skona life

things i have made recently

2009-07-28T10:50:00.001-04:00

(Please excuse the crappy photos, I only have an iPhone right now)

tea time

2009-04-20T15:52:00.006-04:00

My mom decided to have a tea to celebrate her birthday this year. I offered to make her a tea cozy and matching napkins.

In rare occurrence, I purchased all the fabric new. I used natural linen for the napkins and Park Slope and Heather Ross fabric from the workroom for the tea cozy and appliqués on the napkins.

slm - garbage/recycling-in-one-basket

2009-04-20T15:32:00.004-04:00

Wanting to recycle with ease but having enough space to have 2 bins under my desk, I came up this 2-in-1 jobie. I put recycling in the fabric bag and garbage in the space left in the bin. This works really well as I often have many small bits of paper and having them in the bag makes it so easy to transfer to our main recycling bin.

To make the bag, I measured the diameter and height of the bin. I cut out a piece of thick cotton twill as wide as the diameter plus seam allowance (I pretty much always use 1/2") and double the height of bin plus seam allowance so I would only have two seams to sew (lazy me). I folded the fabric in half widthwise, stitched up the side seams and boxed the corners (here's a tutorial). Done!

exciting!

2009-04-20T14:44:00.003-04:00

Check it out here.

The art of the tote

2009-04-09T09:06:00.003-04:00

I love a focused, one topic blog so I am thrilled that The Art of the Tote has posted about mr. sköna's Main St Market Tote Bags. Thanks Eliza!

shop update

2009-04-03T18:02:00.005-04:00

Main St Market Tote Bags have been added to the shop.

twisted bread

2009-04-02T14:15:00.004-04:00

I mentioned this bread yesterday and thought it might be nice to do a step by step recipe to entice you to try it. Really, it's so easy. And cheap. Then you can spend extra money on organic butter, fancy jams and elaborate cheeses and have a special snack or meal. I mean, what's better than homemade bread?

Twisted Bread (from Design*Sponge and Karin Eriksson)

1 oz (25 grams) fresh yeast (If you are having trouble finding it, ask at your local bakery as they will often sell you some. I have also found it on and off at Whole Foods).
2 tbsp (30 grams) salt
2.5 cups (6 dL) lukewarm water
5.5 cups (1.3 L) flour (I usually use half rye and half spelt flour)

+ Crumble the yeast into a large bowl and add the salt. Pour in a little water and mix until the yeast is mostly dissolved. Add the rest of the water and stir to combine.

+ Add flour and stir until all the flour is incorporated. A wooden spoon is essential, I think.

+ Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and place in a warm spot (on top of the fridge or hot water heater, in front of a radiator). Allow the dough to rise for 2 hours (longer is ok too. I left it once for 4 hours and it was still delicious. Not a good idea in the summer though. You can also let it rise and then put it in the fridge overnight. Just let it return to room temperature before continuing).

+ Heat the oven to 480-530F (250-275C). Grease a large baking tray. Heavily flour counter or cutting board.

+ Pour dough out (it will be quite liquidy, don't worry, this is a good thing) onto floured counter but do not knead. Cover top and sides with flour.

+ Using a sharp knife, cut dough into 3 parts. Form into oblong baguettes and then twist. Place on prepare baking tray. Slice a few slices along the top of baguette. Cover and let rise for 10-15 minutes.

+ Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes. Then lower temperature to 300F (150C) and bake for another 15-20 minutes.

+ Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack to ensure crusty bottom.

That's it! Enjoy.

back on track

2009-04-01T07:40:00.010-04:00

Where did March go? Anyone else feel like it just zipped by? There are many boring reasons why I haven't posted in awhile (reorganzing our apartment, preparing for craft shows, taxes, etc) but I shall skip them all and move on to good stuff I have seen/done lately.

+First up, I got a new bike! In the end, I choose (with Aren's expert help) a Batavus Old Dutch. It has similar lines to the Velorbis but at less than half the price. It's also available locally so no shipping charges. Mine is very similar to the one in the photos except it's glossy black, has my Brooks saddle on, a back basket and has a 3 speed internal hub. It's so nice have gears! It's a bit heavier than my old bike but I've gotten used to it and now love the gliding on air feeling.
+ I am now obsessed with bikes. I am constantly checking them out wherever I go. I even had a fleeting thought of being a bike mechanic.

+ I've been baking alot. Raspberry drop scones (I added blueberries as well), the biscuits above, chocolate chip and nib cookies, bread.

+ I've made the bread before. The recipe comes from Karin Eriksson via the In The Kitchen With series at the ever wonderful Design*sponge. I'm still using this recipe and loving it. It's so easy! The bread is lovely, hearty, crunchy and chewy. I usually use a mix of spelt and rye flour. Easy isn't always best but when it yields such great results, I'm all for it.

+ There are some new things for spring in the shop. Right now it's just scarves but soon (by the end of the week?) there will be tote bags, wallets, ties, pocket squares and possibly some new products if my prototypes turn out.

+ This stopped me in my tracks. I had no idea it even existed. via

+ I'm sure the One in 8 Million has been everywhere already but it's so good. I love how the images and photos work together so well to give you a sense of the person and their story. I feel it's more effective than a moving image somehow.

+ What else? I have been going to the gym 3 times a week and yoga twice. I think I finally understand what people were talking about how they feel so good after exercising. I also feel more balanced and focused. I agree with Holly, exercise boosts creativity.

my cape and i

2009-03-11T12:43:00.005-04:00

Awhile ago, Soulemama was pondering whether she was shawl person or not. I pondered it as well and I thought no, not really me. It's weird because I have always loved shawls. My mom has a black silk shawl with real silver embroidery (the real silver part really got me as a kid) that we loved to look at. The shawl boxes at the costume shop I used to work at were some of my favorites to go through. I just worked on a show where everyone was bedecked in shawls. But I never wear them or even own one.

The other day I was at Winners and came across this cape/shawl thing in the clearance area. Black and white, merino wool, $18 instead of $129? Sold! I wasn't sure whether I would wear it or not but it turns out to be the perfect thing to keep me warm-not too warm (Fyi, the hole is intentional {there are 3 more} and I think originally housed a ribbon/belt to bind it together. Oh, wouldn't a skinny belt look cute?).

I didn't have any black grosgrain or velvet ribbon (alas) in the house so I added a button at the top to keep it from slipping off and now I wear it all the time. Sometimes with my gauntlets when I am feeling particularly Victorian governess.

Perhaps I am really a cape person. Time will tell.

trunk shows

2009-03-11T12:23:00.004-04:00

I am very excited to part of the next City of Craft/the workroom trunk show, Hunt & Gather. The last one, Love & Rummage, was super fun and busy. People love a good rummage.

I will have more Main St Market Bags, hats, ties and a few spring surprises.

mr. sköna sale!

2009-03-11T11:22:00.001-04:00

A few deep winter things are on 40% off in the mr. sköna shop. It might seem silly to buy a winter item so late in the season (depending on where you live of course, it will be winter here in Toronto for another 2 months) but I find that having a new scarf to fend off a chilly day or cozy gauntlets to bridge those in between days can make all the difference in enjoying/hoping for early Spring.

The gauntlets were inspired by Aren who spends a lot of time at a computer and gets cold fingers. Magically, by covering your hand and lower arm but not your fingers, the fingers stay warm.

