A well mannered young lady.

Moving.

2010-01-04T22:59:00.005-05:00

new amsterdam, new york, new york fries, new jersey, new year, new zealand, new orleans, new brunswick, what else is new?
new site. (henceforth go here.)

whenthursdaybecomesfriday:

2009-12-18T00:06:00.006-05:00

Allison Schulnik's hobos (and Burberry's prorsum sandals - though totally unrelated) are my favourite things right now. After spending a good amount of time in front of one at Pulse Art Fair in Miami I realized that I like them even more in person.

The wrestler completed in all his glory at Aqua Wynwood Art Fair: finishing things feels good - seeing them on walls in other cities feels better.

Jon Todd & Robin Red
"El Campeon Grande"
144"x144"
Mixed media on wood
2009
Contact Yves Laroche Gallerie d'Art

Snowy in the head:

2009-12-16T02:40:00.004-05:00

Once I dug an early grave
To find a better land
She just smiled and laughed at me
And took her bruise back again

The Last Stand
Adam Spizak

snow storm + new sheets = extra cozy bed time.

2009-12-09T04:00:00.001-05:00

Sleepy hibernating time.

2009-11-13T23:09:00.004-05:00

I want to live here. Badly.
I would listen to Beach House and Múm always.

Wednesday. (making borscht.)

2009-11-04T21:43:00.004-05:00

& if I had a table I would put these on it.

All the fuss.

2009-10-28T16:01:00.006-05:00

Hey pig piggy pig pig pig.

Thursday. (The one before Friday.)

2009-10-15T20:38:00.003-05:00

I am absolutely swinging by Soundscapes on my way out of the city tomorrow morning to pick up the new Flaming Lips for the car ride to French town.

Sex on wheels.

2009-10-13T22:58:00.000-05:00

profound whatever.

2009-10-11T10:11:00.002-05:00

Thanks to J.M. for posting this magical little bit this morning... not even out of bed yet - what a fantastic way start the day.

Saturday. (Sunny.)

2009-10-10T14:46:00.002-05:00

After sharing three bottles of wine with neighbour friend Saturday yields minimal post-saucedown discomfort, eggs over easy with toast, bacon and homefries and this fucking great video.

Make The Girl Dance "Baby Baby Baby" ( official video )
Uploaded by placeblancherec. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

pondering transit on a rainy day.

2009-10-09T12:38:00.008-05:00

Riding Stockholms blue line on the T-bana is more exciting than your average subway ride... But this is so amazing it made me smile and laugh with rain on my roof and Jónsi & Alex in my ears. Oh David Miller! In your final days, make it so.

Saturday. (rain makes traffic sound so much nicer.)

2009-09-27T01:49:00.011-05:00

This rainy Saturday has been spent with Juana Molina, Joanna Newsom, Mum and Squarepusher drinking hot toddies and reading Murakami by candlelight. In short it has been everything I could ever want a rainy Saturday to be... or very close.

New Fever Ray video... which is of course amazing:

Seven from Fever Ray on Vimeo.

h.b. (happy birthday.) to sarah c. <3

Sunday-like Friday.

2009-09-25T20:54:00.008-05:00

In the midst of shifting sleeping and waking back into a conceivably "regular" schedule (whereby more waking hours are spent in daylight) this day has been surprisingly productive after only five hours of sleep. Fingers crossed the eBay as bread-and-butter/pay-ma-automo-bills plan goes off well.

Watch this five minute bit.
It's neat... and I think worth the five minutes.
If you're reading this on my f.b. posts there won't be anything here: F.B. blogging is second rate. Go for the real thing.

And then listen to this. It's not at all related. But trust me it's awesome. And then go buy the album because they're local and it's good to support our own kind.

It's Friday night and I'm still in my pyjamas from last night. I would openly declare a state of not-hot-ness except that I've got a stellar center part that totally fucking suits these glasses. Soon it will be bath time which will conclude the Sunday-like Friday. Or the Sunday in Fridays clothing. Or me in Thursdays clothing.

Bunnify my love.

2009-09-18T02:52:00.006-05:00

Bunnies and Jackrabbits are hitting the streets of Toronto: pardon the shitty b.berry photos - my digital camera gone broke itself.

This is the best thing in the universe right now. Seriously. Dude is so awesome he is entitled to free bunnies if e'er our paths may cross.

Off to Montreal (read: french land) for the weekend.
Over and out.

Driving with roof open & chill in the air.

2009-09-17T01:43:00.005-05:00

FEEDING OBSESSIONS -

old & new:

Completely thrilled about autumn time.

Happy Windsday.

2009-09-16T01:16:00.009-05:00

Major contributors to a particularly windy day: morning skin treatment downtown, bicycle rides (uptown and down), seasonal shift from erratic summer to magical autumn. It shall herein be known across the interverse that this particular girl has problems in wind; a fact which now brings me to acknowledge my own awesomeness in having a pretty spectacular day despite all that goddamn moving air. Now that it's almost tomorrow I'm not fighting through any more winds - it's time for sleeping.

Alarming news.
Pretty song.

Inside this day dreamy head and heart:
NYC by Matt Eaton <3

a very merry unbirthday to me.

2009-09-10T10:47:00.017-05:00

Regardless of being in NY and spending it with an apartment full of balloons and a trip to the best bar in Williamsburg (fifteen metres from home) the official birthday went down in the books as worst birthday ever having learned of my father's impending doom (read: death). Some months ago I declared a do-over and today is that day.

