ONE YEAR

One year ago today we packed our car up to the brim and started our long journey back home.

COWANATION

We live in a slightly rough area of Toronto but true to every gentrifying neighborhood some streets are better than others. We live on a particularly charming block filled with young families and urban professionals (I often refer to it as living on Sesame Street) and every year they throw a block party/yard sale called Cowanation. This years took place last Saturday and we had no idea what to expect. It turned out to be a full fledged festival - live music, treat vendors, tons of tables loaded with items to rummage through and plenty of sugar filled kids tearing around the blocked off street. The best part of the whole event was a giant bonfire/potluck held in the small local park that kept the party going well into the wee hours.

WE HOLD A HUNDRED SUMMERS

Our new Scout & Catalogue tank top is in the shop!

STUDIO UPDATE

I've been working straight since opening the shop and wanted to thank all my customers for their patience in receiving their items - they're coming as fast as I can make them I promise!

For now I thought I'd share some recent goings on in the studio:

New dye tests on silk. Such an amazing fabric to dye.

Some summer tank tops waiting to be put in the store. I'm hoping they'll be in the shop by the end of the week. My background is as a graphic designer and I'm excited to bring a silkscreened component to the line. These are tests and if they work out I'll be expanding my graphic offering.

Cat naps under scarf tents.

Many, many, many Constellation clutches in progress.

NEW CARDS!

I finally got new S&C cards and hangtags in the mail today! I can't wait to doll up all of the items waiting to be shipped out.

**If you're currently waiting for an item please note that because of the overwhelming response to the collection things are taking about 10 days to process instead of the week initially promised. Thanks for your understanding!

FILM

For months now V has been finding old cameras at thrift stores, loading film into them, and then forgetting to take pictures. Last week, after months of using the same roll of film, he brought home some developed pictures. I love how wide a span of time they capture - a trip to Mexico, our Halloween party, a gorgeous cemetery in the heart of winter and the first few weeks of our cat Mouse's life with us.

THE ASTRAL

In all the commotion of launching the summer line I realized I forgot to mention a brand new scarf in the shop - The Astral. Made from imported light wool gauze and dyed a super soft rainbow of colours this scarf has quickly become one of my most favourite Scout & Catalogue pieces. Light as a feather but with the warmth of wool this scarf will see you through a multitude of seasons.

POP-UP SHOP

Scout & Catalogue will be participating in a one day pop-up shop (June 4th) in partnership with West Elm and Etsy. Curated by the talented Anabela of Fieldguided and filled with tons of local talent this event will be worth checking out.

LIFE

A few things happening around here:

1) The new summer line is in full swing. Thank you so much for all your orders - you are keeping me really, really, REALLY busy and I appreciate it (even though a glimpse of the outside world would be nice).

**Edit: As of tomorrow (May 18) all pouches and clutches will be removed from the store while I get production help. They will be available again in a couple of weeks. Thanks for your understanding...

2) When we moved in to our apartment last fall one of the few things I was not too excited about was the condition of our bathroom. It was obvious there was water leaking somewhere but because it's a rental we decided not to get too involved. Imagine my surprise when I looked down in the shower the other day and discovered a MUSHROOM pushing a shower tile open!! I have lived in some dubious apartments in my day but never have I had fungi appear out of nowhere. Obviously this is concerning on many levels and we are now sitting on the brink of a full scale renovation - something I am excited for and dreading in equal parts.

3) This amazing book on Diana speaks for itself.

4) A new print for the Scavenger Series.

5) V and I have been working late nights on S&C and before heading to bed we've been watching The Godfather. Have I mentioned I've never seen it? Am I allowed to say that it is boring me to death? At least it's been putting me to sleep every night - 3 nights running and we still haven't finished part 1.

HERB GARDEN

We have only been living in our place since last Fall and so have never spent a summer with our two (two!) patios. Last week the weather was so glorious that we were inspired to make our front deck cozy and so a few days ago we strung up the hammock, bought a teeny patio table and made a run for the nursery. In Mexico I had so many plants it took 45 minutes every day just to water them all and so this time around I wanted to start with something a teeny bit more manageable - a herb garden. We left with a crate filled with dill, cilantro, lavender, and oregano - just in time for it to rain in Toronto for the next week.

TESOROS TOMORROW

A lot of you have been asking about the Tesoro Clutch which sold out in the first 5 minutes of my shop opening. I originally thought I only had enough leather for 2 but have managed to squeeze out 4 from the hides and so I'll be listing the extra 2 clutches tomorrow at noon EST. These are the exact clutches for sale - the first is much lighter in markings than the others and the second has a few natural distress marks. They sell for $165 each and will be available on a first come first serve basis. Good luck!

HOW-TO LASSO VERSION 2.0

For the summer Scout & Catalogue collection I updated the Lasso Scarf so that the lasso is removable. I like the idea of being able to wear the scarf multiple ways as well as without the lasso at all - whatever suits your mood. Below are 2 ways to wear the Lasso:

This option creates a look that is loose and billowy:

Step 1

Start with your leather lasso looped into the small leather loop on the scarf (the one with the arrows). Place the scarf around your neck unevenly with the shorter side (the end with the lasso) about the level you want it to be once it's fully wrapped. In the case of the above photo I placed it around waist level.

Step 2

Take the longer side and wrap it all the way around your neck making sure to that the fabric is wide while wrapping (this creates a voluminous appearance).

Step 3

Unsnap the lasso and, with it still attached to the small leather loop on the scarf (arrows), snap it around the opposite side of the scarf.

Step 4

Admire your work.

This next option creates a more compact scarf that sits higher up around your neck. This is my favourite way to wear a scarf these days...

Step 1

Start with the lasso fully removed from the scarf. Just as before place the scarf around your neck unevenly with the short end hitting about waist level.

Step 2

Take the long end and wrap it all the way around your neck.

Step 3

Take the short end and tuck it up into the scarf, hiding the end on the inside of the scarf.

Step 4

Take the long end and tuck it down into the scarf, hiding the end on the inside of the scarf.

Step 5

Take the lasso and, on the side of the scarf where both the ends are hiding, snap it around all of the scarf.

Step 6

Feel proud of your new found scarf prowess.

OPEN OPEN OPEN

Open for business! There are a few items still in production and they will slowly be added over the coming weeks. Thank you so much to everyone who has already purchased - the response has been amazing and a touch overwhelming. Over the next few days I'll be introducing you to some of my newer items so stay tuned...