The scarves are a gorgeous neutral gray and are so soft.

slm - mending

2009-03-09T17:57:00.005-04:00

I have enormous amount of mending gathering dust in my studio. I totally believe in it but have a hard time finding the motivation to do any of it. Toronto Craft Alert's Get'Er Donewill hopefully inspire me to patch, hem and revive these gems from our wardrobes. Nothing like a deadline, everything has to be done by March 16. Check out the prizes, amazing!

Here's what needs to be done (from left to right):

Top Row
+ Blue and green plaid pj pants: Repair hole
+ 2 pairs of jeans: Replace top button
+ Dark jeans: Repair hole
+ Grey tshirt: Make it smaller
+ White short sleeved shirt: Cover coffee stain
+ Blue and white striped shirt: Repair rip in sleeve
+ Brown plaid shirt: Repair rip in sleeve
+ White and brown plaid shirt: Repair rip on side

Bottom Row
+ Gold metallic skirt: Make smaller
+ Black wool skirt: Hem
+ Green plaid skirt: Take in side seams and hem
+ Jean skirt: Take in CB and hem
+ White dress with pompom hem: Take off sleeves, add modesty panel, take in side seams and hem
+ White eyelet dress: Finish sleeves, add buttons to placket and hem
+ Striped pillowcase: Repair rip
+ Orange shirt: Make cuter
+ Turquoise sweater: Patch holes
+ Grey shorts: Hem

I declare a week of mending. Updates to follow!

2009-03-06T22:02:00.002-05:00

The Tea Party Dress on a real life toddler! I made the dress a size up from what she is now so she could still wear the dress in the summer (i.e. a long time from now).

2009-03-05T16:05:00.003-05:00

I am teaching 2 new classes at The Workroom and I am pretty excited about both. The first one is the Tea Party Dress or Playsuit from Oliver + S. I made the dress and bloomer option for a sophiscated toddler I know (model photos to follow). It's such a cute pattern, I mean bloomers?! Come on.

I also decided to do a colour story inspired by Inchmark. It was really great way to help decide on which fabrics went where and get a sense of how the colours and patterns worked together (or not, I didn't include the failures) proportionally.

It's a great pattern full of tips and yields a very well constructed outfit. Finishing details make such a difference in the way a garment hangs and wears. This pattern goes over those plus covers some nice construction details so you end up with a more professional looking garment and get a chance increase your sewing skills.

I think there are a few spots left for this class, let Karyn know if you are interested.

biz ladies toronto?

2009-03-04T09:05:00.003-05:00

I have thinking about joining/starting a Biz Ladies group (a la Design*Sponge) in Toronto for awhile. There are so many female business owners in town and it would be great to have regular meetup to hang out, talk about our businesses and learn tips business experts. Originally, I was going to have more of plan before seeing if anyone was interested but after seeing this post, I thought there's no time like the present.

So what do you think? Is there something like this already in Toronto? If not, would you or business ladies you know come be interested in participating?

2009-03-03T13:12:00.002-05:00

I think I have found all the right elements to make my ideal version of lemon poppyseed cake/loaf/muffin. My requirements were: strong lemon flavour, moist crumb, lots of poppyseeds and vegan.

I based the it on my trusty muffin recipe with some additions. I think the key is lemon oil. I finally found some that didn't contain propylene glycol and alcohol. I also added grated zest and juice of one lemon to maximise the lemon. At the last minute I decided to add glaze. I just winged it; icing sugar with the smallest amount of lemon juice to make a paste and mix mix mix until smooth, a la yarnstorm. Let me know if you try it.

Lemon Lemon Poppyseed Cake/Loaf/Muffins

1 1/2 c spelt flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 c organic raw sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c poppyseeds (more or less to your liking)
1/3 c grapeseed oil
1/4 c extra firm silken tofu
1/3 c soymilk
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 tsp lemon oil
juice and zest of one lemon

+ Preheat oven to 400F. Grease pan.
+ Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and poppyseeds with a whisk in a medium bowl.
+ Place oil, tofu, soymilk, vanilla, lemon oil, lemon juice and zest in blender. Blend until smooth and the consistency of honey. Depending on the soymilk and tofu, it might be thicker. Add a little more soymilk and oil to thin.
+ Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until just combined. Place batter in pan.
+ Bake* until tester comes out clean. Cool completely before taking out of pan and icing if desired.

*Baking times will vary depdending on the type, material and size of pan you are using. I used a round 2.3L corningware pan and baked the cake for 45 minutes. When I have used a metal muffin pan, 25 minutes was usually good.

slm - a question

2009-03-02T21:42:00.004-05:00

This week I have a question for you, dear reader. I have a ton of fabric scraps and don't know what to do with them beyond using them as stuffing for softies, etc. They are either too small or strangely shaped to be useful. What do you do with your scraps?

2009-02-25T21:43:00.003-05:00

It's officially, I'm addicted to Ginger Peach Green Tea.

slm - fix those socks

2009-02-23T20:44:00.004-05:00

My lovely wool socks (please excuse the pills) were starting to get a little threadbare around the heels and the ball of the foot. The rest the sock was fine so I didn't want to recycle them or resign them to dusting pile just yet. There weren't any holes, the fluffy wool (fleece? is that the right term?) had just worn off leaving a fine grid of threads (they must be made of a blend).

I had this idea that I could weave yarn over and under the grid which would fill in the threadbare area. Little did I know that's exactly how you darn something. Next time I'm going to try pattern darning (scroll down). I used the beautiful alpaca yarn that Magni sent me for BackTack 4.

slm - winter biking*

2009-01-27T22:10:00.004-05:00

My dream bike, the Velobris Victoria Classic

Over the last 3 years that we have lived in Toronto, I have become more and more of a biker. I biked a little in Vancouver; the rain and the hills slowed me down. Then Aren and I made a docudrama about bike theft and I started to get more passionate about biking.

This year I have biking alot, including this winter. It's really not so bad once you get started. I find it's not so much about the temperature because once you get going, your body heats up. It's the wind. A layer that stops the icy fingers of windchill is key.

My main problem this year has been my face. It's the only part that exposed and it gets so cold. I have experimented with a face covering made from the neck of a turtleneck sweater and it's pretty good. It's cozy and warm but most of the time, too warm. I am going to look into readymade ones that are thin and wind resistant.

I also got Tretorn Skerry boots this year and it has made a work of difference. Warm and dry feet, hurray!

The other thing that makes winter biking fun for me is going slow. I make sure I have alot of time to get where I am going and then I don't have to stress about being late when I need to ride slow for a 1km because there's ice everywhere.

I think the best thing about winter biking is that it helps combat the winter blahs by being outside in the fresh air and sunshine as well as getting your blood moving.

Here are some useful winter biking links I found:

+ Commuting tips
+ City of Torontowinter bike tips as well as a calendar of winter biking events.
+ User generated tips from Biking Toronto
+ An article from the Montreal Gazette about winter biking.

Let me know if you have any resources or tips.