Last night I treated myself to a new little somethin' from the fall Opening Ceremony collection and a trip to the Opera House to see the top of Robin's Top Five. It was dreamier than I ever expected and complete with beat boxing dude as percussion section which got this ass shakkin' pretty good.

This afternoon I am crawling back into my art hole, printing and prepping for the Junction Arts Festival. Come down to SMASH this weekend where Jon Todd and myself will be painting a twelve foot tall Mexican wrestler and fresh cutout rabbits are abundant. Or come tomorrow night for the big opening party and congratulate me on making it to twenty nine point five; after three intense weeks of work, yoga bootcamp, and more work at the end of the night I'm hoping to be as creatively/drunkenly content and peaceful as the mouse at the end of the clip... twinkle twinkle little bat...

N.B.
h.b. (happy birthday.) to samy.
h.b. (happy birthday.) [do-over.] to me.

Happening. (Making things.)

2009-08-25T18:55:00.003-05:00

After hauling ass to get pieces up at Czehoski for the first of the month this (sometimes well-mannered though lately oft not) young lady jumped ship for the French River, NYC, PEI and Montreal. Three cheers for lobster. And wild blueberries. And consequently more blueberry muffins than one girl could ever figure what to do with.

Alas after so much summer awesomeness this week is for working; expect to see a very large (!) Mexican wrestler and other damn fantastic things by Jon Todd and myself at SMASH during the Junction Arts Fesival.

In the meantime check out my pieces upstairs at Czehoski and wish me well as I head out to Montana to get my ass kicked (again!) by Baron Baptiste. Dreamy lomo vacation photos will be here sometime futurey. Happy Tuesday!!!

Tickle your fancy.

2009-07-26T23:12:00.004-05:00

Today I found this:

And this:

Happy Sunday.

Feasting on Cherries and Tea.

2009-07-26T00:29:00.004-05:00

This particular Saturday was rainy.
Like torrential rainy.

After fulfilling art errands that encroach on nearly all my days since NYC (there have been eighty-six) rainy Saturday turned into wet but not raining anymore Saturday with droopy over-watered plants, dinner with my moms (free food!) and in recent hours (four) a whole lot of reading on the life and art of the late Dash Snow. He used a periscope out the window to see who was calling on him. How fucking awesome.

Pleasing my eyes and ears:
(and p.s. spending a Saturday night doing whatever the shit you want to do is an amazing thing... would be nice to open the windows though.)

Pitter Patter. (mid-July.)

2009-07-22T21:11:00.003-05:00

I've peeked out from the rock which I've been under to find this posted by the biz at the end of last month. I am so in love with it I want to find somebody to make out with on a sunny day. Boys on skateboards are dreamy.

Dukes up.

2009-07-22T13:04:00.012-05:00

Getting pieces ready to show at the end of the month; one of my favourite teachers way long ago praised me for persevering through an impossible design. My current project makes old creative challenges look like kittens riding lambs floating through fluffy clouds while rings of daisies adorn their heads and butterflies follow shedding a trail of rainbow dust behind; here commences the fight of Robin vs. Pack of Wolves. Except the wolves are disguised as bunnies. At the end of it all the bell will ring and the referee will be holding my arm in the air while the wolves lie twisted and bleeding at the side of the ring. Eat dirt wolves.

Fitting my mood as I dance around and draw in my new tutu and tiny hat:

the business of cards.

2009-07-06T13:54:00.011-05:00

Bulleted updates because I have no time to write.

Things are coming together for TOAE this weekend:

• I am covered in paint that the pressure washer won't even get off (yes I tried.)
• I officially declare myself problem solver extraordinaire; there was a lake in here, and now there isn't (among other bumps along the way.)
• If nothing else, I will have really awesome business cards... collect 'em all (there are one thousand.)
• This is the best song my ears have heard today.

If anybody out there in the world wants to visit and possibly bring me a piece of fruit I'll be at booth 750. It's at the back, where the cool kids hang out. No mangoes or bananas please - I'm allergic.

N.B.
h.b. (happy birthday.) to my cousin chris(topher.) <3

Wednesday. (Sunny.)

2009-06-24T12:52:00.007-05:00

Living in a self-manifested technicolour art-headed universe of all things patterned has led to a pretty serious case of whacked out Tetris brain. Pardon my absence... The good news is that I'm madly in love with the universe and will crawl out of this hole soon enough with goodies to show.

Pretty picture for today:

Getting my design nerd on... this is yet another thing to add to the list of reasons I yearn to trade in the b.berry for iPhone... Wood-ish 3G case by HunterGatherer. Fun little insight into his hands on creative process. Three cheers for hands on tangible design!

when i grow up i want to live in a castle.

2009-06-03T12:44:00.012-05:00

...the humble one at the bottom is ideal. I think today I'll live there inside my head.

When this behemoth of insanity (read: the print design that's taken over my consciousness) is complete, all this will make more sense.

h.b.
(happy birthday.)
to mama bear.

illness. done.

2009-05-26T21:00:00.005-05:00

After two days of bizarre sporadic fevers and having read textsfromlastnight almost in it's entirety, drawing time has come again.

Thanks to S.W. for passing along a heap-load of tunes to my hermited art nerd self; this is the most awesome thing from the outside world that my eyes and ears have experienced in the last week.

