuit Blanche Toronto 2011

2011-10-03T10:56:00.000-04:00

I head out with some buds to Toronto's huge annual contemporary city-wide art event Nuit Blanche this weekend. It runs alllll night long on Saturday through to Sunday morning. The streets were buzzing and excitement was super high! The event showcases art projects all across the city. We primarily worked through the downtown core. Starting with Flightpath Toronto at city hall...

We belted out some rockin' hits at Campbell House Museum with 1972-1976. I found myself singing into my camera... as if it was a microphone (or a beer bottle:)...

...we did the wave behind city hall with Through The Gorilla Glass...

Barricades completely transformed a block of Yonge Street.

MORE JUMPING!

TESTtubes was so magical. These little laser lights were sound sensitive and would move around with the sounds of the crowd underneath. Renée pointed out that our cats would have LOVED this exhibition!

You called this balloon and it would ring loud in the air.

It was on a super quiet peaceful side street. a very nice surprise!

Our last stop was at The Gladstone Hotel for their Fly By Night projects...

a life without tomatoes is like a life without... peanut butter.

This piece win Most Amazing/Ridiculous Art of the night. We were all taking turns snuggling in this huge bird nest.

Friday Linky Love!

2011-09-30T09:15:00.000-04:00

Yay Friday! Wishing everyone a super great weekend. You deserve it!

Here's some Friday Linky Love for your entertainment!

Cotton Wood Tree Log Bolster by Chic Sin Design *Image above!

How to Fold a Fitted Sheet via stephmodo

Hardwood floors made out of recyled shipping pallets via Jetson Green

Trip Tracker Keepsake via Martha Stewart
*all you need is a spare needle for your next road trip. This is such a fun idea!

Krystal Speck. Toronto based ceramic artist. I picked up one of her vases at the Queen West Art Crawl last weekend. Such a beaut!

Opening up a room with vintage mirrors via before it fades

My Favorite bag of the week is The Hot Streak Tote via anthropologie

Best Hot Dog packaging Ever by Subconcious via stickers and stuff

No Barcode. a blog by Javier Garcia dedicated to vintage modern design and illustration

Fancy Grilled Cheese 9 ways via Beautiful Mess

2011-09-28T09:10:00.001-04:00

This week I attempted my first batch of Green Tomato Ketchup! This is a pretty classic fixture in many Quebec homes for the fall season. I remember pouring my Tante Yvette's homemade ketchup on everything over the Holidays. So scrumptious and nostalgic! I can't wait to see my brother over thanksgiving to give him a jar. He'll be so surprised!

Here I am working away over the hot oven.

I got the recipe from KetchupRecipe.com

The recipe calls for wrapping the pickling spice in cheesecloth. I didn't have any, so i used a loose leaf tea bag instead. I had to handle it pretty delicately, but it worked out fine.

Green Ketchup

Ingredients:
* 24 medium (6 pounds or 2.5 kg) green tomatoes, chopped
* 15 medium (3 pounds or 1.5 kg) onions , chopped
* 1/2 cup (125 ml) coarse salt
* 3 cups (750 ml) white vinegar (here i used cider vinegar)
* 2 cups (500 ml) granulated sugar
* 6 Tablespoons (90 ml) mixed pickling spices, tied in cheesecloth (tea bag worked ok, but it's delicate)

Preparation:
In a large bowl, alternative layers of tomatoes and onions, sprinkling each layer with salt. Let stand for at least 8 hours or overnight. Rinse; drain well. Combine

vegetables with vinegar, sugar, and spice bag.
In a large saucepan or stock pot, bring mixture to a boil, then simmer, uncovered, for about 30 to 45 minutes, stirring frequently until slightly thickened. Pour

into hot, sterilized jars and seal.
Yield: Approximately 12 cups ( 3 Liters)
Recipe Source: A Taste of Quebec by Julian Armstrong (Hippocrene Books) via ketchuprecipe.com

I left my heart in Aberfoyle

2011-09-26T09:45:00.002-04:00

This past weekend Frank and I spent our Saturday Antiquing in Aberfoyle.

The Aberfoyle Antique Market is always a favourite and every September they that their huge Fall Special where you get double the vendors and double the goodies!!

I like to refer to the Aberfoyle Market as "The Mickey Mouse" Market... not cuz it's amateur or anything like that... but because every corner you turn you'll find some vintage Mickey Mouse find. You want a phone, plaque, doll, deck of playing cards, watch, ... whatever. They will have it!

Frank's been on the lookout for new old knobs and hooks and door pulls for weeks now. I believe he spent a full hour sorting through these bins.

I freaked out when I discovered this rad drawer pull.

It has a belt! So that it doesn't lose it's 'drawers'!! Amazing right!

It was a great show, but my finds were few. Picked up a few penants for the collection...

And some Pink Elephant martini glasses! So sweet!

Presenting... The 2012 Calendar Tea Towel!!!

2011-09-21T13:52:00.002-04:00

Here it is folks! Your 2012 Calendar Tea Towel... at your service!

Bring on the new year with this new modern and bright and lovely and all dolled up tea towel calendar. Enjoy it year round as a wall calendar or let it bring you some joy as you're drying the dishes!

This year I wanted to mix the modern and graphic quality of my hand drawn font with the softness and touch of a watercolour brushstroke. When I envision what our future 2012 holds, i see lots of colour! Bright and bold, Inspiring and hopeful!

Right now I'm taking Pre-Orders. The towel will be ready to ship out by November 1st, 2011. Place your order now to get it by November. Please contact me if you have any further questions at all!

Annnnnnd...... Pre Order the 2012 Calendar Tea Towel today and get FREE SHIPPING for this item.

Weekly roundup for awesomeness!

2011-09-16T09:10:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday Everyone!

Here are a few faves for the week.

My new all time favourite photography blog Dear Photograph shows pictures

of pictures of the past in the present. It's like taking a trip down somebody else's memory lane. Love!

If you've got a hankering this weekend to get out in the sun and check out some great art, then come on by the Queen West Art Crawl . I'll be there introducing my new 2012 calendar and some other new goodies. Can't wait to share them with everyone!

Loving these Teddyfish bags that i spotted on Oh Joy

Can't get enough of these photos by Aled Lewis

2012 Calendar Sneak Peek!

2011-09-12T08:46:00.011-04:00

I gotta say that I'm extra excited about my 2012 Tea Towel Calendar! I just got the final proof late last friday and I'm in looooooove with it! Here's a sneak peek! It's inspired by all the hand drawn fonts and watercolour abstractions that I've been obsessing over this past year. And as always... my fondness for great colour palettes. I could seriously eat that lime green right up!

Anthropologie Love!

2011-09-09T11:23:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I got the chance to meet the Home Buying Team for Anthropologie. Myself with five other Etsy sellers put together a display of our goodies and introduced the Team to our lines.

It was a fun day and I got to meet some great people!

Here we are! I met some fine ladies at the event who make the loveliest treats! handpainted dishes, ceramic clocks, brightly coloured ornate chalk boards, and oh so sweet cake stands!!

From left to right : Charlotte of Charlotte L Design, Sonja of TEXture MIX, Jelena of TinyPoppies,

Brittany of Morgan and Bean, Pam of neatTreat, and of course Moi!

Missing in the photo is Pam of lurearts

The Design Exchange hosted the event. Oh and FYI... Their shop is packed with great stuff right now! Plenty of amazing Canadiana goodies!

My First Batch of Grape Jelly!

2011-09-08T08:45:00.001-04:00

I've been wanting to make grape jelly for years now and i finally built up the courage to attempt it this past long weekend. Thanks to my dear friend Lisa from Girl Can Create and her lovely family Dave and Max, we got a huge tray full of Concord grapes last week. Grown in the neighbourhood and ripe for the picking!

Here are a few pics of my first (and might i add... delicious) attempt at grape jelly. As for the recipe i used this one HERE on cooks.com... but i added 2 steps to the recipe. 1) after picking the grapes let them sit in a cool dark place for 4 days (Thanks for the tip Dave!)... and 2) i squeezed 3 tbsps of fresh lemon juice into the grape juice right before i started adding the sugar (i read that somewhere in another recipe and thought it sounded tasty).

Here's the first boil to extract the juice from the grapes. Jars in the background ready to be sterilized.

Dripping out the grape juice for 2-3 hours.

I have no patience, so by the end of the 2nd hour i squeezed out the rest.

Boiling the juice a second time and adding in the massive amounts of sugar.

It looks so glassy and pretty at this point!