*I know this feature is supposed to be on Mondays but this week is topsy-turvy so here it is on a Wednesday. Better late than never, I suppose.

look what i got in the mail

2009-01-27T09:36:00.002-05:00

From Aren via Tas-ka .

winter kitchen

2009-01-18T21:12:00.001-05:00

2009-01-15T11:51:00.004-05:00

Where has the week gone?!? I suppose recovering from illness and the film project Aren and I are working on explains it's disappearance. We are close to the end of the project which feels great. It's been a long one and we are ready to move on.

Some good links:

+ What We Wore. Via, found on Camilla's blog.
+ Straw straw. I was just wondering what people used for straws before plastic when I came across the gold medal entry in Muji's design competition. Check out the other designs as well. When are you coming to Canada, Muji?
+ Glove Works by Paul Villinski. Via...I can't remember.
+ How great are these baskets and bags? Via
+ Have you seen this? A little silly but some delicious combos.
+ A new favorite blog. Very British focused which I love.
+ Making candy. I would love to try some. Next time I'm in New York.

ps. doesn't my carrot look like it needs pants?

backtack

2009-01-12T15:36:00.007-05:00

+ BackTack
It was so fun! I swapped with Magfly in Norway and it was great getting to know her. Here's what I sent her:
Coffee from Cherry Bomb, homemade grapefruit orangette dipped in chocolate (in brown parchment package) and a Marimekko cup.
Handmade soft trees with some light beading.
Handmade snap coin purse filled with lip balm, mini pencil and notebook.

Here's what Magni sent me:

Delicious homemade red currant jelly (from her garden!), pen from her work, cute clay ladybug, Moleskin notebook in a handmade cover, alpaca yarn, a felted ball necklace, 3 nisses. Not shown, delicious chocolate, pretty fabric candy cones that the chocolates were in and an amazing linen bag.

Cute drawing on envelope.

slm - refill rather than recycle

2009-01-12T15:04:00.003-05:00

An easy way to cut down on the amount of packaging in your life is to keep and then refill the original containers when the contents run out. A lot of health food stores, co ops, markets etc have many bulk sections not only for grains and spices but also for household products. I refill our laundry detergent, dishsoap, household cleaner and soap containers at Grassroots, a local store focusing on green products. They have an extensive household section and have just started selling Dr. Bronner's in bulk which makes me super happy.

Big Carrot also sells household and beauty products in bulk (they have lots of shampoo and conditioner). In Vancouver, Sweet Cherubim has a good selection. If you know of any other places, no matter where they are located, leave a comment.

2009-01-09T10:30:00.002-05:00

I'm back from a nice but exhausting trip to Vancouver for the holidays. I am a bit under the weather so regular posting will resume next week.

slm - products i'm into right now

2008-12-08T13:24:00.004-05:00

(what I wore to the trunk show. Made by me from an altered vintage pattern and delicious Nani Iro double gauze)

Phew, what a week! I wanted to post again last week but after announcing the arrival of mr. sköna, I realized that I was not quite prepared for the workroom's trunk show. So I worked like crazy all week, sewing, sewing, sewing. The trunk went really well and I met lots of nice people. It was sunny most of the day and it made the lovely workroom even more lovely.

So, a new week, a new slm post. I have collected a few links of great sustainable produts and I wanted to share them with you. Most of these I haven't tested out in real life but would like to. If you have first hand experience with any of these items, let me know.

Here we go:

+ Soap nuts. Am I the only one who didn't know about these? I love everything about them: the ancientness, the fact they are not actually nuts (I'm allergic), their simplicity and gentleness (Aren has sensitive skin).
+ Bulk bags. I have been thinking about this for yonks. I buy a lot of items in bulk and dread bringing home the useless plastic bags. I think using silk and nylon is genius. It be even better if the fabric was upcycled.
+ MEC Natural Bike Lube. So nice not to have use a petrochemical to keep my bike in good shape. Speaking of bikes...
+Velorbis. Le sigh. I feel the Dannebrog might be the perfect bike. The red! But the Victoria Classic is pretty amazing as well. Ah, the Danish.
+ Paraben free deodarant . Sustainable? Well, in the sense that it keeps you healthy by not being loaded with parabens. I have considered making my deodorant as I make many of the things that we use/consume on a daily basis but for me, this where I draw the line. I am happy to support a small business and not have investment is special pots and supplies.
+ Homemade spelt crackers. I am really excited to try this this recipe. Most cracker recipes I have come across are loaded with oil not unlike most premade crackers. Now I am not anti-fat (in fact I fully embrace most vegetable fats, olive oil, mmmm) but I like the idea that they are lower in calories so you can load up on delicious toppings.

Anyone seen anything else good lately?

etsy shop up and running!

2008-12-03T21:42:00.002-05:00

Sort of. I got a few things posted and then etsy didn't want me to add anything else. So for now there are 2 hats and 2 wallets available. More tomorrow! mrskona.etsy.com

Thanks so much for all your lovely feedback and support. It means a lot to me.

slm and busy 5 - mr. sköna

2008-12-01T13:26:00.010-05:00

Simple, strong, sustainable.

I please to announce the launch of my line of men's accessories: mr. sköna. I have been working on this project for a long time and am thrilled that it's finally ready for it's debut. My etsy shop will be online in the next few days.

mr. sköna is about sustainable products that are well made and designed. When I started thinking about selling items, it was important to me that I was making items that were going be used for a long time, that used as little new materials as possible, that had minimal packaging (which is hard because I love packaging) and that were aesthetically pleasing. I used my background as a costume designer and my well-honed thrifted skills to find materials and create products inspired by nature, Scandinavian design and traditional menswear textiles.

I use only natural materials (cotton, linen, leather, wool) 90% of which are upcycled. Natural materials feel nice against your skin, wear well and are easily recycled. The only new materials I use are thread and elastic to ensure the quality and lifespan of the final product as most vintage notions are no longer in good shape. My studio (a tiny room in our apartment) is powered by green power from Bullfrog (a local green power supplier). All products come in linen pouches which alleviate the need for gift wrapping (though if you are buying for yourself, it's like getting a gift), serve as protectors when the item isn't in use and can be reused to wrap another gift.

As well as the etsy shop, mr. sköna will be at The Workroom's Holiday Trunk Show, December 7, 12-5pm and City of Craft, December 13, 12-8pm (click on the buttons on the right for more details). I'm a little nervous but mainly excited and hope that these products find good homes.

cup trial

2008-11-29T09:13:00.002-05:00

It works!

slm- stuffing

2008-11-24T22:30:00.000-05:00

No, not that kind of stuffing though it would be seasonally appropriate since Amercian Thanksgiving is coming up. I'm talking about the kind of stuffing you put in pillows or softies.

I don't use alot of stuffing but every once and awhile, I want to make something stuffed. Maybe because there aren't many great options. Poly fil looks and feels terrible. Wool stuffing is expensive and hard to find. Also it seems a little wasteful to buy a purpose made product just to make another product. But I think I have come up with a good solution - frogged wool. By either using an old sweater or one from a thrift store, nothing new in created.