I've been tired. (one. two. three.)

2009-05-19T00:30:00.006-05:00

Super fun weekend done.
Dreamy head.
Hitting the artwork in the morning time.

THINGS I LIKED TODAY:

WHEN I WAS SIX:

working for the weekend.

2009-05-15T16:09:00.003-05:00

It's a bit ridiculous how many days I spend with this somewhere inside my head. Today is one of those days. It also happens to be one of my favourite songs. (Still hauling ass on studio set up and wallpapering the bedroom. )

getting down to bidniz.

2009-05-14T13:17:00.003-05:00

The day thus far has been spent sanding, drilling, assembling. Basically, I am a handyman. At the end of all this I will have a functional screen printing studio. I'm really hoping this will happen before the end of the weekend.

Now I'm sitting back with my cup of tea taking a break... before I hit the massive mega handyman retail conglomerate for some giant nuts. Now, let's see how many hits I get on this site for using the term 'giant nuts'.

Watch this, it's awesome.

Things I like on Monday.

2009-05-11T15:07:00.012-05:00

After dancing my face off at Dan Deacon last night (and completely drenching myself in sweat) I am a very tired girl and am accomplishing significantly less than I had intended. I did however get to hang out with my very good friends very new tiny human which was super awesome.

This is how good the show was.
1.
2.
3.

Here's some stuff I like today.

It's still April. (Holy Moly.)

2009-04-27T10:49:00.003-05:00

Saturday.
Coney Island with awesome girls watching twitterpated teenagers and less than classy middle aged borough dwellers.

Sunday.
Rotisserie style roasting on the roof with aforementioned awesome girls led to a picnic style boozedown at McCarren.

A whole weekend spent in bathing suits - so awesome.

What I did on a rainy Wednesday.

2009-04-23T14:44:00.008-05:00

Since I'm down to my last week here I'm really feeling like there are so many things I "should" be doing... which in four months in New York "should" have already been done. So yesterday I went wandering in the west and eventually found myself in my favourite couple of blocks in the meatpacking district where I inevitably made my way into Ernest Sewn where unbeknownst to me Rob Ryan has set himself up a little pop up shop in the back. I love Rob Ryan, I really do... but for some damn reason the art that was there just wasn't resonating with me. So I took a picture of the floor with crap all over it... which was my favourite part... and also reminded me of the McCaig Welles booth at Fountain in March. I love paper. And colour. And cutting paper. So the crap on the floor completely thrilled me. I swear, the future of awesomeness entails crap all over the floor.

While it was super awesome to see this stuff for real I couldn't help but think how boring the frames were. If I bought anything I would surely give it a more elaborate frame. And if this was for sale it surely would have come home to live with me in it's hypothetical aforementioned super awesome frame:

DOWN THERE
McCaig Welles at Fountain.
Beirut + party + colourful cut paper fun times.
(I'd be amazed if that fuchsia sashed dress in the foreground isn't Betsey.)

back to bk.

2009-04-20T22:50:00.002-05:00

The insurance is back on my little white (imported) car and I'm heading back to Brooklyn in the morning time (but won't be there until the evening time.)

Wishing I had more advanced digital music storage than my vintage (read: second generation) iPod so this could make the trip with me.

digging this.

2009-04-19T19:47:00.003-05:00

After hitting the booze by two thirty in the afternoon I survived my own fathers funeral and was hungover by ten at night. I am madly in love with the friends I have around me, the Beatnuts, and this.

Pretty for my eyes.

2009-04-18T10:22:00.005-05:00

Happy things for an otherwise less than happy day.
Theseareafewofmyfavouritethings.

Bunny day. (The best day.)

2009-04-13T00:49:00.009-05:00

Sunday stroll Brooklyn style: on my way to Marcy Ave.

Listening to a little o' this.

Making some o' this:

We'll float on maybe would you understand?

2009-04-11T22:04:00.015-05:00

In this extensive absence from internetdom I lost four weeks in Brooklyn, and my dad. The good news is that the trees over Havemeyer are flowering, and my birthday balloons are still afloat which is actually completely amazing. For Dad.

Healing words.

Hot kicks.

2009-03-03T00:49:00.009-05:00

I have to buy these for Margot. They're so ridiculous and therefore possibly one of the most amazing things ever.

And if I could track down these, the most amazing human shoes ever, I would be so happy to have the gold high tops I've been squwaking about forever, with WINGS!

And please just take a minute to envision Margot and I both out sporting our new kicks on the streets. If you're not laughing envision harder and get in on the funny... because I've been laughing for like four minutes straight and let me tell you it's awesome.

The website I lifted this from said it was a cobrasnake picture.

City of balloons.

2009-03-02T14:27:00.009-05:00

Balloons are so great; if not because they're round and colourful and usually in multiples (things in multiples are always better) then because they're always a surprise - it's rare to be able to pinpoint exactly when a balloon is going to come into your life.

Whenever there are balloons my heart lights up, I stop what I'm doing and I smile. They really make me happy. I'm so lucky I saw them two times this week.

Fruits of my labour.

2009-03-01T16:46:00.008-05:00

Tapping toes and snapping fingers, feeding my ongoing obsession with East Village Radio. For some damn reason it sounds more magical actually being in New York. Move On Up by the Flying Lizards sure is super. Duper.

