these days

I haven't had much of a presence here lately. So much going back and forth between the city & and the country, wedding planning (some details of which I plan to share here soon - August 4th is fast approaching!), and preparing for the final move to Laurentian Valley to be with Andrew full-time, which we accomplished last weekend and was nothing short of epic. I have come to accept that moving plans never go as planned and was surprisingly relaxed (almost) the whole time. I think I have been successfully taking all the wisdom and advice from Meg Keene's most wonderful and endearing book, A Pracitcal Wedding, and applying it to other areas of my life. I have been actively practicing my wedding Zen and it has truly helped me to let go of all the little things, wedding-related or otherwise. I feel the most amazing lightness and the least stress I have felt in a long time.

Amidst all the craziness, I have still found time to savour the small moments and delicacies, from summer skies, gin & tonics, and Quebec's culinary delights to gardens both old & new.

And this. 

wishing you & yours a wonderful weekend. 

xo, 

sara

the order of things: lepidoptera

1. Pink and Mocha Moths by Amber Alexander
2.  Wings, original watercolour painting by Michelle of United Thread


As much as I might be embarrassed to admit this, I have been dealing with a clothes moth infestation all week. Not my proudest moment, to be sure, but one that has not only made me realize that this can easily happen to anyone, especially purveyors of vintage and second-hand wares (which I think was the source of my particular infestation), but has also made me reflect on these delicate little winged creatures and those with whom they share a family. I really am the perfect victim. I own A LOT of wool, much of which is fine merino wool and seemingly these little pests' preferred choice for spinning their silk cocoons and sustaining their livelihood. Almost as a way of consoling my grief (I have shed more than a few tears and have had a couple of breakdown moments over losing some of my most cherished woolen possessions, while stubbornly trying to save others), easing my stress, and reminding myself that there is beauty to all forms of life, I have hunted and gathered some moth- and butterfly-inspired favourites. It is amazing how various species of the same order can be so radically different, at once visually captivating and magical but also deeply devastating. Coincidentally, almost every time I step out onto the balcony to shake out a moth-infected clothing article, I am visited by a friendly monarch butterfly, as if to apologize for the harm done to me by the clothes moths and to remind md that they are not all of the same kind. It is actually comforting in an odd but light-hearted way. So here is to you, Lepidoptera. 

3. A kind of hush, photograph by Irene Suchoki of Montreal-based Eye Poetry
4. Papillon by Elle Moss
5. Untitled photograph by Craig Schlewitz
6. Never too late print by Montreal's Eva Juliet

7. Moths letterpress print by Aardvark
8. Butterfly Collector, original pencil and watercolour drawing by Julianna Swaney
9. Moths, original gocoo print by Anna Ruby King

10. Moth origami lampshade in pink and white from Studio Snowpuppe
11. moths paper and wax strong mobile by Amy Ruppel
12. Matthew Williamson's DNA Butterfly printed silk-chiffon scarf

these days

it rained all week long in the city.
the kind of rain that soothes your body & soul,
that allows you to slow down and replenish.
to take notice of  the small and mundane things,
like thick raindrops streaming
and collecting on windows.
rainy days adorned with silk garments
and cherished jewels.
overcast skies and sombre moods made brighter
by the arrival of much-anticipated packages in the mail,
by diluted colours and whimsical florals,
and by the attention to detail.

///

you might have also noticed
the subtle but beauitfully crafted blog re-design,
for which i am indebted to
the lovely Ana of Blog Milk.
she is such a pleasure to work with
and her designs are the perfect balance
of artistry and a clean, minimalistic aesthetic.
i am only just settling in
and have some more personalizing yet to do,
but i feel like the precision
and soothing feel of this new space
will allow me to focus more on content. 


as always, i have some exciting plans.
so many ongoing projects
and always all at once.