This idea came to me as I was putting together my package for BackTack. Part of my package had a few stuffed items (no further details until Magfly gets her package!). I ran out of the leftover wool roving from my linen legs and was determined to use something I already had. I considered scraps, thread (inspired by Karyn) and lentils. All were rejected for a variety of reasons. Then I started thinking about yarn. I didn't have any but ah ha! that sweater in the give away pile could be frogged and supply the necessary stuffing. It worked really well.

busy 4 - back tack (busy 3 coming soon)

2008-11-24T22:20:00.004-05:00

I am so excited to be participating in BackTack this year. I have been so inspired by the dedication, workmanship and innovation of the past swaps. I was thrilled to be paired up with Magfly who lives in Norway. It's been fun getting to know her and thinking of things she would like.

I finished my package and sent it off this weekend, phew. As soon as it arrives in Norway, I'll post photos of what I sent. I hope it gets there in one piece.

diy ham

2008-11-19T12:58:00.003-05:00

There are many tools that are essential for sewing: needles, iron, thread and chalk come readily to mind. One that often gets overlooked is a tailor's ham (and yes, it's called a ham cuz it looks like one). It's basically a firm, rounded cushion that allows you to press curved seams so they retain their original, curved shape.

For some reason, I didn't take mine with us when we moved to Toronto. I've made due for the last little while, piling sweaters or towels under a seam to create the right curve. I plan to make one as most commercially available hams are filled with sawdust rather than fiber and aren't quite as nice to work with. Have I even started on this project, project #257 out of #489? Nope. Le sigh.

I usually use the ham at The Workroom when I'm there to teach. Then one day, it hit me. The large cones of thread and yarn that I can't pass up at thrift stores could work as a stand-in, diy ham. I tried it out and success! While there are not as many options of types of curves, the yarn cone works pretty well. One caveat, I would only use one that has a natural fiber on it (the high heat and steam from the iron could cause a synthetic to melt and go icky) and that is a neutral/natural colour as the steam from the iron could cause the dye to lift and stain your project.

And that strangely shape green piece on my ham? I will hopefully be able to reveal what is it and what's part of by the end of the week.

Danish Christmas Bazaar 3

2008-11-17T15:08:00.006-05:00

This weekend LW and her man headed north with Aren and I to the Danish Christmas Bazaar. I love it so. The basement is filled with tables of people eating open faced sandwiches, the second floor has crafts and the attic has a white elephant sale. Heaven!

I found a few things as per usual....

slm - back from the dead

2008-11-17T14:54:00.004-05:00

Remember when I ambitiously started a weekly feature on skönalife? Yeah, me neither. Well, not quite. Fear not, I haven't abandoned sustainable living just the documentation of it and that's about to change (even if I'm a day late).

My latest quest has been for resusable coffee/tea cup. Aren and I both enjoy an americano a couple of times a week. Until a few months ago, we both had great resuable cups. They were great; perfect size for a medium americano (10 oz), kept the coffee hot and in the container, not in the bottom of our bags. Then they broke/came apart. Since then we have been on the look out something not too big, without a handle, without a plastic rim, not made in China and not hideous. We haven't found anything locally and resigned ourselves finding something online.

I searched around today and rediscovered this which made the blog rounds awhile ago: design savvy, good size but it might be too fragile and I'm not sure how I feel about drinking hot liquids through silicone on a regular basis. Then I came upon this post on No Impact Man. Of course! it's almost too easy. A resused glass jar with a good lid, it makes sense. We are going to try out our resused salsa jars asap.

busy part 2 - the workroom

2008-11-12T12:12:00.006-05:00

Photo courtesy of The Workroom

I have been also busy teaching classes at The Workroom and have been remiss in not mentioning them here.

The Snap Coin Purse has been a big hit and it's always great to see how differently they turn out- not a single repeat in the last 12 classes!

The Wool Slipper class has been fun as well. The process of turning a blanket into warm, cute slippers is very satisfying.

Next up is the Printing Party on November 23. Karyn and I have been scheming away, coming up with a variety of fun, cool printing techniques to make your own wrapping paper, holiday cards, gift tags and ribbon. Pictures soon!

busy part 1 - linen legs and dimply cake

2008-11-12T11:55:00.005-05:00

I have been busy. I am finally finishing projects that I started, well, so long ago it's embarassing to detail the exact date.

First up is the linen legs. A little creepy but so useful. My great boots do not stand up on their own so I made substitute legs out of linen, wool roving, lentils (at the bottom for stability), lavender (to discourage beasties from the lentils and to make my boots smell nice) and my precious ribbon from my 2006 port2port press calendar (the new one available nov 17!).

I also made a dimply plum cake which was so delicious that it was consumed before I could take a picture of it. It looked very close to the picture in the link except I sprinkled powdered sugar over it before serving. I subbed silken tofu for eggs and didn't add the butter as the recipe already called for oil. Yum.

this morning

2008-11-07T09:52:00.004-05:00

Inspired by our neighborhood coffee place (Finally! A decent americano within a 5 minute walk of our apartment. Not having that nearby was really affecting our enjoyment of our new hood. Bougie, I know), I decided to make cornmeal muffins for breakfast. The ones we had there the other day were laden with dairy and eggs and I wanted to make a vegan version. Imagine my surprise when none of my cookbooks or googling came back with anything appropriate! I decided to adapt a bacon corn muffin from one of my most prized cookbooks, Sunset's Favourite Recipes. It was my Nana's.

I subbed grapeseed oil for bacon drippings, silken tofu for eggs and rice milk plus apple cider vingear for buttermilk. They turned out ok, just the right amount of sweetness for morning eats. Unfortunately, the only cornmeal I had was quite coarse so the muffins were a little crunchy. Next time, I will grind the cornmeal a little finer before using it.

from my mom's house (and garden)

2008-10-29T12:42:00.003-04:00

this is good

2008-10-29T11:48:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I made this apple tart from Orangette. It's so simple, delicious and apple-ly due to apple syrup you make (using the cores, so thrifty!) and brush over the tart. Next time, I think I will add a little vanilla, cinnamon and lemon zest to the syrup. I subbed coconut oil for butter and spelt flour for wheat.

I also recommend the stuffed tomatoes. Heavenly.

UPDATE: Karynlikedit as well (I made 2 tarts and gave her one)!

seaside

2008-10-04T09:48:00.003-04:00

early morning light

2008-10-04T09:19:00.002-04:00

2008-09-29T22:59:00.000-04:00

first large crop of the season

2008-07-03T23:57:00.001-04:00

SLM - The Bucket

2008-06-30T23:39:00.002-04:00

For this week's instalment of Sustainable Living Mondays, I bring you the bucket. We keep a bucket in our shower and then use the grey water that collects (as well as water from the salad spinner, unfinished glasses of water, etc) to water our plants. One bucket (10L) is enough for our medium sized container garden. An oldy, but a goody.

Sustainable Living Mondays

2008-06-23T09:10:00.003-04:00

What does mean exactly, you ask? Well, it's a new feature that I've decided to add to the blog. Every Monday, I will post something that relates to sustainable living. It might be something that Aren and I are doing, a cool product or idea I found somewhere else or it might come from you! I am interested in things/ideas/products that are; local, well made, repurposed, minimally processed and packaged. I have decided to do this not to be all righteous but simply to share information, keep a record for myself of good ideas and perhaps inspire more thoughtfulness about the choices we make everyday.