I am accomplishing things on my own accord.
Feels good.
Heck yes.

bears.

2009-02-27T17:27:00.003-05:00

Slowly but surely, it's coming along.
Swimmingly.

East Village Radio. Holy Moly.

2009-02-27T03:07:00.006-05:00

How fortunate I am to have Chances with Wolves - one helluva fantastic radio show - to listen to while preparing this for print. Bunnies and bears to follow. I am having a love affair with my new Intuos tablet... and this here candle that smells like trees. Iamslowlygoingcrazy...

Monday. (Chilly. Willy.)

2009-02-23T22:19:00.010-05:00

Monday night is cold. Very cold. And blustery. Like Wuthering Heights Yorkshire moors blustery. The furnace is not working. Not even a bit.

My fingers are moving slower as the air is getting cooler and yet, I am hauling ass on an impending application deadline... and consequently fulfilling this damn infatuation with rabbits and budding a whole new adoration of bears.

I have also rapidly learned that while I may be adept at certain electrical or plumbing oriented household repair jobs, I am absolutely incapable of repairing a gas furnace which, to be fair, might be easier to figure out if the risk of blowing half the block over the moon were lifted.

Between birthing rabbits and adopting the role of furnace repair lady I amazingly kicked over my india ink at least four times, each time chasing the big black puddle around the floor with a spoon salvaging what I could and consequently evoking the memory of Tasha Yar's senseless death.

Keeping my spirits up:
Tut Tut Now Shake Ya Butt.
Spiderman of the Rings.

I am Cold. Very cold.

The most amazing way to live.

2009-02-08T19:13:00.004-05:00

This is the most amazing thing television has ever shown me.
It's also exactly the conclusion I have drawn after five weeks in an apartment with almost no possessions. Standing in front of eleven more I suspect a major Feng Shui attack when I return to Toronto in the spring.

Tuesday walk. (snowy.)

2009-02-04T14:14:00.011-05:00

This is what happens in Brooklyn when it snows - which isn't often. I miss the snowy heaps of home; falling on my ass and laughing at myself consistently through the darkest season is a bloody fantastic way to ward off the winter blues.

Googling 'winter blues' in images yields this picture which is great because (1) the bunny in the foreground is clearly about to be mounted by the one behind it... and (2) it fulfills my affinity for bunnies.

Walking home from the art store yesterday to pick up some fresh Microns I was thinking about the extra couple of Prismacolors I treated myself to since I was getting a little bored of the colours at home and realized how lucky I am to access any colour that suits my mood; in other places and times we would be limited to a particular palette. Lucky us. Three cheers for modern gluttonous society.

And then I took these pictures.
And then I got a haircut.

2009-01-31T12:30:00.000-05:00

After waking up at one (!), drawing all day, and getting out of my jammies after seven at night I ended up in Bushwick to see Dan Deacon.

This window was my favourite part of the night.

soinlovewiththis.

2009-01-22T01:11:00.005-05:00

My heart breaks for you, hometown crew...
but I am so in love with this -
the view.

birdfishlizard.

2009-01-20T20:57:00.004-05:00

Came to me in the night.
Astonishingly, I still remembered it the next day.

Obama day. (callooh callay.)

2009-01-20T19:05:00.006-05:00

The whitest girl you know (me) rose at nine o'clock this morning to make it to Harlem in time to watch Barack Obama's inauguration at the Apollo Theater. It was one of the most memorable days in my universe.

The event was followed with an enormous helping of fried chicken and waffles at Sylvia's and the acquisition of bright orange cotton rib leggings.

I couldn't help it; this song was playing in my head all day.

Monday. (heat wave.)

2009-01-19T22:39:00.006-05:00

While the snow made its way from sky to earth I was in my own private Bahama putting my hypercolor dress to work. It's ironic that while my crew back home was freezing through a power outage for days I end up at the opposite end of the thermometer. At the end of the day, my dress wasn't the only one around here doing the work; this is what I did today.

P.s.
Can you believe this album is seven years old?
It made it's way back into rotation today.
I'll be dreaming of Toronto Island beach, sun, and water.

Saturday.

2009-01-18T20:35:00.011-05:00

Went for a Saturday afternoon post-brunch stroll;

Saw some stuff.
Found The Future Perfect. (The most amazing place.)
Bought me some Patrick Townsend lights.

It was a very good day.

hereigo;

2009-01-17T01:34:00.002-05:00

In an attempt to hold myself accountable I'm posting do-dads that happen when this girls pen hits paper.

birds on a williamsburg wire.

2009-01-14T02:20:00.005-05:00

Caught this today on my way down the stairs.
It made my insides warm and eyes wide.
Grey winter can be pretty too.

my new house.

2009-01-13T13:24:00.007-05:00

I fashioned myself a big paper room.

Hometown boys; girl.

2009-01-13T13:14:00.012-05:00

Found these pretty bits on a walk through Park Slope on my way to see the Great Lake Swimmers in a very pretty room amidst blocks and blocks of warehouses and not much else on a very cold night and, thanks to my home and native goose jacket was able to toastily enjoy the local sights of yet another oh-so-rad neighbourhood in Brooklyn. I loved the Bell House ceilings. Loads.

New York might be bringing down LCDS, but Brooklyn makes me love existing more with every day I wake up in it. I dropped some coin at the art store yesterday; unravellings of a seven foot roll of bond paper now adorn my walls. Let the mess commence!