Boiling the filled jars to seal them shut. This part blew my mind. I felt totally pro when i pulled out the jars and the lids were suctioned shut. Science is happening in my kitchen!

This is me sooooo stoked that i'm actually in the middle of making jelly!

I started with enough grapes to fill one of those black plastic trays that you get at the garden center. I got about 5 cups of juice out of them, which ended up making 8 jars of jelly.

The most delicious grape jelly i've ever tasted! YUM YUM!

*Lisa & Dave... I've got a jar with your names on it!

Tomaticorn!

2011-09-07T10:42:00.000-04:00

I found a Tomaticorn in my garden this weekend.... and here I thought they were just mythical fruits:)...

Remembering the Summer 2011... Mustache Edition

2011-09-02T13:04:00.000-04:00

Once we got back from our honeymoon i would have to say that the rest of my summer was consumed by MUSTACHES! With a few juicy orders in the pipeline that will be in stores for Movember, i was overwhelmed with mustaches and had to really reconnect and remember why i got into making these Mustache Hankies in the first place... Because they are hilarious!

I spent one morning in August with the kids at The Summer Design Camp at The Design Exchange. I showed them some of the goodies that i make and we talked about finding inspiration and art and design and all that fun stuff. Cheers to the little girl who stumped me with her question about which colours i like the least. I tried to answer by picking up coloured pencils that i didn't really like, but the kids kept proving me wrong and finding those colours in my work. Nuts!

*Photo credit : The Design Exchange 2011.

Remembering the Summer 2011... Hawaiian Honeymoon

2011-09-02T08:45:00.003-04:00

Oh Hawaii... sigh. It was everything that i had imagined and more. Perfect weather, tasty food, unbelievable beaches, darling people... every time we would turn another corner on the most amazing coastal drives i would say out loud "Is this for real?! Are we really here!"

I was definitely inspired by all the amazing colours I saw in nature
and in the developed parts of the islands.

See what i mean by coastal drives. Had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road when i had crazy views like this all around me.

Sunnnnnnn Set!

Went on a horseback riding tour in Kualoa Ranch. This is the valley where they shot scenes from Lost. Most beautiful place on earth... then it started pouring rain. I felt like Kate. It was perfect!

Waimea Beach was THE BEST! Locals jumping off of cliffs into the ocean... sea turtles swimming directly underneath me... sand was soft and lumpy like polenta...

SHRIMP SCAMPI!

Fruit Hut on the side of the highway! Best most juiciest Pineapple I've ever had!

More local inspiration found in Chinatown.

BLACK SAND! We called this beach Caviar Beach!

Oh gosh we ate so well on our trip! This tasty meal was at Café Pesto in Hilo, on The Big Island.

Even in paradise sometimes pets get lost.

JUMP! Here we're 9,000 ft above sea level and above the clouds atop Mauna Kea. Watched the sun set and then did a little star gazing!

Oh and finally I have to tell you about Hawaiian beer. Delicious! We enjoyed plenty of Kona Brewery IPA's and Maui Brewery Bikini Blonds and Coconut Porters... Yum! But our favourite has to be Big Island Brewhaus. A new brewery that opened last spring. Not available in bottles so i bought myself a jar of beer to go! Yummy!

Remembering the Summer 2011... Wedding Edition

2011-09-01T08:27:00.000-04:00

Hmmmmm what am amazing summer! I keep thinking back to all the good times and can't believe the season is coming to a close in a few days. It's been definitely a summer to remember...

I got married to my main guy Frank! we honeymooned in Hawaii (sigh!), i grew more tomatoes than ever in my garden, and busily worked on a couple of juicy orders for some Mustache Hankies (Wait 'til you see where you can find them this fall:)...

For the wedding we transformed our backyard into the best wedding garden party Ever and had our dear friends and family come celebrate with us. We ate... we drank... we drank some more... we danced... we hugged... we sparkled... we JUMPED! Lots of jumping come the time for dancing!

We had the whole wedding in our backyard! It was intimate and fun and full of love and fabulous shoes! My first pair of Kate Spade shoes were a dream come true. I was walking on rainbows all day!

Frank and I went for a walk around the neighbourhood for the first time as husband and wife. Eeeee!

Had to stop for our first soft serve ice cream of the season... YUM!

All the single ladies, all the single ladies, all the single ladies, all the single ladies!

SPARKLERS!

CHICKEN DANCE!

Remembering the Summer... Hawaiian Honeymoon Edition next.

Pop Art in Orangeville

2011-07-08T10:15:00.001-04:00

Frank and I did a little scenic tour of Ontario over the long weekend and we were totally impressed with the art on the side of the train tracks in Orangeville. Understated but packs a punch!

I'm so happy that we discovered.... Ronald McMonroe... Or Marilyn McDonald... your pick!

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!!

Old MacAvril had a farm

2011-07-06T09:34:00.001-04:00

I finally brought out my camera to the garden this morning for my first photos of the garden this year! It's my second year working on my garden and it's already starting to surprise and impress.

I had a spot to fill when i was planting earlier in May and Bess from English Muffin suggested to try corn. OMG, I've never thought i would have so much fun watching corn grow. Everyday it looks bigger and every week some new development happens with the plants. They are truly living and growing sculptures that amaze me every time i look at them!

I cut the grape vines back like crazy in the spring. I was worried a bit that maybe i cut too far back, because seriously... even after watching a bunch of how to videos i still had no idea what i was doing! But last week little grapeys started popping out and now i can start planning for my wine making party in august!

Good thing i started to grow Kale this year, because all i crave these days is leafy greens! Kale This... Rapini That... Chop up and sauté the greens, squeeze some lemon juice in, throw in a few hot pepper flakes and some parmasan, then toss with some pasta... it's magic! (and all i've been eating for 2 months!)

...and my first ever radish! Isn't he cute!! He's an organic Watermelon Radish. I bought the seeds from Cubit's Organic Living. Hot dog this radish is spicey!!!

First Wedding Photos... The Hair Appointment!!!

2011-07-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

So June was probably one of the craziest months I've ever had to make my way through. Frank and I had always set out to be a totally chill wedding couple and other then a few heated debates between the two of us, I think we managed to keep our heads attached pretty securely during the whole process.

My one sweet project that got a little neglected was my little blog! Hi Blog...

We had the wedding and reception in our Toronto backyard and let me tell you... It was magical! We're still patiently waiting for photos (to be honest, i'm trying to hold off on seeing them cuz it just seems that once we get them, then that's it. it's like the last piece of the wedding!) So when we get them, i'll share some on my blog... But until then... i just have to show some of the photos that i took while getting my hair done.

Susan Scott is the owner of Strut Studio in Toronto and I've been going to see her For Like Ever! She is just fantastic and her loft studio is the most amazing place to spend time in. So all you ladies and gents in Toronto looking for a lovely hairstylist you must call Susan!

Love Local!

2011-06-01T10:28:00.000-04:00

Thinking about how to celebrate the beginning of this sweet heat this weekend!?

Well this Saturday June 4th grab your wicker basket, sun hat, and a little fluorescent zinc for your nose and head on over to the Love Local Show at The Evergreen Brickworks! A {Show and Sell} featuring the best of Toronto's independent craft, culture, and creativity.

This show just cannot be missed! Some of my most favourite local designers will be there, and did i mention there's also a farmer's market running on the grounds at the same time. So come by and treat yourself to some locally designed wears and grown goodies! What a perfect day!

Movies and Makers Wrap Up!

2011-05-16T12:54:00.000-04:00

Thanks for everyone who stopped by the always amazing Movies and Makers Show this past weekend! It was another magical event with fantastic vendors and plenty of guests who braved through the rain to get to the show! A Special Thanks to Lisa Pijuan-Nomura from Girl Can Create for putting together another great show!

No photos of yours truly this time around;) Here's my little table filled with bright colourful goodies to tempt your home accessorizing addiction!

My fantastic neighbour Joel from Banjo Puppets

Everyone, let me tell you, if you ever find yourself at a show and your booth is next to Joel, then you are in for a treat! Great guy and very entertaining to make the day fly by with lots of energy and F-U-N!!

Joel from Banjo Puppets and I were doing a little spontaneous cross promotion throughout the day! Here's his Gumball Puppet "Rusty" wearing one of my Lobster Bibs.

Yummy! Puppets eating Lobster!

Movies and Makers

2011-05-10T08:37:00.000-04:00

OMG! Where have i been? I gotta get back into a good blogging habit! Well i just got a new camera and i'm in looooooove with it, so new photos and fun to come!!!