For this inaugural post, I bring you jam. This weekend I made my first batch of jam ever. Now growing up, my sister and I helped my mom can a ton of stuff every summer (seriously: peaches, cherries, apricots, corn, meat, chicken, 3 kinds of pickles, tomatoes, 3 kinds of jam) so I had an idea of how to do it but had never been the one in charge. Making your own jam is an easy way to eat local (mainly, as organic raw sugar and lemons do not grow in the GTA) throughout the year. Imagine being able to taste early summer strawberries in February. I am so looking forward to that!

I used Orangette's recipe from Bon Appetit. I used thrifted jars and strawberries from the farmer's market. It takes awhile but isn't very hard. Most importantly, it's super delicious! Not too sweet and pure strawberry goodness. The texture is a little soft but I don't mind. I don't actually like the super pectined jam that's practically solid. Next time, I will experiment with adding some apple or green berries which both naturally contain a lot of pectin to it jells just a little more.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions for this segment and if you make the jam. I'm going to make apricot and raspberry next.

fluffy

2008-06-19T09:49:00.004-04:00

The first peonies of the season (from our front yard).

+ These shoes make my heart flutter (via hfha)

100th post and dinner

2008-06-17T22:40:00.003-04:00

I made this (I subbed in asparagus for bok choy and chives for scallions. I also added strips of nori cuz I can't get enough of the stuff) for dinner tonight and it was super good. I have looking for the perfect tofu marinade, you know a good mix of salt, garlicky, spicy, doesn't require 10 thousand ingredients that you ditch at the end. This is it. I think what makes it genius is the grated ginger and the brown sugar. Next time, I think I will add some lime zest for a new variation.

Anyone else have any new favorite recipes?

I also just realized it's my 100th post. I think a small giveaway might be in order. Leave a comment by 9:00am Friday and I will randomly select someone. What will it be? I'm not sure but something nice and handmade.

my heart wanders

2008-06-16T21:31:00.003-04:00

My submission to My Heart Wanders.

may i suggest a popsicle?

2008-06-11T18:57:00.003-04:00

The other day, I found a popsicle mould like the one we had growing up in a funny restaurant supply store on College St. My siblings and I delighted in making popsicles whenever we could. Of course, we just poured juice from the fridge into the moulds and put them in the freezer but we felt like we were really making a treat for ourselves.

First round many years later: lemonade. So refreshing. I am excited about using fresh juices and fruits. How good would watermelon be?

//////\

2008-06-10T10:30:00.005-04:00

+ Good things from The Workroom: City Limits fabric, the best seam ripper ever (Karyn ordered it in for me) and iced mint tea. Perfect for this h.o.t. weather we are having.

+ These photographs are amazing, I wish I could see them in real life (via mav).

the light was so beautiful this morning

2008-06-07T13:11:00.003-04:00

i <3 nyc

2008-06-03T19:00:00.003-04:00

We just got back from a week in New York City. It was great, despite being scammed out of our accommodation right before we left. Thank goodness for family and the kindness of strangers.

Non-New York related items:
+ I love these Girard Flor carpet tiles.
+ This shop in Paris looks amazing (via Abigail Percy, all of her Paris coverage is great).
+ I have actually been doing mending! The power of the Internet, I tell you. Photos to follow soon.

the mending pile

2008-05-19T11:12:00.005-04:00

Now, this post is really for me. Sadly, I fear most everyone will be bored. I am hoping that by posting pictures of my mending pile, I will, well, actually mend something. Some pieces (much to Aren's chagrin) have been lingering in the pile for almost two years (and have been moved four times). I will post updated pictures as I go along.

I made this dress and pattern for a friend's baby, at the last minute, a few hours before we were supposed to go over for brunch. Clearly, it didn't get finished. Somehow, I lost part of my mind and stitched it all together, thinking that I could just turn it inside out and ta da! Nope.
To do:
+ Finish serged ends.
+ Make bias tape for neck and armholes.
+ Bind neck and armholes.
+ Press.
+ Hope that the receipent hasn't grown too much in the last 2 months.

This is a Marc Jacobs shirt that my friend LW thrifted and passed on to me.
To do:
+ Shorten hem.
+ Remove pocket.
+ Put darts in back.
+ Alter sleeves?

This dress looks hideous but trust me, it's pretty cute. It's from a commercial reprint of a 60s pattern. The fit is a little strange and see through.
To do:
+ Let out CB seam a little.
+ Finish seams.
+ Insert neck and armhole facing.
+ Insert zipper.
+ Hem.
+ Find cotton slip so I can actually wear it without showing the world my bits.

I found this Pink Tartan shirt at the Sally Ann for like $5. It's a too big and the styling is a little 'mature' but it's so beautifully constructed I had to buy it.
To do:
+ Wash in warm water and dry in the dryer and hope it shrinks.
+ Adjust back darts.
+ Put in front darts.

Atrocious, black 'office' pants. For temping and event (where I am working them not attending) use only.
To do:
+ Hem.

This another thrifted item. It's Escada and made in West Germany. I love the strange, 80s, slightly spacey, utilitarian vibe. The wool is really beautiful and the construction is impecable.
To do:
+ Hem so I don't look so matornly.

I got these jeans at Zara during one their end of season madness sales. A bit weird but only $15.
To do:
+ Taper legs (Not what you expected, probably. They fit me perfectly through the waist, hips and thighs but then super wide through the rest of the leg. I love a wide leg but sadly, am very short so it's hard to pull it off).
+ Hem (like 6" off).

This is Aren's shirt that he spilled coffee down the front. Everything else about the shirt is great so I proposed to create some sort of decorative element to cover up the stains.
To do:
+ Create some sort of decorative element to cover up the stains.

Beautiful cashmere cardigan that developed holes at the elbows.
To do:
+ Hand stitch elbow patches on.

I love the print and the hand of the fabric of this shirt so much that even though it doesn't fit that well anymore, I can't give it up. So I'm going to hack it up in an effort to make it wearable.
To do:
+ Remove sleeves.
+ Put in darts/increase darts.

This is one of Aren's favorite sweaters. It's Norwegian and so warm.
To do:
+ Create elbow patch.
+ Hand stitch patch on.

I thrifted this dress at the end of last summer. Aren thought I was nuts for buying something that I could only wear a year later. There is a bit of grandma going on in the dress but I think it can be restyled so it's cuter.
To do:
+ Put in front and back darts.
+ Replace buttons.
+ Hem.

I got this dress at a costume store sale. Again, the print and the quality of fabric got me. The fit leaves a little to be desired. Also, the upper back is a little stained.
To do:
+ Either make the dress sleeveless or transform it into a halter neck dress.
+ Take in at waist.

One of my favorite summer dresses. The zipper broke when I was working an event, just before the doors opened. Some last minute wizardry made it wearable for that night but that was it.
To do:
+ Replace zipper.
+ Restitch bodice lining.

Strangely, this print is the same as the baby dress, just in another colourway. I made this ages ago but never put the zipper in. I'm not sure if I like it anymore but I should probably try wearing before I make up my mind.
To do:
+ Insert zipper.
+ Hem.

Another item that LW passed on. I love the fabric, so summery. The fit isn't quite there, check out that neckline. Whoah.
To do:
+ Remove sleeves.
+ Use sleeve fabric to create modesty panel to handle that neckline.
+ Take in side seams to tame the A line shape.
+ Remove pom-pom fringe.
+ Re-hem.

