LABEL-RIFFIC!

One step closer to re-opening the shop (fingers crossed it will be next week) - my new labels arrived!

JULIA KOO

A few years ago a friend of mine moved to Shanghai and became so inspired by the local silks and textiles that she started her own company specializing in delicious robes and home wares. She has since moved to Barcelona and will be basing her business from there.

Love!

Check out her products here.

NOTTOWAY

On our way to New Orleans, V and I decided to take the scenic highway down the Mississippi River. We stopped into the Nottoway Plantation for a tour of one of the grandest homes in Louisiana and were skillfully guided from one jaw dropping room to another by a very knowledgeable retired history teacher. Built before the American Civil War and saved from looting and destruction only by a family connection to the Yankees, this plantation remains one of the best preserved plantations on the river.

FALL/WINTER 2010

Before leaving for Mexico I worked as a Creative Director for the women's retailer Aritzia. Last night they previewed their Fall/Winter 2010 line in downtown Toronto and I was lucky enough to be invited (although totally forgot to take pictures). The new season of clothing should be in stores mid-August...can't wait!

AUSTIN

After a blurry night spent in Laredo Texas just on the north side of the Mexico/USA border we headed off to Austin Texas to stay with some (lovely) family friends and take a much needed days rest. We had one goal after leaving Mexico - to hit up vintage stores and Austin came through in spades. We strolled the streets, practiced speaking English with everyone we met, looked at some amazing examples of tie dye and capped off the afternoon with our first $12 drinks since leaving Vancouver a year before. In short it was the perfect break on the long ride home...

AT YOUR SERVICE

In Mexico its common place for street vendors to walk around town blaring sales pitches out of bull horns or ringing loud bells, whistles and chimes to let people know they are right outside your door and ready to do business. It happens so often that after a few weeks you are totally oblivious to the ongoing racket and you start to revel in the convenience of having goods hand delivered to your home.

Imagine my surprise when yesterday I heard a loud bell outside our door announcing the arrival of the 'General Sharpening' van! A little piece of Mexico right here in Toronto...

GUADALAJARA

V was born in Mexico's second largest city - Guadalajara. Much like Los Angeles, Guadalajara was once several cities and towns that have now merged together into one large metropolis, with about 8 million residents and way too many cars. Before truly hitting the road for Canada we spent four days in the city making sure to soak up the sights and sounds (and friends and family) we wouldn't be seeing for a long time.

APARTMENT LOVE

V and I signed a lease for a big, old, white two bedroom apartment in Toronto that we will move into in September. It will be a huge change from our tiny casita overlooking the sea but what we are giving up in view (and year long warmth) we are gaining in architectural details and space (it will be the biggest place I've ever lived in my life). We are beyond excited and after perusing pictures of Malin Elmlid's house I hope it ends up looking a little bit like this...

For more amazing interior inspiration check out Freunde Von Fruenden - a German website that profiles the home/creative spaces of interesting Europeans...

AJIJIC

More of the little town of Ajijic. After just a month back in Canada I am already amazed at the chaos and colours in my photos from Mexico...

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Yesterday V and I drove out into the country to pick up my new (to me) industrial sewing machine! I bought it off a very nice woman that runs her own sewing business out of her basement and had run out of room for all of her machines (she has six!). She was incredibly kind and gave me a few tutorials before V strapped it onto our car and we drove off into the sunset.

Watch out leather - here I come...

SUMMER SUBLETTING

Some shots of our teeny summer sublet - thrift store furniture, V's 'birthday boy crown', some sewing (of course) and my brand new scale...

MARKET DAY

Our last Mexican market day was in a small town on Lake Chapala called Ajijic. The colours, smells and sounds on market day are out of this world...

ANTS, SPIDERS AND FLIES...

Since arriving in Toronto, V and I have been spending a lot of time at the local thrift stores - something we missed terribly in Mexico and a way to rebuild our household possessions without breaking the bank (if it didn't fit in our car we didn't bring it).

This little mason jar is BY FAR one of my favourite things we have found to date - obviously the appeal comes with the very 'scientific' looking label - 'ANTS SPIDERS FLIES'.

Oh my.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

While not as barren and foreboding as driving through the Sonoran Desert on the west side of the country, central/northern Mexico is not exactly the lush, tropical oasis most of us think of while dreaming of a Mexican retreat. It took us two days to drive out of the country and it was so devoid of Mexico's usual hustle and bustle that often it felt like we were the only two people left on earth.