Recent adventures include overshooting two stops on the G train, almost getting roofied, assisting yoga classes in Manhattan, and dropping laundry off for my first fluff and fold.

To everybody inside my head: much love.
xo!

somuchtosee.everywhere.

2009-01-07T14:07:00.010-05:00

Found this gem of a gated vestibule at number forty five first ave... I think. The tiles have probably been there for a good number of decades and the patterns blew my mind. We snuck in for a closer look when somebody exited the building. It was so amazing I wish I'd packed a midnight picnic.

Eye spy Shepard Fairey; pretty street art caught my eye on my way to pick up my new Missoni towels, which turned out to be closed. So I bought a striped sweater (of course) and new jammies instead.

It's a rainy day in Williamsburg; I'm thankful for it because my umbrella makes my outfit more awesome.

day one of oh nine.

2009-01-01T11:58:00.004-05:00

Inspired by the horn section that brought in this year at Union Pool in Williamsburg, this came from Prague, via Kathryn Flynn.

This makes me so happy.

happynewyear;
resolve to see more live horns, because they're so good.

The eagle has landed.

2008-12-30T16:08:00.005-05:00

...or rather the red-breasted springtime songbird.
That is to say, I am in Brooklyn. (Williamsburg.)

Had me a nice tofu scramble with rye.
Read a magazine.
Walked the dog.

What a nice day.

Extra curricular.

2008-12-17T00:20:00.027-05:00

Some kid left his gear behind in the store today.
More fun for me.

*if anybody can help me solve this blogger formatting nightmare I'll give you a gold star - like in grade three.

colours and colours and colours of colours.

2008-12-15T01:36:00.010-05:00

Colours are what
keep me alive;
colours are what
to hold in my head.

colours are where my
my old meets new;
colours are where my
my brain finds blue.

Pending departure. (How exciting.)

2008-12-14T19:09:00.006-05:00

I'm off to nyc for three months commencing the twenty nineth of this one; most birds would fly further south, but this one stops at Manhattan.

In considering my departure, I feel panicy at the Toronto comings and goings that I will miss out on; snowy winter days and nights when streetcars drift across fresh sparkly snow, mid winter pints with friends, the TTC typeface... and after so many opportunities I still haven't made it to a Spacing magazine party. And Utopia... Oh! Dear grilled shrimp burrito - my love for you is undying.

New York City is calling.
...and an apartment in Williamsburg awaits.

My sketchbook won't know what hit it.

It was a very good looking night.

2008-12-04T18:09:00.015-05:00

After work last night I traveled a whopping forty metres to 162 Cumberland where Ministry of the Interior has set up another rad little pop up location. It was so nice to be in a room with porcelain work by Jaime Hayon; such pretty colours and patterns and shapes!

...and then there was this very amazing tour bus parked outside the Four Seasons; it kinda kicks Airstreams ass.

But I still love you Airstream.

If only for twelve days, it's refreshing to see something so awesome in Yorkville - so awesome that at six in the evening my hangover is finally lifting.

Magic Moment.

2008-12-03T08:56:00.008-05:00

Walking to my bus last night I witnessed the assemblage in progress of a new Magic Pony window; it felt like a bit of a treasure to come across.

If I weren't so sleepy I'd go out of my way to check it out on my way to work this morning to see what it became. Maybe tomorrow.

Running man.

2008-11-30T11:15:00.005-05:00

This is one of the best things my eyes have seen in this city.
Boy oh boy this picture sure makes me happy.

Dear Everybody;

2008-11-13T22:48:00.000-05:00

I miss you.

Love,

Robin in Boston.

xo!

say 'hi'.

Upside down signs are rampant.

2008-11-06T01:02:00.006-05:00

The better man won...

2008-11-05T14:32:00.007-05:00

...clearly!

I spent the evening on the best patio in the city at the Drake Hotel with good friends, freestanding gas heaters and a half litre of Malbec... and while this young lady is certainly no political aficionado this post had to be made to honour the most amazing night on the most amazing patio under really amazing light fixtures.

The (drippy) Drake.

2008-10-27T23:21:00.016-05:00

Sunday morning started with gin's revenge and it may be true that I wasn't seeing clearly, but clearly there are two sets of numbers on this house, which I thought was charmingly fitting.

Things perked up significantly when I made my way down to Queen street to see a man about a fan, and since it was so nice outside and I was in such poor shape it was the perfect time to track down my favourite red head for a frappuccino and snacks; and because laughing at myself is so much fun it is important to tell you that after telling her where to meet, I went to the wrong Starbucks and hauled ass from Niagara to Dovercourt on discovering this incredible error. What a hoot.

The rest of these are sights I particularly enjoyed on our wander; the culprit shedding all over the sidewalk outside Inabstracto, a cowboy on Queen street (in an effort to take notice and appreciate my own city's street art) and the most refreshing sight I've seen in recent memory - the (drippy) Drake with a low hanging post-storm autumn sun. My brain felt as washed as the city.

Une chaise.

2008-10-27T23:00:00.004-05:00

Today I bought myself a place to sit... and somewhere to put my tea and apple: it's a good start until my pretty black couch rolls into town.

Be still my heart.

2008-10-25T19:48:00.005-05:00

After three months of sitting on floors and window sills, the search is over. Coming to me in black leather and walnut.