Phew. That was a long one. Hopefully I will have something to report soon.

happy victoria day!

2008-05-19T11:08:00.003-04:00

robins are my new favorite bird

2008-05-15T08:47:00.002-04:00

There is a robin's nest on our front porch. It's been wonderful to watch the developments: the nest building, the mama robin sitting on the eggs (we did research, it appears that while both parents guard and feed the babies, only the mother sits on the nest), the feeding frenzy, seeing their little beaks sticking out. Two of the babies have now fledged, here's hoping they make it. Aren shot this little film while they were still all in the nest.

a few favorites right now

2008-05-13T15:57:00.002-04:00

+Fried rice.
So good, I stir fry whatever vegetables I have on hand (in this case, carrots, ramps, cremini and shitake mushrooms) with onions/shallots, garlic and ginger, some tofu if I feel like. Near the end, I add in tamari, sesame oil and red pepper flakes. Then the brown rice. I prefer short grain. Stir, stir, mix, mix. Put in a bowl and top with chopped up nori.

+Berry ice cream
I suppose it's technically sorbet or sherbert since it has rice milk in it. For some reason, I like to call it ice cream. It's super easy to make: put frozen berries in a blender (I have been using the food processor attachment on our handheld blender stick) with fresh squeezed citrus juice (I have tried tangelo and lime separately, both delicious. You could totally have a mix of citrus, I personally don't enjoy the 5-Alive taste), a little maple syrup and a gulg or two of rice milk. Blend until very creamy and smooth. Taste and adjust accordingly.

+Yum.

the garden report

2008-05-08T21:26:00.004-04:00

We are very excited about our container garden. We have planted herbs (cilantro, thyme, rosemary, basil, parsley, oregano and chives), greens (spinach, argula, swiss chard, romaine and red lettuces), vegetables (brocoli and tomatoes), flowers (snapdragons, violas, lavender and some unidentified purple flower) and one strawberry plant. We still want to plant another variety of tomatoes, mint, sugar peas, nastriums, radishes and hot peppers. There is something very satisfying about growing your own food.

We have been watering the plants with gray water from the shower. It's so easy; just put a bucket in the shower and presto! water for the garden not the drain.

the workroom

2008-04-15T14:41:00.005-04:00

Photo: Karyn Valino

Ever wanted to learn how to block on fabric or create a design-friendly laptop case? Well, you're in luck because I will be teaching a class on both topics at The Workroom in Toronto. The Workroom is very cool space on Queen St West that sells beautiful (and hard to find fabric), great notions and offers a variety of sewing/crafty classes as well as renting out sewing machine and crafty space by the hour. Check out their flickr site for more photos.

i heard a funny sound as i was walking...

2008-04-14T21:52:00.002-04:00

...and when I looked down, I saw that this an old leaf was causing it.

::::::::::::::

2008-04-07T17:36:00.003-04:00

Today, I wore shoes without socks and my jacket open for the first time this year.

>>>>>><<

2008-03-26T14:52:00.003-04:00

Trying to make our motel room little more like us and a little less god-awful.

tangelos

2008-03-20T22:14:00.004-04:00

...the love continues.

late winter study

2008-03-20T21:52:00.006-04:00

whoah

2008-03-10T19:10:00.003-04:00

I so needed this today (read years ago but brought to my attention again today by bits and bobbins). Also, those brooches? Amazing.

*****

2008-02-28T18:26:00.000-05:00

I love tangelos. They remind of family holidays in California.

lines and shapes

2008-02-26T09:47:00.003-05:00

I just signed up for this. I am so excited and inspired! Can't wait to check it out in real life.

2008-02-25T19:20:00.000-05:00

Now that I have more time, I'm back to proper cooking and baking. 101 cookbooks has been providing me with lots of gems recently. I have reading this website for ages, like back to the 90s. I have her first cookbook and like it quite a bit.

This cake is based on this recipe but I made it vegan. It was just what a cold night called for: lightly spiced, moist, not too sweet, tangy from the cranberries and excellent with tea. I subbed grapeseed oil for the butter, rice milk for the soy milk and 1/2 c of silken tofu for the eggs. I also added cranberries, powdered ginger, cardomon and allspice.

Recipes I have made and loved:
Thousand Layer Lasagne
Black Sticky Gingerbread
Coconut Chocolate Pudding
Tapioca Pudding
Big Sur Power Bars
Lemon Scented Quinoa

2008-02-22T19:54:00.004-05:00

I am slowly emerging from a mountain of paperwork, acres of textiles and vats of notions. The last few months have been jammed pack. I was in Vancouver for a month and a half where I designed two shows, My Dad, My Dog with Boca del Lupo and Imbolc with sirenscrossing. Both shows went well and I am happy with how they turned out.

It was interesting to work on such different pieces at the same time. My Dad, My Dog is a play that uses animation, live drawing and miniatures to tell the stories of 3 people who are in North Korea for various reasons. The piece was technically challenging as I had to consider how to blend the real, 3D world with a mini 3D world and animation, all projected on a 20' screen. I discovered that clear, clean silhouettes and colours with little surface pattern was the way to go.

Imbolc is a site specific dance piece based on the Celtic festival of Imbolc. The audience traveled to 5 locations throughout the downtown to see the piece. The concept for the costumes was pedesterian clothing with something a little off and a sense of wild nature that couldn't be contained. I had to leave before the show was completed (more below) so my process was quite different than normal. I worked with the choreographer on the concept, found the pieces, did initial fittings and then handed the show off to an assistant to bring it to fruition. Judging from the photos, I think it all came together in the end.

I left Vancouver earlier than expected for an opportunity to work with a well established designer on a series of new operas, Opera to Go. It was a bit of whirlwind; I took the red eye, had breakfast with Aren and was at work for 9:30. It was pretty much go, go, go until opening. It was a great experience. I really realize the importance of having a support network of colleagues. None of my friends are designers and while manyof them are in the same industry, they don't know the specific challenges of my job.

I also updated my website, www.revaquam.com. It only took 6 months. Aren and I are very picky. So all in all, the last 2.5 months have been good but tiring. I am worn out. Luckily, I have had the last week pretty much off and am slowly returning to normal life. I have even started baking again (more on that later).

As you might have noticed, I have decided to include more of my work and process in this blog. It's changing and evolving and it feels important to document and explore it. Don't worry, there still will be lots of crafts and cooking.

these days

2007-12-05T21:40:00.000-05:00

As everyone else has mentioned, the snow has arrived. I'm glad, it makes the wind chill somehow more manageable.

I love how the snow makes everything more graphic. Doesn't that chair look great? Not so great in real life.

All I want for lunch is warm, comforting foods. Nothing beats kale and potato soup with a baked yam.

I have started decorating...more tomorrow.

the best bread

2007-12-05T20:58:00.001-05:00

I love bread. Chewy, crusty, with a little olive oil and sea salt, with a square of dark swiss chocolate (my nana's favorite childhood snack), fresh from le boulangerie in Paris, toasted from frozen in my kitchen, all delicious. Aren feels the same way except more. Imagine his distress when wheat was deemed to be a possible allergen by our naturopath and he was banned from eating it for a month (along with a bunch of other stuff). Spelt, rye and oats are ok so it's proably not a sensitivity to gluten (though with the help of this book, I feel confident we would continue eat delicious gluten free bread). Buying spelt bread is of course possible but it's expensive and comes covered in plastic that has to be dealt with. Time to make my own bread.