///

hope your weekend is as wonderful as ever.


xo,

sara

a few good things no. 5: silk edition

Lately, I have been obsessed with silk fabrics: raw silk, crepe de chine, silk charmeuse, and silk chiffon. There is something so sumptuous and sensuous, but also softly subtle and timeless, about silk. I recently read Avery Ellis' The Last Nude (a review of which is forthcoming), set in 1927 Paris, in which silk played a subtle but richly seductive role in the relationship between Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka and her model-muse, Rafaela. As she is searching for the perfect silk fabric in Le Sentier district of Paris to hand sew a slip for her lover, Rafaela describes the pleasure she experiences when she strokes a lustrous charmeuse in a cool pink: "When I palmed the silk my body jumped inside with longing." Owing to Ellis' lyrical and sensual prose and imagery, I could feel the sensuousness of the silk and the sense of longing Rafaela viscerally describes, not only in this scene, but every time silk is evoked throughout the book, touching on something I had already been feeling. However unrealistic and marked by my own wishful desires, I long to dress myself in nothing but silk this summer. At the same time that I feel this almost bodily desire, it seems that there are so many gorgeous designs in silk everywhere I look. I must not be alone in my longing.

1, 2, & 3. Toronto-based Fieldguided released their much-anticipated collection of gorgeous silk scarves this week, Light as a Feather, featuring enlarged black-and-white photographs taken in the late 1800s and lovingly hand-rolled hems, which Anabela blogged about here. Photographed by Anya Verdugo with styling by Megan Hart, the collection is so romantic and magical, I think everyone in the blogging and independent art & design community is swooning over them, and with good reason. I keep wavering between two favourites, mountain and venus, and cannot decide between them, even though I know I am only dreaming.... Andrew and I are on a tight budget as we are preparing for our August wedding, so I cannot bring myself to spend any of my graduate student funding on anything other than goods and wares for the wedding. Still, Anabela's work has a way of enlivening you and inspiring the best kind of reverence even if purchasing one of her creations is not currently in the stars. I think longing is a good thing.

4. I have always loved this detachable silk shirt collar by Angie of Montreal's Norwegian Wood produced in collaboration with artist Jen Storey. The wheat imagery was inspired by the prairies where Angie grew up, which, combined with the silk, evokes the magic of endless prairie skies.

5. Vintage-inspired Garden of the night dress from Kelly Love's SS2012 collection, Pocket Full O' Posies.The 100% sand washed silk dress with vintage lace hem is the perfect combination of playful and romantic. Swoon.

6. Speaking of weddings, in my continuous search for the perfect veil or headpiece (how is a girl to decide on only one?), nothing compares to Twigs & Honey. Nothing. While I think my heart has set itself upon this mini tulle veil with pearls, everything from the new collection is simply gorgeous, including this sweet and subtle floral petal comb with hand pressed silk organza petals and genuine swarovski crystals. Part of me is thinking veil for the ceremony, and a simple floral headpiece for the reception.

7. Galileo's Moon hand dyed silk scarf by Bre of Toronto's Scout & Catalogue, featuring Galileo's sketches together with images of the moon and victorian roses. The design is light and breezy like the rest of Bre's work, but I particularly love this combination of imagery and it's subtle astrological/scientific undertones. Bre manages to evoke the geek and the romantic at once, while maintaining her characteristic lightness.

8. Classic wide leg, high waisted pants in a lovely silk/cotton blend from Three Little Ducks.

9. I think these vintage-inspired First Date scalloped silk blouses from girlwithaseriousdream in her Etsy shop stylemadehere are so sweet! I love the scalloped neckline. It's also available for pre-order in a pale mint green here.

10. I think almost any contemporary cat lady would covet this large Picasso cats silk chiffon scarf by illustrator Leah Goren. All of Leah's designs are like a breath of fresh air and she makes the loveliest subtle floral patterns.

11. Absolutely love this petal-pink and creme silk charmeuse blouse by Jessica Kertis. She hits it right on with the simple description: Blossoms, ballet, blush. I am hoping to order one in mint and creme, which would better suit my olive skin tone. I think the loose, slightly cropped fit would be perfect for summer.