Ohmygodilovethis.

2008-10-19T16:42:00.010-05:00

...went to check out dreamy handmade Swedish (heart) furniture by Jens Fager in an equally dreamy space just south of Queen. I looked at an apartment there once, which was not as dreamy, which is why I don't live there. While beautifully lit (Metal halide? Goodness, I don't know but darn it was lovely) the room was kind of quiet and socially awkward but not quite pretentious. As a result the only picture I took was of the bathroom. Which makes two consecutive posts involving bathrooms. Or as the pretentious might say - "W/C".

Following this show we made our way from West to East for Hercules and Love Affair where the dancing didn't stop from start to finish. I was a very happy girl all night long. Dear friends: I love you.

I heart (applied) art.

2008-10-18T14:05:00.012-05:00

I think free pins are a hit at any party, particularly when you can have so much fun arranging them. I always really enjoy stopping in at OBJECToronto; it's nice to know that this city isn't as staunchly conservative as it so often seems.

These wall mounted glasses by Brad Copping were the neatest thing I saw. I fell in love with them even more after learning how intuitive his process is. The best things in life happen with no planning.

...and, always a sucker for black and white tiles, I really enjoyed the bathroom at the Gladstone - evidently enough to take a photograph of it, and further still to post said photograph on the internet.

White night.

2008-10-07T21:47:00.019-05:00

While I wholly believe that this year was the least exceptional annual outdoor exhibition of this city's arts it must be said that heaps of fun was had by this certain young lady and super friend Sarah C. There was red wine, white wine, Jägermeister, and trips to bars (for bathroom breaks, of course!) amidst eight hours of on-foot exploration and run-ins with so many good friends.

CLOCKWISE

A light projection on the sidewalk from an apartment above. There was very little DIY representation this year so the sight of this thrilled me.

Projection at Trinity Bellwoods Park where I was forced into the most amazingly distorted one-ended conversation about the bourgeoisie in this city (clearly he hasn't experienced the Upper East Side) - it was evident somebody had invested (read: ingested) the equivalent monetary value of a pair of designer shoes into their nose. The irony is astounding.

The most impressive concoction of knobs and switches and interesting sounds that makes me wish I had stuck with my audio engineering studies. I was so happy to see the Speak n' Spell.

Somebody took the time to solve the mystery of what is behind that fence and up the spookiest staircase in the city. I have no idea who to credit for this, but thank you; I will forever walk slower past the dark staircase under the bridge.

My second favourite experience of the night; this needs to happen much more often.

A snowman with a message. I can't help wondering what that snowman was made from.

My dog ate my art.

2008-10-01T23:20:00.012-05:00

BEFORE AND AFTER.
It was entirely my own fault for allowing a drawing of pretty buildings on a canal in Copenhagen to get shuffled in with the Now magazine on the floor when I know how much Margot loves to eat paper - especially the expensive vellum (apparently.) I should be heart broken, but somehow am not. It must be all the yoga.

The loss is sad and unfortunate, but autumn time is inspiring and awakening; I've already felt it coming on with the air that freshens my skin and the smell that comes through my window. There will be more drawings. This weekend will be a particularly inspiring one - I'm already getting goosebumps.

Gobble gobble.

2008-09-29T23:12:00.014-05:00

In light of Thanksgiving plans being made, that autumn smell in the air and a conversation with my new (York) friend I revisited an old favourite website by James Lileks that I am so happy to see is still out there in the inter-world.

The motel reminds me of the Madonna Inn, which I stayed at on a family road trip up the coast of California in 1991. Particularly the dining room - probably because they were both pink and gaudy. Although I think the Madonna Inn dining room tops this one because of it's Liberace factor. I have such a soft spot for Liberace-esque interiors. I think somewhere there exists a photograph of my permed eleven year old self in said dining room wearing a dress with spandex bicycle shorts underneath, as was the fashion.

If only I could get all my friends together dressed in theme to go dancing at the Gobbler. Now that would be the best birthday ever. And I so want to be the girl in the sauna... but with longer Brigitte Bardot hair.

-Listening to Santogold, and really enjoying the guitar on Lights Out.

Nighty night.
xo!

When my dream boat comes home.

2008-09-28T11:44:00.005-05:00

If the door to my apartment would accommodate this I would surely buy it. Listed as "vessel for sale" on craigslist, the item description states it was formerly used as a residence. How wonderful it would be to have some land somewhere with trees and clean air and have a cozy woodland boat to crawl into at night. I would name it Green Forest.

If anybody has some land within a driveable distance and wants a weekend visitor (and beached boat) please do let me know! I make great Swedish pancakes with fried apple filling.

Holy amazing fan.

2008-09-22T19:39:00.005-05:00

I never could have dreamed anything so pretty existed in the realm of air circulation.

The Shining.

2008-09-18T13:21:00.005-05:00

Being an inherently frightened person and having heard endless accounts of film induced terror, I never allowed myself to watch The Shining until probably five years ago when I decided I was missing out on an important piece of art in our culture and took the plunge. I don't know what all the fuss was over; it is easily one of my favourite movies but it did not come close to scaring me, the easily scared. Not even a bit. There were no nightmares and no running-up-the-stairs-at-night-with-the-darkness-behind-me moments.

