style

montreal stylist melanie brisson stopped by my studio yesterday to borrow some designs for an upcoming creative shoot she is doing this weekend. i had to take her picture with her lovely assistant, her outfit was just too cute.



you can't tell here but the jacket is like neon orange stunning. maybe people are ready for the fluorescent tangerine silk i dyed in february. hopefully i can show you the results of her shoot one day soon.

private property

to my delight, one of my very favorite canadian designers heather martin of mono clothing proposed a trade. i sent her this dress and she sent me a ashen grey astral bomber, as seen here, AND another dress which i will surprise you with later. needless to say my package arrived today, happy! so i took some pictures after getting groceries on my first montreal spring bike ride.



a few minutes later a woman runs out to tell me i'm on private property, i told her i was just taking some pictures and i ask her if she wanted me to leave but she says it's ok she just thought i was a graffiti artist... i said "i wish".

refinery 29

my bag was featured in some plus sized spring looks today on refinery 29. the great thing about making accessories is they fit everyone at every age.

mmm cake

emeline and annabelle, the NDG couture cafe turn one!
i have to admit i've never actually been inside this cafe because well.... i don't need sewing lessons, or to pay by the hour to sew crafty projects but i signed up for their newsletter because i think it's a great thing to have in our community and i am happy they are doing well. maybe i'll go take a peek this week, they make coffee right? great cake and congratulations!

keep the world free of evil

i had to celebrate easter early in edmonton with family last week and i also went to my friend ava's to do our annual pysanka decorating.



ukrainian women make Pysanka eggs to keep the devil underground and as long as you make eggs every year the world will still exist. yup, just doing my part to keep evil out of the world.



usually we use traditional kitskas with a candle lit but this year she had her friend's electric ones!!! this is serious.



i don't have a finished photo unfortunately because i gave my pysanka to kayla. families in Ukraine would make about 60 or more eggs and give them away on easter. everyone got one and they also placed them on graves, in houses, in the barns, and under the bee hives to protect everything. i hope mine brings kayla a good year.



here is my weekend treasury easter party. sidenote: my last treasury made it to the front page of etsy!

jon and i are so lucky today to be invited to a delightful easter brunch at elizabeth's and raymond's house. she is such a good cook and they are our great friends. happy easter.

good friday

i did another photo shoot with emilia thomas before leaving edmonton. we worked in her studio in her apartment mostly doing "product" shots but we did take a tiny excursion outside to the church next door. i thought these glimpses of the church would make for an appropriate good friday post.



kayla was kind enough to take some 'back stage' photos and help me style. that's me trying to block the sun, not an easy task.



i have many more fun pictures to come without spoiling the real thing. the model's name is heather, she is a gorgeous scottish/cree girl emilia recruited at a show one night.


..........and me trying to direct the sun. i must get this bag on etsy already sheesh! what am i i waiting for?



happy good friday! go eat some fish.

back in montreal

i'm back in montreal! it is rainy awful weather but i am feeling ready and inspired to make some bags!!! here is a picture of the original birkin bag recently auctioned off by jane birkin for $160 000!!! the money went to aid japan in earthquake relief efforts. it's a classic and everyone has done a knock off version of this design, including myself (remember that nokomis) ohh dear. maybe one day i can use my fashion for Philanthropy......

on the road again

ok i'm on the greyhound bus traveling this beautiful country again but mostly just sleeping and reading and eating A&W. see you soon montreal!! jon, pipi i'm coming home at ten am on four 20.
photo from grey

EL W

i spent some time drinking and snacking at my charming friend laurel's place. this is her massive and stunning cat thora.



AND this is a piece from her collection of silver jewelry. laurel is a printmaker but has been taking silversmithing classes at night. kayla fell hard and bought this sample ring that she is modeling above over a teacup full of tea leaves we were trying to read.



i believe the writing on this shield is latin for 'forward always'. i had my pinky measured for a delicate little triangle piece, can't wait. you will find El W at the next royal bison in edmonton and hopefully soon on etsy.

behind the scenes

i lent my designs and styled a little creative photo shoot last night with emilia thomas, i loved watching her work.





We were lucky to use the space 29 armstrong in downtown edmonton, the furniture they sell is incredibly unique. i really want the gold piggy bank shown above.











emilia is only 19!! so young and very dedicated to her art.



Court Baker Mode Models
Hair by Felicity Crocker @ Blunt Salon
Makeup by Calyn Johnson of Painted Lady

in like a lamb, out like a ........horse?

here i was telling everyone i brought the sunshine with me from montreal because it got so hot here april the 1st when i arrived, sure enough it's a blizzard today.



i love this bronze guy downtown. i always want to ride on it late at night when the city is asleep and pretend things.

pyramids

my mum took me to to the muttart conservatory last week, the building's are so stunning, giant glass pyramids filled with 4 different climate of plants. really i just wanted to eat at the new culina cafe there, and i'm glad we did because i got to see tara.





it's a bit expensive for going often. maybe they should have events there? anyways thanks mummy for a great day.

high level bridge

these are some photos i took while biking across the high level bridge one sunny day last week. i used to bike it everyday to work, so beautiful and grand. one of edmonton's many names (and my favorite) is 'river city'.





here you can see the low level bridge in the distance (great naming huh?) we are simple folk here in e-town. i actually love it.


the city is still a buzz over trevor anderson's short film 'High Level Bridge' that made it all the way to sundance this year. i've added the link below to anyone who hasn't seen it. it's about how many people choose to kill themselves by jumping off it. also it has some nice views of the bridge from many angles.



drawing by Nickelas "Smokey" Johnson


this bridge is a symbol for many of us and a beautiful obstacle. connecting whyte ave and downtown, a well known and lazy edmonton quote; "i don't want to cross the river" wahhh!

family farm

my nephew and i went on a little photo shoot adventure on my family farm







here is my weekend etsy treasury i curated family farm

double trouble

boys will be boys