This Saturday i'll be at the always magical Movies and Makers Show in The Beach, Toronto.

Saturday May 14th, 2011

11am - 5:30pm

2236 Queen Street E

Hope to see you there!

New Goodies for Spring!

2011-03-28T10:31:00.000-04:00

So happy to be finally sharing all my new goodies for Spring! They're all up in my Etsy shop now and I'll be featuring them at the Spring One of a Kind Show this week!

Paint Chip Placemats
Inspired by my love for picking colours and finding interesting ways to describe how each colour makes me feel. I love naming colours! Available in various sets.

Lobster Bibs - Set of 2 and 4

Adult sized for some Lobster Fest Fun!

New Tea Towels

With a love for all things Canadiana I designed some more table Hockey inspired BBQ Towels and a scrumptious Dozen Donuts Tea Towel

Totally Totes

Yummy Black Cherry and Pineapple vintage Bottle Cap Totes

and more styles to tote around town!

Wine Totes

Various styles to fit any occasion!

Happy Weekend Everyone

2011-03-12T09:12:00.000-05:00

Pee-Wee and Chairry Amigurumi Pattern Set by CraftyisCool on Etsy

Happy Weekend Everyone! I hope y'all have some exciting plans for the next two days. Frank and I will be trying to move ahead on some more home reno's and i have my fingers crossed that maybe one room finally gets painted... fingers crossed!

But don't keep them crossed for too long cuz you'll want to flex them before crocheting the most amazing pattern i've ever found! For all you Peewee lovers out there that dream about owning their own Chairy! Pattern available on CraftyisCool's Etsy site here.

Happy Weekend!
av.

Sneak Peak: New Product Photo Shoot!

2011-03-04T10:57:00.000-05:00

I'm in photo shoot mode today!

Here's a couple sneak peaks of what's to come in the next few weeks!

Mmmmm more wine rings...

I am so excited to show you guys this little gem!

Will be available in a full range of delicious colours.

Weekly Roundup of Sensational Link Love!

2011-02-25T13:13:00.083-05:00

C60 Wallpaper / Cassettes Wallpaper via Bodie and Fou
*I still have a tape player in my car and whenever Frank and I go on road trips we pull out our bag of mix tapes that we respectively made in high school. It's definitely a treat when we rediscover a track from our formative music years and surprisingly can sing all the lyrics together from start to finish! Oh, Ringfinger by Nine Inch Nails. You know you know it... sing along here...

Animal Alphabet via English Muffin

Bess Callard creates lovely playful illustrations of animals and vegetables and maps and just about anything! I just picked up a few name prints for some sweet new baby boys in my life! They are perfect!

The Original Flea : Saddle via Fleabags

The accessory I have my eye on for Spring/Summer 2011. This handbag makes me melt!

My Pinterest Pins

*Ever since i was introduced to Pinterest it's been a crazy addiction! What better way to catalogue all the inspiration that you find online! I think you still need an invite to start an account, so if you want one, just ask. I can send one to you!

Classic Celebrity Mug Shots Make Great Art via Apartment Therapy

*This is a fun collection of some of your faves. Sue Ellen looks sensational.

Weekly Roundup of Awesome!

2011-02-18T13:00:00.002-05:00

It's raining cats via Gatopoder

Kitty kitty cat kitty kitty cat heads hang heavy

BHLDN
Anthropologie launched their new bridal line this week and this new bride is all over it! So many pretty dresses to fawn over. I've been tossing around the idea of a 'costume change' for my wedding and these beauties are making me lean in that direction! So yummy!

Sistine Chapel via Vatican.va
This is the best view you'll ever get of the Sistine Chapel!
If you've been then you remember getting squeezed in and herded along your way. I mean we finally get to see what the floor looks like.

Pure Green Living Magazine
I don't even know how i missed this for so long! Great online magazine featuring sustainable style and design.

Adore Magazine
Seriously, I'm just now discovering online magazines! Who knew there was an entire world of them out there. I promise you this, Adore will inspire you! This issue is a full 124 pages of home design inspiration. All colour palettes and all juicy! Enjoy! It even has a recipe for French Macarons on page 105.

Poppytalk Handmade Love!

2011-02-16T10:05:00.002-05:00

This week I started another run with my favourite online handmade market at Poppytalk Handmade. Run by the amazing Poppytalk design blog team, this month's theme is Affordable Art and Home Show.

Here are some of my favourite picks from this months round of goodies!

Top Row :

Dahlhaus - Stripe Vase

Roll&TumblePress - Hand Printed Letterpress Poster

Bottom Row :

Claudia Pearson Illustration 100% flour sack cotton celebrating mushrooms

Verla Ivans - Decorative Arrows

Samantha French Archival Print

Poppytalk Handmade

Happy Valentines Hooray for Naps Interview

2011-02-14T09:59:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentines Everyone!!!

If you want to get to know my fierce Valentine's stylin' side check out my interview with my good friend Emily Mutch on her new blog Hooray For Naps! Find out why I think Courtney Love would make a great Valentine and why I think Gem Sweaters are the new accent for Valentine's day here!

Hooray For Naps! explores all things fashion, pop culture, and goofy fun! With posts about pulling inspiration from Degrassi Junior High and Maria from Sesame Street, to regular features like Dingus of the Week and Solid Fashion Advice Baby Edition (with her handsome son Arlo!) you'll totally be treating yourself this Valentine's day with some absolute FUN!

Weekly Roundup of Awesomeness : Link Love!

2011-02-11T13:16:00.029-05:00

The Ramones Wanna via thisisnthappiness.com

I wanna be a Ramone!

Current Obssession : Vintage Electric Fans via Patchwork Harmony

*Super sweet collection of photos of vintage electric fans.

Double Box Hinged Bangle at Kate Spade

*Darling!!

de Kooning-esk #5 Painting Pillow by Wary Meyers

* hand painted abstract expressionist throw pillows in the style of some of the greats like Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and Jackson Pollock. Great way to introduce a little modern art into your home.

My Favourite Things : Sample Books!

2011-02-10T10:11:00.001-05:00

Is it crazy that i absolutely LOVE getting new colour charts and sample books from suppliers?! I could spend hours taking in all these thread colours.... Who knew I could be this picky about my thread selection!

Handmade Pasta

2011-02-07T10:15:00.001-05:00

Have you ever made your own Pasta?

If I was stuck on a deserted island with only one food to eat for the rest of my life it would be homemade pasta. Funny how I'm currently not living on a deserted island, but still pasta makes up the lion's share of my diet. Mmmm, but my Pasta Sauce is so good!

That's me wheeling out the pasta and singing That's Amore!

Tried and true way to dry your freshly made pasta.

Here's a How To video! This one is very informative!

Weekly Roundup of Awesomeness!

2011-02-04T14:00:00.022-05:00

DIY Valentine Fruit Stickers via Twig and Thistle (Image Above)

*Download and print these sweet fruit stickers for your sweet pea.

Google Art Project

*With google street views technology you can stroll around some of the more important international art galleries. Stop on an artwork that speaks to you and you can zoom in to the finest details and see every brush stroke. Wow, how learning art history is about to change!

Canadiana: Bess & Charlie - Birch Bark via The Enlish Muffin Blog

*Bring the outdoors in by learning how to make a Birch Bark Art Piece.

Home Traveller by Anne Lorenz via Snoop

*Yes, I'm guilty of throwing my clothes on the floor. But maybe if my hamper was this fabulous, things might change... i mean this is a fabulous hamper!

Save The Dates!

2011-02-03T10:03:00.000-05:00

It's official! Frank and I are getting married! I've been wondering for a while now if y'all would be interested in some of my wedding planning details, but as soon as i mailed out my Save the Date cards, I just couldn't resist sharing in the fun!

So we're having a sweet little wedding this summer at our home in Toronto. Picture a cute little garden party with my kind of city charm!

So back to the story of the cards... Frank and I have a full on love for antique markets. We love the treasure hunt and finding new old pieces that fit perfectly with our collection. One of my favourite finds is anything retro Niagara Falls, especially postcards. I've seen plenty of vintage postcard of Toronto along the way, but i never made anything of it until...

Until the day I had to make some Save the Date Cards!! Our wedding is going to be in the city that we love and have made our home and we loved the idea of including it as a part of our celebration!

Yay Save the Date Cards!!

What I'm Working On This Week : Lobster Bibs!