My favourite thing about this epic film: the pattern on the carpet in the hallway. I think about it at least once a week, I swear. Somebody reading this is probably snubbing me for not remarking on the obviously more notable triumphs of The Shining but my heart flutters for the interlocking honeycomb earth tone pattern adorning the floors; if we were chatting over drinks I'd ramble about how it provides a strong graphic visual ground against such intangible phantasmal subject matter, how this pattern is culturally revealing - providing a context of the society around this remote family lodge, and how it instills a strong sense of character to the lodge itself - particularly in juxtaposition to the previously existing older elements of the structure.

But that would be over analytical drunk art talk. The bottom line is that I am passionate about this carpet.

*so glad to see others as inspired by this as I am.

L.e.s. makes me skip, and smile.

2008-09-15T15:25:00.015-05:00

Lower east side, a block from 'home'; the yellow tag on the top stair almost spells my name. Living on Rivington Street for a full week introduced me to the New York I always wanted to know. Oh, New York! The t-shirts don't lie - I love you so... because a day in this city fills me with more life than a life spent anywhere else.

LEFT TO RIGHT, UP AND DOWN

Only a mexican restaurant in the West Village could escape the cheesebag factor of this menu - hardy chuckles ensued; Roebling Tea Room - the prettiest interior I've ever brunched in; L.E.S. courtyard on a rainy day; le menu (the 'big baked pancake' will not fit inside your stomach. I promise;) Rivington view.

There will be more here. Count on it.

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack.

2008-09-14T22:24:00.008-05:00

On September 5 I departed the home land to spend nine days in NYC and found myself that very evening at Shea stadium watching the Mets with fantastic seats - for free. What a lucky girl am I! Being at a baseball game in a baseball city makes me long for those winning days of the Jays.

Floor party.

2008-09-05T02:05:00.004-05:00

I couldn't ask for anything more wonderful than my favourite people congregating at the same time to celebrate my new home and imprint this place with lots of happy vibes. Things got silly when I lost my stem... or probably more accurately slightly before.

Island girl.

2008-08-31T23:39:00.016-05:00

I've really had such a splendid summer it was only appropriate to wrap it up with yet another wonderful day at the island. Everything fell into place perfectly; artfully dodging the second longest ferry line up I've ever witnessed, followed by another swell maneuver at the water taxi dock that put us on the island with wine in hand (and planes in sky) within the hour. I do adore these lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer... and over exposed seaside photographs.

Beach scene.

2008-08-24T17:07:00.008-05:00

I swam in Lake Ontario. I have committed the cardinal grossness of Torontonians... and let me tell you that it was heavenly; if all of my hair fell out of my body tomorrow I would declare it a small price to pay for a splendid float amidst the Toronto skyline, a harbour full of sailboats, and wide open lake under a perfect August afternoon sky. Oh, swimming! Next time I'll bring a floaty and a very long rope so as not to drift away to Rochester.

The early bird.

2008-08-21T10:39:00.004-05:00

Waking up at five thirty in the morning is one of the farthest things from my idea of a good time. There must have been a shift in the cosmos because it turned out to be a pretty fantastic day; the roads were clear and I whizzed to work listening to Crystal Castles with all the windows open, I shared many giggles with co-workers in a caffeinated daze, shopped for a couch and lovely Tom Dixon lights (Oh! Tom Dixon!), and I saw the prettiest reflection of light on the mannequins at work from an angle I would never have seen unless I were there at the dawn of day giggling my way through inventory.

Yoga all the time.

2008-08-14T21:54:00.024-05:00

After dumping everything to my name in my pretty new apartment at the end of last month, I whisked myself away to spend seven days with a hundred and forty lovely souls at Menla Mountain Retreat between two Catskill mountains practicing asana and learning how to teach yoga twelve (plus!) hours a day.

The daily commute took my feet up hills and down hills, through the woods, past two trickling streams and one Buddha statue; the food was fresh, organic and prepared specially for me when allergies were in question.

Yahoo(!) for a week of intense yoga in total isolation from life. Four hour practices are greatly missed.

Dear Lara;

2008-07-28T20:15:00.003-05:00

...was it you?
Were you here?
I imagine it is this lovely where you are.
You are missed.
xo.

(it's a Hefner methinks.)

Oh, what a lovely two days...

2008-07-22T00:21:00.028-05:00

Two frabjous days in lovely Vancouver makes my heart pitter patter for more. I think I finally grew into the city; when I tried to live there years ago it didn't quite fit, but the new me felt dashing in our fairest city.

Things Vancouver has over Toronto:

-hot yoga class at Yaletown Yoga.
-swimming with mountains.
-lunch with old friends with mountains.
-friendly non-jaded people.
-my new favourite store Nouvelle Nouvelle.
-the best hair cut of my life by Nicole at Moustache and Darling.
-Zulu Records!
-the most extensive shoe store in this great land: Gravity Pope.
-Loafy days and mountainous views at English Bay.
-morning walks with mountains.
-evening walks with mountains.
-mountains.

ABOVE
Pretty things to see at English Bay, Running in under pants for prostate cancer on the Burrard Street Bridge, C.Hold's new ink, random green bear mouse thing.

Avant l'Alaska:

2008-07-21T15:29:00.004-05:00

The night before my departure I went for dinner and (very un responsibly) got a little sauced with my dear friend Samy. I love Trinity Bellwoods in the summer, when remnants from the daycare program are left to inspire us less imaginative adults. Six blocks later we saw a kitten chasing a string in a yard; what a perfect evening.