12. Phillip Lim's Draped Neck Shell airy silk crepe de chine tank.

13. I adore collaborations among friends and creatives with a similar sense of aesthetics. Anabela & Geoff of Fieldguided recently teamed up with Bre of Scout & Catalogue to shoot her spring 2012 collection, and the results are, of course, gorgeous. I know this is old news, but whenever I browse through Bre's wares, I am captivated again and again by the photos. While Scout & Catalogue designs are on their own already so unmistakable and lovely, Fieldguided, and especially Anabela's touch, brings to them that added bit of magic that makes your heart skip. The mood is one of soft & sultry springs and endless summers, to which this hand dyed Cinta silk headband speaks perfectly. Visit Scout & Catalogue for the lookbook and view Fieldguided's behind-the-scenes photos here.

14. Sweet, sultry, and romantic, this one-piece Ivory Tower Romper made from a reclaimed vintage silk blend by Under the Root might just be the perfect lingerie for hot summer days and nights.

15. The wonderful Ilana Kohn released her SS12 collection, available for pre-order, and there's so much crepe de chine! The designs, prints, and loosely flowing cuts are, yup, the kind you want to live in. Sigh. My favourite is the crepe de chine Elliot Shirt in the foxtail print. Photograph by Dustin Fenstermacher.

16. Love this simple and unadorned Silk Husband Tank by Lauren Jones of mydearthing from last year's SS collection. There is something about those raw edges.

17. Hand painted silk crepe de chine Indigo Ikat Dot blouse by Dani K of xsilk.

18. Dace, one of my favourite Canadian designers, seems to offer silk crepe de chine garments with every collection, and the Spring 2012 collection is no exception. The Thomas Dress, a 100% washed silk crepe kimono dress in a lovely teal colour, looks especially luxurious.

the body

Yesterday afternoon I met with my supervisor and second examiner for my oral exams, the final stage of the comprehensive examination process for my degree program. When I arrived home, exhausted and all my nerves spent, the latest issue of Acne Paper (Issue no. 13 Spring 2012) on The Body was waiting on my doorstep, the perfect reward for successfully completing this stage of my PhD.

As an art historian who researches intersections among art, medicine, and the body, with a wider interest in the history of the body, contemporary body art, abjection, and theories of embodiment, I was thrilled when Acne Paper released their Spring 2012 issue last week and I learned of the theme. My body literally throbbed with excitement. I am impressed at how quickly my copy arrived from Sweden, and with such appropriate timing! I cannot help but feel like the universe is making a small gesture in my direction when things work out this perfectly and everything seems to converge into one incredibly full moment. It makes everything that you are doing and all the decisions you've made feel so right and validated.

Much to my delight, both the front and back pages feature the work of French-American artist Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010), whom I have long respected and admired, providing a richly textured framework for the entire volume. Deeply symbolic and characterized by an experimental approach to materials and techniques, Bourgeois' work engages core themes of femininity, sexuality, childhood, domestic confinement, isolation, and trauma, both directly and indirectly referencing the body and its varied forms. 

 Louise Bourgeois, loose sheet, c.1959.   

Louise Bourgeois, loose sheet, c.1959 (left).

Louise, Bourgeois, The Reticent Child (detail), 2003 (right).

Louise Bourgeois, Knife Figure, 2002.

While so far I have only had the chance to briefly glimpse into the 256-page volume, a number of images and articles (some familiar, some entirely new) have already caught my eye, tantalizing me and beckoning me to engage with them further. I think I will spend the weekend doing just that, although Acne Paper is the kind of timeless publication you can endlessly return to, again and again.

Katerina Jebb, Doll Mouth, 1999.

Kiki Smith, Free Fall, 1994. 

Lillian Bassman, Across the Restaurant, Barbara Mullen, Paris, 1949 (left).

Lillian Bassman, Born to Dance, Margie Cato, New York, 1950 (right).