2011-02-02T10:26:00.000-05:00

Even though it's been cold and snowy and it's forecasted to snow 20 cm tomorrow in Toronto, I've got summer on the brain.

Picture this... a warm sunny afternoon... lazing on your patio with a trashy magazine in hand and your favourite micro brew sweating in the heat at the ready for your next sip... the sounds of your neighbours cutting his lawn... Mmmmm are you there... can you picture it. wait... first take a sip of that brew. Yeah, now you're here. welcome to the summer of 2011.

Oh! and what are you wearing there... why it looks like a lobster bib. The latest new accessory in my Spring 2011 collection. You look smashing in it:)

I've been developing these bibs for the last few weeks and finally have a few photos to share with you. The lobster bibs will come as sets of 2. Each with their own lobster print on it. They're also available in a blue stripe or a yellow. There's still a few details to iron out, but here go the prototypes...

Knit This!

2011-01-31T13:22:00.000-05:00

This Knit CN Tower by Janet Morton stopped me in my tracks last week as i was walking Queen Street West. I mean it's a Knit CN Tower with fuzzy grey Squirrels crawling all over it! It's a part of the QueenSpecific Gallery window just next to Dufflet's. This is the kind of art that makes me love Toronto's art scene!

Artist Janet Morton's Artist Statement

Queen Specific is a window exhibition space at street level on Queen Street West in Toronto. Their website has a full log of all their past shows.

Weekly Roundup of Awesomeness:

2011-01-28T08:36:00.000-05:00

Minimal Umbrella Stand via PechaKucha
*now this is an attractive umbrella stand. Definitely not your traditional umbrella and perfect for your modern home.

Confetti System Pinata visa Decor8 (Image Above)
*my friend suggested getting a pinata for my wedding over brunch last weekend, but i don't think she realized how totally hooked i was on the idea. Then this morning when i found this beauty I knew it had to be!

Shelley's Wedding Cocktail Dress via Cabaret Vintage
*You will just die when you see the breathtaking view of my girl Shelley's wedding in Sedona Arizona in her sensational vintage inspired cocktail dress.

Portraits of Bloggers by photographer Gabriela Herman via SnOOp
*These stylized photos of bloggers in dark rooms lit only by their monitors is to brilliant... very personal and intimate.... totally relatable.

Supermarket Love!

2011-01-17T10:08:00.000-05:00

Stan the Bird

On my radar today is the beautiful minimal work of Amy Adams at Perch! Based out of Brooklyn, NY Perch! creates environmentally friendly pieces that would make oh-so-pretty additions to any home.

Basket Bowl

The Basket Bowl is just thrilling! I can see myself swinging it over my arm and going off to pick tomatoes from my garden in the summer time... or filling it with a huge amount of Cheesies and letting the bowl elevate my favourite bad food to the level of delicious edible art! Can you picture it?

Shake-a-leg Salt and Pepper Shakers

Perch! love all things bird! So if you're a feathery tweety fiend, definitely check out their Shake-a-leg Shakers and Bird Wall Hangings.

Bring on 2011!

2011-01-07T15:09:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Y'all!

Mmm... take a big deep breath in and fill your lungs with some fresh 2011 air! The year is all in front of us and I just know it's going to be a great one!

Heck! The decade is all in front of us and who knows what fun we'll discover in the teens of this century... we'll definitely have to count on some angsty teen years...

But oh boy the fun we'll have! Happy New Year!!

Rold Dahl image above via www.booooooom.com

Merry Christmas Everybody

2010-12-23T12:10:00.002-05:00

Wishing Everybody a Warm and Cozy Christmas and a Fantastic New Year!

Frank and I put up our first Christmas tree this year and totally went full on into the Christmas Spirit. I named our tree Needles (named after Fleas' character in Back To The Future II. Such a strong character:)

We got fully into decorating the house and trying our hand at making a Gingerbread House. Nico was pretty stoked about taste testing the goodies before getting them
on the house.

We learned alot over the past year about home owning and house renos. I like to think that we were able to apply our knowledge to constructing our gingerbread house... and you'll be happy to know that it came in under budget...

As for the biz...

My shop will still be open during the holiday season.

If you order anything between Dec 21st and January 2nd, I'll be shipping out on Monday January 3rd.

Have an amazing holiday season everyone!

New Stores! Russet and Empire

2010-12-18T10:54:00.001-05:00

You can find my goodies at a new store in The Junction!

Russet and Empire just opened up this year and already has made a name for themselves in the city. Definitely a go to place for gift giving whether it's for your friends and family, or if you want to treat yourself to something fantastic.

Beautiful mix of modern and vintage. The shop feels cozy and the excitement is if what you're going to find next on the shelves. Vintage Christmas Ornaments and Kid Icarus 3d Wrapping paper are just a couple of my favourite finds!

...and GOLD! They love gold and metallic everything as much as i do. so yummy!

390 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario

M6P 2K8 416.649.0042

Affordable Art Gift Guide!

2010-12-08T10:01:00.001-05:00

What I love about buying art during the holiday season is that the only person you can really buy art for is yourself. Sooo take a look at these great pieces and treat yourself to a little Christmas cheer!

Left Column:

tastesorangey - I See You

withwallpaper - Found Object - Paper Clips

inaluxe - OneMillion Short Stories

Middle Column:

ThisYearsGirl - Little Fox Prince

matteart - Lillian playing with an abstract thought.

ChingLevyStudio - The Weight of Heat

Right Column:

stephanielevy - Madeleine and Tea

lizzyjanssen - Your Sweet Self

HeyHarriet - Espresson Cups

One of a Kind Show - Christmas Fun!

2010-12-07T10:45:00.000-05:00

Just finished up my first One of a Kind Christmas Show and it was fantastic! I met so many great people and got to share my line with everyone. I heard some great stories from many women who were eagerly awaiting their husbands and boyfriend's shave after Movember. I learned how customers were going to share my hankies and tea towels and totes with their friends and family. I indulged in some tasty treats in the food section... Edna's Pickles you are always my favourite! And I got to spend lots of fun neighbourly time with some fantastic exhibitors.

Oh My Gosh! I swear i had Usher in my head for the entire 11 days of the show. I definitely caught myself a few times pumping my fists in the air, singing that it was T-Shirt Time and all around going a little loopy. These ladies were the super stars of the block! Work it ladies... Stef Bezaire, Emma Gerard, Biko's Corrine Anestopoulos, and iDentity's Meaghan Irish.

Weekends were busy! I survived on coffee and almonds and chit chats with many wonderful people. So nice to meet everyone and hear about your holiday plans!

The man with the plan!

Mister Frank strikes agin with his straightening up and tweeking the displays and his overall 'make things perfect' attitude! You are so cool!

This is my cutey-patootey-boothey!

My main lady in action! My mom takes total props for covering my weekday morning shifts! This early bird jumped took the plunge and got right into the spirit of the OOAK Show! I think her favourite part was when i would stormed into the booth at noon and then pushed her out to go shopping for herself!

Hilary Cosgrove makes these awesome owls and stuffed letters. You can't imagine the pure joy i felt when i walked by to visit her and found my named spelled out in her booth. This lady is a super star!

Art Find! Amber Alexander

2010-12-06T15:30:00.000-05:00

A Hard Day

Is there anything as fantastic as animals acting like humans? Amber Alexander's artwork of animals living their everyday human lives just kills me with cuteness! I feel for the kitty in A Hard Day. She's been hard at work all week chatting up her One of a Kind Show customers and packing up orders and working long hours and now all she wants to do is cheers to herself with a glass of Beaujolais.... oh kitty. Our lives are so linked.

Cat Art - Snow Kitten

It's the first snow fall in Toronto today and this little kitty is calling out to my indoor cat meowing "come out and play"... don't forget the carrots!

Albino Squirrel Art - Donald

Oh Donald! Amber, you have managed to paint this squirrel in the image of my own friend by the same name. a sharp looking man who can't wait to indulge in a gin martini with a good friend

Then Why Don't You Marry It!!!

2010-12-02T10:34:00.000-05:00

Peewee Herman Plate by Beat Up Creations

If anyone out there was looking for a Christmas present for me then this is it!

I love it so much that yes... i would marry it!

Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho... mecca lecca hi, mecca please gift me this platey-o!

One of a Kind Show Starts Today!

2010-11-25T10:25:00.000-05:00

Today's the day! It's officially Christmas Season in my world!

Bring on the One of a Kind Show and all it's ho-ho-hollering glory!

The show runs November 25th through to December 5th

Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place

I'm in booth L21, right by the LOVE Competition Feature.

