rennes: late winter 2012

julia of rennes just released her new collection: pale white, named after this song by Yann Tiersen and Shannon Wright. the collection is as supple and textured as the song, with just the right mood and layers of complexity. i have always loved julia's designs, craftsmanship, and simple aesthetic, but this late winter collection truly hits a new note. it captures late winter perfectly, when the seasons are about to turn and you can sense spring in the air. the combination of earthy tones and pale pastels is perfectly enchanting.

i also love how lately it seems that artists and designers aren't afraid to break out of the conventional F/W, S/S seasonal collections and are embracing the in-between. not only does it relieve expectations and pressure, but it also makes for an extra touch of magic. even if not fully appreciated, late winter is one of the best times of the year, and julia hits it right on.

visit the rennes shop to view the entire collection, and to celebrate the turning of seasons.

photos from rennes

flowers of instagram

credits: anabela (fieldguided) // jane (ill seen, ill said)


lately, my instagram feed has been coloured with photos of flowers: snapshots, still lifes, close-ups, and artful photos of bouquets. i have been reluctant to bring flowers into the house ever since i poisoned my cat with lilies last year, and i have always been the kind to spontaneously treat myself with a bouquet or even a single flower while walking through the city streets and running errands, which country living makes somewhat difficult. i am looking forward to Spring and Summer when all the neighbhourhood and nearby gardens, parks, and wildflowers will be in full bloom, but until then i was inspired to put together a few of my favourites in celebration of the soft, subtle, and sometimes vibrant beauty of flowers and the lovely ladies who so willingly and lovingly share these glimpses from their everday lives.

credits: teresa (stone & honey) // melinda josie
amy merrick // noemie (as ink remains)



credits: jane (ill seen, ill said) // sarah (saipua)
melinda josie // jen (honey kennedy)

credits: anntorian // anabela (fieldguided)
 jane (ill seen, ill said) // noemie (as ink remains)

credits: sandra juto // chelsae (frolic!)
amy merrick // sarah (saipua)

credits: emma (emmadime) // hannah (another feather)
bri (designlovefest) // kate (for me, for you)

Bri of designlovefest put it best when she shared the above photo: "six dollar afternoon happiness." her sentiment shows how easily it is to create bursts of happiness throughout what otherwise might be a mundane, exhausting, or evern stressful day. i feel aspects of that happiness simply by browsing through my instagram feed and sharing in these deligthful moments, so THANK YOU to all the wonderful bloggers, designers, and artists whose photos i have featured here for adding bursts of happiness to my long, work-filled winter days.

xo

the dress

i have been sitting on this with ever-increasing excitement for awhile now, from the moment it first stole my heart to taking the plunge and ordering it, to anxiously awaiting its arrival, and finally to trying it on and deciding whether or not it was actually the 'one.' to be honest, my heart is still fluttering and i still need some second opnions, but i think with a little bit of work (slight alterations and a good cleaning) it can be everything that i want it to be: classic, simple, understated, elegant, and even down-to-earth. 

i would like to introduce my vintage 1960s wedding dress:

it is white cotton pique with the loveliest floral embossed pattern, providing a perfectly subtle texture for a late summer wedding. the cut is just gorgeous, with a contour waist, semi-full voluminous skirt, and deep princess seaming that runs the length of the dress. i am tall and willowly, so the dress complements and even gives shape to my body, falling at about tea length. i am thinking of removing the beaded detailing on the collar and matching 'corsage' to keep it simple and uncluttered and to update its look, but also because i will be wearing my Nana's vintage pearls and i want them to stand out. i think the subtle details are the most important and are where all the fun and magic are.

both the dress and photos are from the ever-lovely vintage shop dear golden. Lauren's finds always seem to capture my heart, i couldn't imagine a better place to have found my dress. thank you so much Lauren, xo!

weekend delights

reading for my train ride // friday night snowstorm on our drive into Ottawa

glimpse of some goodies from the forthcoming nova lily porcelain series // mimosas at Sunday brunch

view of the winter landscape through the train window (somewhere in Quebec) // new Kamik rubber boots (made in Canada and 100% recyclable!) that andrew got me for spring

lovely little vintage short-sleeved sweater find in Montreal // maple pear crepe with ricotta and a side of fresh fruit, also at Sunday brunch

we're back from our weekend run into the city (me to Montreal; andrew & glasgow to Ottawa, where i met up with them again on Sunday afternoon). it went SO fast. a little too fast, but it's nice to be back in Laurentian Valley where life is cozier and much slower. i've grown so used to small-town, country living that going back to the city is somehwhat jarring. not only do i feel out of place even as i blend in, adapting to the movement and attitude of the city (which also saddens me, how immediately the city changes your state of mind and way of being), but i have become extremely sensitive to the smells! the city really does stink. the air is thick and heavy and so much harder to breathe. that being said, i also love so much of what the city has to offer: art, culture, food, shopping, education, etc. it's a love/hate relationship, i suppose. and i definitely feel myself changing as i am getting older and embracing small-town life. i didn't take too many photos over the weekend, but the few that i did seem to capture slowness rather than speed.