Karin Eriksson's recipe for the 'In the Kitchen With...' series over at Design*Sponge looked like my ideal bread. I didn't make until last weekend because I couldn't find fresh yeast anywhere (any Toronto peeps have some suggestions?). I found some when we were in Ottawa last week and spirited home via the train.

It lives up to the picture and the reported ease. You don't have to knead but it's less complicated than most no knead bread recipes. I have always wanted to make my own bread but haven't had great success. From now on, homemade bread every week!

things i have learned recently

2007-11-29T14:10:00.000-05:00

+ Vinegar and water (half of each) takes salt stains out of leather boots.
+ Silk thread makes sewing through leather so much smoother. Plus the thread doesn't break as often.
+ Wetting a needle rather than the thread makes threading a needle much easier, via disdressed.
+ What a snow squall is like. The weather people talk about them all the time but until earlier this week, I had never witnessed one. It's very sudden, the sky gets very dark and the wind blows like crazy. With snow. And then, it's over, as quickly as it started and the sun shines.
+ If you keep your kitchen compost bucket in the freezer, you don't have to deal with fruit flies or strong smells if you don't always empty it right away.

beauty

2007-11-27T23:28:00.000-05:00

The port2port press calendar arrived today. Mav does such nice work. Each page is filled with beauty: the printing, the image, the ink colour. Bring on the new year!

colour

2007-11-26T22:14:00.000-05:00

After the gray, colour feels like a treat.

In the soup

2007-11-23T17:47:00.000-05:00

Posting everyday is proving to be a little challenging. I seem to find myself ready for bed and then remember that I haven't posted yet. Sorry about yesterday. There probably won't be a post tomorrow either as Aren and I are heading to Ottawa to see this. I'm pretty excited; Pina Bausch is huge in the world of modern dance. I also have never been to the NAC before.

I will leave you with the recipe for my new favorite soup. It's savoury, hearty, simple and filling in the best possible way. This the fortifiying soup that you need when you are fighting off a cold or about to skating on a pond. It may seem long, having to make a special broth but it comes together quickly and it's essential to the wondefulness of the soup. Next time, I think I might add some red pepper flakes.

Spanish Potato Garlic Soup
from Moosewood Restaurant Low Fat Favorites
Serves 4-6

1 large onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
2 large potatoes, cut into thin slices
1 tsp paprika
2 tsp olive oil
1 c chopped tomatoes
1 tsp dried thyme
6 c garlic broth (recipe below)

Saute the onions, potatoes and paprika in the oil, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes, until the onions have softened. Add the tomatoes and thyme and simmer for 3 or 4 minutes. Add the garlic broth and simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until potatoes are tender.

Garlic Broth

1 large whole head of garlic (about 20 cloves)
1/4 c miso
3 c water
3c vegetable stock

Preheat oven or toaster oven to 400F. Cut off the stem end of garlic head, break it into clove and peel. Bake the garlic on an unoiled pie plate for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden but not browned. In a blender on high speed, puree the roasted garlic, miso and water until smooth. Combine with stock and gently heat.

Bon appetit!

apple study

2007-11-21T23:34:00.000-05:00

For some reason, I love taking pictures of apples.

the sausage

2007-11-20T23:05:00.000-05:00

We have a pillow that we use to prop up us more comfortably when we watch movies in bed. We call it the sausage. It needed a new covering, so inspired by Design*Sponge's DIY Wednesday posts, I decided to add some graphic elements to our bedroom decor.

stupid blogger

2007-11-19T21:36:00.000-05:00

I can't upload any photos. Harumpf. Inspired by Design*sponge's DIY Wednesdays , I made a graphic pillow for our bed. I'll try posting it tomorrow.

leaves

2007-11-18T23:10:00.000-05:00

From my walk this afternoon.

good mail

2007-11-16T23:03:00.000-05:00

Lots of good mail recently.

The new Selvedge arrived and it's wonderful as usual. I felt very much like the exclamation point on the cover.

These are part of a fabric sketchbook by Louise Bourgeois. I would love to see them in real life.

I saw this book over at Posy Gets Cozy and wanted it immediately. It's lovely; dense, colorful photographs juxtaposed with recipes on airy, white pages. I made the lentil soup tonight (with roasted yams and toast), perfect for a cold fall night.

Last but not least, I ordered a port2port calendar for the second year. I am so looking forward to receiving it. The one for 2007 truely made life a little better.

grey day

2007-11-15T23:02:00.001-05:00

grey in my work

2007-11-13T23:12:00.000-05:00

dark grey

2007-11-12T22:44:00.000-05:00

The view from my apartment today. Very grey.

I made this (millet, chickpeas, cabbage and avocado with a dijon vinaigrette) in attempt to add a bit of colour and freshness to the grey, cold day.

grey around my house...

2007-11-11T20:33:00.001-05:00

...bias strip of wool that will become piping on pillows for some contract sewing I am doing...

...a drafting chair I found by the side of the road a few weeks ago...

...a thrifted candlestick...

...smooth pebbles from Bowen Island...

...and the adjustable panels of my dress form.

grey

2007-11-10T20:25:00.000-05:00

I seem to be having a love affair with grey as a colour to wear. It's a completely new relationship, you see. I have long enjoyed it as a text colour or wall colour, in fact the pages of my portofolio are grey, just not as a garment colour. I loved black deeply in university, rediscovered pink shortly after graduating after a decade-long stand off and embraced yellow in the last few years. But never grey.

This fall, I can't seem to get enough grey. My jacket, favorite dress, 3/4 sleeve boatneck shirt, turtle neck sweater, my spring bag (that I am still using). It feels comfortable and collected, simple and refined.

Inspired by this, I think I will explore grey this week.

>>>>>

2007-11-10T20:23:00.000-05:00

{For yesterday's post}.

fall

2007-11-08T21:27:00.001-05:00

/////

2007-11-07T21:25:00.000-05:00

Great fabric found here via fine little day. I wish there was an 'r' tape.

books

2007-11-06T15:25:00.001-05:00

As I mentioned yesterday, I have acquired some great books recently, from the library and from the bookstore (don't mind the ripped pillow case in the photo above, eek).

"Augustus F. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits 1905-1920": I bought it a few weeks ago and am completely engrossed by the compelling faces.

"Modigliani": Growing up, this Modigliani print hung in our house. I always loved her collar but was confused why the baby had no face. I am inspired (ironically) by his simple, illustrative approach to faces. I struggle with faces in my renderings and am hoping a fresh perspective will lead me to a better approach.

"Folk Art of Europe": I love the patterns and shapes. I have yet to go through the whole book, these are my favorites so far.

"Pure Style Living"; Ah, at last! This beautiful book is mine, to pore over and dream up ways to make our living space more beautiful and functional.

"Swedish Style": Another lovely shot. This book is a little chintzy/shabby chic for my taste but there's usually at least one thing that resonates with me. In this photo, the canopy and bedframe. Swoon.

The end.

a little late

2007-11-05T11:05:00.000-05:00

I have decided to participate in this even though we are five days into November. I just found out about so I figure better late than never, right? I've gotten out the blogging groove so hopefully this will help make it more of habit.