It's so lovey by my place. You must come visit.

Supermarket Find! Coatt Morse Code Necklaces

2010-11-24T10:30:00.000-05:00

This falls under the "I wish i thought of this first" category! Beautiful necklaces by Coatt that spell out words in morse code. What an original take on word necklaces. Elegant and subtle, and when you notice it you really notice it!

Peace

Friend

Lovely Lady Holiday Gift Guide

2010-11-23T10:02:00.001-05:00

Here's my first little gift guide for the season!

These charming little goodies would make any lovely lady shine!

Column 1:

limegreenmodern - Modern Bow Tie Pendant

soapopotamus - Mini Dessert Goat's Milk Soaps

VioletMay - Coming Home

Column 2:

kikiandpolly - All Together

uncommon - Doily Coasters

MPsen - Mini Leather Clutch

Favourite OOAK Exhibitor!! Mizzonk

2010-11-22T10:20:00.001-05:00

The Balance in Clay Puddings

I have been in love with this vendor at the One of a Kind Show since the moment I walked past their booth. I just glanced at their work and it drew me in from my quick jaunt through the aisles of the show.

Mizzonk creates artwork and furniture that is striped down and minimal and timeless and just such a treat to rest your eyes on. The art makes you think and long and dream and breath. I'm in love!

They'll be at the Toronto One of a Kind Show Nov 25-Dec 5, and the Vancouver One of a Kind Show Dec 9-12

The Rolling Square

Art in Nature

Beaujolais Nouveau Day at the Studio!

2010-11-18T15:28:00.000-05:00

It's Beaujolais Nouveau Day in the Studio.

It's the third Thursday of November and this year's Beaujolais was released today.

It's time to toast to whatever you feel like today. Happy Beaujolais Day!

I'm buzzing excitement!

This is me... really tired, but totally stoked to crack into my bottle of Beauj...

My mom is the best!!! Busily packing up Tea Towels for the One of a Kind Show and asking...

Is it time for Beaujolais yet? Yes it is!!!!!!!

One Week To Go!!

2010-11-18T10:17:00.000-05:00

It's official... the final week countdown to the One of a Kind Show has begun! My To Do list still feels infinite and I'm staying up way past my bedtime to tie up all the loose ends and finishing touches. I'm getting so stoked for the show!

Here's a few sneak peeks of my studio in action. Above are packed up rows of handkerchiefs. It feels so satisfying when they're all packed up and ready to go!

I have a few Table Hockey themes goodies for this holiday season

including some totes and wine bags.

I've been drowning in a sea of Tea Towels!

Calendars and Houndstooth, and Spinny Wheels Oh My!

Toronto One of a Kind Show!

2010-11-10T10:40:00.001-05:00

Join me at this year's Christmas One of a Kind Show from November 25th to December 5th!

I'm looking forward to sharing some of my tried and true favourites along with some new goodies to ring in the holiday season! I can't wait to see what y'all think!

My booth is L21 and I'm located directly in the middle aisle of the show. I have a feeling I'll be located pretty close to the huge Christmas Tree in the middle.

I haven't gone crazy with the Holiday music in my studio yet, and now with 2 weeks remaining before the beginning of the show, i'm going to have to crank up the tunes to get into the mood. Here's a little ditty that's a favourite around my Christmas celebrations!

Hockey Totes!

2010-11-09T15:08:00.002-05:00

I'm super excited to present my new hockey totes for the holiday season!!! I was inspired by all the hockey fans out there who can't get enough of the slapshoting and stick handling and body checking... and there are always plenty wherever you go up here in the Great North!!

I designed a few different versions to compete with eachother in an ultimate tote playoff challenge... You've got Team Montreal, Team Toronto, and then some friendly competition for the best real estate on the tote... Toronto vs. Montreal!

Last summer while i was trekking through all my favourite antique show markets i fell upon these amazing table hockey men. When i spotted some Montreal players and then some Toronto players I knew that i had the beginnings of something really fun to design!

I can't wait to start toting these bad boys out on the town...

Halloween Memories!

2010-11-03T11:53:00.000-04:00

What a fun halloween it was this year. I carved some pumpkins for the first time in forever and i felt so domesticated that i just had to toast those pumpkin seeds as well.

Super easy to do by the way. You just soak and clean the seeds, dry the access water with a cloth, lay them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, throw on some salt, and bake them in the oven at 425 for an hour.

Easy peasy, pumpkins seedsy!

I had this full on desire to dress for the weather this year, when trying to decide my costume... maybe it's just a sign of my age, but less fabric on your costume means more chills when you're out and about!

So i had rediscovered the fabulous Twin Peaks this year and wanted to express my full on love for it through my halloween spirit! So i went to the biggest park i could find in the city and went searching for a log... i got all bundled up in a big sweater and long skirt... and then for the rest of the party-town night i carried my log around with tender loving care. Yes, i went out as the log lady.

"I carry a log - yes. Is it funny to you? It is not to me."

Weekly Roundup for Awesomeness

2010-10-29T14:30:00.047-04:00

I love that as a part of my ongoing professional development I have to flip through design blogs and magazines! Life is so good! Happy Friday Everyone!

Nicodemus Green - Drink Cheap Wine ( Image Above)

*This print just spoke to me! You know when something just makes you stop in your tracks and you're just like... "Ah! I wish i thought of that first!"... well this is it! Such a clear and strong statement. It's something i would declare while pouring another glass of some cheep and cheerful new bottle that i discovered. Adding this one to the xmas wish list!

Royal T Designs - love it or leave it, yellow?

*Always in awe of designing with yellow. Royal T Designs curated a fantastic set of images with yellow at the main design feature. So bright and beautiful!

The Bedlam of Beefy - Polly Wreford Weekend

*I've been looking for ways to refinish my staircase. This disco treatment might just be the trick. Bring a little glitz into your life with every step you take!

Orange you lucky - The Warm Side of October

*This illustration of children at play in a field of mushrooms is sooo frolicy and fun! I bet they're just thinking... "my i could make a lovely risotto with these!"...

Guilty Pleasures!

2010-10-29T10:48:00.002-04:00

I have to admit that i'm a huge sucker for 80s pop! This guilty pleasure makes me yearn for junior high dance parties, threading the needle, dropping the needle, and of course the classic running man. Oh yeah! 13 year old Avril adored Black Box!

Weekly Roundup of Awesomeness!!

2010-10-22T12:35:00.000-04:00

I am Ciara
*Loving the work by London based designer and illustrator Ciara Phelan (image above)

Donut Bouttoniere
*My donut love extends to this fantastic donut bouttoniere found on gastronomista.com

Poketo Bunny Bookmard Tabs
*yay bunnies! These little guys will totally brighten your day while you're catching up on all your reading before that major exam that's worth 75% of your grade...

Justin Bieber 800% slower
*as my friend Peter sold it to me... this song is perfect for waking up to and doing some sun salutations. Mmmm.. good morning! It's pretty beautiful!

Weekly Roundup of Awesomeness!

2010-10-08T15:08:00.014-04:00

Dude Craft - The Human Printer
*Some people just got the passion and patients that it takes to create truly amazing work. The image above isn't a halftone print. It's made all by hand. Truly amazing work by artist Louise Naunton Morgan.

Gluggle Jugs
*These beautiful fish shaped ceramic jugs gurgle after you pour. They're also so lovely and would look so amazing with flowers in them on your thanksgiving table!

Matthew Bowers
* Fell in love with these geometric acidic illustrations instantly. The next time i want to treat myself i am definitely picking one of these to adorn my studio walls.

Mallory's Clothes
*Who wasn't in love with Mallory Keaton's wardrobe on Family Ties. This blog chronicles all of her outfits in chronological order.

Thanksgiving fun!

2010-10-07T09:30:00.001-04:00

Canadian Thanksgiving is only a few days away and I can't wait for all the friend and family fun! I'm pretty sure my mom is going to read this post, so this just seems like the perfect way to mention some of my all time favourite dishes she makes for the family festivities...

First is first... My mom makes the best roasted brussel sprouts. Now you'd think I would mention turkey first, but this little veggie offers all her meaty servings to my dear brother the turkey/bacon/meatball-fiend! Roasted brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes and cauliflower smothered in veggie gravy is totally where it's at!

Tofurky is delicious but gets saved for regular weekly meals... For thanksgiving my mom breaks out the most smokin' Rice Balls. A tried and true Loreti favourite that covered with my dad's tomato sauce is like a little piece of heave at the thanksgiving table. OMG! OMG! OMG!! I am already salivating with excitement.