i won't be too active here on the blog this week as i dive into writing my comps, although i'm sure i will make some brief appearances for a breath of fresh air or change of pace. in the meantime, you can always find me on twitter and please do have a wonderful week!

february blues SALE

in light of my recent post on the February blues and given that i will be hard at work writing my PhD comprehensive exams all month, i decided to host a corresponding sale in the nova lily shop that will run for the ENTIRE month. the idea is to make room for the S/S 2012 collection, which i plan on releasing some time in March. please visit the shop for details and simply enter the coupon code: FEBRUARYBLUES at checkout to receive 20% off your order.

happy February!

xo, 

sara

weekend in the city

i am making a quick jaunt to Montreal this weekend, primarily to gather library books that i need to write my comps. andrew is taking me to Ottawa this evening so that i can catch the train, where he will spend the weekend catching up with old friends. although it will be a quick in and out, i am hoping to find time to visit some of my favourite shops and stock up on a few of the delightful things the city has to offer.

i love this colourful and quirky map of the city from Issue 6 of Pure Green Magazine, illustrated by Bess Callard of the English Muffin. my apartment is pretty much between the Mile End cup of coffee and the Petite Italie flag at the top right of the map, in what i would argue is one of the city's best neighbourhoods.

have a wonderful weekend, friends!

a print version of the Illustrated Map of Montréal is available here.

wearable porcelain: blessbless

i just discovered this recently launched Etsy shop and i couldn't resist featuring it in a new wearable porcelain post. Emily Douglas, the designer behind Portland-based blessbless, hand sculpts porcelain clay into delightfully-shaped earrings, which she offers in a series of soft and subtle glazes, ranging from natural oatmeal to mint green. the whole collection is irresistably sweet and light-hearted.

she also offers a small selection of complementary porcelain dishes so you that can coordinate your collection and display your earrings. the simple packaging is equally lovely, making just the right finishing touch.

view the complete collection here.

february blues

my February blues came a little early this year, rearing their head throughout the month of January. i wavered more than a few times, feeling stagnant and vulnerable, losing my usual confidence, having trouble sleeping and keeping regular hours, and becoming far too affected and upset by even the littlest of things. i'm hoping that because my blues already erupted full force, i can silently tuck them away and start this month fresh. although i admit, it's going to be a BIG month for me. i bit the bullet and decided to resume my comprehensive exams so that i can continue with my research. i will be receiving my exam questions by the end of the week and will be basically chained to my desk for the next four weeks, writing, day & night. oddly, i think this kind of pressure is exactly what i need.

so to bid my blues farewell, i put together a selection of good and delightfully blue things. i should probably preface this collection by saying that i've always had an on again/off again relationship with the colour blue. as a young girl, defiant that i was not in the least bit girly and in attempt to dissociate myself from all things "pink," i embraced and declared blue as my favourite colour. when my dad asked what colours my sister and i wanted him to paint our bedrooms, she chose a peach tone and i proudly opted for a soft, soothing blue. as a i grew older, i developed a love for earth tones, forest greens, and deep reds, but early in high school i reverted to my childhood love of blue, composing outfits almost entirely of coordinating blue tones and even dying my short hair the most amazing shade of midnight indigo blue. now, i am mostly drawn to and surround myself with earthy, neutral, and soft tones, but i suppose i have a special place in my heart for the blues:

1. vintage 1960s ice-blue persian lamb-trimmed wool coat from allen company inc.

2. ornate blue porcelain bear pendant (and one of my favourites; i have this beauty in moss green) by poodlebreath.

3. i recently ordered this foil-stamped blue composition book by Girls of All Work.

4. i instantly fell in love when i saw this photograph by doswell & mclean as part of project on natural dyes for Bloom Magazine (via trendland). how could i not? i basically grew up in the land of blueberries!

5. Pablo Picasso's Blue Nude (1902) from his "blue period."

6. turquoise blue "Jeanne" high waisted bamboo knickers from Hopeless. i have developed a true love affair with highwaist knickers ever since i first encountered Fortnight in the flesh back in September. i want now to wear nothing else, ever.

7. Marble & Milkweed's rose & chamomile cleansing nectar. this gentle facial cleanser is literally like spreading nectar on your skin. made with natural ingredients, it smells divine and the texture is thick and smooth, making it gentle enough for winter worn skin and perfect to defeat the February blues. Marble & Milkweed has become a staple in my own collection of skincare products. i am all about analogue beauty. 

8. arrowhead feather earrings by the lovely Montreal-based Noemiah.

background image: Blue Coral Print by Elise Mahan.