Last night, I hosted a CraftOn at my house. LQ and LW brought their projects (wool sculpture and cross-stitch christmas tree ornaments, respectively) and tasty treats over and we crafted away. Sorry about the blurry photo, must invest in a tripod soon.

I worked on a remodel of our bathmat. Our bathroom is small, monochromatic but a wee bit dingy (ie. needs a paint job and a tile/vanity/flooring upgrade. Ah, the joys of renting) and our yellow bathmat ended up looking stained rather than pleasantly pale. It is still in good shape so I thought a top level refit would sort it out. I was going to go a patchwork design inspired by these beautiful rugs but decided it was going to take too long. I designed block and everything (it probably already exists, I'm not an expert on quilt blocks) so maybe I'll make something else with it one day.

The other day I stopped by the Virgina Johnson store and bought some scraps for five dollars. Her prints are so lovely and just the right about of colour/scale of pattern for the bathmat project. The VJ scrap was a little small so I added a little strip of fabric and am quilting it to the mat. I am going to bind it with some linen. More photos once it is finished.

I went to library on Sunday for the first time in ages. I found tons of good books (more tomorrow) but I will leave you with this snap from 'Swedish Style'. Isn't wonderful? So simple, airy, clean. I love the contrast between the linen and the wood.

my studio

2007-10-30T10:45:00.001-04:00

My working space has gone from a medium size room, to an alcove, to a large desk in an open plan loft, to a closet as we have travelled and moved across the country. It's an interesting challenge to have to put everything away at the end of working. The limited storage space also forces me to only keep what can fit in the dresser drawers.

One day, I will have a dedicated space filled with nautral light, high ceilings, a washer/dryer, a table for sewing machines, a cutting table, beautiful storage for fabric/supplies/books and a large roll of kraft paper.

light study

2007-10-30T10:28:00.000-04:00

In the old house...

...and in the new one.

corn chowder

2007-09-21T09:50:00.000-04:00

The air is cooler now and soup seemed to be just the thing. I made one of my standbys (and Aren's favorite), vegan corn chowder. Everything in the soup was locally (and mostly organic) produced. The herbs came from our little garden.

As the soup was simmering away, I felt the need for a biscuit to accompany it. This presented a bit of a problem as I don't eat butter any more nor do I use vegetable shortening. Also, I try to use as little wheat in baking as possible. Can biscuits be made with oil and spelt flour?

I was so pleased to discover, why yes! I used a recipe from my trusty Sunset Cookbook of Favorite Recipes, adding a 1/2 cup more flour and replacing the butter with oil. They are not exactly the same as biscuits made with butter and white flour as spelt makes things a little crumbly and a little more hearty. We really liked them and they will be are our new standard biscuit. They keep well, too.

pillows

2007-09-21T08:51:00.000-04:00

It's a little strange to be subletting someone's apartment. Now, Aren and I have living in other people's apartments from the last year and a bit. It's been a great experience overall (except for the loft with two inside cats that where crazy and refused to use a litter box) and has saved us a ton of money by not having to purchase/move furniture. We've got to know the city in a different way.

It has been interesting to discover how often the presentation of a life differs from the reality of it. For example, in the apartment we are in currently, the dinning room furniture is a mix of lovely antiques from the 20s and 30s which we were thrilled to see when we came to view the apartment. Upon closer inspection, I noticed many major cracks in backs of the chairs, missing pieces and a general ricketyness. It started me thinking that perhaps while the previous occupant liked the idea and presentation of having a antique dinning furniture and a room dedicated to dinning, she might have not actually used the room.

Another thing about subletting is dealing with items that are not your taste but that you can't give away. Enter the pillows on the couch. There were many things about the pre existing pillows I did not enjoy: lumpy, unattractive fabric, strange dimensions. So I made new covers. All thrifted/vintage materials except the black demin (the gray linen like fabric, used wrong side out) which was remants from my spring bag.
The tropical leaf print might be a little summery, we'll see how I feel in November.

hi

2007-06-27T23:17:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile. More tomorrow.

pink and red

2007-05-13T07:35:00.000-04:00

Remember this? I finished it a while ago and finally got it in the mail to it's receipent, Sadie, on the occasion of her birth. I am quite happy with the way it turned out. I thought the 2" would make me mental but it was totally fine. I was surprised to discover that I liked the hand quilting more than anything else (cutting out, machine pieceing, hand sewing the binding).

I used only vintage and thrifted fabric, some yardage, some skirts/shirts. It took awhile to amass enough to get started but it was kind of fun as I had no idea what would actually be in the quilt until I found it at the thrift store.

The backing is a cozy flannel with tiny pink hearts. The binding is from a duvet cover of the Ikea persausion, I believe.

I can't wait to start on the next one. I'm thinking a log cabin summer quilt.

closer...

2007-04-20T21:21:00.000-04:00

I was inspired by the sun today (and warmth! and not having to wear a jacket!) and finally did a little planting. I look forward to eating basil with everything (I recently read a recipe for peach and basil sangaria...I forget where, of course). The planter and dish were recently thrifted.

spring! well, not quite yet.

2007-04-16T00:13:00.000-04:00

I made this lemon meringue pie for easter last week. Suddenly, while planning what we were going to eat (portobello mushrooms with roasted vegetables and tomato sauce and potato leek timbales), I felt the need for lemon and meringue. It must be this time of year.

After searching online for a recipe, I turned to my copy of Sunset Cookbook of Favorite Recipes. It's a great cookbook. Mostly solid recipes that turn out well and just enough 60s-cover-a-styrofoam-ball-with-coloured-cream-cheese-weirdness to be entertaining. It also belonged to my Nana. Here and there, little notes and adjustments are added in her handwriting. When I first looked at it, I found some very old coupons with her grocery lists on the back. I leave those tucked away, just the way I found them.

It turned out really well despite our lack of a pie plate.

This has been a WIP for awhile though it has evolved. Initally, I picked up this Norgewain sweater at a crazy thrift store with plans to alter it into something like this (there is so much other great stuff like this and this and this and this...).

Six months later and it was still sitting in my 'project/to mend' basket. I wondered if it would work on Aren and low and behold it fit him perfectly! Some new buttons later (off with the faux-pewter plastic, ick) and it's Aren's favourite sweater. I felt it needed a little something more, namely a crest. I sketched something up and decided on a blue and magenta colour scheme. Ta da! Aren's even-more-favorite sweater.

We were joking that it was too bad that he would only get a couple of more weeks wear out it this season. Little did we know that spring doesn't arrive in Toronto until June.

new shoes!

2007-04-08T23:41:00.000-04:00

I found these beauties at Value Village for $7.99 and they were brand new. They're North Star, anyone remember that great Canadian brand?

spring bag

2007-04-06T11:57:00.000-04:00

I finally made myself something. I love making things for other people and for work but sometimes you just need something nice for yourself, ya know? I used a pattern from Simple Sewing which is beautifully styled and photographed.

Please excuse the wonky stitching. My sewing machine needs to be serviced badly. I added a little surface decoration with good ol' freezer paper stencils, made the interior pocket bigger and the straps shorter.

It's a little floppy so I might reline it with the same denim as the exterior. One day.