Lillian Bassman, The Line Lengthens, model unknown, 1955. 

Peter Paul Rubens, The Judgement of Paris, c.1600. The National Gallery, London.

 

Hanneline Rogeberg, Balzac XI (Claude), Barbara Mullen, 2011 (left).

Hanneline Rogeberg, Thaw, 2009 (right). 

  Bill Durgin, Cyc-9, 2007. 

Bill Durgin, Nude 4, 2009.  

The first three images are my own; the rest are from Acne Paper.

nova lily s+s preview

Today is the first day of Spring and it's gorgeous outside! To celebrate, I thought I would share a peek into the forthcoming nova lily spring + summer collection, on which I have been hard at work. This particular part of the collection features a (very) limited run of the loveliest vintage hand-painted floral wood beads in seafoam, spring green, and ivory white strung on incredibly soft deerskin leather lace or suede. I wish I had more of these rustic and vibrant spring floral beads, but being restricted by small quantities is part of the joy of working primarily with vintage, deadstock, and repurposed materials. It keeps things fresh and interesting and means that my designs are either one-of-a-kind or limited edition. I think this is part of the magic of handmade, and not something that I am willing to let go of just yet.

I will be starting to update the shop by the end of the month, so please check back, or subscribe to the nova lily mailing list. 

Happy Spring (or Vernal Equinox)!

emerson fry s/s 2012

Emerson Fry (formerly EmersonMade) launched their new sping/summer collection last week, and although I am somewhat disappointed by the name change, the look and quality of the designs have remained unmistakably the same. I have always loved Emerson's blend of sophistication and versatility, of modern city style and classic country living, but the new collection truly hits home. The rich fabrics are so dreamy but casual, the colours soft and down-to-earth, the fits both loose and feminine, perfect for summer days and nights, for both work and play. I think Emerson Fry is becoming something of a modern classic, offering women the perfect combination of femininity and practical, boyish charm.

View the entire collection here.

(Air Dots Blouse / White Mod Dress / Paulo Loafer in nude / Four Button Jacket in ivory and The Perfect Raglan Pullover / The Perfect Raglan T, Band Shorts in rose, and The Ankle Strap Heel in nude / U Dress in blue and Toe Patch Slingback in caramel and black calkskin / Light Indigo Ikat Tunic / White Sandwashed Tuxedo Shirt and Band Shorts in ivory)

weekend delights

My neighbourhood Roman Catholic church, Église Saint-Édouard in the borrough of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie. I love living so close to such a grand church. I find the sound of the bells to be oddly comforting and grounding // La chocolatine (also known as pain au chocolat) is my all-time favourite Montreal pastry. It would not be a stretch to say that I live for the chocolatine. I often eat several a week.

A display of vintage hand wall hooks at Style LABO, an incredible vintage boutique in Montreal's Mile End that features an impressive, carefully curated collection of antique furnishings, objets d'art, and curiosities. It can often be expensive, but some of the finds are so unique and intriguing that they are worth indulging in. I took home one of the smallest hand hooks and am already thinking about creatie ways to put it to use // My Sunday night bedside reading. I picked up the Penguin's "Great Ideas" edition of Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own on a whim from Libraire Drawn & Quarterly this weekend, my favourite Montreal independant bookstore. It is such a wonderful read. 

Andrew sent me a few photos of life in Laurentian Valley this weekend as the first signs of Spring emerged (the snow has finally melted!). As everything is slowly coming back to life, the backyard has been overflowing with a variety of species of birds (which has put Hunter into a craze) and he managed to capture snapshots of a few, including one of my favourites, the Morning Dove (left), as well as a Red Wing Black Bird (right). I wish I could spend Spring in the country this year and awake to bird songs and fresh crisp air every morning, but at least I will get to visit in a couple weeks and I will be able to spend the summer there. For now, my mornings are welcomed by pigeons in the back of my Montreal apartment and broken sunrises over the buildings and through the tree tops.