And Don't forget the Cannoli! I have to remember to bring the dessert! Probably cannoli! My bro will probably bring the Quebon! Only at a lovely Canadian-Italian-Quebecers table would you find these classics mixed together. Seriously delicious!

New Tea Towels!

2010-10-04T10:20:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited to introduce my new line of tea towels! They're 55% Linen / 45% Cotton and a Super Beautiful addition to any kitchen around the world. I'm just in love these. They totally make me want to stand in front of my kitchen sink and dry dishes while I longingly look out the window to my backyard garden and then realize how lovely life is. Hmmmmm.

I have 6 different styles right now and in a few weeks i'm going to have a few more styles with the crossword lover, the thanksgiving baker, and the bright lights big city mover and shaker in mind.

Limited Editions 2011 Tea Towel Calendar

available in red/light blue and black/white

Weekly Round Up for Awesomeness!!

2010-10-01T09:30:00.004-04:00

HGTV - Designer vs Decorator
* 10 professionals in the design field are interviewed and asked what they think is the difference between designers and decorators. Great insights and fantastic images. I found my dream kitchen by Annette Joseph. Photo Credit : Sarah Dorio. (Image Above).

Poppytalk Handmade - October Lookbook
* Lookbook of some hot stuff from the October Indie Love Market on poppytalkhandmade.com

Black. White. Yellow
* If you like really modern and graphic design, then you're going to fall in love with this blog. Jess has got an amazing style sense and she just keeps pumping out hit after hit with her posts. Loooove!

Snoop - Ikea Cookbook
* These photographs of recipe ingredients are full out works of art!

Cool Hounting - Floor To Heaven Carpets
* Loving these! I've been keeping an eye open for a brights and (fingers crossed) fluorescent carpet for my dining room and these picks would totally fix my need. I mean fluorescent pink houndstooth!! To die for!

Shopping LOVE! Olive & Willow

2010-09-27T14:30:00.000-04:00

Oh my LOVE!!! This Deer Charm necklace by Olive & Willow just takes my breath away. It's like having a precious new sterling silver best friend hanging out around your neck that stops cute strangers in the street. "Is that a rainbow on your deer!" They'll cry. "Why yes... he's my sweetest new friend" you'll answer and then you and the cute stranger will give each other a high five and go along your way knowing that the world is a pretty spectacular place. I am in love with this deer.

Weekly RoundUp of Awesome!

2010-09-24T15:24:00.008-04:00

Suck UK Catalac Cat Playhouse - Urban Outfitters.
*Anything that is the kitty cat version of something that's really for people is 100% adorable in my book!
(Image Above)

China bracelets - Betty Joy
*Loving upcycled vintage finds

Chocolate Creative - Eco Totes
*She won me at chocolate! Then she kept rolling out the awesome with these fantastic graphic totes.

Nerd Approved - Hoodie with a hidden Vulcan salute
*Thanks Kyle for sharing this one. I am so in love with the pure geekery of this hoodie.

What I'm Working On!

2010-09-23T15:12:00.000-04:00

Wine totes are totally amazing because, as my friend Lisa pointed out... they usually have wine inside them! So I thought i'd add some to my line of goodies! I think they'll be ready to go for next week. That is, if Nico doesn't get to them first.

My kittie isn't big on people food but he does love taking big whiffs of wine. He'll stick his nose in my wine glass and take nice long sniffs.... and Yes, he totally can't walk straight afterwards.

Off to Sewing School!

2010-09-23T11:03:00.002-04:00

Whether you've been sewing since before you could walk or you've been dreaming about making yourself a dress, but have no idea what the difference is between a dart, a baste, and an overcast stitch, thenSewing School is meant for you!

The amazingly crafty Jordynn Mackenzie has teamed up with the sewtastic Jessica Krecklo to bring you SEWING SCHOOL – your online resource for all things sewing. They're starting with the basics and then moving onto some seriously fun lessons. I'm gonna take a look right now and find out about some new tools of the trade that can make my sewing experience way more fun!

Congrats Ladies!!! Can't wait to see what you teach us next!!

New Weekly Roundup!

2010-09-17T15:30:00.001-04:00

I think i'm gonna try my hand at weekly roundups! I'm having a pretty hard time finding my bookmarks and remembering where i put links to awesome things that i find online, so now i'm just going to collect them all on my blog. One place to go for the random awesomeness that i spot online.

Design*Sponge - poka cycle
* Awesome bike chain guards and head plates designed by Suzanne Carson in Toronto! Yay fellow toron'o peeps!
(Image Above)

Apartment Therapy - All About Estate Sales : A Crash Course and Tips for Newbies
* I'm a pretty obsessed antique shopper and I've always wanted to try the estate sales but i'm way too chicken. These tips are making me feel like i could handle it a bit more.

A Rowan Tree - Homemade Oreo Cookies
* OMG! (sing it like Usher!) These look scrumptious! Must make soon.

Another Lunch - Bento Snack : 90210 day
* New fave blog! Beuatiful lunches!

jokemijn - milk pot
* I've been looking for small pots and pans for some mini cooking, cuz i'm still not convinced i need a microwave. I mean isn't this milk pot soooo pretty.

New Tasty Recipes

2010-09-16T09:00:00.003-04:00

I discovered this recipe for Winter Lentil Soup on RealSimple.com last week and it was delicious. Totally vegetarian and 100% easy to make.

Filled with tasty favourites like sweet potatoes, lentils, and kale. I curled up with bowl after bowl while watching True Blood. It was so warming now that the chilly weather is swooping in.

Now I can't ever follow a recipe without making a few changes or adding a few more ingredients. So if you're interested in trying this soup, then definitely try adding in some nutmeg in the middle of the cooking time, and then some orange zest right at the end. I also swapped the thyme for rosemary, just cuz that's what i had in the garden.

100% Autumnal Love!

Queen West Art Crawl! This weekend!

2010-09-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

If you're in Toronto this weekend and you're itching for some local art and craft then come by the Queen West Art Crawl Outdoor Art Show and Sale to get your fix!

250 artists, designers, and craftspeople will be at Trinity Bellwoods Park showing off their wares on Sat Sept 18th and Sun Sept 19th.

I'll be featuring my new tea towels and a few other surprises along with some fan favourites!

Come by and say hi!

Queen West Art Crawl Finds! Shuyu Lu!

2010-09-14T14:11:00.003-04:00

If you're in Toronto this weekend you should definitely come check out the Queen West Art Crawl. I've been busily getting ready for the show for the last few weeks and now I'm peaking through the Artist Profiles and I'm finding so many juicy looking vendors that i can't wait to check out.

I'm looking forward to seeing Shuyu Lu's pieces that mix screen printing and embroidery of whimsical imagery based on the melding of Chinese and Western Cultures. I just love all the Toronto street scenes. So Nostalgic!

Weekend Fun

2010-09-14T09:17:00.004-04:00

On sunday i got my film fest on by seeing 2 movies in the morning and then heading on over to the open house for the new building for the Toronto International Film Festival. When we got to the end of the yellow brick road we found K'naan performing a free concert outside the TIFF Bell Lightbox Theatre.

With his sweet and beautiful melodies and his smooth sing talking in between songs he totally captured the attention and imaginations of the whole crowd. I was so thrilled cuz I've been listening to Troubadour all summer long!

What I'm working on!

2010-09-10T10:23:00.003-04:00

I got my new fabric this week and I've been busy sewing away at my new line of Tea Towels!

I've been really getting into designing the patterns and picking the colours to make prints that i just end up falling in love with. I think i have to make a line of duvet covers next just so i can snuggle up with my new fabrics. Hmmm... New goal for 2011! Make fun duvets!

Spoonflower has been a great supplier for getting my fabric printed. If you've ever dreamt about making your own fabric then definitely check them out. I've been designing my patterns in photoshop and illustrator just because that's what i know and i get confused with anything else, but if you go to the spoonflower website they give you suggestions of other programs to use that are online.

Etsy Finds : Seven Ply

2010-09-07T14:58:00.004-04:00

RAD! Just RAD!!!

When i was in grade 4 i begged my parents for a skateboard and when i got one for my birthday i was elated. It had this wicked cobra on it and it was sooo rad. What wasn't rad was my quick realization after my first run on the board that i was (and still am) awfully afraid of falling. I just couldn't kick it. So my love for skateboarding remained at a distance... but no more!