Alaska I will go.

2008-07-07T11:51:00.003-05:00

Because I enjoyed this past winter so much I wanted to go back and relive it... I'm off to Alaska at the end of the week. Actually I was caught by my mother on a particularly over emotional day and at my wits end; before I knew which end was up I had agreed to accompany my parents (and all the other senior citizens who go to Alaska) on a very large boat up a very chilly coast. Fingers crossed the boat has yoga classes.

It's completely random, but seeing new places is pretty exciting, and better still when the head of the family is footing the bill. I'm also squeezing in three days running around Vancouver catching up with friends.

With a move at the end of the month, and yoga bootcamp early August, what a busy summer this is turning out to be.

Loafy Evening Time.

2008-06-10T08:26:00.005-05:00

This was the scene of my first good use of summer weather, with snackies and magazines abound. Being near water is so nice (particularly since it hasn't started to stink in the heat yet.) Who wants to buy me a boat?

Rainy Tuesday Mornin'.

2008-06-03T08:30:00.007-05:00

I'm starting the day off with The Sounds of Monsterism Island and thinking that it makes this tree make sense.

The Chicken or the Egg?

2008-05-29T10:14:00.010-05:00

I really don't know whose design came first, but I find it interesting that two papers of the exact same concept are in production right now. Strange.

LEFT: "Frames" by Taylor and Wood for Graham & Brown

RIGHT: "Familijen" by Lisa Bengtsson

I want these towels.

2008-05-28T12:47:00.005-05:00

...Because they remind me of my grandmothers fancy bathroom; with crystal perfume bottles, porcelain and brass vanity set, and lavender scented everything.

Ny, Ny. II

2008-05-23T11:51:00.035-05:00

Four days in New York, sick and raining, yielded very few photographs especially considering the magnitude of amazing design at ICFF. Grace at Design Sponge did an amazing job of posting noteworthy exhibitors and I won't try to pretend I'm her. So here are some photos of things that warmed my heart and made me smile in the three days I spent in a daze hopped up on over the counter cold medication with fever sweats at one of the most extensive design fairs I've personally attended.

ABOVE
The only photograph I took of New York. I especially adore those little fuzzy trees that sit on and around the black blocky building.

ABOVE
Holy geometry at the Javits centre, ceramic elephant and squirrel by Qubus, fuzzy Danish rocking sheep, tiny cast brass animals originally designed in the 1950s by Walter Bosse; The Austrian exhibitor let us both take one of these guys home. I got a bunny, of course, which made a sick girl very happy.

ABOVE
I wanna hold your hand by B.D. , Bubble Chandeliers by Lindsey Adelman, Clusterlamp by Moooi, if Stig Lindberg designed lighting it would look like what Tom Dixon did here - Je t'aime Tom Dixon!

Cheeseburger in Paradise.

2008-04-14T10:59:00.026-05:00

Ten days in Florida mid-winter turned out to be the relaxing tropical vacation I wasn't expecting.

Highlights included daily visits to a rare quartz sand beach followed by hours of relaxing Wii time, my first lobster dinner in over twenty years and plants that grow on other plants (see above.)

It must also be noted that I genuinely enjoyed spending time with my parents - is this a sign of aging?

Walking the dog.

2008-03-08T22:46:00.002-05:00

In honour of the billionth snow storm this year I took Margot for a long walk along Queen Street to take in the fresh falling snow... and since we were up that way we popped into Trinity Bellwoods for her first visit to the big park.

Ny, Ny.

2008-03-07T18:34:00.047-05:00

My first trip to New York; four days of power walking (read: shopping) with my bestest oldest friend, solid sleeps in a "deluxe room" with views worth more than Hotwire charged us (likely a result of the Ukrainian connection with the front desk clerk on check-in), and a constant flow of "grande" sized cups of tea.

Ordinarily I don't get so caught up in the retail crawl, but on arrival I suddenly found myself caught up in the potential acquisition of designer goods unavailable in my home and native land. The weekend yielded one Marc Jacobs hoodie, Earnest Sewn jeans x3, and a pair of dark jade green tortoiseshell Oliver Goldsmith sunnies bought on a whim in the Lower East Side.

I finally visited the Guggenheim, which displayed a disappointing count of Max Ernst pieces (1!) and was super packed, but the darn structure is so rad I'm overlooking the aforementioned suckages.

ABOVE
Dean & Deluca, the loveliest super market ever - I'm a sucker for marble and moldings and taxidermic deer heads.

Super (duper) vintage furniture store Donzella - used furniture so high end the price tag has five digits - without the cents. Playing with a few hundred thousand dollars of beautifully crafted, stylish furniture sure made me realize my ghetto winter nails were in need of a manicure.

Daydreamy chair.

2008-02-06T20:38:00.002-05:00

I'm quite certain that this chair would be one of those things that would haunt my memory for years if it weren't in my life; it's no surprise it was " modeled after a Swedish school chair". It will also mark my first piece of furniture purchased at Anthropologie.

Snowstormy Saturday.

2007-12-15T16:58:00.002-05:00

Aside from noodling around with the new camera I've accomplished very little today. Even the knitting I was working on had to be ripped out since I had picked up a stitch somewhere and went back to correct it rather than fudge it. I did however have my sleepy Margot in my lap all day which was lovely.