Above : Recycled Skateboard Road Trip Belt Buckle

Recycled Skateboard Urban Lemonade Medium Hoop Earrings

Check out these gnarly pieces by etsy seller Seven Ply. They reuse and recycle old skateboards and make totally unique and totally rad jewelry and accessories. The bright colours and amazing graphics that they play off the edges of the 7 layers of skateboard wood look sooo cool. I bet wearing these just keeps you young.

Recycled Skateboard Custom Order Mustache Necklace

Finally Friday!

2010-09-03T09:30:00.003-04:00

Yay Friday!!! What a crazy last week of summer. It felt like it was never ending, but then just sped by? How does that even happen anyways. I'm looking forward to a nice long labour day weekend with my friends and family. Bring on the BBQing and the vegging in the veggie garden and the antiquing on sunday.

Happy Friday!!

Coming Down the Pipeline! New Hankies!

2010-09-01T09:49:00.002-04:00

I've been dreaming and tweeting about these already and i am just to excited to finally get these guys into production. They're fun and bright and colourful and yummy! They're my new handkerchiefs coming down the pipeline!!

I'm hoping to have these available in the next couple weeks, but here's a sweet preview of a few styles.

Etsy Find : Kibber

2010-08-31T11:21:00.000-04:00

Getting ready to go back to school would be so much more fun with Etsy Seller Kibber's adorable knapsacks on your back. Great designs, bright colors and fantastic fabrics make these bags such a needed school yard accessory.

Above : The Highlander in brown and orange tartan.

The Highlander in Pink Tartan

Beautiful Blog Award

2010-08-30T10:40:00.000-04:00

I received this blog award from the lovely One Sheepish Girl. Along with her blog she also runs an Etsy shop called SheepishKnitCrochet filled with great knit and crocheted pieces. Perfect for the chilly months ahead!

So to follow in the footsteps of all the fantastic "Beautiful Blog" award recipients, I'm going to share 7 facts about myself and then pass this award along to 7 beautiful blogs!!

7 Facts About Me!

1) I love to cook. Bring on the fresh produce and tasty herbs and crazy spices. I like to play in the kitchen and who knows what i'll end up with. My favrourite thing to make is always Risotto. Sooo delicious!

2) I have a sweet addiction to scouring antique stores. You get me into a new town i've never been to, the first thing i must find is the closest antique store. The above pic is from an place in Bay of Lakes, Ontario.

3) Following my antique store obsession... i have a big crave-on for collecting anything with Niagara Falls on it. I have a stack of postcards and now i'm working on making a full set of Niagara Falls plates and mugs. The more retro the imagery the better.

4) I'm left handed. I also make it a point to spot out other left handed people and then go into all the reasons why left handedness should be celebrated. We're a pretty awesome bunch. Fun fact... did you know that 5 out of the last 6 American Presidents were left handed. Obama, Clinton, Bush Sr., Reagan, and Ford. Also, Al Gore and John McCain are left handed too. I know right... Get Out!

5) It's a fact. My cat Nico should be listed in the all time top ten Amazing Cats of all time. If you ever came over he'd great you with a meow that rolls into a prrrr. He's my fave!

6) I love spending time with friends and family. I'm like the luckiest girl in the whole world to have such awesome people in my life. They are so top notch!

7) My favourite way to transition from Summer to Fall is to pick my movies for the Toronto International Film Festival. It's always a crazy process but so rewarding when I finally get my tickets back and then roll into my first movie. LOVE the film fest!

And finally... what we've all been waiting for.... I hereby grant this award to the following beautiful blogs!

Rare Treasure
Knock Knocking
Decor Addict
Design Crush
Stefanie Bezaire
Cassia
Betty Joy

Adding a third column to my blog!

2010-08-29T22:08:00.005-04:00

Finally! I found the coding to add a third column to my blog! It was pretty straight forward and i think i get it enough to tweek it on my own over time. So if you were thinking about adding a 3rd column to your blog... here you go!

Now what exciting goodies should i put in my new third column?! I was thinking about pretty pictures for the time being... oh sooo many new options!

4 Simple Goals

2010-08-27T16:28:00.004-04:00

I just discovered Elsie's 4 Simple Goals over on For the Easily Distracted's blog this afternoon and though it would be a great way to end off my work week on this sunny friday afternoon... What 4 things do i want to accomplish before 2011.

1) Take more photos of all the goodies i discover and the experiences that i find myself in everyday. Post them as soon as i get back to my computer... don't just leave them on my camera.

2) Finish putting together my new studio and post some before and after pics on my blog. Spoiler Alert... you are going to die when you see my amazing yellow and white checkerboard floor:)

3) Post every weekday on my blog. Whether it's something awesome that i find, or something exciting that i'm working on, post at least once every weekday from now until 2011.

4) Finally design my dream 2011 Tea Towel Calendar that i've been dreaming about all month of August. Design it, Print it, Sew it, Show it off!

Blog Love : Compai Blog

2010-08-27T11:55:00.003-04:00

This photo just made me scream out loud with pure joy! I totally starttled my cat from his peaceful kittie nap. This photo pretty much describes what my dream kitchen would look like. Lots of colour and lots of pattern and lots of shiny fun!

I was just enjoying my friday morning looking around for some new blogs to follow and bam!... Compai Blog you have just won my heart with this post and many more. So glad i found you :)!

via Compai Blog

Art Love : Jennifer Sanchez

2010-08-27T10:14:00.004-04:00

Eeeek! I am in love with this piece by Jennifer Sanchez that i spotted on Jen Beckman's 20x200 site that curates and sells really fantastic contemporary art online. Best part is it's totally affordable!

All the vibrant colours and the movement of the radiating rings and drippy paint just make the painting this intense environment that makes me want to do a backstroke swim in it. What a total pick me up!

Etsy Finds : Violet May

2010-08-26T10:20:00.000-04:00

There's so much fantastic art on Etsy. I can just get lost looking at all great works and totally lose track of time. I spotted Violet May last week and knew right away that i was in love with her vintage inspired pieces. The retro imagery and the soft and sweet colour palette of her artwork just makes all your troubles melt away. They bring about cozy nostalgic feelings and a sense of peaceful "Hmmmm and Ahhhh" moments.

Above : Balancing Act.

She Caught the Sun

Pop Music

FFFFOUND!

2010-08-25T21:54:00.002-04:00

OMG! I'm in love with this photo by Robert Longo that i spotted on FFFFOUND tonight. It's like you can really feel the weight of her dance steps. Like the song that she's swaying to is all about her. It just makes me want to turn up my speakers really loud and dance about to like Florence and the Machine or something juicy like that!

Marty's Butter Tarts

2010-08-25T09:46:00.004-04:00

Every once and a while I find myself realizing that I've missed out on something major. Something that everyone else seemed to know about, but it totally passed me by. Maybe it was a classic saying that I never really paid attention to until i was older like "mind your pennies and your dollars mind themselves", or maybe it was a fantastic movie that was never on my radar until recently like "The Way We Were"... hmmmm the way we were...

But the beauty of missing out for years and then discovering these finds when they're ripe for the picking is just classic gold. Like my discovery this passed weekend of Marty's Butter Tarts. I have never had such a wonderful butter tart in my entire life. It was like watching Start Wars for the first time and being blown away. It was like hearing Arcade Fire for the first time and having my ears explode. It was like saying "righty tighty, lefty lucy" for the first time and loving the way it rolled off my tongue. It's was ... soooo delicious!

Marty's Butter Tarts, you are now officially in my top ten foods to eat of all time!

Found in Bracebridge, Ontario in the heart of The Muskokas, these butter tarts are worth the drive... heck they're worth the flight if you're not in the area. Schedule your trip around the butter tarts. Go to Marty's as soon as you get to town. Enjoy a tart. Then you'll find plenty more to do in the area. Shop, hike, canoe, whatever... just make sure that you have easy access to getting back to those butter tarts. Then on the way home, buy yourself some butter tarts to bring home your your friends and family. They are just incredible!

Here I am cradling the butter tart before i attack it.

Colour Photo Filters

2010-08-19T10:18:00.003-04:00

I picked up these great little Kola photo filters for my point and shoot camera from Photojojo and boy are they fun to play with. There are the 8 colours of the rainbow in a pack and the possibilities go on and on forever! These are my grapes in grape. They're really green... but soon in a few more weeks I'll be making wine out of them.

I started out with just putting one filter flat over the lens. Then I found that I could get some pretty fun reflections when I started angling the filters around in front of the lens.

In this photo I sandwiched the filters together and shot through their edges. Here's my garden if it was made out of rainbow.

Kola Photo Filters at Photojojo

Guilty Pleasures

2010-08-18T12:53:00.003-04:00

Here's a guilty pleasure to get you through this wednesday humpday!

This was my all time favourite song in grade 4. I had just seen the movie Girls Just Want to Have Fun like back to back at a slumber party and hearing this song as the final dance number was like excitement and action and teenage awesomeness all bundled together. It still makes me wanna dance as soon as the first notes strike!

The movie stars a very young Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt, and Shannon Doherty (Pre 90210!). If you're a lady friend and you haven't seen it... download it! It probably won't hold up cuz it's from the very flashy and very fluorescent 1980s... but your pre-teenage self will just die with excitement when SJP does the final dance routine with the boy of her dreams.

"I LOVE to dance".

THEY CAME!!! My fabric is here!

2010-08-17T11:42:00.004-04:00

Well if you put it out there the universe will respond! I was hoping and praying for my first Spoonflower order to arrive today and it just did!!!

And I am soooo satisfied with the results. The colours super bright and the lines and really crisp and the fabric feels great. I am just in love right now with my new printed fabric.

So here it is. A sneak peak of my first line of teal towels. I'm still in development right now.... which is always the funnest part of running my business... so hopefully they'll be ready by the end of the month!

Woot! Woot!

Tuesday Etsy Finds! Spoonflower

2010-08-17T09:16:00.006-04:00

I've been following the fabric printing company Spoonflower for a while now. I was a bit overwhelmed by the possibilities of what I could design and get printed on their variety of yummy fabrics and finally last week I put in my first order! Of course it took me a year to place the order and then i had to get rush shipping because i couldn't wait any longer... oh so me. So while I patiently wait for my fat quarters to arrive, I thought I'd take a peak through Etsy to find some other sellers that work with Spoonflower to print on fabric.

Above : Anglepoise by PatTheCat. A handsome modern beauty. I could see this fabric being used for a kitchen towel in a bachelor pad. So sophisticated.

Tall Kitty by bonspielcreation is a little bit intimidating with his piercing eyes, but this big sweety looks like he gives a loud prrrr when you give him a head scratch. Then he'll just melt on your lap. Prrrrfect fabric for a throw cushion.

Tea and Cakes by tamaragarvey makes me want to throw a tea party on a lovely summers afternoon with all my closest lady friends. This fabric would be so lovely to make little luncheon napkins to dab the corners of my mouth after enjoying some tasty pastries. Yum.

So i keep checking my mailbox everyday for my spoonflower order to arrive. Will post the results as soon as they come:)

Working in the Garden

2010-08-13T09:45:00.003-04:00

I've gotten in the habit this summer of getting up early and working on my garden before getting to work on my crafty business. It's been a great way to wake up my creative juices and get inspired by everything that's growing around me. I don't think there's anything better than getting out in the garden with my fresh cup of coffee and seeing what new veggies have popped up or seeing what's ready to pick.

I've turned into "That Gardner" though... the one who talks to her plants. See the more I talk to a specific plant, the more attention I give it which then in turn produces more goodies. It totally makes a difference so I'm just gonna embrace the crazy... and enjoy my abundance of tasty veggies!

White Eggplants... So so tasty and pretty.

Jalapenos in front of my rose bush. Both have blown my mind with how they just keep growing and producing more and more blossoms!

Fujiyama Mama

2010-08-11T09:58:00.003-04:00

Here's the sign of a great day... Pop onto itunes to see if anything is delicious to listen to while working... then stumble upon 100 Wanda Jackson songs for $7! I mean only $7!!!

It's like back to back to back... to back... x100 gems to bop around to. My wednesday hump day is made!

Wanda is truly essential listening of every lady friend! Holla!
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Etsy Finds! Mini Cheeeeeese.

2010-08-10T11:16:00.002-04:00

One direct way straight to my heart is to make real life things into mini versions of those things... like so the cutest! So when i was poking around Etsy this morning i nearly died of cutesy overload when I saw this Cheeses and Vegetables on Board - miniature by Etsy seller yifatiii.

Oh, and it doesn't stop there. You'll also find tiny tarts and itsy bread baskets and wee spaghetti bowls and sooo much more...

Keep it in the Family

2010-08-09T10:58:00.003-04:00

I found out this weekend that making totes is in my blood. I went over to my parents for brunch this weekend... of course with a full basket of my garden tomatoes in hand... and upon giving my mom the tomatoes she said "Well i have something for you too!".

She had been doing a little digging and found a present that my dad had made for her when i was just a year old. It was a digitally printed tote with a pic of my mother and I. She never wanted to use it, and now since i supply her with plenty of totes, she thought it was a nice time to pass it on to me!

It's from like 1979... maybe 1980. And i love how it still looks so modern with clean pixely lines.

Little did my dad know that i'd grow up and start making totes of my own :)! What a great twist...

The Fruits of My Labour!

2010-08-05T09:25:00.005-04:00

So I moved. About 3 months ago Frank and I moved into this fantastic beautiful old house in Toronto and it has been a crazy ride. As always the biggest challenge is finding where you packed everything. My camera battery charger has been MIA until this past weekend.... So finally... here they are... some snaps of one of the major highlights of our new place.... our Garden!

I have to admit that this is my first garden so i'm just guessing my way through everything. I think i've been on YouTube more often these past few months watching videos on everything from pruning grape vines, to dead heading rose bushes, to controlling my exploding zucchini plant, to the biggest challenge of dealing with weeds.

As for the weeds I just decided last week that I am giving myself permission to not get too worked up about the weeds. I mean they've been getting their weed on for way longer than I've been doing my Gardening Thing... So enjoy this summer weeders... cuz next summer it's on!

Oh the fruits of my labour... it's pretty amazing to see my fruits and vegetables grow. I just picked my first batch of tomatoes this morning. It's so rewarding.

Rainy Day Dates!

2010-07-09T10:20:00.002-04:00

I'm off to meet two of my all time favourite crafty ladies! We met while doing a bunch of Christmas shows last year and have been buddies ever since! Moira Coughlan is a super handmade handbag entrepreneur. I have her Bonnie bag in yellow. Looove my Bonnie! Jordynn Mackenzie has got one of the best minds of business ideas that i know! Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

What a perfectly rainy day to go lunching and take in the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition! I'm looking forward to getting inspired by the artists at the show and maybe see something special to pick up for my new studio!

Ordered!

2010-07-01T00:54:00.003-04:00

I just ordered and now I'm patiently waiting for my new artwork to arrive!

Ever since Frank and I moved homes, I've been slowly putting together my new studio. It feels like it's been taking forever to put everything in place... whatever, more like to make places for which to put everything away in! But it's finally workable. Now all i need is to put some art on the walls.

My first piece is this fantastic photograph called think-make-think by Clifton Burt. I found it on the best site to find great photography 20x200.

Once I get a little closer to having a fully functioning (and super pretty!) studio, then I'll definitely post some photos. I can't wait to show you guys my floors too... spoiler alert... white and yellow checkerboard!!!

Who's on first?

2010-06-29T11:13:00.002-04:00

I'm here working away in my studio with the windows wide open and all I can hear is the elementary school baseball game going on behind my house. It sounds like an exciting game, but a little disorganized. The loudest voice out there is of the Teacher who keeps yelling "Who's on First? Who's on First?" I don't think he knows how classic he's being right now...

A "Loreti Family Favourite"... Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First"...

Yummy Sprinkles!

2010-06-21T10:25:00.003-04:00

I love that I'm not the only one with Sprinkle Donuts on the brain. I designed my Yummy Sprinkles Donute Tote earlier this Spring as a way of indulging in this dangerously delicious treat, but not gaining any calories.

Now... I discover this amazing font called Glaze that you can find on Handmadefont.com. Every character is made out of a decadent Sprinkles Donut!

If only this font existed when I was in Junior High. I would have totally used it for my Science Fair project display. Whether the experiment was on donuts or not.

Rainy Days Packaged Up Pretty

2010-06-16T09:58:00.004-04:00

Booo to rainy grossy days! It's pouring outside and all i wanted to do today was go out in a springy dress and visit some shops and enjoy a breezy pretty day. I better set up for a working day indoors. At least finding these beautiful little paper bags have raised my spirits. If only I could wrap up this gloomy day in one of these lovely little wrappings by minimega and put a pretty little bow on it... that would just make me go *Awwwwwe!*